Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-08-01
A JUDGES STORY.

charged with murder when he knows
the man to be guilty p This question
led to an animated discussion, which,
after some two hours. was brought to
an end by the judge suddenly exclaim-
ing, do you see that lnan9"
The bencllers turned their faces in
the direction indicated by the speaker
just in time to see tall, lank man in
shabby attire leave the building.
Before word was spoken by any of
the curious benchers the judge said, as
though musing to himself though in a
tone loud enough for the Others to hear:
Strange that should see that man
just at this moment and when we were
discussing a question that he could
have answered. His life, like mine, has
been failure but, thank God, my re-
grets, though many. can never be as
bitter as his are. He ruined his career
as lawyer by defending man who
had confessed that he was guilty of
murder.
"Tell us the story, exclaimed the
one known as the proctor.
"He was ruined, Z" began the judge.
''by his ambition.
'sAmbition, suggested the solicitor,
with genial smile on his kindly, clean
shaven face, sis responsible for much
good and much evil. 1t is ambition
that has made wrecks, legal driftwood,
of many of rs. We have dreamed of
great deeds in our profession; we have
builded fairy castles in the air, while
others have by hard work succeeded.
for one
"The story, the storyF' exclaimed
several of the benchers.
The judge, thus urged, told his story
''Some 40 years ago it was that en-
tered the small courthouse in small
town in the western section of New
York. Court was in session, and the
hush that had fallen upon the crowd in
the room was opT ressive. Nothing was
heard at that time but the ticking of
the clock and the breathing of the spec
tators. The presiding judge was look
ing up some legal question in the law
books before him. The rapt attention
of the jurors and the eagerness of the
counsel caused me TO realize that trial
of more than ordinary interest and i'm
portance was in progress. ] asked by
stander what the case on trial was. He
gazed at me in surprise for Il moment
and then exclaimed, AYou must be a
stranger in these parts?'
Il am, replied. L have just come
here from New York city to file com
plaint in an action of cjectment.
'' This, replied my informant, SIS a
murder trial, and there. he pointed in
the direction l was to look, 'is the man
who will certainly hang.
81 looked at the prisoner Mt the bar.
He was good looking young fellow
about 20 years of age There was some
thing in the expression of his pale face
that convinced me of his guilt
'WhiIe the trial judge turned over
page after page of the law books learn
ed the details of the crime :"
Here the story teller took nip from
the flask the proctor handed to him
| and then resumed:
81 learned that in his house on the
| outskirts of the town, one morning two
months before the day of the trial,
John Peterkin, wealthy old man, who
had been it was said, in the habit Of
keeping large sums of money in his
house, was found murdered, shot in the
back. The murdered man had been
seated when he was shot, for his chair
was overturned just as he had fallen
from it. Peterkin. who was about 81
years old, lived alone with his niece, q
pretty girl about is years old. She il
was who discovered the murder. WheI
she had sufficiently recovered from hel
alarm. the niece. Mary Peterkin. aroused
the neighbors.
cat first it was thought that the
motive of the crime had been robbery
but when the police discovered that the
safe, the door of which was unlocked
and half way open, contained 81, 750
and that the old mans watch had not
been taken, that theory had to be aban
doned. For several days the case was
mystery. Ti:en it came to the knowl
edge of the chief of police that Hascal
Reindeer, the only son of widow
! whose father had been postmaster O
the little town, had been seen around
/ the house and had spoken unkindly o
old Peterkin. Reindeer was put undel
| arrest.
"When had learned this much, >
said the judge, ''the trial judge, whom
we will call Blank, looked up from thu
legal books and said, Il will admit tht
testimony objected to.
''While Judge Blank was reviewing
the law questions 1 looked at Mar,
Peterkin. She was seated in the rear O
the courtroom and was an exceedingly
pretty young woman. the pallor of he
refined face illumined by large blu
eyes. She was in deep mourning, whicl
but enhanced her beauty.
'' Proceed, exclaimed Judge Blank
tThe witness on the stand-a polio
officer-then testified that he had founr
small revolver with an ivory handl
in some bushes just outside cf the win
dow of the room where the crime ha,
been committed.
a. Were there any marks on that re
volver1' asked Horace Dash. counsel fo
the prisoner, the man just pointe
out to you.
g Yes, replied the witness.
/" What were the marks2'
'' The initials NJ. P, replied tn
witness.
Did you ascertain who owned tina
pistol?' asked Lawyer Dash.
So Yes; Mary Peterkin'
'tAn exclamation of surprise wen
around that little courtroom. Mar,
Peterkin started up in bewildermen
and then fell back into her chair.
" Silence in the courtroomr ex
claimed Judge Blank.
with face paler than that of ei
ther the prisoner or the niece of th