Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-23


izen unless was ready to prove 1t.
1t wouldn't surprise me if dozen o.
sgd Hart's gang amt ready to swear
you've made threats ag'in i'm. Men
o. Their stripe will swear off arm or
leg fur a dram O. rotgut. or to
avenge dead rascal. If they refuse
you ball. my boy, you must try to
put up with It,"
81 am prepared for anything" said
Ronald, quite calmly. AS he spoke he
caught Col. Hasbrooke's eye and held
it for minute. He noticed that the
old mans glance was stern and unfor-
giving. Further back in the row Of
faces Ronald saw Dawes, full to his
great staring eyes with tender awed
concern. Some feature of Hasbrooke's
reminded him of Evelyn, and he fell to
plying her with his whole heart. He
told himself she would hear the i'd
verse news on her fathers return
home-the news that he was to be
common prisoner in the county Jail
until the spring. He fancied he saw
her white face full of despair.
Redding was turning the leaves of
big tome on his knees and as he took
no notice of his client the latter sank
SO deep into his ooze of dependency
that he did not hear the preliminary
proceedings of the court. He came to
himself only when DR.. Sloan had be-
gun speaking. The physician was
saying that, owing to the critical con-
dition of patient, he hoped that it
would be admissible for him to testify
without delay. After little discus
sion his request was granted, and the
doctor took the stand and kissed the
edge of worn Testament. 1t was his
opinion, he said, briefly, that Harris
death had resulted from wound in
the lungs made by the ball for which
he had probed and which he held in
his hand.
Here the solicitor rose.
us that the ball you found in the
wound, doctor?" he asked.
ut is, Sir" responded the witness.
"Dr. Strong" pursued the solicitor,
state to the court if it is fact that
you found the dead man with revolver
tightly clutched in the fingers of his
right hand"
"That is quite true, SIR" said DR..
Sloan. "Thad Williams said that he
died holding it, and that he"
"Your honor" broke in Redding, on
his feet in an instant, 1--WE object to
what Thad Williams said"
The Judge nodded us he admitted the
i,1cfino 0f fho o1oiantsor he
stepped to the table of the magistrate
and took up sgd Harris revolver, which
lay beside Ronald's, in view of the en-
tire room.
SIS this the revolver to which you
refer?" he questioned, casting calm
look of satisfaction round the circle
of lawyers within the railing.
sit is, sir"
'There is one more question:" said
the solicitor, with smile, land then
we are through with you, DR.. Sloan.
You are satisfied in your mind that
sgd Harris death was brought about
by the ball you found in his body, and
that the ball came from that other pistol
lying on the table-the pistol we shall
prove was carried by the prisoner"
Eyes, am quite satisfied"-here the
witness paused. 81 am able to swear
that the ball 1 found in him was the
cause of his death, but 1 cannot, OF
course, swear that the ball came from
that other revolver"
SWELL, that will do" said the solicitor
and he turned to Redding. "The wit
ness is with YOU" he added, with an
easy smile, full of confidence.
Redding got to his feet slowly.
II don't know, your honor" he said
that can think of anything just nov
to ask the Witness" and he stood nerv
ously pinching his nose as he leane'
against his chair and rocked back AM
, forth, defeated look spreading owe
5 his face. However, he soon pulled him
self together.
r "You say, DOCTOR" he asked, "tha
: you are not ready to swear that ba
came from the revolver of the pri,
. oner?"
. Before answering, the witness, VIII
: still fingered the bullet, took up Hart
a revolver and fitted the ball into til
end of the barrel. Then Ronald, who's
I eyes were on his face, saw him stal
t and turn pale, as he hastily put dow
i Hurts revolver and picked up the othe
! He was nervously trying to place IL
: bit of lead into its end when, with u
q exclamation of establishment, Reddin
n strobe to his side and stood watchir
8 him with widening eyes. Ronald sa
l, q broad smile spread over Redding
. face, and then he came back to his pla'
!. flushed with triumph. Ronald was MOI
q plused. Redding seemed electrified ,
n he bent down and put his lips to his ca
= "Thank God, my boy" he whispere
- I'm goin' to wipe up the ground wit
'em. Damn 'em, won't leave who
. rag on 'em!"
To the prisoners surprise, he r
= sumed his nonchalant attitude on Il
- back of his chair, which he hitche
4 about until he had secured his ba
4 ance. The magistrate looked bored,
i was engaged in conversation with Ths
n Williams and did not seem to note Il
e bewildered attitude of the witness 9
j. the stand.
"You are sure that the bullet in yor
S hand was the one that caused Sydne
J. Harris death?" questioned Redding.
r Hes already sworn that" put in ii
: squire, sharply; 1--WE must not go Owe
e the same ground twice. It will tai
: all day to get through"
f cts important enough for i'm I
e swear it twice, your honor" said Rel
= ding, calmly, and then, as he conti1
ued, his eyes began to flash and h
y voice rang out SO clear and loud thi
b the solicitor looked up in astonishmen
e "Dr. Sloan, is it not your opinion ths
). the ball in your hand could not possibl
:, have come from the revolver belongin
7; to my client?"
= There was profound stiffness in tt
t big room. 1t was broken by an impu
s sive guffaw from the solicitor, VIII
: shot an amused glance at Redding, g
n If ha fhopuh+ that ls1pva, b,xJ +o1,o