Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-05-15
IL. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, MAY Is, 1903.
! 1T FLASHED FOR
THROCM ORION
BY BushrOd C. Washington
Copyright, 1903, bv McOurss Newspaper
Syndicate
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Gentlemen, have you agreed upon
verdictT asked the clerk OF twelve
solemn faced men in the jury box.
I'VE have" responded the foreman,
handing folded paper to the clerk,
who read aloud the Endorsement on the
back: I'VE, the jury, ind the prisoner
guilty of murder in the first degree, as
charged In the indictment"
civilian Throcmorton," said Judge
Smlthson, with judicial sternness,
after fair trial, defended by able
counsel, you stand convicted Of the
cruel and deliberate murder Of Olive
Graham,
at has been shown that the young
woman had promised to become your
wife. Her parents, conhding In your
honorable Intentions, had recognized
you as her accepted lover and the door
of their home was open to you.
while the motive in your crime ia
not apparent, the facts which fasten
1t upon you are linked into chain of
circumstances strong and incontro-
vertible.
"You stood with Olive Graham on
the porch Of her home; an instant later
her cry for mercy was heard by her
parents above the storm then raging
Fastening to her assistance, they
found her murdered body on the slope
Of the hill rod from the door.
saXnn uyara taka.a annp oftar M e
were, red handed, the bloody knife
with which the deed was done having
been found upon your person.
"You have pleaded not guilty but
have not disproved single fact the
state alleged against you.
"The penalty Of your crime as by
statute fixed Is death. Have you any
thing to say why the sentence should
not be pronouncedT
Throcmorton was pink Of physic.
al manhood, well knit, erect, with a
character as straight as his form. He
held medal from 1.-The management
and was the wearer OF watch, the
gift Of grateful passengers when he
was taken from the wreck OF his en-
CINE. "Throc," as they called him,
was more than liked; he was loved by
the grimy roadmen.
When the last word fell from Judge
Smithson, the character OF the man
and the stubborn facts of the case stood
in solemn contrast. In such a contest
character must lose.
The eyes OF ThrocmOrton shone
straight into the eyes OF the Judge.
There was nothing of bravado in his
manner, neither tremor nor sign Of
weakening.
III 1t please your honor" responded
the prisoner, rising as he spoke, ut
will shock you and all present when
say mourn for Olive Graham and nm
innocent. But what 10 1t worth to say
II In the face of the evidence2 Had
sat with the jury l must have come
to their verdict. | am ready, your
honor, for the sentence"
Moved by some sudden impulse, the
Judge turned to the sheriff and said In
oner and return him for sentence to
the bar OF this court. The day and
hour the court will later Indicate"
Old Graham was a pensioned track
inspector, who loved the thunder OF
trains and scream Of whistles.
He had built his house thirty feet
from the roadbed. Just back Of II and
extending down TO the track was nm
abrupt twenty foot cliff Of shaie, the
perpendicular face of which was
smooth. II was In front Of II that they
found the body Of Olive.
No ~ just ran out Of the round
house, had backed up and coupled to
the ST. Louis express. It was Tom
Doyle's pet engine.
Doyle was looking from the cab win
dow for the signal to start. As an en-
gineer he was good second to Throc-
morton. lie was Throc's next friend
and was to have been best man at bis
wedding.
lie believed Throcmorton was limo
cent because he couldn't believe other.
wise. But there were the facts, and
when he thought OF them there was
lump In his throat.
Ted Elzie, Doyles fireman, had just
raked the crate when squad Of the
boys came by.
whats the newsT asked Ted.
"Throc's guilty an got to swing"
came back from the crowd.
"Fifty juries couldn't make me be-
lieve Throc killed Ollie Grah'm." said
Doyle, emphasizing with his fist on
the window sill.
The day had been swelterIng, clouds
had gathered and the night was black.
II was down grade, and Tom Doyle,
with hand on throttle valve and eye
on the rails, was ready TO slack at
the curve.
The storm had burst, and Just as
the engine struck the curve fash
of lightning and the focus OF the hend
light met full on the face Of the cliff
The sight Tom Doyle saw made him
reel and grip the lever.
"A letter for Mr.. Absalom Conway
called out GogRin, the worthy proprie-
tor Of San Francisco gambling den,
putting emphasis on "Mr. Absalom."
THAT'S you, Ab. / reckon" he added,
tossing him the letter
Mr.. Conway eyed the letter full
minute and, looking neryously over his
shoulder, tore the envelope
W--o. Aug. I. 1899.
Friend Ab-They say my nerves IL
broke an 1 mus run half time or throw
up. III diyvy my runs with you, an II
my nerves don't mend yours IL tho job
fer good. Right away you must come.
An It's yours am. TOM DOYLE
In the cab Of No. 40 sat Absalom
Conway 10 divide the run with Doyle.
Ted Exile WIS fireman. There was dis.
tnnt thunder; big drops began to pat.
ter and the wind raised. A storm was
on
Jump Into the cab. Ted, just fore
we strike the curve" said Doyle below
bis breath as he put foot on the engine
step.
forked fire tore the sky, shattered
telegraph poles and played In blue
flames around the engine wheels as
They gupd inward