The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-08-22
A Fair Chance.

1T WAS drowsily warm that day,
and though a murder case was in
course of trial at the county seat, it
had aroused no particular excitement
in the minds of the inhabitants OF
Marlborough. The courtroom had
hardly more than its usual contin-
gent of idlers and loungers.
For one thing the case had no com
plications or sensational features,
and there was nothing sentimcntally
Interesting in the character of the
parties concerned. 1t was just a coun-
try fellow, a piny-woodsman. who had
killed his s~tep-brother, and then
seemed able TO give no explanation
for his deed but, "He deviled me till
/ done it," The two, it appeared,
had had words" and suddenly Al
pheus White picked up an ADJ
and struck Jim Jordan a terrible blow
on the head that killed him instant
ly. The step-mother and step-sis-
sers of the accused and several OF
their kin Witnessed against Al
pheus, and bore voluble testimony
to the fact thai he had always been
full of pyore meanness;" whereas,
Jim had been beliked by all that
knowed him According TO them Al
pheus had "a gredge" against Jim for
wears. had always been jealous of
him, and "spited" him whenever he
could.
Alpheus had previously borne the
reputation of a harmless. ~peaceabie
man, not "overly bright" but steady
and sober: yet the fact remained that
he had killed a man, seemingly up
on slight provocation. lie did not
attempt to deny his crime. or even
10 Reuse it; appearing dazed into
submission to his fate. There was
nothing in his appearance 70 excite
the sympathy Of those sentimental
souls who fill the cells OF murderers
with bouquets. He was just a tall
thin countryman, awkwardly put TO
pcther. with a frecklcd face, hair al
most colorless. and n long. sunburn'
neck amply displayed by the turn
down collar Of his checked cottcf
shirt. Only in his pale, blue eye
there was "A sad, puzzled, rcbufie'
look one sees in the eyes of some poo
homeless dog hat everybody kick
and abuses and drives away.
The case had been n easily dis
posed of. The lawyer appointed D.
the court had pleaded somewha
lukewarmly. the cause of murder
Then followed the district attorney
who referred to the prisoner as
fratricide. Iikcncd him to Cain, an
became eloqucntly impassioned upo'
the duty of conviction.
The Jury retired to deliberate.
Alphcus sat with his chin sunke
upon his breast, in a sort Of menta
and physical torpor. The WIN
brought warm puffs OF perium
through the windows from the bloom
inc China trees in the courtyard;
slow oxwaron crawled crcakily alon
Main street, and some pigs grunte
and scufied in the dust.
ITS astonishing how near bein
animals those piny-woods people are
WHISPERED the district attorney
another lawyer. THAT ieliow Is u
tually too dull and dense even whe
his life hangs in the balance.
But Alphcus was not quite SO du
and dense. lie did not snow WIZ
~fratricidc meant. however. he unde
stood dimly that the district attorn'
had been .talkin' agin him"
A vague thought came to his mil
that IL he had money or infiucnc
things might 60 easier with him.
The elaboration of the jury did n
last long.
At the verdict. Guilty" a sort
mnrmur ron around the room; 4
there must always be n momen
emotion in hearing sentence OF dea
pronounced even upon the most
significant Of human beings.
rhe prisoner still remained seats
Some one took him by the arm a
helped him up, and as he stumbI
e his feet he spoke for "a nj
time that day.
"I-nuvcr-hcd - a-~-fair--chans