The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-02-09

iurymen SIc always instructed by the l1dgc not Co talk of a ease among themselves until they reached the jury room for a final decision. but neverthe- less each juror has a pretty fair idea of bow the panel stands at almost any stage of the game. In our ease when a good point was made in favor Of either side 10 was passed along in a whisper. ] sat next to the foreman. and from the Grt Co last in a trial lasting fourteen days | knew that he was lnimical to tbp accused An other jurors knew it as well. aud | won't say it dldn't have considerable Influence when we came ,o take a ballot.
 Nash made a wretchcd showing, and ;hc trial was spun out by legal squab- bling | don't believe there were three people in the courtroom who believed b'm Innocent When the ease finally closed my conscience would not have permitted any other vote but guilty" Tive minutes after we were sent out by the judge We took ballot There were eight slips marked guilty" and four blanks There are always Jurors who walt for the majority before commit ling themselves. After the ballot had been taken Dawson asked 1T there was any polus in the ease not made clear, hut uo one sought for further nforma- ,lon. Then hc said. and thought he said lt with suppressed satisfaction:
 "GcutlcmCn. there k no doubt as to the result of the next ballot. Nash Is guilty without the shadow of doubt. and such will be our verdict. For de- ccucy's sake. however, We must use up at least an hours time"
 We had been sent out at o'clock In the afternoon. After the ballot we smoked and talked and killed time for an hour. During the last fifteen min utcs of this hour l was talking with the foreman on matter quite outside of the case. but somehow as l studied his face it seemed to me that he was exultant over the fate of the prisoner. was going to vote for guilty" but vet | pltled the man. As we continued talking l happened to notice what big hands anl strong fingers the foreman had. and found myself saying that he would make short work of a man IT those fingers once got a grip on the throat. Soon after he rapped for or der and said that he would take anoth' CT ballot The slips were prepared, and on each of the twelve was the fatal word. Word was about to be sent to the court that we had agreed. and there was a glcam of triumph ln the foreman's eyes. when he suddenly rais- sd his hand to his heart. turned white ls death and sank down in a chair. We gave him water and worked over him For a few minutes and were about to ,epd for a doctor when he rallied and said
 Do not send for any one, but listen to me. It's a case of heart failure, and it's bound to take me off. We have just convicted Nash of murder. but l want to tell you that he Is innocent. l am the guilty manv'
 Hes out of his mindr' cried three or four In chorus.
 My mlndswas never clearer" he an- swered. "I called on the woman after Nash left. No one saw me as entered, and after had choked her to death l left by the rear fire escape. broke one of tine rungs of the iron ladder In dc scending. Before God am the guilty man. | hai,d Nash and admired the woman and would have seen him go to the galloNs without word. Call the clerk and have him take-take down
 But 1t was too late. He died before he could finish the sentence. His con fessIon had been made to eleven men,