The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-09-19

ond mate. And what did the second mate
do, when he heard that his owners had de-
cided to prosecute? He committed sui
cidel Is there no proof of guilt in that
act?" you are going a little too fast,
sir The coroner's jury declared that the
second mate killed himself in a state of
temporary insanity"
Suppose we try show of hands?' was
suggested Gentlemen who find the pris-
oner guilty viii please hold up their
hands,
Votes were at once registered, including
the vote Of the foreman. One incompre-
hensible man abstained from expressing
his sentiments even by sign. He sat inn
movable, with closed eyes. The quick
witted foreman had long since suspected
him Of being simply the stupidest person
present-with just cunning enough to con-
ceal his own dullness by holding his
tongue. After heated conference among
themselves they decided on securing unan-
unity of opinion by submitting to the ar
bitration OF this one independent member
present. (Which way does your view Of
the verdict incline, sir? Guilty or not
guilty?"
The eyes Of the silent juryman opened
with the slow and solemn dilation Of the
eyes of an owl. Guilty" he answered,
and shut his eyes again.
An unutterable sense of relief pervaded
the meeting. Enmities were forgotten;
and friendly looks were exchanged. With
one accord, the jury rose to return to
court. The prisoners fate was sealed.
The verdict was guilty.
The low hum Of talk among the persons
in court ceased when the jury returned
to their places. Curiosity now found its
center of attraction in the prisoners wife
who had been present throughout the
trial.
Mrs. Westerfeld was a snowy woman.
Her commanding figure was finely ROBBED
in dark colors; her profuse light hair hung
over her forehead in little clusters Of ring
lets; her features, firmly but not delicately
shaped, were on large scale. No out
ward betrayal Of the wife's emotion re-
warded the public curiosity; her bold light
gray eyes sustained the general gaze with
out finching. To the surprise Of the
women present she had brought her two
young children with her to the trial. The
eldest was a pretty little girl of ten years
old; the second child, boy, sat on his
mothers knee. 1t was generally observed
that Mrs. Westerfeld took no notice OF
, / her eldest child.
, The judge took his seat, and the order
was given to bring the prisoner up fol
/ Judgment. The surgeon of the prison en-
! tered the witness box, and, being duly
T sworn, made his medical statement.
The prisoners heart had been diseased
, for some time past, and the malady haC
D been neglected. He had tainted under tn,
5 prolonged suspense of waiting for the yer
dict. The swoon had proved to be Of sucl
a serious nature that the witness refused
to answer for consequences if a SECOND
T. fainting fit was produced by the excite
ment of facing the court and the jury
Under these circumstances the verde
= was formally recorded. Once more tn
spectators looked at the prisoners wife.
o She had risen to leave the court. 1t wa
$ observed, when she retired, that she he'll
! her boy by the hand, and left the girl t
follow. A compassionate lady near be
offered to take care of the children Will
> she was absent. Mrs. Westerield answer
u ed quietly and coldly: Thank you-thei
father wishes to see them
r. The prisoner was dying; nobody coul
look at him and doubt it. His eyes opene
% YEARLY when his wife and children az
i preached the bed on which he lay helples
the wreck Of a grandly made man. TIL
~ girl stood nearest to him; he looked at he
" with a faint smile.
The poor child understood him. Cryin
d piteously, she put her arms round his nee
II and kissed him. Dear papa" she SAT-
come home and let me nurse you"
- The surgeon, watching the fathers fac
= saw a change in him which the other pc
/. sons present had not observed. As b
20 wife brought the child to him, the surgeo
20 whispered to her, If you have anythir
10 to say to him, be quick about itr' 81
> shuddered; she took his cold hand. HI
= touch seemed to nerve him with ne
~ strength; he asked her TO stoOp over hir
~ They won't let me write here" he viii
= pered, unless they see my letter. Ii
20 up my left arm. Open the wristband."
no She detached the stud which closed Il
- wristband Of the shirt. On the inner si'
!. Of the linen was line written in red le
;, ters-red of the color of blood. She ss
bo these words: Look in the lining OF Il
Of trunk"
- what fOr?" she asked.
\. The fading light in his eyes flashed
- her a dreadful look of doubt. His Ii
~ fell apart in the vain effort TO snsws
/, ;, His last sigh iuttered the light ringle
= Of her hair as she bent over him.
- The surgeon pointed to her childre
as Take the poor things home" he sal
- "they have seen the last of their father
h Mrs. Westerfeld obeyed in silence. S
- had her own reasons for being in a hur
~ to get home. Leaving the children und
- the servants care she locked herself
y. in the dead mans room, and emptied
~ trunk Of the few clothes that had be
"a left in it.
nd The lining which she was now to exa
,as inc was Of the customary material, and
ter the usual striped pattern in blue a
.le white. Her fingers were not sufficient
BIT. sensitive to feel anything under the 81