The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-04-21

y |
ways exercised an irresistible fascina-
ton, and where the allurements Of old
time norid oratory conferred upon the
courthouse something of the status OF
q theater.
Never before within the memory OF
those present had white woman cow
cred under the menace OF a possible
capital sentence. Indeed there lurked
some triaing doubt as to the propriety
OF the circumstance now. 1t was not
that her guilt was questioned-in the
popular judgment she was condemned
beyond all peradventure-but with its
innate, fantastic chivalry St. Anne's
was disposed to be compassionate, and
to meet alien logic with the sentiment
al reminder that "she Is a woman"
The crime itself was as old as his |
tory-the tragedy familiar to every |
stage OF life. In this instance its dra-
mats personae were of the lowest type |
gross, ignorant and debased. Jenny |
Haskell was the hayward wife-her
husband Jim was the victim: and the
third figure was a handsome oyster
man known along the tide water dis
tricts as bill" Thome. It had been
murder startling in its primitive bru-
tality and had acquired full page prom
tnence in sensational Sunday papers.
The husbands brains had been shot
out one night while he lay asleep by
his wife's side.
There had been no doubt as to the
identity Of the murderer. The circum-
stantial evidence was crushing, and. In
addition, the widow herself had fran
tically denounced Thome as her hus-
bands slayer. His trial had been re-
moved to the state metropolis, and at
ter his sentence he had been taken to
Its jail to await the day set for his ex-
ecution. The reason for this was pure
ly prudential. st. Annes was pitifully
poor, and there was growing dispo-
eition to regard the expenses Of the
court as excessive. The neighboring
county of Marlborough had averted
the cost Of a similar trial by quietly
ordered lynching. and had boosted OF
its thrift, and there had been some
warrant In the fear that the example
might prove contagious.
This had been three months before,
and the excitement had begun to sub
side when a new sensation was created
by the arrest of Haskell's relict as an
accessory to the murder, at the instance
of Willis Howard. the states attorney.
Mr.. Howard was man OF praiseworhy
political ambition. and had achieved
no little notoriety by reason OF the
conviction of Thome. He labored un-
der the dual misfortune, however, OF
not having been born in the county
and Of having inspired the natives
with an ungenerous disposition to as
sociate MS jealous activity with the
approaching nomination for Congress.
1t was the third day Of the Haskell
trial, and the interest was intense. An
indefinite rumor was abroad that the
! states attorney had trump card to
play, and a thrill of excitement swept
! through the crowd rs he arose to ad-
ndress the court
He proposed, he declared. to produce
witness who would testify to the I'M
estioned guilt Of the prisoner-to
identification with 1.-The foulest
recorded in the criminal annals
Anne's." Then, as he turned tc
the woman-white, panic-strick-
abject crouched beside hel
the whistle Of an approaching
ke sounded shri1fy from across
u The only train scheduled
would not arrive unit
he coming of special was
falleled. It was like al
bdrama, and the thronE
6ly.
stiffness every SOUND
iblez1g l1fg g
stoppage at the station
of footsteps on the flag
the road to the court
liant later there was al
the entrance ant
ted murderer, guard