The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-29

The blacksmith looked at the Englishman
compdSsi0ndtclU.
ton, was great success. Williams turn.
ed livid. He stammered like man SEN
fenced to terrible doom.
t-a-let me go-I will CO." He
started as if to force his way through
the barrier of sturdy men, He was
caught in trap.
tWhere were you last night between
8 and 9?''
The laborer shook his head vacantly.
All sense had left his eyes. He was IN
stupor of fear His fate had entangled
him. His mouth had dropped open.
"Do you recognize this hatchet:'' the
conztab7 asked sharply.
III .osevere:' whispered the cler-
gym 20 his deacon. "Thcre is yet no
proof against him.
sNo," said Williams feebly. Sudden
ly he shrieked: ''I am innocent! will
not be tortured" Then y collapsed.
All the bulldog had gone out of him.
AS the constable held the hatchet up
before the prisoners eyes three marks
were noticed-fnely crossed lines, cut
into the end of the handle.
"Why, it is my hatchetp' exclaimed
the parson in innocent surprise. "My
little boy cut those marks with his jack
knife. How could the hatchet have
got into Mr.. Burns barn:"
At these words Williams fell upon
the floor in a dead faint.
It only needed the scantiest cross ex-
animation to bring the fact out that
Williams had used the marked hatchet
all the day before in the orchard. Then
the woman with whom Williams board
ed felt called upon to volunteer the in
formation that her lodger had not come
in until after the night before.
'tIt seems to me. gentlemen said
the constable with the gravity that the
situation demanded, "that I had better
hitch up and take him right over to the
county Jail. 1t is q pretty plain case.
Will you go along, doctor:''
Low murmurs of approval followed
these words.
'I don't see any mystery about it
yet, - said the graduate, filing his pipe
for the third time, "and I don't see
where your jury comes in either
cit was my first important murder
case, - the judge resumed, ignoring the
interruption Cat this point I quote the
old jurist exactly. He was evidently
living his famous case over AGAIN., "and
remember well the charge I gave to
the jury. practically instructed them
to retire and Immediately to bring in a
verdict of murder in the first degree. 1t
was neat case of circumstantial evi-
dence, and the defense did little more
than throw itself upon the mercy Of the
court.
The jury was an average one. The
foreman was choleric, hatchet faced,
sandy complexioncd farmer who had
served as foreman before and was i'm
pressed with the Importance of his own
views as well as Of his own position.
Perhaps William Worthely, the black
smith, was the most intelligent as we'll
as the most disinterested member Of the
jury He followed the evidence with
keen attention and listened to the charge
with independent courtesy. I happened
to notice.as he marched out that his
great jaws were firmly closed, while the
faces of the rest of the jury were re-
laxed.
The jury filed out. The court took
few minutes recess only, expecting to
sentence the murderer in few minutes.
The spectators remained in their seats.
"Well, said the foreman easily,
stroking his sharp chin, hay is about
ready to cut, and there's no use of our
staying here any longer There's no two
ways of looking at it. guess we can
follow the judge. For the sake of for
mality We'll drop our ballots i'll the hat.
We're unanimous-guilty, of course.
I've got three miles to ride and have
got to be home to supper.
The vote was hurriedly taken. Then
all but one eagerly rose. Worthely alone
remained seated, smoking his pipe stol-
idly and looking out Of the window,
while curious lines of amusement played
around his eyes and mouth.
TO BE CONTINUED
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