Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-20


ingly pretty young woman, the pallor
of her refined face illuminated by large
blue eyes. She was in deep mourn
ing, which but enhanced her beauty.
Proceed, exclaimed Judge Blank.
''The witness on the stand-a police
officer-then testified that he had
found a small revolver with an ivory
handle in some bushes just outside of
the window of the room where the
crime had been committed.
Were there any marks on that re-
volver?' asked Horace Dash, counsel
for the prisoner-the man just
pointed out to You.
g Yes, replied the witness.
What were the marks?'
The initials M. P.. replied the
witness.
Did you ascertain who owned
that pistol?' asked Lawyer Dash.
'Yes-Mary Peterkin.'
can exclamation OF surpriss went
around that little courtroom. Mary
Peterkin started up in bewilderment
and then fell back into her chair.
Silence in the courtroom!' ex-
claimed Judge Blank.
''With face paler than that of
either the prisoner or the niece of the
murdered man, Lawyer Horace Dash,
counsel for the prisoner, said to the
witness, Step down
''The next witness called was q
woman who had formerly been en-
ployed by old Peterkin as house
keeper She was exceedingly nervous,
and her voice trembled when she
swore to tell the truth. There was a
malignant expression on the face of
the counsel for the prisoner when he
asked the witness:
'' DO you know Mary Peterkin?'
@ 4 do, was the reply.
She is the niece of the murdered
man?'
:" She is replied the woman in a
whisper.
You once lived with the dead
man and his niece?'
4 did
Did uncle and niece ever quar-
rel?'
Must answer that?' asked the
old woman, turning to Judge Blank.
You must, sternly replied the
judge.
Yes. They quarrelled, faltered
the witness.
What about? asked the counsel
for the prisoner.
She-Mary-wanted to marry
man her uncle did not approve Of.
NJ
Peterkin, who, with an expression of
horror on her face, sat cronched up in
her chair. Everyone in that courtroom
seemed to realize that the testimony
already adduced against the prisoner
at the bar was as nothing compared
with that just brought out against the
girl. The prisoner at the bar was pale
and trembling and, 1 thought, an OBJ
ject of abject misery. Then the thought
flashed across my mind that he might
be innocent. 1t was evident that
Lawyer Dash was struggling with him
self when he asked the next question.
"'Did you ever hear Miss Peterkin
threaten her uncle?'
L heard her say once that she
wished he was dead, replied the wit
ness.
"With a moan of anguish Mary
Peterkin tainted. The prisoner started
forward and, despite the efforts of the
bailiffs to restrain him, exclaimed:
This is shame. I am guilty,
and that man'-pointing his finger at
Lawyer Horace Dash knows that L
am
What does this mean?' asked
Judge Blank, addressing the prisoners
counsel, who was leaning on the table
and seemed about to faint.
" I don't know, your honor, re-
piled the lawyer, who was seen to
press his hand to his heart.
" Let the trial proceed, said Judge
Blank, and don't let that woman
indicating Mary Peterkin, leave this
room.
'Stopr exclaimed the prisoner. Il
withdraw my plea of not guilty. 1 am
guilty.
''For a moment silence, oppressive
silence, reigned supreme. Finally the
judge said: DO you appreciate your
position? That can pass sentence
of death on you?'
(" L do, replied the prisoner, with
defiant look at his counsel, but 1
would like to say few words
Proceed, sir. said Judge Blank.
"I committed the crime, your
honor, but not from desire for gain.
1t was done in moment of anger, Just
anger, and for the SAKE of my dear old
mother. Years ago my mother, SO
that she might pay some debts con-
tracted while in college, mortgaged
her farm-the home where she was
born, the home that she went to as a
happy wife, the home where was