Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-08-04
CHAPTER XI.
A MYSTERIOUS WITNESS.

A MYSTERIOUS WITNESS.
The two magistrates left the camp
and went over to the courthouse, a sig
nal that tho trial was about to recon-
mence. We returned to the marquee,
and the prisoner was once more brought
in. It was quite evident that the greater
number Of the spectators in court had
dined. for they did not present quite so
orderly and intelligent an appearance
as they had done in the morning. There
was tendency among them to indulge
in facetious personal remarks in a tone
Of voice hardly permissible in a court
Of justice. In fact, one or two had
lapsed into that condition of mind in
which it seemed they only vaguely real
lied that they were there at all. and
then only for very brief period indeed
| These lucid intervals were even more
noticeable than the periods of imbecil
ity. for they were inclined to assert
their right to be present when nobody
dreamed of disputing it and to state that
they would very much like to be shown
the man who said otherwise
Some bush wag having told the blacks
and they in their childlike innocence
having believed that a white man was
either to be hanged or burned alive
that afternoon. after the fashion of the
christian whites. they had turned out
In full force with their gins, picka-
ninnies and dogs to enjoy the spectacle.
Christian white ladies could not have
mustered in better form to enjoy pi
geon hatch than those black ladies of
the bush did to see white man roasted
alive. The beau of the party, who had
boasted of the nightshirt and the tall
Nat, was now eclipsed by another col
bred gentleman who had picked up from
4 refuse heap an old pair of troopers 9
long boots and stalked about in them to
the admiration and envy Of his COM
j rades AS. however the only other ar
ticles of wearing apparel he possessed
consisted of bunch of feathers and a
oy net, q young constable made dart
at him whenever he showed up near
the marquee. and thus put check to
his vanity and love Of admiration.
It would only weary the reader to
detail the particulars of the trial
opened the case for the defense. saying
with all due Difference that the police
4 sergeant, who commanded the respect
Of every right thinking person, had
only dole his duty in making the
arrest, aud that was grateful for the
chance thus given of vindicating the
character of an innocent man. The
u prisoner s arrest was due to mistaken
identity. l would not waste time by
commenting on the f1imsiness of the case
4 against him. would prove it by wit
nesses, of whose ''probity and respecta-
Il bility' would say nothing, after what
q had been said Of certain witnesses that
n morning, but whose personalities and
evidence would speak for themselves
y Here seedy looking gentleman of
sporting appearance and whose face
s betokened that he had seen better days,
h forgetting himself for the moment, in
dulged in an audible "Hoorayr" To
his own surprise and the intense en-
joyment Of the rest of the crowd, he
was promptly caught by the nape of
the neck and bundled out of the mar
quee.
4 After giving my own evidence and
ha.lng undergone cross examination
by the sergeant, called upon Miss
Mackenzie to give her evidence.
can never forget the effect Of her
presence there as witness before that
motley crew. They became orderly and
respectful to a degree. Only once a gal
liant old bushman who in a fit of alb
sentmindedness had dined in two differ
ent places rather forgot himself This
gentleman had reputation for dandy
Ism because he wore boiled shirt an6;
clean handkerchief tied round his
neck 1t occurred when. in answer to a
repeated question asked by the SER
eeant CT the witness. IF she could actu-
any swear her father had recognized in
.ne corpse of the man murdered by the
oiaess the person of John Farquharson, :
she had inquired quietly, lis il neces-
sary for me TO swear twice to every
thing sayS'
AT this the gallant old party-he of
tue boiled shirt-had thought it incum-
oeht on his reputation to applaud and
.sise feeble Hip, hip But he
"lso LETT the tent abruptly.
| asked only few leading questions
y TINS witness, not wishing to keep her
s,ao9ec'ed to the scrutiny Of that court
.onser than l could help. 1t was a
sniaue sight to see that we'll bred and