The herald., 1898-09-29
Who Did the Hanging? !
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My only experience in the vigilance COM
mittee line was when helped to
hang jury over in the Fourth
ward. 1t was before knew that
a juror in California has to board
and clothe himself and pay the officers of
the court on the side, or 1 hardly think
that l would have attended the hang ng,
that is. If sickness would have prevented.
1t was a liquor case The attorney for
the defense was very particular in Ques-
tioning the panel if they had any Prohibt-
ton affiliations, and rejected several for
cold water tendencies. was busy think
ing how l could explain Eizabeths presd-
dency Ct the w. C. T. u, and fathers run
ming for H2 o sheriff back IN Kansas,
when the attorney deliberately accepted
me without a question.
1t WIS u cold-blcoded insult have al
ways maintained that my complexion is
amply accounted for by sangune tenn
permanent and an outdoor life, and then to
have that little pettifogger thus silently
point out the color Of my nose-as t were
it was pretty raw.
There was one other of the jurors drawn
who was not vexed about his Prohibition
principles. Mr.. Schlossenheimer, II that
was his name, must have weighed $50
German pounds. He looked the whole
number, and more, and this nationality no
less. But while his avotrdupois and
| ipl, Ill <ho,. ttor
Of subtle conjecture compared with his
posltiveness Only see him once and you
doubted II he could change-his shirt-any
more than the tabled leopard its spots.
There was a flnality about the way he blew
his nose that was sublime; and he sat
down like the day Of judgment. No Won
der the young lawyer for the defense sad
he had found it-plenty, and was at ease.
O O O
The case was as clear as the nose on an
ordinary mans face. The defense was
all plainly false or absurd, and the prison
ers denial not even plausible.
Once in the jury room, we elected a
frisky young fellow for foreman, and he
just started to urge that. for brevity's sake,
we make the vote of the first ballot unani-
nous. when old Schvseibenholtzer elevated
his ponderous hulk.
"Your honor, shudge," said he. 1T don't
think We had orter convict dot man He
.ss vorkin man, and he dr.es-"
Here the foreman gently interrupted to
say that now we were only gotng to vote
whether we would endorse the will Of the
majority, and while Schweckenburger was
gaping over the understanding of the mat
ter the motion was quickly put and car
ried.
But old Blnkendorfer was on his feet
again. your honor, shudge," he COM
menced again. and this tine he was little
excited II wants to know If you can make
me votes de way don't wants to?"
The affable foreman explained that of
course he couldn't, and that we only took
this method to save time
"And you have said dot We will go vid de
majority" continued old Steckeldunker,
elevating his voice and his nose simultan-
eously. "Vell. don't goes vid no ma
Jor.ties. goes vid myself"
"Well," said the foreman. with a sckly
grin that was contagious, "if Mr.. Spielen-
thener doesn't wish to do this way. there
is no obligation"
So he called for an informal ballot. To
my amazement it stood to for acquittal.
Blickendorfer did look little dashed fer
a moment, 1t penetrated even HIS four
ply epiderm!s that he had played the fool
in not agreeing to majority rule.
But Just here up got a Prohibitionist who
had slipped in-like me-and mada har-
| angue for conviction. 1t was all that was
needed to get B.ngenstorcher's fighting
Teutonic blood into action. HIS eyes
were sparkling when he next got up, and
he grunted sonorously. He couldn't talk
fast CROUCH to use all the steam he was
making, and it was Kissing at the valves.
'He ss not guilty. he shouted. HE iss
goot man. I wouldn't convict anybody
On vat dose vellers say"
Then got up and gravely remarked that
though the first vote was strong for ac
quittal, it was evident that the next would
convict, for here was Mr.. Gussenthaler
evidently changing his mind.
The old fellow looked at me fer nome t
In silence, while the irony of the thing
struggled through his reinforced skull,
Then he grew purple = all over, Judge.
It was within a shade Of black down to his
collar, and l see no reason to think that Il
"man" he yelled, shaking a ponderous fist
at the nose 1 took care to keep discreet
distance away, you can talk and talk 50
much as you d blease. but VIII not
change not in Won hundret years"
Apoplexy was the only hope for that jury.
But we tried another vote. 1t stood TO 4,
Of course, but l took occasion to ask
Schreckerb!der if he had voted for convic-
| ton this time. He foamed at the mouth in
silence. I don't think he could have ex-
pressed himself-.n English.
Then the Prohibitionists would talk
awhile and the others freed their minds,
but old Breckenspieler, after his first two
or three howlings, relapsed into stol!d
silence, only broken to curse with an i'm
press.ve earnestness when 1 asked him
from time to time II he was coming
round"
O o o
1t was as good as high-class vaudeville
for awhile. but finally 1t grew stale, and
we summoned the judge to let him know
that we were "hung."
Before we separated for our homes went
up to Mr. Schlossengiesser and said
gravely: I'm sorry that we couldn't have
| had few hours longer, Mr.. S., but feel
sure that you were slowly coming round to
my way Of thinking"
He glared at me and tried to find some