The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-04-12
A STORY BY THE JUDGE.
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While several of the old court
benchers We're in the county court
house in New York city, the other day,
discussing n famous poisoning case,
the one called Judge inquired:
"Should alawyer defend man charged
with murder when he knows the man
to be guilty?" This question led to
an animated discussion, which, after
some two hours, was brought to an
end by the judge suddenly exclaim-
ing: ''Do you see that man?"
The benchers turned their faces in
the direction indicated by the speak er
just in time to see a tall, lank man in
shabby attire leave the building.
Before word was spoken by any
Of the curious benchers the Judge
said, as though musing to himself,
though in tone loud enough for the
others to hear:
Strange that 1 should see that
man just at this moment and when we
were discussing question that he
could have answered. His life, like
mine, has been failure, but thank
Godl my regrets, though many, can
never be as bitter as his are. He
ruined his career as a lawyer by de-
Tending man who had confessed that
he was guilty of murder"
'Tell us the story" exclaimed the
one known as the proctor.
"He was ruined" began the Judge,
'by his ambition"
Ambition, suggested the solicitor,
with genial smile on his kindly,
clean-shaven face, ''is responsible for
much good and much evil. 1t is am
bition that has made wrecks, legal
driftwood, of many of us. We have
dreamed of great deeds in our profess
sion. we have builded fairy castles in
the air, while others have by hard
work succeeded. l for one"
"The story! the story" exclaimed
several of the benchers.
The Judge, thus urged, told his
story:
"Some 40 years ago it was that 1
entered the small courthouse in n
small town in the western section of
New York. Court was in session, and
the hush that had fallen upon the
crowd in the room was oppressive.
Nothing was heard at that time but
the ticking of the clock and the breath
ing OF the spectators. The presiding
Judge was looking up some legal ques.
tion in the law books before him. The
rapt attention of the Jurors and the
eagerness of the counsel caused me to
realize that trial of more than ordi-
nary interest and importance was in
progress. l asked bystander what
the cause on trial was. He gazed at
me in surprise for moment and then
exclaimed: "You must be a stranger
in these parts?"
" Il am I replied. 4 have Just
come here from New York city to file
complaint in an action of ejectment ;
" This, replied my informant, lis a
murder trial, and there, he pointed in
the direction was to look, lis the man
who will certainly hang
II looked at the prisoner at the
bar. He was a good looking young
fellow of about 25 years of age. There
was something in the expression of
his pale face that convinced me of his
guilt.
"While the trial Judge turned over
page after page of the law books L
learned the details of the crime.
81 learned that in his house on the
outskirts of the town, one morning
two months before the day of the trial,
John Peterkin,a wealthy old man who
had been, it was said, in the habit of
keeping large sums of money in his
house, was found murdered, shot in
the back. The murdered man had
been seated when he was shot, for his
chair was overturned just as he had
fallen from it. Peterkin, who was
about 81 years old, lived alone with
his niece, pretty girl about 1S years
old. She it was who discovered the
murder. When she had sufficiently re-
covered from her alarm, the niece,
Mary Peterkin, aroused the neighbors.
Sat first it was thought that the
motive OF the crime had been robbery,
but when the police discovered that
the safe, the door OF which was un-
locked and halfway open, contained
$3.50 and that the old mans watch
had not been taken, that theory had
to be abandoned For several days
the case was mystery. Then it came
to the knowledge of the chief of police
that Hasdall Reindeer, the only son of
widow, whose father had been post
master OF the little town, had been
seen around the house aud had spoken
unkindly of old Peterkin. Reindeer
was arrested.
when ] had learned this much, :"
said the Judge, "the trial Judge, whom
we will call Blank, looked mp from the
legal books and said; Il will admit
the testimony objected to-.
while Judge Blank was reviewing
the law questions looked at Mary
Pe.erkin. She was seated in the rear