The evening Republican., 1902-08-18
1T FLASHED FOR
THR0CMORT0N.

the jury, hnd the prisoner guilty of
murderin the first degree as chars-
el in the Indictment"
William Throcmorton, said
Judge Smithson with judicial stern
ness, after Il fair trial defended by
able counsel, you stand convicted
of the cruel murder of Olive Ora
ham.
at has been shown that the
young woman had promised to be-
come your wife. Her parents, con
fiding in youI honorably intent ons
had recognized you as her accept.
ed lover and the door of their hDm3
was open to you.
''Whv the motive in your crime is
not apparent, the facts which fastca
it upon YOU are linked INTO chain
| CT circumstances strong anl iucm.
troyertibIe.
"You stood with Olive Graham o n
tie porch Of her home; an Instant
later her cry fer mercy was heard
by her parents above the
storm .lIen raging. fastening to he r
assistance, they found her mur Tered
body on the slope Of the hiIia rod
| from the door.
"You were taken soon after, as it
we're red handed. the bloody knife
with much the dead was done haviu.
| ing been found upon your person.
''Iou have pleaded not guilty, but
have not disproved single fact the
State alleged against you.
The penalty OF your crime, as by
statue fixed Is death. Have you any
thing Cosay why the sentence should
not bc pron0uuco1!"
Thruclnorton was a pink OF phyS-
cal manhood, well knit with a char
actcr as straight as his form lie
had II medal from tile management
and was the wearer Of watch, til.
gift OF grateful passengers when he
was taken from the wreck OF his en-
g'ne. "Throc,' as they called him
was more tnan liked; he WAS loved
by the grimy roadmen.
When The last word fell from Judge
Sm'thson the character of the man
and the stubborn facts OF The Case
stood IN solemn coEtrast III such
contest character must lose.
The eyes OF Throcmorton shCnc
straight into the eyes Of the Judge.
There was nothing Of bravCdo in his
manner, neither tremor nor sign Of
Weakening.
alt it please your honor respond
cd the prisoner, rising as he spoke.
''it will shock you and all present
when say muurn for Olive Graham
and am innocent
But what IS it worth to say it in
the face of the evidence! Had |
sat with the jury | must have come
to their verdict. | an ready, your
honor, for the sentence
Moved by some sudden impulse,
the judge turned to the sheriff aud
said in faltering voice; Remove
the prisoner and return him for
sentence to the bar of this court.
The day and hour the court will la
ter indicate.
Old Graham was a pansiouel
track inspector, who loved the thuu-
der OF trains aul screams of whis
ties.
He had built his house 80 feet
from the railroad Just back of it
and extending down to the track
was an abrupt 2O-foot cliff OF shale,
the perpendicular facs OF which was
smooth. 1t was in front of it that
they found the body of Olive,
No. ~ just ran out of the roanl-
house, backed up and coupled to the
st. Louis express. 1t was Tom
Doyle's pet engine.
Doyle was looking from the cab
Window for tbs 81 5uul to start. As
al eng in scr he WAS agDol saeoLl
to TErocmorton. lie was Tnroc's
next friend aud was tc have becn
best mul at his wedding.
He believed Thr0cmorton innocent
because he couldn't believe other
wise. But when he thought of the
facts, there was q lump III his
throat.
Ted Elsie, D,yle'S fireman, hal
just rakel the CRATE, when some Of
tie boys came by.
Whats the news" ased Tel.
"Throc's guilty an got to SWING"
came back from the crowd.
Fifty iuries couldn't make me
believe Throc killed Ollie Graham"
said Doyle emphasizing with his fist
on the window sill.
The day had been swelterng, the
clouds gathered and the night was
black.
1t was down grade and Tom Doyle
with hand On throttle AMI eye on
rails WIS ready to slack at the curve.
The storm burst and just as the
engine struck the curve, a flash of |
lightning and the focus Of the head
light met full on the face Of the
cliff. The sight Tom Doyle saw
made him reel and grip the lever
"A letter for AIR. Absalom Con |
way" called out Goygin, the wotthy |
proprietor of San Francisco gamb-
ling den, putting emphasis on MIR.
Absalom. That's you, Alb |
reckon" he added, tossing him the
letter.
DIR Conway eyed the letter full
II minute and, looking nervously
over his shoulder, tore the enye-
lope.
W-O, Aug. 4, 1869.
Friend Alb
Theysay my nerves is broke
an mus run half time or to
throw up. I'll dIvvy my runs
with you, an if my nerves don't
mend yours is the job fer good