The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-07

and the Columbia Drug Co, Savannah, Ga
ing the true story of Lon Pete's death. In
response TO the usual question of Guilty
or not guilty?'' he had responded with con-
victing readiness, Guilty"
Those who glanced at the judge during
the progress of the trial casually remark
ed to their neighbors Reckon the old
man didn't sleep well last night" The
judge had not slept well. All night long
| he had sat in the little office above Back
| skin Joe's saloon, most of the time with
| his head bowed down on his arms, and
| the last thing he did before leaving for the
| trial was to take an old-fashioned photo
graph from an inner pocket and 90 say as
| he looked as it, TN do il; must do it,
| Now, as he stood up to address the jury.
he was ashen pale and his hands nervous
| ly plucked bits of hay from the bale that
| stood beside him. He began in a voice
that was hardly audible, addressing him
! self to the spectators rather than to the
| jury. I'm going to tell you a little story
! to show why you ought not to take the
| life of this prisoner, and IN try to make
1t short enough, so as not to tire you out.
To begin with, I might say that 1 was
born in a little Connecticut town, that
my father was a lawyer and generally
| looked upon as the leading man of the viii
| lage." The listeners looked at one an
other in surprise and one or two of them
whispered whats this got to do with
the case? Must be the old man has slip
ped a cog" They paid careful attention.
however, as the judge went on in tirmer
voice: Il had every advantage, and after
going through college l succeeded to my
fathers business. / married the parsons
daughter. the belle of the town. She had
all the county to choose from, and she
took me-" The judges voice became
trifie husky, but he cleared his throat
and went on For two years we were
as happy as though we had been in para
disc; then l took to gambling 1t was the
| old story, of course. Trust funds went
after my own good money. I was found
out and sentenced to fourteen years in
| prison. Only you who were brought up
| in the East know what that meant to
| everybody connected with me II was inn
possible for me TO live down the disgrace,
and my wife, after sticking to me all
through the trial, left for the West to
build up a home for herself and her chill
dren, where / could join them after my
| term was over. think that / could have
done So and have lived an upright life
| afterward If 1t had not been for my wifes
| father. He was hard man, and he didn't
believe there was any good in me. He
came TO me toward the end of my term
| and told me that l was TO be pardoned,
| out IElAt i ndS DGIleT ilOL Try 10 30 70
my wife, that she was happy with her
children and didn't wish ever to see me
again.
II know now that he was lying to me-
and that l was a fool ever to give him
my promise, but man feels as though
he'd lost his bearings when he first gets
out of prison, and even though he's an
honest man, he wants to hide from hon
est folks while the Jail marks are on
him. OF course, l couldnt stay in my
native town, so I drifted West, making
my living, or something better. at the
| gaming table, where l had already lost
more than ] could ever win back.
didn't intend 20 see my wife again. but
after a couple of years 1 went to the
| town where she had lived, thinking to
find how she was getting along, and to
do something for her If 1 could without
letting her know where the help came
from. But they had moved away been
gone about two years. the folks said,
and nobody knew where.
"Well, 1 drifted on, not caring much
what become Of me, until 1 struck Cor
don City 1 hadn't been here long be-
fore l saw my son on the street one
day. / knew him at once, for he was his
mothers looks ] found out where he
lived, and whenever he was around l
watched him. You can imagine 1 would
found out that while he might be a
little wild he had the right sort of stuff
in him and wasn't like his father.
didn't dare show myself to my wife for
fear she would know me, but / hung
around still, because l wanted TO scrape
together a little more money before !
did the disappearance act for good and
ALL"
The judge paused and clear his
throat again. Gentlemen" he said, for
II was watching my son when / saw
this shooting l saw Long Pete speak
to Faro Bits daughter-she will tell you
that this is the truth I saw her knock
Pete's hat off and 1 saw Pete pull his
gun. He was drunk, OF course, but that
wouldn't have saved the girl. Nothing
would have saved her. if this prisoner
hadn't been quicker that Pete He might
have winged him, I'll admit, but young
men don't always stop 10 think of such
things He has his own reasons, / sup
pose. for not telling of this, as / expected
he would, but these are the facts gentla-
men. And / want to say that l am proud
of him." added the judge, forgetting in
his excitement that he had ommited to
identify the prisoner with his son.
A buzz of astonished comment went
around the room, but the judge had not
yet finished. "Of course" he said, for the
first time assuming something of a legal
manner, II am aware that as the counsel
for the opposition says an example must
be set. But since you are trying to pro-
duce an effect, and not to punish the crime
for no crime has been committed) I sug-
gest that you allow me to take the place
of the prisoner and by executing the law
on me instead OF the prisoner you will end
a mans misery, and save a woman from
heart-break."
Dead silence reigned for a moment after
the judge sat down; everybody was too
much surprised for speech. The marshal
was the first TO break the spell. His hand
dropped from the prisoners shoulder; he
turned to the crowd and sald This here
man Is free" II was somewhat irregular,
but highly satisfactory, and a ringing
cheer went up from the usually unemo-
tional residents of Gordon City
The Judge seemed TO hardly understand
what was going on around him. lie sank
back on his seat after the men had shaken
his hand and hled leaving father and son