La Junta tribune., 1898-11-05

had failed to do this sudden change from
scorn to tears accomplished. Ho wnvcred,
and then he yielded. He would think no
moro OF marrying. Love should be enough
her love when they were together, her
friendship before the world. So she left
him with his kisses fresh ON her lips and
glcam In her eyes which was not the
light OF love.
At 10 o'clock the next morning Horace
Transon was arrested In his chambers on
warrant issued in consequence of n
statement by Mrs. Condcr duplicating
him in tho murder OF her husband, who
had been found stabbed to tho heart in
bed. There was no doubt as to the actual
perpctrntor of tho decd-no one but his
wife could have done it, and when charged
with tho crime she hardly took tho trout
bio to deny 1t.
They wcrc both committed for trial at
the West London police court, and thcy
stood in the dock side by sido Mt the Old
Bailey. Transon was defended by col
league, to whom ho had unreservedly told
tho whole of the miserable story, but the
self made widow had elected TO defend
herself Both had pleaded Not guilty"
BY arrangement with the treasury Hor-
AGO Trarson's case was taken first and sep
aratcly, and his counsel had no difficulty
In showing thnt there was not II jot or tit
tle of evidence to connect him with the
crime. His fellow prisoners mouth was
closed by the law, which then made an nc
cused person incompetent as witness.
There were no other witnesses, save those
who were there to bca- testimony to the
actual crime itself, s7o these Ind no word
to say as to Transon's alleged completely.
Tho jury at once found him not guilty,
and he was ordered to leave the dock, but
to remain in court in case he should be
wanted A loud murmur OF applause and
sympathetic approval greeted the decision.
There were scores OF ladies In court. many
Of them former friends Of tho woman,
who stood silently and detlantly facing
her judges on the bench and in tho jury
box, and there was hardly ono OF them
who had not inruitively fathomed the mo-
tives which had led Mnnuela Condcr to
force tho handsome young barrister to
stand, II only for a few minutes, in the
dock beside her.
Tho evidence against her was absolutely
conclusive, but sho maintained n smiling,
ironical silence until the verdict OF
equity" had been delivered and the judge
asked her the usual question. Then sho
quietly united u bundle of letters that sho
had laid on tho edge of the dock and be-
gan what was not defense but an accu-
sation. She admitted that she had with her
bands heart, but she had done SO not Of
her own FREQ will, but under tho control
of another will of which she had been tho
slavish subject for tho last hvo years. It
was plea which stolid British common
sense would only receive with utter incro-
duty, but even that began to bo shaken
as she took up letter after letter and road
out extract after extract, cunningly cho-
sen and cleverly separated from its con-
text, which, as tho jury heard them. could
hardly mean anything clso than regret
for tho existence of tho victim Of the
crime and desire for his removal. There
wero passages dealing with occultism-a
subject which apparently had formed the
theme Of many n conversation between
them-and tho last extract which she read
out ran thus:
"It 10 certainly easy for you or mo to
conceive circumstances under which the
exercise of this will power from distance
could be made to achieve results which i
should hail with as great delight as be-
lieyc you would. How many obstacles
could bc removed from our path, how
many delights could be brought within
our reach, II you or ! were numbered
among those who have the power to bend
tho will Of others inyoluntarily to their
service. have thought of late that do
possess this power and that with careful
development IL might accomplish much.
We shall see as time goes on"
After this came such a plea for mercy
as no professional advocate could have
made for her, and with it such an indict
ment OF tho man whom she still styled her
master and accomplice as tho dingy walls
of the old court had never heard before.
Tho jury and the audience and even many
of tho counsel present were deeply moved,
but when she had done tho judge, in a
few cold, measured words, utterly de-
stroyel the whole force Of both plea and
accusation. Hypnotic suggestion or occult
Indictment to commit crime was itself not
q crimc known to English law. There
fore tho man whom for motives Of per
sonal revenge she had wrongfully accused
had been rightfully acquitted, and che
must pay alone the penalty of her crime.
Then the judge stopped in tho midst OF
brcathless silence, took up tho little
square OF black velvet and was just plac-
ing it on his head when a long, wild scream
Of maniacal laughter ran through the
crowded, spellbound court. Hundreds Of
eyes were turned instantly toward the
dock, and the spectacle that they saw
there never left them for many n long day
afterward. Whcrc % moment before had
stood a woman, beautiful and impassioned.
but yet pleading for her life with eloqucnce
and perfect SELF possession, ravlng ma
niac, with hideous, distorted face and
ghastly, rolling eyes, was flinging her arms
about, beating her head and her breast and
shrIeking out words which only the lips OF
madness could utter.
She was carried out Of the dock at once,
and the sentence Of death was never passed.
Her desperate resolve to drag her faith
less lover with her to the gallows had fail
ed, but her vengeance was none tho less
complete.
Horace Transon's . social and professional
success was already dream of the past
when he left tho court. From that day
he never got another brief or crossed the
threshold Of N decent house, and before