Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-07-19
ory and sentiment back into the more
stable ground of truth and justice.

have weak case to assume what their
opponents will say and then build up
an answer. This is assumption indeed,
and in this instance words are put into
my mouth which certainly would not
utter. You were told that ! would ask
you to believe that these two men quar-
relied at or near midnight in a room In
the hotel and that then they went out.
In the face Of rising storm, on a
pleasure trip In boat No, gentlemen,
l would not SO impose upon your intel
ligence as to ask you to accept any
such preposterous proposition. What
l do ask you to believe is easy to be-
lieve, however, for. as God is hearing
what l say, | consider 1t to be the sol
emn truth. 1t has been testified. and
the testimony has neither been refuted
nor denied by the derense, that the
prisoner prosecuted the lady who was
engaged to the deceased with atten-
tions which she spurned. 1t has been
shown that she accepted the deceased
and that the prisoner Immediately
heaped vituperation upon him In the
very presence Of the woman whom that
day he had pretended to love. True,
the pretense for the quarrel was the
dog, lame dog and very lame pre-
tense. Later we find that the prisoner
pursues the deceased to his very room
in the hotel in the nighttime. They
quarrel. and shortly afterward they
both 60 out. Now, why did they go
out? Evidently they went to settle
finally the difficulty which existed be-
tween them. Harassed and annoyed
by this man who had been his rival
and who did not hesitate to precipitate
q quarrel in the presence Of the woman
to whom he was engaged. the deceased
accepted a proposition to go to Deer is
land and fight II out. Thither they
went There one man died. Now, why
did he die? Evidently before reaching
the land Mr.. Norton. who was sitting
In the stern. since he had the longer
oars, and thus had his back to his ad-
versary, was treacherously thrown
overheard. The oars slipping frem his
hands, fioated of and were not easily
recovered. Therefore they were left
1t was a villainous murder. plain and
simple, and | am assured you will
agree with me-"
My lawyer arose and asked the court
to direct the jury to dismiss from their
thoughts the theory of intentional
drowning suggested by the prosecution.
as not a bit Of evidence had been ad-
duced upon which it could be based;
secondly, that, as the prosecution ex-
planned the presence of the two men In
the boat by claiming that they had
gone out to fight the jury should give
the prisoner the benefit Of the doubt,
and IL the killing occurred during the
fight they should bring no greater yer-
dict than manslaughter. Both of these
requests were denied by the judge. but
they had their influence upon the jury,
am sure. Their verdict you already
know
Now. I will endeavor to give as clear
history as possible Of this mysterious
affair as it is known to me. Early in
the summer came to this place with
my dog Psyche for season Of hunting
and fishing. | must tell you at once
about Psyche. for she was the keynote
Of all that has occurred About three
years agoI met with bereavement In
the death of my only relative. my
brother. which left Inc absolutely alone
in the world. After time this loneli-
ness preyed upon me to such an extent
that to escape from 1t I secured COM
panion by buying setter puppy.
have always loved dogs. but had never
owned one before. did not immedi-
ately choose name for my dog. but
was satisfied to call her Puppy. to
which she responded readily. AS she
grew her affection for me and her intel
ligence increased to such an extent that
soon discovered that had treasure.
would come home at night. at times
tired out and depressed In spirits, and
enter room which would have added
to my gloom but for the presence of
this faithful friend whom no moodiness
could ALLEVIATE. Ever on the watch for
my coming, her CHEEKY bark would bid
me welcome as soon as her keen ears
would detect my footstep She would
bound into the air as entered and kiss
me In the face, whining for Joy to see
me again. Where Is the human love
SO great that nothing can disturb it?
Yet is 1t not Characteristic OF the ca
nine race to love thus unselfishly and
constantly?
One night. pondering over this, be-
gan to wonder why 1t is that the re-
ligionists deny to animals the posses
sion Of soul? Yet surely they are In.
consistent, for do they not claim that
pure love is the highest attribute of
the soul? And is not the love of dog
for his master the very purest and
highest type? To me at least the argu-
ment was convincing on that night as
my dog and cuddled up together ON
my bed. named my pet Psyche.
Shortly after my arrival met Mar
tina Temple. With a precipitancy often
exhibited by my sex. at once fell in
love with her. ] have no reason to
give for this. and now. In the retro
spective, Ii appears to me that | must
have been temporarily out of my mind.
The woman LIS totally devoid Of all
that have usually considered to be req