The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-06-22

his lips and said he had never tasted such butter He swore by all the stars that he had never seen such fine colts as the farmers boy had raised from the foal. His genial ways won the confi- dence of all. He acted as arbitrator in family disputes and made friends of both sides, and chased away the clouds with the magic of his speech.
 At the end of five months every man, woman and child in Winnebago would have almost walked through fire and water for the winning stranger.
 Six months drew around and the stranger was still there, and Bibb's case was called.
 There hadn't been a murder trial in the county for years, and never one of such absorbing interest as this.
 The farmers drove in from miles about They brought their wives and children and lunch, and hitched their heavy farm teams to the court house square railing.
 The court room was damned to the doors and boys hung like monkeys to the window lodges, trying to get peep within.
 The stern tattoo of the bailiff's ham mer silenced the excited tones of con- versation. The clerk called Bibbs case
 Guilty or not guilty?" asked the judge.
 Not guilty" said old Bibb.
 Are you ready for trial?" q am"
 Have you lawyer?" T have none. I will defend myself" | was Bibbs resolute answer There was a stir in the crowd and from out of it stepped the man with the black sombrero.
 This man has a lawyer!" exclaimed the stranger in a voice which had al- most challenge in it. "I'll defend him.
 Who are you?" asked the judge.
 Facing now court now audience, the man with the sombrero replied in dra- matic tones:
 Back in Ohio they call me Tom Cor win-Tom Corwin is my name. Years ago, when I was a barefooted boy on the towpath, this man Bibb befrlended me He took me by the hand and led me to higher and broader paths. Any thing that I am in life I owe to old Bibb. He was my friend when needed friends most of all. He was a friend such as few poor boys have been blessed with. And when they told me back in Ohio that old Bibb was in trouble I sadded my roan mare and I rode at once to Wfnnebago county, and I have been here ever since and I intend to stay here until the steel doors of your jail are thrown open and Bibb walked out free mani"
 The great audience broke into ap- plause at the words of the famous Ohioan.
 Why that's the man that took din- her With us last week." said one old farme-
 T swan if that ain't the same feller what told such fine stories down ter the sculehouse," said another. q always Knew he war some great man.
 And so it war Tom Corwin what said we had the best bay mare in the whole deestrick," added another
 We are ready for trial" said Corwin when the gavel had restored some sem plance or order, and he laid his hand on the shoulder of his benefactor and with head thrown back and with shoul- ders squared glanced about as though he had thrown down a gauntlet and looked to see who dared pick it up.
 The work of securing a jury com menced at once. Of the twelve men se- lected every one was Tom Corwin's sworn friend-and it couldn't have been otherwise, as he had bound all men in Winnebago county to him with those magnetic ways which had made him most beloved of all Ohioans.
 Corwin knew every phase of the shoot ing and just whom to call to the stand for he had heard the case discussed and rediscussed in a hundred farm houses He tried the case as only a great law yer can try case. The jury, after brief deliberation, filed back to their. seats and the foreman said: Not gull ty."
 The second murder indictment was quashed and ''the steel doors of the jail were thrown open and Bibb walked out a free man.
 CorWin had caused complete change in sentiment in the county, and Bibb | was borne home like a conquerng hero | There were feasting and merrymakng whose honeymoon had been as sad as a | funeral laughed for the first time in ..x | 
 Then Tom Corwin saddled up his old | roan mare and rode back to Ohio.-Chi- | cago Tribune.