Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-19
PROVED GUILTY

several years ago oltchuoO lAC ou'
perior court for the county Of - A
case Of murder was tried. The evidence
disclosed that the deceased and the
prisoner had been drinking together
and had quarreled; that the prisoner
had struck the deceased; that he had
sworn he would be the death OF him /;
that through the intercession Of the
bystanders a petched up reconciliation
had taken place, willingly on the part
Of the deceased, doggedly by accused;
that the deceased had started to go
home by his usual route and that the
prisoner had Immediately followed him,
although his home was in contrary
direction; that sounds of strife were
heard shortly after; that the deceased
had never again been heard Of; that,
suspicion having fallen upon the pris-
oner, his steps, upon the night Of the
difficulty had been traced; that marks
Of a struggle had been found upon the
earth and drops of coagulated blood,
and that the accused, having been ask
ed to account for the deceased, denied
that he had ever seen him after the
moment that he left on the night Of the
difficulty.
The defense was conducted by the
prisoner in person, and it was evident
to me that, although the calm and col
lected manner in which it was made
had its impression upon the judge, 1t
had none upon the jurors or bystanders.
They had made up their minds as to
his guilt and were determined that his
life should be taken. The solicitor
general closed the case. He dwelt with
burning ana bitter cloQuence upon the
crime Of murder. He spoke Of the cod
and deliberate manner Of the prisoner
and reprodched him as one who could
gloat like q cannibal over the mangled
remains Of his victim.
He dwelt with great minuteness.
clearness and ingenuity upon the train
of circumstances (which could not lie, "
and he threw a web of guilt around the
prisoner that no one doubted would In.
volve him in destruction, but still the
prisoner quailed not. The judge sum.
med up the case to the jury, narrating
the circumstances and unfolding the
law. He admitted that the facts were
very strong against the accused, but
that one material link was wanting. II
had not been proved that Grimes was
dead. He concluded by admonishing
them that they should not convict un.
less they had sufficient evidence Of that
fact.
But this caution was thrown away
upon the excited feelings Of the jury
who without retiring made up their
verdict of guilty, and the foreman was
in the act of signing it when the pris.
oner again rose.
81 ask permission Of the court" said
he, ito call witness who, think, will
relieve me Of this diabolical charge, who
will prove that my hands are not red
with my brothers blood, who will show
the improperly and danger Of a con.
in short, who will satisfactorily con.
vince the malignant and demonlike
heart of the solicitor general that l am
innocent of this crime"
"Have you any objection, Mr.. Sole.
itor General?" asked the judge.
None" responded the states at.
torney, with a bitter sneer, "but If he
wishes to convince me and to save his
neck from the gallows he had better
produce John Crimes"
THAT is precisely the witness seek
to Introduce" said the prisoner. "Mr
Sheriff, call John Crimes"
The proposition created great excite.
ment. Some Of the bystanders laughed
| aloud. Others heaped bitter eXecra-
lions upon the prisoner. The solicitor
general sneeringly asked him If he
would have him called again, and the
judge was evidently fast changing his
favorable opinion of the prisoner, who
he thought, was trifing with the court
l turned to the culprit and was amazed
at the terrible change that had taken
place In his countenance. Its placidity
and composure were gone. 1t was
covered with livid spots, and immense
drops Of perspiration were rolling rap
idly from his brow.
"Call again, in Gods Manner shouted
he at the top of his voice.
The sheriff repeated the call. The
storm that had been slumbering for a
short time now burst forth with tenfold
violence. The rain beat furiously upon
the shingled roof, the wind howled and
moaned like a condemned culprit, and
several of the large pine trees that sur.
rounded the building fell with a tire
mendous crash, startling the already
excited inhabitants Of the courtroom.
1t was an awful scene without. 1t was
still more awful one within. The un-
earthly appearance Of the prisoner, the
sudden and awful change that had
taken place in him, his solemn adjura-
ton and his earnest manner, all had
deeply affected the bystanders, and
many looked as IL they really expected
to see the murdered man arise at the
invocation. All were gratified save the
implacable solicitor general, who sat
scowling at the accused with look of
triumph and fiendish exultation on his
countenance. The judge rallied him.
self and motioned to the foreman of
tha iury to procaad when Sul1anly an