Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-10-28
lhmutcr XVIII (C"ntimucdD

The Jury dclibcrntcd for upwards OF
two hours before the foreman was In II
position to announce that they had
come to "A decision. SOmervillc cnst Il
rnpid, keen glance at tho face OF each
"A they entered the court, but he gave
no other sign OF the terrible anxiety
xbnt must hnvc filled his heart Mt that
suDrcme moment. In reply to the usual
question, the foreman said they were
streed ns to their verdict.
'"Then, how say your" Qucricd the
elork OF nrrnigns. lis the prisoner
guilty or not guilty.
.Cuiltyr answered the foreman.
A Wild, despnlring shrek resoundcd
Through tho court, and the senscless
&f6 OF a woman clad In black. was
promptly carried forth. amid wis
percd assertions that the unfortunate
woman WIS the prisoners wife.
The Judge produced the fatal black
cap, and. ne usual, asked the prisoner
II he Ind nught to say why sentence OF
death should not be pronounced
against him.
Richard Somcrvillr passed his
hands several times rapidly across his
forehead, MS though nrrvlng himself
for n Inst appeal.
"Sincc YOU permit me to speak, my
lord" he said IN low, deliberate tones.
II wish to say this: ERNEST Norton did
come to his death by my hands. but
solely through miSndvcnturr. AT his
own request, subjected him to hyp-
motto influence, aided by the electric
current. The experiment succeeded.
hut his hearts action failed under II,
and hr died In my operating chair. so
soon as | had recovered from the
shock OF the disaster. the temptation to
profit by 1t ussallrd me with lrrcSisti-
bile force, subsequently throw the
corpse into the river and appropriated
the dead mans wealth for myself.
This Is the full and rigid truth OF tho
matter, so help me God"
a murmur nf amnzrmrnt ana incr-
Lulliy ram through the crowded audi
>mcc. hut this was instantly sup
pressed
II have heard your statement. priS'
oner ut the bar" was the judges com,
ment. and shall make Il note OF It.:
hut what You have said can In no way
Interfere With the painful task which
1t Is NOW my duty 10 perform. After Il
patient and exhaustive trial. You hMyc
been found guilty by Il jury OF your
cuuul,ym Of the murder OF 4 man
who had sought the hospitality or
your roof aud wlth that finding |. ~
Your Judge, fully concur You yourself
admit that You did Ernest Norton 10
his death, drspolru him and throw his
dead body Into the river. though YOU
seek to iuvulltlalr this confession by at
trihuting yuur crime to miSrhancc. ot
this can take no cogniZanrr.
"Nou stand convicted OF willful muir
der and the penalty thereof is death.
The sentence OF the court Is that, ut 4
time and place to he hereafter deter
mlurd. YOU he hanged by the neck um'h
you are dead. And may the LORD haVs
mercy upon your soul.
Richard Somcrvlllr's face was dead
ly white and his lips tightly set rs the
dread words were spoken which con-
signed him to al ignominious death.
but he bore up under the terrible or
deal with Iron nerve. He cast one last.
swift look around him. and then. obey
Ing " sign from the saolrr. walked
with firm steps to the condemned cell
awaiting him. Ills place WAS quickly
lnltd by II notorious burglar and the
business OF the court proceeded.
''Wrll, we'll" exclaimed Mrs. Baxter,
"Only to think that the civil spoken
gentleman, Who WAS SO eager 10 obtain
Information about poor MIR. Norton. n
Southampton should turn out To he the
very man who murdered him. Come
any dear Miss Xuna. let lis STE about
sou.c luncheon. declare. l feel quit,
faint"
"A queer yarn that about the hyrnot
ISM" mullrrru Josiah Skinner. And
he spoke MS though he meant II. But
true or false. 1t will scarcely save Iii
neck ut this time OF day"