Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-13

nt bOOh SChb bVoiuo
his counsel Presently the judge en-
tered through n rear door and took
his place upon the bench. He glanced
at those in front of him and nodded
at the bailitf, who withdrew.
After few moments the sound OF
footsteps sounded along the corridor
and the jury, with the bailiff at their
head, entered solemnly through 8
side door. All eyes except those oi
the prisoner and the woman in black
were turned upon them.
The prisoner gazed calmly at the
wall back of the judge; the woman
stared at the man with the bronzed
face. The jurymen took their seats
in the box and the judge said:
Gentlemen, have you decided upon
verdict?'
"We have, your honor" replied the
foreman.
The man with the broad shoulders
glanced nervously at the woman in
black. Calmly, intently, she was
peering into his face, the CLEAN in
her eyes seeming to pierce the dark
ness like the light from burning Goals.
He shrank from her gaze; his hands
clutched the back of the chair in
front of him so tightly that the nails
cut the wood. He tried to turn his
face away from her, but could not.
Her eyes held him; their glimmer ate
its way through him, and he grew
pale and trembled.
"What is your verdict, gentlemen?"
asked the Judge.
Again the broad-shouldered man
vainly struggled to tear his gaze from
that of the woman. An icy coldness
clung round his heart and cold per-
spiration sprang from his forehead.
Rut still the woman in black gazed
silently at him, and in her eyes was
sign of deadly reproach, of unpity-
ing censure.
The foreman arose and began speak
ing. His voice, sounding loud and
clear in the quiet room, startled the
man with the bronzed face, and he
sprang from his seat, white with fear.
"We, the jury" read the foreman
from paper in his hand, find the
defendant"
"Hold, your honor!" cried the man
with the broad shoulders, raising his
hand as though commanding silence.
"Hold, your honor!"
The voice, ringing through the dark
ness, sounded weird and ghost-like.
Two of the iurymen visibly trembled.
All present, except the prisoner,
turned to look at the man standing
like specter in the uncertain light.
For moment he paused, covering
his eyes with his hands. Then he
staggered down the aisle and leaned
! against the railing. The clock in the
: tower began the stroke of 10.
) "If your honor please" he said, with
voice that shook with fear, "if your
honor please, let not this verdict be
; rendered. For I am guilty of this
: murder. I-I-my God, 1 killed that
, mani"
= A sudden movement swept through
the room as though each one present
caught his breath.
: 'He had grievously wronged me-
t the man resumed, $50 I waylaid him
; and stabbed him to death. The pris
\ oner here, your honor, heard his dying
h yell and ran to his assistance. I hat
n dropped the knife, but he picked il
e up. Then pulled my gun, and he raI
e away"
e Again there was silence-deep, aw
full silence. The judge spoke:
: "Do you fully realize the conse
: quences of this confession, sir?"
e ST do, your honor" replied the man
V slowly deliberately. "I have tried t,
n leave here, but something held m
u, -
i dragged me into this courtroom ever.
d day of the trial; has compelled me t.
q hang around tonight until tn
S jury should agree, and has forced m
= back into this room to listen to a vcI
dict that / knew would be lie.
am guilty, your honor, I swear it."
d Then the judge turned to the fore
IS man of the jury.
e "You will find for the defendant,
n he said. "Mr. Sheriff, release the pris
e oner and place that man under al
N rest"
j. When the shackles had been rt
moved from his wrist, the young ma
with the clear-cut features Wake
70 calmly up the aisle with the light Io
great JOY on his face. In the rea
:. or the room he found the woman
a. black leaning forward against tn
10 10 back of "a chair, a handkerchie
y. ~ pressed against her eyes. He reste
. his hand tenderly upon her shoulde
~ Sweetheart" he said. "Brave Ii
- tie woman"
y. She arose to her feet and locked he
~ arms around his neck.
y "John," she sobbed, "John!"
ie When he had been locked in ceI
the sheriff said to the man with IL
ne bronzed face:
~ "What ever possessed you to volul
ne tarily make that confession?"
~ And the man looked at him with
IN frightened face.
~ ~ "The eyes of the woman" he a
10 swered. "The eyes of the woman