The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-18

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"The next witness called was WON.
an who had formerly been employed by
old Peterkin as housekeeper. She was
nervous, and her voice
trembled when she swore to tell the
truth. There was a malignant express
sion on the face of the counsel for the
prisoner when he asked the witness:
" DO you know Mary Peterkin9'
4" Il d. was the reply.
/" 'Shv is the niece of the murdered
man2'
Z" She is. replied the woman in a
whisper.
you once lived with the dead man
and his niece2'
"'I did
&c Did uncle and niece ever quarrelf'
Must l answer that2' asked the
old woman. turning toward Judge
Blank
g You must, sternly replied the
judge.
1" yes. They quarreled. faltered
the witness.
What about2' asked the counsel
for the prisoner.
&c She -Mary-wanted to marry
man her uncle did not approve Of. ;
''All eyes were turned toward Mary
Peterkin, who, with an expression of
horror on her face, sat crouched up in
her chair. Every one in that courtroom
seemed to realize that the testimony al
ready adduced against the prisoner at
the bar was as nothing compared with
that just brought ont against the girl.
The prisoner at the bar was pale and
trembling and. thought. an object of
abject misery. Then the thought fash
ed across my mind that he might be in
nocent. 1t was evident that Lawyer
Dash was struggling with himself when
he asked the next question.
Did you ever hear Miss Peterkin
threaten her uncle?'
Il heard her say once that she
wished he was dead. replied the wit
ness
"With a moan of anguish Mary Pc
terkin tainted. The prisoner started
forward and. despite the efforts of the
hailiffs to restrain him, exclaimed:
"'This is shame. am guilty, and
that man'-pointing his finger at Law
yer Horace Dash-'knows that am
What does this mean2' asked
Judge Blank, addressing the prisoners 8
counsel, who was leaning on the table
and seemed about to faint.
Z" i don't know, your honor, replied
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, in
dicating Mary Peterkin, leave this
| room.
I" 'Stopr exclaimed the prisoner. 4
withdraw my plea of not guilty. I am
guiltyP
"For a moment silence, oppressive
silence, reigned supreme. Finally the
judge said, DO you appreciate your
position-that I can pass sentence of
| death on youf'
&C 4 do, replied the prisoner, with q
| defiant look at his counsel. but I would
like to say few words.
Proceed, sir, said Judge Blank.
L" Il committed the crime, your hon
or, but not from desire for gain. It was
done in moment of anger, just anger,
and for the sake of my dear old mother.
Years ago my mother, SO that she might
pay some debts I contracted while in
college, mortgaged her farm-the home
where she was born, the home that she
went to as happy wife. the home
where was born-to old Peterkin.
Each year since then she paid to him
usurious interest. Finally there came q
day when he would not renew the mort
gage. That was the day killed him.
pleaded with him. but in vain. He in.
sisted he would foreclose the mortgage.
He called my mother vile name.
saw the revolver on his desk, picked i,
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
prisoner several times pressed his HAND
to his left side and moaned as if in pain.
'' Have you anything else to say z
asked Judge Blank.
Yes; want to say, explained the
prisoner in gasping tones, that after
had retained that lawyer'-pointing te
Horace Dash--'I told him was guilty
that 1 wanted to plead guilty. He for.
bade my doing so. Said it was splen
did case. He would acquit me and cover
himself with glory. He said he would
ask no fee. urged that was guilty,
but he said he could clear me. con
sented to the plea of not guilty
"Again the prisoner placed his hani
to his heart and with an effort said
4 could not save my life at the expense
of an innocent person, and that person
woman. I am guilty.
"He sank back into a chair, ani
Judge Blank turned to Horace Dash
the prisoners counsel. and asked:
What have you to say for your
self2'
"I did my duty-my plain duty,
said the lawyer. AS understand it, il
is lawyers duty to defend his client
and to acquit him as best he can
g Not at the expense of an innocent
person, remarked Judge Blank.
4 maintain it is replied the law
yer. Although a prisoner may con
fess guilt, he may be innocent. H,
might be insane when he confessed. H,
might be actuated by desire to saw
at the expense of his life q guilty per
son. He might
"I am guiltyr shouted the pris
oner. 4 did it. did it. T.
''He fell backward on the COUNSEL
table, gasped, and after few convul
sive movements attempted to rise, fel
back, twisted half around. and his sou
passed to a higher tribunal Judg'
Blank, after ascertaining that the pris
oner at the bar was dead, said. I &C
cept his plea of guilty. "