The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-06-26

| WIN tue IuuleS from the
myriad chimneys of the metropolis.
The morrow was blank.
News OF a great trial permeated
the London newspapers and struck
activity into the movements of the
newsboys as they fitted hither and
thither, proclaiming loudly the
startling revelations of the late edi-
ton. The name of Sir Walter Ferris
was blaxoned at every corner in the
glaring capitals of obtrusive pla-
cards. In the vicinity of the Old
Bailey an expectant crowd bruited
the names of the two malefactors to
be tried that day for his murder.
Inside the monotonous ordeal of
cross examination was going for
ward. The events of the two pre-
v1ous days trial pointed unmistak-
ably to the judges summing up be-
fore the court adjourned that after
noon. 1t transpired that on a night
anterior by some weeks to the pres
ent stage of affairs two men were
surprised at their work of burglary
In the mansion of Sir Walter Ferris,
at Norton Heath, by the gardener,
who had been led to visit the house
by sounds of hurried footsteps out
side his lodge little before mid
night. On entering the study,
whence the sounds of breaking glass
attracted him, he deposed to having
discovered his master living appar
emily insensible on the floor, and
two men engaged in rifling the
drawers of his escritoire. He at once
gave chase, and, raising an alarm,
brought to his assistance the butler
and two other servants. One of the
men succeeded in escaping through
the library window, but the other
was eventually overpowered and Sc
cured
On medical assistance being called
in, it was ascertained that Sir Wal
ter had succumbed to blow on the
head from one of the burglars. But
at this phase the case assumed an
aspect of almost overwhelming com
plexity. Medical evidence went to
prove that but one blow had been
dealt. Sir Walter had been the vic
tim of a single thrust. Who, then,
of the two men incriminated was re-
sponsible for the blow, for he surely
was the murderer2
On this point the evidence was en-
tirely lacking, as, without positive
denial of the assault, each persisted
in maintaining his own innocence.
The only light that could be brought
to bear upon the mystery was the
plain assertion, perhaps not alto.
gether trustworthy, of the burglar
captured in the library, that he had
seen his companion deal the deceased
a blow with a jimmy.
Whether countenance should be
extended to an impeachment of this
kind was now mooted point. How
ever, its bearing was this: That,
whereas Bland, the man subsequent
ly taken at Victoria, protested that
no violence had been used, he was.
in the nature of facts, less to be be-
ieved than the other to whom,
however, credence was ultimately
given.
The counsel, wearied out at length
retired to wait the judges summing
up. The progress of the trial had
worn the afternoon far away, but
the Importance of the final Office
obliged his lordship to defer ad.
journment. The jury found the man
guilty of willful murder. Amid
ominous silence, the judge then ad-
justed the black cap, the insignia of
death, and prepared to pass sentence.
"Stop"
A voice sounded through the hush
ed court, hoarse and sepulchral. At
the same instant man, pale and
breathless, dashed through the cor
don of officials ranged in the door
way, and, rushing straight up to the
court, stood confronting the Judge
with hands uplifted in depreciation.
For a moment the silence was in
tense. He staggered up to the foot
of the bench and then sank down
upon his knees, while the sweat
coursed down his brows in great
drops, like the workings of his
agony. Recovering their surprise,
the warders quickly surrounded and
strove to eject him, but he broke
away and raised his voice in appeal
to the jurors.
"This man is innocent! You dare
not condemn himl Stop, / say!
Hear mel"
The condemned man fell forward
and swooned upon the rails of the
dock, and, with that, excitement lev
eled all bounds. The walls of the old
courthouse rang with the tumult of
voices. Men cried aloud on every
hand, first to the judge and then to
the warders, demanding to hear the
man.
His lordship was agitated and per-
picked beyond anything he had en-
countered in his career. The SEN
tence, but half pronounced, he could
not finish. Twice he rose to his feet
and essayed to be heard, but his
voice was lost in the deafening up
roar. Counsel and Jury stood non