River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-01-01
A Child
Witness
By FLORENCE LILLY.

my childhood home was in a
wi quiet little country town where
the short u years Of my life had been
spent in peaceful happiness. The days
slipped away and the world, to me,
was only great big playhouse, until
something happened which brought
me to realization that u was indeed
d playhouse but on it's stage tragedy
and crime played a conspicuous part.
My childhood dreams had rude
awakening. One morning, as | was
busy at work in my little garden, was
startled by the sharp clatter Of horses
feet coming down the street. The
easy, graceful rider was Harry Derbin,
a young man of our town.
He was, indeed, man to be envied,
being endowed with everything to
make his life a success. He was hand
some, popular and wealthy, and re-
port said soon to be married to love
~ girl in a neighboring town.
saw from his flashing eyes that
something was terribly wrong. In
an instant he had dashed up to the
blacksmith door across the street, and
with a few words | could not hear,
Ieveled his pistol at the blacksmith's
head. The poor fellow begged piteous-
~ for mercy, but without tremor
or one relenting glance, young Der
bin fired, and the unfortunate man fell
to the ground with grOan.
I was rooted to the spot in horror
and amazement, but my eyes refused
to leave the man, who could by one
act Of ungovernable passion, cast aside
all thought of his future and wreck
a life so full Of promise as his.
With a glance at his PROSTATE VIC
tim, he cOolly placed his revolver back
in his pocket, and rode off down the
street As he passed me by, he glanced
down at my trembling little figure as
if to say: We'll did you see it, little
one?" and my throbbing heart an
swered: eyes, I, and only l, and your
Maker saw the deed" Then, as a
crowd came rushing up the street,
dazed and trembling, | turned and
went into the house-nOt the happy,
careless child that came out, but one
blindly confused at this first glimpse
of tragedy in the worlds playhouse.
Upon investigation it proved that
the motive for the deed, while eX-
tremely aggravating, did not Justify
the taking of a mans life. The black
smith had struck Henry Derbin's
little brother for some mischievous
prank in his shop, but this was too
much for the proud, fiery spirit of the
elder brother, and nothing but the
mans life would pay the penalty.
He was promptly arrested, and for
a time there was great excitement,
but after awhile the tumult subsidized
and, owing to his popularity and the
fact that he was the moving spirit
i'm the towns enterprises, public opin-
ion soon began to lean very much in
his favor.
Hearing the matter discussed SO
often, l soon began to consider him
as my prosecuted hero, but consoled
myself that | was the only one who
saw the shot fired. But [ was Devil
dered when father brought home one
ness in the case. did not then realize
what it meant, although father very
6Olemnly told me as we went to the
courthouse that "a mans life was in
any hands" and that / must "tell the
truth and nothing but the truth, .
about what | saw on that terrible
day. He led me into the crowded
in n
among the sea of faces for that of my
hero. l tremblingly obeyed the call
to the witness stand, and at last saw
the pale, handsome face of the man
whom my simple words would con-
denim. There he sat with his mother,
sweetheart, money and friends on one
side of his scale of destiny, but alas!
soon to be oyerbalanced by the law,
any testimony and justice. His gilt
tering eyes were fixed upon me as il
to say: BE merciful, little girl; you
know not what you do" The tears
streamed down my face, and between
my sobs 1 told my simple story, which
must have carried conviction with it
for the jury had been out of the room
turned with the verdict of guilty
and then, as the judge Numbered out
the sentence that Henry Derbin was
''to be hung by the neck until he was
dead. dead dead" I realized that this
mans life had indeed been placed in
my hands.
While the words of the judge rang in
my ears the condemned man gave me
one reproachful look, then bowed his
head and wept as l had never seen a
man weep before
Public sympathy by this time was SO
much in his favor that the most prom
ineut citizens. by a widely circulated
petition, got his sentence commuted
to life Imprisonment.