Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-17
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A Story BY TIE JUDGE,
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YES replied the witness.
" What were the marks?'
&c The initials NJ. P, replied the
witness.
Did you ascertain who owned
that pistol2' asked Lawyer Dash.
'Yes-Mary Peterkin,'
can exclamation OF surprise went
around that little courtroom. Mary
Peterkin started up in bewilderment
and then fell back into her chair.
Silence in the courtroomr 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.
t"fhe next witness called was q
woman who had formerly been en-
pioyed by old Peteriin as house
keeper. She was exceedingly nervous,
and her voice trembled when she
sworc to tell the truth. There was
malignant expression on the face of
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
man?'
T" She is,' replied the woman in
whisper.
"'You once lived with the dead
man and his niece?'
"I did
"'Did uncle and niece ever quar-
rel?'
Must I answer that?' asked the
old woman, turning to Judge Blank.
"'You must, sternly replied the
Judge.
eyes. They quarrelled,' faltered
the witness.
What about?' asked the counsel
for the prisoner. er-----=-=-----z- - :
'She-Mary-wanted to marry
man her uncle did NO. approve Of.
"All eyes were turned toward Mary
Peterkin, who, with an expression of
horror on her face, sat crouched 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 aad, thought, an OBJ
ject of abject misery. Then the thought
flashed across my mind that lie 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 Peterliin
threaten her unclc?'
"'I heard her say once that she
wished he was dead, replied the wit
ness.
with n moan of anguish Mary
Peterkin tainted. The prisoner started
forward aal, despite the efforts of the
bailifs to restrain him, exclaimed:
""rhis is shame. I AIN guilty,
aud 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.
~ 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.
=" sStop!' exclaimed the prisoner. 4
withdraw my plea of not guilty. [ am
guilty.
:'For moment silence, oppressive
silence, reigned supreme. Finally the
Judge said: Do you appreciate your
position? That can pass sentence
OF death on you2'
Z" Il do, replied the prisoner, with
defiant look at his counsel, but L
would like to say Il few words.
=" Proceed. SIR said Judge Blank.
"T committed the crime, your
honor, but not from desire for gain.
1t was done il q moment Of anger,j just
anger, and for the sake OF my dear old
mother Years ago my mother, so
that she might pay some debts con-
tracteG 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 I was
born-to old Peterkin. Each year
since then she rai to him usurious
interest. Finally there came a day
when he would not renew the mort
gage. That was the day killed him.
I pleaded with him, but in vain. He
insisted he would foreclose the mort
gage. He called my mother a vile
name. I saw the revo. .ver 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
prisone- several times pressed his
hand to his left side and moaned as if in
pain.
Have Won anything else to say?'
asked Judge Blank.
- Yes. | want to say, explained
the prisoner il gasp!ns tones, that
after I had retained that lawyer
pointing TO Horace Dash-I told him
l was gnilty; that wanted 20 plead
guilty. He forbade my doing so-said
It was splendid case. He would ac-
quit me aud cofer himself with glory.
He said he wonid ask no Zee. ! urgeG
+bot T WIS guilty. Dui IL sgil he coulC