The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1903-01-02
\ Child
Witness
Bx FLORENCE LILLY.

MY childhood home was in a
MvI quiet little country town where
@he short ~ years of my life had been
Spent in peaceful happiness. The days
clipped away and the world, to me,
WAS only great big playhouse, until
Something happened which brought
Inc to a realization that it was indeed
\ playhouse but on it's stage tragedy
and crime played conspicuous part.
I NV childhood dreams had rude
Awakening. One morning, as I was
busy at work in my little garden, I was
startled by the sharp clatter of horses
Rect, coming down the street. The
sasy, graceful rider was Harry Derbin,
young man of our town.
! He was, indeed, a man to be envied,
Seing endowed with everything to
make his life success. He was hand
1ome, popular and wealthy, and re-
yort said, soon to be married to love-
h girl in neighboring town.
I saw from his flashing eyes that
DOM fixing was terribly wrong. In
In instant he had dashed up to the
blacksmith door across the street, and
nth a few words 1 could not hear,
eveled his pistol at the blacksmith's
lead. The poor fellow begged piteous-
h for mercy, but without tremor
X one relenting glance, young Der
lin fired, and the unfortunate man fell
b the ground with groan.
I was rooted to the spot in horror
nd amazement, but my eyes refused
B leave the man. who could by one
1T of ungovernable passion, cast aside
II thought of his future and wreck
life so full of promise as his.
with glance at his PROSTATE VIC
IN, he coolly placed his revolver back
his pocket. and rode off down the
rect. AS he passed me by, he glanced
bwn at my trem bling little figure as
to say: "Well, did you see it, little
se?" and my throbbing heart an
sered: "Yes, I, and only I, and your
aker- saw the deed" Then, as a
bwd came rushing up the street,
ICED and trembling, I turned and
int into the house-not the happy,
reless child that came out, but one
indy confused at this first glimpse
ira edy in the worlds playhouse.
Upon investigation it proved that
motive for the deed, while ex-
kmely aggravating, did not justify
- taking of a mans life. The black
18th had struck Henry Derbin's
tie brother for some mischievous
hnk in his shop, but this was too
Ech for the proud, fiery spirit Of the
Ter brother, and nothing but the
MS life would pay the penalty.
He was promptly arrested, and for
lime there was great excitement,
/ after awhile the tumult subsidized
B, owing to his popularity and the
It that he was the moving spirit
the towns enterprises, public opin-
soon began to lean very much in
favor.
fearing the matter discussed so
- en-, soon began to consider him
my prosecuted hero, but consoled
self that l was the only one who
the shot fired. But was bewil-
ed when father brought home one
my summons as the principal wit
5 in the case. did not then realize
1t it meant, although father very
mnly told me as we went to the
rthouse that "a mans life was in
hands," and that must "tell the
Ii and nothing but the truth"
ut what I saw on that terrible
= He led me into the crowded
rtroom, and I searched in vain
,ng the sea of faces for that of my
1 tremblingly obeyed the call
he witness stand, and at last saw
pale, handsome face of the man
m my simple words would con-
n. There he sat with his mother,
etheart, money and friends on one
of his scale of destiny, but alas!
to be overba!enced by the law,
and justice. His gilt
lg eyes were fixed upon me as if
ay: BE merciful, little girl; you
not what you do" The tears
,med down my face, and between
obs I told my simple story, which
have carried conviction with it,
he jury had been out of the room
few moments when they re-
ed with the verdict of ''guilty,"
then, as the judge Numbered out
sentence that Henry Derbin was
,e hung by the neck until he was
dead, Dead" realized that this
life had indeed been placed in
'ands.
lille the words of the judge rang in
ars the condemned man gave me
:eproachful look, then bowed his
and wept as had never seen
weep before.
bile sympathy by this time was so
in his favor that the most prom
citizens, by widely circulated
got his sentence committed
Imprisonment.