The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-04-14
counsel for the prisoner. said to the wit.
ness. sSteD down.

| jill VIII IIdu 1OllllS1ly OCCA Sh1pAoyCN ny
old Peterkin as a h~ousekeeper. She was
exceedingly and her voice
trembled when she swore to tell the
truth. There was a malignant express
sion or the face CT the counsel for the
prisoner when he asked the witness:
"'Do you know Mary Peterkin!
81 do. was the reply.
She is the niece of the murdered
mann
She is replied the woman in a
whisper.
"sYou once lived with the dead man
and his niecef'
eel did
"'Did uncle and niece ever quarrel?'
Unjust I answer that?' asked the
old woman, turning toward Judge
Blank.
"'You must sternly replied the
judge.
"'Yes. They quarreled, faltered
the witness.
"'What about?' asked the counsel
for the prisoner.
'She-Mary-wanted to marry a
mar her uncle did not approve Of.
"All eyes were turned toward Mary
Peterkin. who, with an expression of
horror on her face, sat crouched up in
her chair. Every one in that courtroom
seemed to realize that the testimony al
ready 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. / thought, an object Of
abject misery. Then the thought fash
ed across my mind that he might be in
nocent. 1t was evident that Lawyer
Dash was struggling with himself when
he asked the next question.
Ibid you ever hear Miss Peterkin
threaten her unc]e?'
81 heard her say once that she
wished he was dead replied the WIT
ness.
"With a moan of anguish Mary Pc
terkin tainted. The prisoner started
forward and, despite the efforts of the
bailiffs to restrain him, exclaimed:
"'This is a shame. I am guilty, and
that manipulating his finger at Law
yer Horace Dash knows that I 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, replied
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 in
dicating Mary Peterkin. leave this
ROOM.
'Stopi' exclaimed the prisoner. Il
withdraw my plea of not guilty. I am
guilty.
For a moment silence, oppressive
silence, reigned supreme. Finally the
judge said, DO you appreciate your
position-that I can pass sentence of
death on youf
I d., replied the prisoner, with a
defiant look at his counsel. but I would
like to say a few words
Proceed, SIR said Judge Blank.
" I committed the crime, your hon
or, but not from desire for gain. It was
done in a 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 I contracted 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 l was born-to old Peterkin.
Each year since then she paid to him
usurious interest. Finally there came a
day when he would not renew the mort
no~o Thof x,oo tho dow T Ls11od hin, T
pleaded with him, but in vain. He in
sisted he would foreclose the mortgage.
He called my mother a vile name. I
saw the revolver on his desk, picked it
up and aimed at him. He wheeled
around in his chair toward his desk, and
the bullet entered his back.
"While he was telling this story the
prisoner several times pressed his hand
to his left side and moaned as if in pain.
"'Have you anything else to say?
asked Judge Blank.
"'Yes; / want to say, explained the
prisoner in gasping tones, that after I
had retained that lawyer'-pointing to
Horace Dash--'I told him I was guilty
that I wanted to plead guilty. He for
bade my doing so. Said it was a splen-
did Ease. He would acquit me and cover
himself with glory. He said he would
ask no fee. l urged that I was guilty,
but he said he could clear me. I con-
sented to the plea of not guilty
"Again the prisoner placed his hand
to his heart and with an effort said:
4 could not save my life at the expense
of an innocent person, and that person
a woman am guilty
"He sank back into a chair, and
Judge Blank turned to Horace Dash.
the prisoners counsel, and asked:
"'What have you to say for your
selfT'
~ did my duty-my plain duty
said the lawyer. AS I understand it, it
is a lawyers duty to defend his client
and to acuuif him, 90 host bo oop