The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-17
@s II, II ~
,AIrNop or ~5onS AnD ExTHtRS
~ HARRY STlLNxEuL EDlA
,AurNop or "Son5 AND fxIHtRS

ms SDOulutEr anu iOoNlhs UP, 81" q
hnlf-familiar face earnestly bent to-
ward his own.
Hits come" said the stranger. his
blue eyes full of excitement; "an' thar's
your hunderd."
BEG your pardou." said the lawyer:
"some mistake. don't think-I can
exactly locate you"
What! I'm the man that cussed his
mother-in n-law!"
"Why. of course. Of course! One mo-
ment. your honor until | can consult
my client" The consultation was brief;
the lawyer urged plea of guilty. The
client was determined 10 go 20 trial.
Ready for the defense." said Colone,
Rutherford, ia despair, waving his client
70 his seat with a gesture that seemed
10 disclaim responsibility for anything
tlat might happen.
The usual preliminaries and formali-
ties were soon disposed of and the jury
stricken. twelve good men and true, is
their names will show; for 10 adjudge
this case were assembled there Dixie
Sisson, Bobby Lewis. Zeke Cothern,
Tony HUT, Hob Garrett, Jack Der
medy. Tommie Liptrot. Jack Dozen
berry. Abe Ledzettcr. Gran Herrlngdine.
Bunk burden and Tim Newberry.
The state. upon this occasion, had but
one witness. Mrs. Jessy Gender was
called 10 the stand. The lady was mild
looking and thin. and something in her
hearing unconsciously referred one to
a happier past. But the good impress
s;on-perhaps il was better 10 say
the soft impression-vanished when
she loosened her bonnet strings
ard tongue, and with relentless.
dropping mouth corners - those dead
smiles Of bygone days-began to re-
late her grievance.
Well, Mrs. Gonder was one of those
unfortunate women whom adversity
gours and time cannot sweeten; and
that is all there is of it. In sharp, crisp
tones and bitter words she told of her
experience with the defendant. The
narrative covered years of bitterness,
disappointment, wounded vanity and
hatred, and was remarkable for its ex-
cess Of feeling. 1t was, from profes-
sional standpoint, overdone 1t was an
outburst. Members OF the admirable
jury who had looked with surprise and
aHimesity HFeH Hiram Ard began To re-
gard him with something like sympathy,
for disguise il as she might, it was plain
to all men that the overwhelming cause
OF her grievance was Hiram's conquest
of her only daughter. Bobby Lewis
leaned over and whispered TO Bunk
burden and both young men laughed
rntil their neighboring jurors were visi-
by affected aud the court knocked gen
tly with its gaycl. When she came TO the
cause of war wherein this lowbred SON
n-Iaw had actually cursed her-her.
Jcssy Gonder; had entered the house
she occupied and had forcibly taken
away II sewing machine loaned by her
own daughter, her voice trembled and
she shool, her clencled fst above the
rail, her eyes. the while. fairly blazing
IN the shadow Of her black bonnet. She
sank back at last exhausted.
While the witness was tcstifyirg the
defendant looked straight ahead Of
him. settling slowly in his seat, until
his matched hands supported by his
elbows that rested upon the chair. al
most covered his face from time TO
time n wave Of color flushed his checks
aIl brow. Then Ic seemed to wander
OF TO scenes the woman's words re-
called. and he became obllyious 10 his
surroundings. When AZ last his at
torncy touched him and called MIN TO
the witness stand he started violently
and with difficulty regained his COM
posurc.
Tell the jury what you know Of this
case" said Rutherford; and then to the
Court: This seems 10 be purely 4
family quarrel, your Honor and trust
the defendant will he allowed to pro-
cccd without interruption of any kind.
Go on, sir" he concluded, TO the latter.
The defendant seated himself in the
wituSss stand. his arm on the rail, and
said:
Hits er long story, my friends, an
il ther warn't no:hin' in the case but
er enc, I wouldn't take your time. But
thar's q heap more. an ef you'll all hear
me ont. | don't think sny of you'll be-
licvc I'm much 90 be blamed. So far as
the cussn' is concerned, thar amt no
dispute crbout that. ! done it, an
ou-htn't er done il. No man. no gen
t!cman can cuss er woman, an for the
first time in my life warn't er gentle
man. could or come here and pleaded
guilty and quit, but that don't square er
gcn;lcman's record. hired er lawyer
10 take my case and did IL 10 have him
rut me up here where could get n
chance 20 face ny people an say | was
wrong and sorry for it an willn' to take
the consequences, That's the Kind Of
man Hiram Ard is"
All the shamefacedncss was gone
/ from the man. lie had straghtened up
/ in his chair, and his blue eyes were
/ bcGmirg with enrnrstness. His declara-
ton, simple and direct. had penetrated
! every corner % tho room In n moment