Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-08-18
CuAI,rEn NNIu

her father had so recently been murdered.
Notwithstanding the fact that the bank
err mad Acre been stricken to death, this
room ia! been his f%avoriic. and his dangh-
ter .onnG fond memories clustered ahou:
ii. 1. was apparent that the young hcircss
had been weeping. and little wonder. For
three days she had been seated in the
court house listening TO the evidence that
dc felt 10 most minds condemned the man
s1e loved as the murderer of her father.
She had listened TO the evidence of Her
man craven and reluctantly had spoken
words tina; substantiaicd his statements.
She had noted with feelings better im-
asiiied ;han described that the stern. hNcd
features of the jurors seemed TO admit of
little Doubt as to what would be their vcr-
lirt.
Tho statement of the prisoner. unsub-
Staitiated as ii was, seemed 10 bear little
weight.
Tho States Attorney di>pcllci that lit
Tie in ms .oiig argument for conviction.
He drew Il terrible picture of the crime
enacted in the room IN which she WIS
seated, and stated that the evidence was
snon as rot To admit OF Il single doubt as
to who committed ilsr horrible murder.
x other living SOUL he exclaimed. as
he poll.ie! his shaking finger at the lris-
oncr. 'had Il motive. This man had.
Where was it? Ask hi,n. Where is the
bag of coin he thai night obtained nj the
express Office? How did he obtain that
Cancelled note? The dead banker cannot
answer you. and the statements of his
assassin should weigh no; against the
overwhelming evidence against him. His
ASSERTIONS are cunnin.ly c%onirivcd: bat
would "A wrctcl-guilty of such Il crime
hesitate 10 save his worthless neck from
the halter 10y false statements? You have.
gentlemen. the evidence of the murdered
bankers nephew. his trusted friend. in
whom he had such confidence that, I'M
kn"wr to him, he had already nained him
the administration of his will and the
guardian ut his daughter. Yes. and left
hlni scs!(cs II fortune in his right. He
has told YOU. though reluctantly and after
BON. pressed by the counsel for the de-
Nnsc, that the dead banker had expressed
10 him q desire to live 10 soc the nephew
and his loved daughter man and wife. In
all this. gentlemen of the jury. the daugli-
tcrS evidence corrohorairs that of the
principal witness. with the exception that
she had 10 knowledge of the fact that her
father ho!.cd one day la src her wooded to
thc YONG man who is nnw president of
~ Pst.iN llNt Aihl itat'i
never expressed that wish To her. Why,
gentlemen of the jury? Because of her
fender years. May there not. gentlemen,
have been also Il motive here on the part
OF The prisoner for the removal of the
murdered man? Did he not fear the bank
sr. living, would thwar; him in his design
10 make the daughter his wife? ltrincm-
her. gentlemen, that III Herman Craven
and Miss Dcltos.tte had been one moment
later III entering the library they would
have found before them naught but the
lifclcss body of the murdered banker. The
iicMd that murdered him would have made
his exit from the house. And who shall
say. not without Il hope, nay. Il belief. that
the nephew would stand before the bar of
justice. charged with his murder! Muir
der. so palpablc and plain that even Lang
Scliars. the great Southern detective.
wholn he Aad urged to take his ease, ahan-
1oncd him.
There was amazcmcn, throughout the
ccurt room at the calm appearance of the
prisoner during the TRADE of the prose
cutting attorney.
Not an exclamation left his lips. He sat
pale and silent. with clcnchcd hands and
tightly compressed lips, until Lawyer
Robbins had taken his seat.
Arthur Dobbs plead long and we'll for
The life Of his client: but no dcnuncia-
lions of Herman Craven left his lips.
The ground he dwelt on was that no liv-
ing soul had seen the blade of the sheath
Knife driven home to the bankers heart.
and that the evidence against the prisoner
was entirely circumstantial.
In his closing plea the district attorney.
an old and experienced lawyer. ridiculcd
The idea Of the proof bei.g of a circum-
|st:sntiai nature, and in CLOSING his address
Used these words:
There he sits. geltlcmen. There in
III" prisoners boX-caught red-handed in
his murierous act. DO yous duty, and
free the Old North State of Il iicnd unpar-
ALLEGED. Take the case"
The Judges charge had occupied an
boar. and it was apparent that lie enter
1ained no doubt of the prisoners guilt.
No, half an hour previous to the time
we find Miss Hattie seated in the library,
and after the jury had retired from the
court room. had she left the court house,
and then only after the judge had an
nounccd that the verdict would be dcliy-
cred III open court Mt 10 o'clock the fol-
lowing day.
That is" said his honor. "if the jury
h-lcc. !uu tii'v undoubtedly VIII. i trust,
he added. THAT you will not he uncom-
Portable in the jury room: but owing to
Illness in my family. l am unable TO re-
main and take your verdict tonight
~ would have said more, much more"
Thought Miss Hattie. as she pondercd over
the matter. but for the caution of Mr..
Scllars. | would have denounced Her
man tra"en. | would have accused him
of having visited the attic. would"
Her thoughts were interrupted by the
entrance of her cousin.
My dear Hattie! find you alone.'
cried Herman, as he seated himself on the
sofa beside her. You have been weep
ing. ! do not wonder! The three past
days have been terrible to You; but the
grave will soon open to receive the body
of Your fathers murderer
IL trust So" said Hattie, with a sob
she could not suppress.
How brazcn the lend sat there
throughout the trial. In spite of all, 1 am
r-. Iii. Al -