The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-17

their names will show; for to adjudge
this case were assembled there Dixie
Sisson, Bobby Lewis, Zeke Cothern,
Tony HUT, Hob Garrett, Jack Der
medy, Tomme Liptrot, Jack Dozen
berry, Abe Ledzetter, Gran Herring
dine, Bunk burden and Tim Newberry.
The state, upon this occasion, had but
one witness. Mrs. Jessy Gonder was
called to the stand The lady was mild
looking and thin, and something in her
bearing uncOnsciously referred one to
a happier past. But the good impress
sion-perhaps it We're better to say
the soft mpression-vanished when
she loosened her bonnet strings
and 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 adversely
sours and time cannot sweeten; and
that is all there is in it, In sharp, crisp
tones and bitter words she told of her
experience with the defendant, The
narrative covered yedrs of bitterness,
d. appointment, wounded vanity and
Hatred, and was remarkable for it's ex-
cess of feeling. 1t was, from a profess
sional standpoint, overdone. 1t was an
outburst. Members of the admirable
jury who had looked with surprise and
animOsity upon Hiram Ard began to
regard him with something like SYM
pathy for disguise it as she might, it
was plain to all men that the over
whelming cause of her grievance was
Hiram's conquest of her only daughter
Bobby Lewis leaned over and whis-
pered to Bunk burden and both young
men laughed until their neighboring
jurors were visibly affected and the
court knocked gently with its gavel.
When she came to the cause of war
wherein this low-bred son-in-law had
actually cursed her-her, Jessy GOnder;
had entered the house she occupied and
had forcib ly taken away a sewing ma
chine loaned by her own daughter, her
voice trembled and she shook her
clenched fist 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 testifying 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 wave of color flushed his cheeks
| and brow. Then he seemed 10 wander
| off to scenes the womans words re-
| called, and he became oblivious TO his
surroundings. When at last his at
| torney touched him and called him to
| the witness stand he started violently
and with difficulty regained his COM
posure.
Tell the jury what you know Of this
| case" said Rutherford and then to the
| court: This seems to be purely a
| family quarrel, your honor and | trust
the defendant will be allowed to pro-
| ceed without interruption of any kind
Go on, sir" he concluded, to the latter.
The defendant seated himself in the
witness stand, his arm on the rail, and
said:
Hits er long story, my friends, an
If ther warn't nothin' in the case but
er fine, l wouldn't take the time. But
thar'S a heap more, an eff you'll all
hear me out, 1 don't think any of
you'll believe I'm much to be blamed.
| So far as the cussin' is concerned, thar
amt no dispute erbOut that. | done il,
an / oughtn't er done it. No man, no
| gentleman can cuss er woman, an
for the first time in my life / warn't
er gentleman. i could come here and
| pleaded guilty and quit, but that
| don't square er gentleman's record. 1
| hired er lawyer to take my case and
| did IL TO have him put me up here
where / could get a chance to face my
people an say / was wrong and SCR
Ty for 1t an willin' to take the conse-
quences. That's the kind Of man Hin
am Ard is"
All the shamefacedness was gone
| from the man. He had Strengthened
up in his chair, and his blue eyes were
beaming with earnestness. His dec
laration, simple and direct, had pene-
| trated every corner of the room. In
a moment he had caught the attention
! Of the crowd. for all the world loves