Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-10-26
CHAPTER XI.


mence We returned to the marquee,
and the prisoner was once more brought
in. 1t was quite evident that the greater
number Of the spectators in court had
dined, for they did not present quite 50
orderly and intelligent an appearance
rs they had done in the morning. There
was tendency among them TO indulge
in faceticus 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 il seemed they only vaguely real
lied that they We're there at all, and
then only for a very brief period indeed
These lucid intervals were even more
noticeable than the periods of imbecil-
ity, for they We're inclined TO assert
their right to be present when nobody
dreamed of disputing il and 10 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-
geou hatch than those black ladies Of
the bush did to see white man roasted
alive The beau Of the party, who had
boosted of the niehtshirt and the tall
hat. was now eclipsed by another col
ored gentleman who had picaed mp from
Il refuse heap an old pair Of trooper 5
long boots and stalked about in them 10
the admiration and envy Of his com
rades AS, however. the only other ar
ticles Of wearing apparel he possessed
consisted of bunch Of feathers and a
fly net, a young constable made dart
at him whenever no showed up near
the marquee, and thus put "A check 20
his vanity and love of admiration.
1t would only weary the reader 70
detail the particulars Of tho trial |
opened the case for the defense. saying
with all duo Difference that the police
sergeant, who commanded the respect
Of every right thinking person. had
only done his duty in making the
arrest, and that l was grateful for the
chance thus given of vindicating the
character of an innocent man. The
prisoners arrest was due TO mistaken
identity. ! would not waste time by
commenting on the flimsiness of the case
against him. l would prove il 10y wit
nesses, OF whose ''probity and respecta-
bility" | would say nothing, after what
had been said OF certain witnesses that
I4ol,Iin>r, bat ysL..,.,- i..,r.-,n..l.tio., end
evidence would speak for Themselves.
Here seody looking gentleman ~
sporting appearance ana ,Elosc face
betokened that he sad seen better days,
forgetting himself for the moment. in
dulgcd In an audible "Hoorayl' To
his own surprise and the intense en-
joyment Of the rest Of thecrowd, he
was promptly caught by the nape Of
the neck and bundled out of the mar
quee.
After giving my own EVIDENCE and
having undergone cross examination
by the sergeant, | called upon Miss
Mackenzie 60 give her evidence
can never forget the effect Of her
presence there as n witness before that
motley crew They became orderly and
respectful 10 degree. Only once "A gal
liant old bushman who in iit Of alb
sentmindedness had dined in two differ
cnt places rather forgot himself This
gentleman had reputation for dandy
ism because he wore boiled shirt and
clean handkerchief tied round his
neck II occurred when. in answer Co u
repeated question asked by the ser
gcant Cf tho witness elf she could actu-
ally swear her fnther had recognized in
the corpse of the man murdered by the
blacks the person Of John Farquharson.
she had inquired quietly. 'Is II neces-
sary for me 10 swear twice to every
thing | say %
Al this tho gallant old party -ho Of
the boiled shirt had thought 10 incum
bent on his reputation 10 applaud and
raise feoblo Hip. hip But he
also left the tent abruptly.
| asked only few leading questions
of this witness. not wishing 60 keep her
subjected to the scrutiny OF that court
longer than / could help. IL was n
unique sight 20 sec that well bred and
beautiful girl standing. facing me. In
such place. among those time worn.
rough looking men, many OF whom.
though rough In exterior and even in
mannor. had not always been 80. Once
upon time they might oven have
claimed acquaintanccship with hor. She
stood there as calmly and as self pos
scsscd as she might have done In her Tn
thcr's drawing room. only perhaps
there was subducd and simple earnest
ness in her speech which betrayed the
fact that she felt the gravity Of tho po-
sition and Of the charge agninst the
prisoner
ono thing noteworthy about her evil
dcncc wns that without having 90 ask
her concerning certain points which /
was somewhat unwilling 10 do, she
seemed to divine my reluctance and an
Bwcrcd the questions just nH | would
have desired had I wordcd them differ
emily
Her examination being finished. Hho
Fat down
| then explained 10 was needless To
take up the time of the court by qucs-
tioning Miss Mackcnzio's maid and
companion. who could only bear out 49,
which WAS quito unnecessary what the
former had said Al this El-io Gordon
looked somewhat surprised. Then the
women left the court
! called upon Savilc. and that seem
iugly simple ono somewhat surprised
me 10y his aatutcucs4 After his cyami
nation hc asked permission and with
drew.
Gordon wnH ucxt examined ~ D. uu
necessary tp particularizc tho evidence
for the defense IL was all | could un
der the circumstances. have desired
But felt that unless the evidence of
Dan Smythc could boz upset the magis
trato would bo quito Justified iu com
mittiug the prisoner for trial ! became
uucn-y aud merely asked my witness -
fcw uuimpurtaut questions 80 HH to give
Snyilc time 60 bring his suddenly rofno
OF the members Of tho court. who had
become little wcnricd Of the proceed
ingt cvinccd "a lively interest In the ap
pruach Of somo person ar persons who
cumc from tho direction 81 our camp |
looked II was remarkable procession
Loading the way came Samson. that
elegant poodle. In knowing and dig
niGed manner. ns If conscious ~ tho
fact that he had a personal interest In