The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-06

81 ssBy pracious!'' cried the foreman,
boxing st the ballots in amazement
and chem eying one after the other OF
his fellows suspiciously Some one has
put sn mot getty, and he has had the
audacity 60 underscore mot. should
like to know who this gentleman is
We can t afford to waste time in FOOLS
MAY here. . Here he cast bullying
look upon the most Insignificant MEM
ber Of the 12. But this person, in the
consciousness Of innocence, returned an
unainching glance
Ne must settle this right away.
began the foreman.
Have the gentlemen of the jury
{ Agreed The court officer put his head
ia at the door. The court is waiting.
answered the foreman with
red face, butwe will. Now he said,
turning TO his jurymen, I'VE will find
out who votes not guilty. and I prom
ise yeu that we will make it hot for
him. All for guilty hold up your
hands Opposed .
Every man in the room turned upon
William Worthely. The blacksmith
Sncw dropped his hand nonchalantly and
looked from one to- the other with g
aool glance. He seemed to be the only
u1.f1u person present. The foreman,
who had some bullying epithet ready
npon his tongue, dropped ais jaw with
oat speech. Worthely was not man to
he blackgaarded-he was too big; nor
to bees trifed with--he was too dignl-
fled; nor to be argued with--he was too
logical While she foreman was feared
because he held much signed paper and
many mortgages in his possession,
Worthely was feared because of his self
reliant nature and fine physique.
IRE away at me, he said, with ag-
eraYating good humor. 81 don't think
he's guilty, and / never shall. Who
saw him do it? No one. So there's no
direct evidence. -
But he can + account for himself, "
nfged The foreman despairingly. .Do
have little reason. .
Reason" replied the blacksmith
loluntly. "I'u reason you until we've
acquitted him. Here's my word for it. .
he brought his great fist down upon the
table, smashing leaf clean off. "Pn
not bulge a hairbreadth until that in
nocent man is set free. God is my wit
ness ST mean what / say
ssAnd, ''cried the foreman vindictive-
ly, we won's bulge either. I've been
foreman before, Mr. Blacksmith, and /
know II men can bring one around,
{ give them time -
You'll have it fast enough, !" sneer-
sed Wmthely.
And ] should like to know how you
know he is innocent. .
To taunt the one dissenting voice in
the jury room is 10 new device. The
horrors Of that closed chamber can
never be told.
And now followed hot question and
cool answer. On one side stood / men,
angry clear through, hurting confused
argument and bitter taunts.
Burns named him in his last
breath"
Aren't there any other men by the
name Of Williams in the world?' sar-
castically.
s "Your first name is William, grin
ned the foreman, with thrust of the
lean, red neck
$50 is yours, was the quick parry.
But where was the prisoner
ST don't deny ne might have seen
Burns that evening, but that is no
proof. -
HHow about the hatchet?'
.sEIe might have easily dropped it
and somebody else picked it up, and
then used it,
s'Nonsensep'
'Rot!"
You re crazy"
>sIet him alone. gentlemen; his head
is fetched. -
The foreman drew his side over to a
corner for whispered consultation.
The thought of their homes, of their
supper and Of their crops made the jury
desperate. 70 be baked in so simple
case was an unpardonablea act. Who can
count the neighborhood enmities that
have had their birth in the divided jury:
eve can't starve him out" said the
foreman gloomily, "but we can worry
him out. I'll see to it that he doesn't t
sleep q wink.
..Two Of us can keep buzzing him at
time" suggested the little man.
He'll never. do no more work for me
unless he gives in purity quick:
''Nor for me, neither.p =.
After few more whispers the cam
paign was organized. Then followed
the fight.
There are few people who understand
what jury room contest IS. It is sand
paper. Il is mosquitoes. 1t is red pep
per. It is yitriol. # there is only one
man who stands out, be is tortured with
an inquisition that is varied by / cor
rosive imaginations. Food has been
known to be SO doctored that it could
not be eaten; water so fouled. that the
honest unfortunate was maddened into
surrender. A man has been known to