The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-01-25


sun. and as | desired the picure to be
well lighted | made ready toopen tht
lens as soon as the men wereout OF tl(
way.
Standing with my back tQthe glade.
carefully adjusted the deliate mecllan-
ism Of the camera and son had all II
readiness to snap it.
Suddenly there was ssharp, ringing
report behind me. yhlrled quickly
around. and in the motm gave the rub
Der bulb in my hand "a faint pressure
without realizing whatI was doing; and
only discovered, whcp1 heard the metal
lie click Of the shuttle, as ii closed after
its instantaneous nWcment, that | had
taken the photograh. !.
When my starred senses came back
to me | saw becding Iorm lying or
the ground. whie few yards away a
man was runnag.
The body shich lay on the thick
green grass vas that of man whose
death caused nis trial; and the coward
/ w. fleeing assassin. the man who would
not face the consequences of his deed
was the prioner. John Evans
The witess took glass OF water
wiped his eated brow and looked abou,
/ him.
/ The SPECTATORS, too interested 10 o'think
gaspngl drew back into their chairs
The rrsoner, handsome, honest ap-
pearin. man, sat mot;onless and stun
/ ned
"1iat night" said Mr.. Mourdoff, re-
sumng his narrative. Il developed the
plae that was in the camera, and you
ma be sure watched with interest and
: lpe as the picture gradually began to
firm.
Bit by bit the trees came out, the
long shadows deeply indented the g lass
in their reverse color of pure white; the
grass, like bunch of tangled thread
gathered into a dscernible mass; and
then. last of all, the two mems images
stood out on the dull gray surface.
BY means Of solution of alcohol l
dried the negative at once, and by us
ing developing paper, l soon had a
perfect print.
The photograph is more than mere
curiosity; it is the study Of crime.
On it you can see undenabie proof OF
that mans guilt; see the manner of the
killing; see the already dying victim.
That is the extent of my knowledge
OF this murder"
In a dazed, uncertain fashion, the
man on trial for his life gazed at the
photograph which the lawyer held in his
hand
He seemed unable to comprehend the
story, and his eyes beseechingly asked
for glance at the picture which he could
not understand.
But the prosecuting attorney had fame
and name yet to gain, and needed not
The pleading now expressed in the mute
quivering mouth; what difference could
it make at any rate?
The picture was a remarkably distinct
one.
16rtc.a background = 'aneted trees
merging into the matted grass az thef
base, stood two men, one with an ex
ploding rifle in his hand, was on th'
extreme right; and the other. 1urthe
back on the left side, was falling. HI
arr thrown up in a way that left III
doubt as to the human target his com
panion had chosen. The murderer, who's
calm face harmonized with his cool FIR
ing. was unquestionably the presen
prisoner, John Evans. The other wa
The man who had been found dead will
bullet in his forehead.
The first of the twelve jurynlen hell
out his hand and took the photograph
For moment he gazed critically a
the bit of cardboard, then grim loo'
of determined duty overspread his fac
"a look which caused the attorney TO
the State to lean comfortably back ant
wreath his face in contented smile.
One after another of the jury passe'
the picture on to his neighbor, som
with plying glances at the puzzled pris
oner. some with the loathing for hin
clearly shown in their shrinking coun
tenances: but one and all with an un
mistakable verdict plainly written OF
their persons.
A short half hour later the jury hle'
back into the court room. and the fsre
man stood up.
eve find the prisoner guilty Of muir
der in the first degree, as charged, wa
all he said.
Wrapped in an outer covering OF heaV
naner the governor one day received a
envelope bearing the inscription, "Ts ,
sent to the governor of the State afte
my death
Inside was a signed and duly atteste'
confession, which read
"In the late Evans murder trial.
Robert Mourdoff. gave false testimon
in regard to the killing of Andrew Cor
don. In this confession. which sha
he read only after my death, | wish
s,a,c that / was the murderer Of AndreN
Gordon. The photograph displayed
court was an elaborate affair which
made-skilfully. ! congratulate myself
and It had no real value at all.
"For wears Gordon and | had bee
enemies | hated him and he hated m'