The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-17
PROVED GUILTY.


rior court for the county OF -. A
case OF murder was tried. The evidence
disclosed that the deceased and the
prisoner had been drinking together and
had quarreled; that the prisoner had
struck the deceased; that he had sworn
he would be the death Of him; that
through the intercession OF the by
ISLANDERS a patched up reconciliation had
taken place willingly on the part of the
deceased, doggedly by the accused; that
the deceased had started TO go home by
his usual route and that the prisoner had
Immediately followed him, although his
home was in a contrary direction; that
sounds Of strife were heard shortly af-
ter; that the deceased had never again
been heard Of; that. suspicion having
fallen upon the prisoner. his steps upon
the night OF the difficulty had been
traced; that marks OF a struggle had
been found upon the earth and drops
Of coagulated blood, and that the ac-
cused, having been asked to account for
the deceased, denied that he had ever
seen him after the moment that he left
on the night OF the difficulty.
The defense was conducted by the pris-
oner in person, and il was evident 70
me that, although the calm and collect
ed manner in which il was made had
its impression upon the judge, it had
none upon the jurors or bystanders. They
had made up their minds as to his guilt
and were determined that his life should
be taken. The solicitor general closed
the case. He dwelt with burning and
bitter elOquence upon the crime of muir
der. He spoke of the cool and deliberate
manner of the prisoner and reproached
him as one who could gioat like a canni-
bal over the mangled remains OF his VIC
tim.
He dwelt with great minuteness, clear
cumstances which could not lie, and
he threw a web of guilt around the
prisoner that no one doubted would in
volve him in destruction. but still the
prisoner quailed not. The judge summed
up the case to the jury, narrating the
circumstances and unfolding the law. He
admitted that the facts were very strong
against the accused, but that one mate
rial link was wanting. It had not been
proved that Grimes was dead. He con-
cluded by admonishing them that they
should not convict unless they had SUI
hcient evidence of that fact.
But this caution was thrown away upon
the excited feelings of the jury, who.
without retiring. made up their verdict of
guilty, and the foreman was in the act
of signing it when the prisoner again
rose.
Il ask permission of the court" said he.
Ito call witness who, I think. viii re-
lieve me OF this diaboical charge, who
viii prove that my hands are not red
with my brothers blood, who will show
the impropriety and danger OF a convic-
| ton upon circumstantial evidence-in
short, who will satisfactorily convince
the malignant and demon-like heart of
the solicitor general that 1 am innocent
OF this crime"
Have you any objection, Mr.. Solic-
itor General2" asked the judge.
None" responded the states attorney,
with a bitter sheer, but if he wishes to
convince me and save his neck from the
gallows he had better produce John
| Crimes"
That is precisely the witness seek
to introduce" said the prisoner. mfr.
Sheriff, call John Grimes"
The proposition created great excite
ment Some Of the bystanders laughed
aloud. Others heaped bitter excavations
upon the prisoner. The solicitor general
sneeringly asked him If he would have
him called again, and the judge was evil
IDENTIFY fast changing his favorable opin-
ion of the prisoner, who, he thought,
was trifiiug with the court. l turned to
the culprit and was amazed at the terri
bic change that had taken place in his
cOuntenance. It's placidity and compo-
sure were gone. 1t was covered with livid
spots and immense drops of perspira-
tion were rolling rapidly from his brow.
call again, in Gods namei" shouted
he at the top of his voice.
The sheriff repeated the call. The
storm that had been slumbering for a
short time now burst forth with ten
fold violence. The rain beat furiOusly
upon the shingled roof. the wind hOwled
and moaned like a condemned culprit,
and several of the large pine trees that
surrounded the building fell with a ire
Eendous crash, startling the already ex-
cited inhabitants of the court room. Il
was an awful scene without. It was a
still more awful one within. The un-
earthly appearance of the prisoner, the
sudden and awful change that had taken
place in him, his solemn adjuration ard
his earnest manner, all had deeply af-
fected the bystanders, and many looked
as if they really expected to see the MIR
dered man arise at the invocation. Al
were gratified save the implacable solic-
itor general. who sat scowling at the
accused with q look of triumph and fiend-
ish exutation on his countenance. The
Judge rallied himself and motioned 10
the foreman of the jury to proceed,
when suddenly an individual arose, no
one knew from where. and. striding to
the witness stand and throwing of a
huge cloak which enveloped his form
disclosed 70 the horror stricken and
amazed crowd the features of John
Grimes.
Long afterward I learned that there
had been a bet between the prisoner and
his supposed victim bearing on the weight
Review.