The herald., 1898-12-03

called to testify before the court of that
state when John Hancock will be tried for
the murder of George Engelke and Pete
Edmiston on the desert, almost two years
ago. Mrs. Gross is not what might be called
even good looking" Her brown eyes are
small, although pleasing in their expression,
and the rest of her face possesses no feature
which might be called pretty, but she has
evidently some attractive qualities, for she
has already in her short life on q years been
married three times, the last name to be
taken by her being that Of her present hus-
band, George d. Gross, native OF East
India, whom she married one month ago.
Although practically uneducated, Mrs.
Gross uses fairly good English, and her voice
is low and her manner surprising for one who
has lived so much of the wild life OF row
ing gypsy. There is an air of quiet convic-
tion in everything she says that is convinc-
ing, and there is no suggestion of striving
after effect Before going up to see her
had gathered a bunch of violets to take to
her, with feeling, somehow, that they
would be appreciated. 1 was not wrong.
The moment l entered the room the eyes
of the child caught sight of them, and after a
few minutes conversation with the mother
l asked him if he would like to have them
81 would" he answered, with a smile sc
winsome, so eager, that they were put in his
little hands instanter, and he rushed of
with their one tin cup to procure some
water. II brought them for you," l said
turning to the mother, "and thought of you
all the time was picking them, because
knew I was coming to see you this after
noon"
The look that came into the eyes, the
faint flush of surprise and appreciation al
being remembered by some one she thought
outside her world that rose to her forehead
with the low, murmured words of gentle re
monstrance to the returned youngster at his
neglect to give the accustomed word Of
thanks, convinced me more than ever that
the woman, although considered in the
legal eye as being an accessory to revolt
ing crime and also guilty of gross laws
against the DEGREES of moral society, was an
unwilling witness of the horrible butchery
and entirely innocent of completely. She
talked over the details of the crime as al
ready published, which she said were sub
stantially correct, except for the statement
in one paper to the effect that she was un
willing to go to the Jail.
"I was not unwilling" she said "Oi
course, was opposed to the thought of pris
on walls surrounding my child, for would
not be separated from him; but was will
ing, nevertheless. It's awful to be in Jail
Just the thought, you know---for every one
is kind to me and Archie here. There il
always first experience in everything, ant
this is my first experience in" with g
glance at the bars across the windows. "But
I've passed through SO many, so much worse
than this, and only the thought Of my boy
and his safety has carried me through those
horrible days and nights without doing some
thing desperate. Lots Of times it seemed
as il couldn't live and carry the thoughts
of such horrible things all my life. That is
what made me tell, at last, all l knew about
Hancock. After l married MIR. Gross told
him, and we talked the matter over and made
up our minds that neither one of us could
be satisfied or happy until the thing was al
cleared up as near as l could do it. And
have done my best. have told nothing but