The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-11-28

ever, had no notion of allowing his
confession to stand.
"On the opening day the courtroom
was densely packed, and men twisted
their necks to see the two principals
in this strange drama, the man accused
by the people and the man accused by
himself
"Then began a bitter fight for life
between the two men.
"Thcre was only circumstantial evi-
dence to convict Hawke-Eye; there
was his own confession to establish
Whitman's guilt. Temporary insanity
was Whitman's explanation of his con-
fession. | testified that he was of
sound mind and perfectly lucid while
debating and signing the confession.
Jennie Watson, his nurse, reluctantly
admitted that my testimony was true
so far as she could Judge.
"Whitman's attorneys pulled the
confession to pieces; it was the hallu-
cination of dying man; it was caused
by the sight Of the gallows, the sound
OF the hammers, the excitement Of the
trial working on diseased brain, caus
ing an abnormal ina gination, a tenn
porary insanity. Celebrated authori-
ties on the subject gave their opinions
in favor of this supposition.
"It was shown that Whitman's 8
father had at one time been insane.
Then again, what could have been the
motive for the crime? Whitman's s
mine, the Little Fairy was at that
time failing, but he llad IL d.zsn other
resources. Money could not have been
the object. Hawke-Eye stated that
his axe had been stolen the day before
the murder. Whitman's confession
said that he took it from inside The
window that night.
"Whitman stated on the stand that,
believing himself to be dying man,
he thought to save Hawke-Eye and
perhaps win him to better life, by a
confession, which could irjure nothing
but the name of dead man. He did
not believe in capital punishment, and
Hawke Eyes guilt had been estab.
lished on circumstantial evidence only
Had he been in good health be would
would never have made such false
statement, therefore his brain must
have been affected.
Whitmans appearance while testi-
flying was not calculated to inspire one
with confidence in the man. He seemed
to have lost all the dignity OF bearing
that had formerly distinguished him,
and stood trembling, aged. irresolute,
yet with fierce love of life written
plainly on his drawn features.
The attorneys dwelt most empbati-
cally upon the difference between the
two men; upon Hawke Eyes record OF
bloodshed and brutality, and upon
Whitman's noble, upright character,
his benevolence, his generosity, his
kindness. Nevertheless, the jury,
after long wrangling, found Whitman
guilty.
The case was appealed and carried
into the higher courts, and was there
fought stubbornly step by step to the
end. t'cost Whitman fortune, but
at last the law declared him to be an
innocent man, and he was free. Hawke
Eye johnson was banged for the mur-
der just two years after the crime had
been committed at Silvertown."
The Doctor paused,
by all the powers, that shaws what
money will do," cried Courtney. "In
the name of reason and common sense,
of course Whitman was the"
The Doctor quietly filled his pipe.
"Wait a moment" he said. II
haven't finished yet. just before
Hawke Eye mounted the scafIold be
confessed that be had killed Ira Whit
man. He told where he had. buried
the money, and it was unearthed by
the Sheriff, ap hour after the hanging"
-Fronk Lesiies Popular .NonthIy.
He was cutting an item from news
paper. at tells how house was
robbed and | want to show it to my
wife, he explained.
"What good will that .lo?' friend
inquired.
"a whole lot, was the reply; "you
see, this house. was robbed while the
man was at CHURCH with his WIFE"
"Say!" exclaimed the friend. excited
ly, "you haven't got a duplicate copy
of that paper, have your -.
Judge" Madame, you are lying in
l.. L.