The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
DAVIDSONS BEAT
The Exploit of Newspaper Man Avsrng Lynhng and Scoring
Big Card for His Paper.

on their way TO some other destination.
Sometimes. when the wire was idle. the
operator would let him sit in and prac-
tice until in time he became fair send
/ er and almost a good receiver
He read the East ST Louis operators
message easily, heard the receiving Of
fee answer %. X. and saw the surly
Salem teIegrapher open the key and call
the ST Louis office preparatory to start
ing his story. He noted the initials by
which the ST. Louis office was known on
the wire and the initial signed to the
Salem message. When the answer came
and the operator began to send his story
he stroIed out of the office and stood
on the station platform. Presently his
farmer friend drove up. and fifteen min
utes later Davidson was sitting in the
best room of a substantial country
house
Farmer Lawton was sending a wagon
into Salem in the morning and Davidson
made an early start. He reached the
town long before the opening of court.
StrolIing about. ne came to the county
Jail. The sheriff stood in front of the
building and greeted Davidson, whose
face he recognized. An idea came to
Tom, inspired more by personal interest
than by professional zeal He asked the
sheriT's permission to interview Ander-
sca.
Half an hour later he came out OF the
Jail, his instructive feeling in favor of
the prisoner now resolved into booted
faith. Anderson had refused to talk
freely before, even to his attorney. He
had persisted in the denial OF his guilt,
but he had made no explanation Some
thing in Davidson's fresh. sympathetic
interest had drawn him out Of his set
tied reserve: and when Tom left the
cell he carried with him a confidence
that must remain secret until the trial
had come to a climax. He had promised
the prisoner TO divulge nothing prema-
turely It was hard to keep faith, sor
/ there was better story in his interview
with Anderson than the court room
could furnish. but his account Of the
days proceedings contained only the
public Developments OF the case
/ It was on the third day Of the trial
/ that Schurman was put on the stand.
The court room was very still as ne
stood Up to take the oath. He told his
story in surIy way. but he held TO
what he had said on the day Of the
murder. His wife had complained to
him that Anderson was impudent TO her
He had warned him TO be more respect
ful- That afternoon, coming in unex-
pectedly from the field. he had heard
cries from the house, and, running
/ through the yard. he had come upon An
! derson bending over the PROSTATE body
/ of his wife in the kitchen. Then. fear
/ ful for his own safety. he had hastened
10 seek assistance. Returning with 4
neighbor. he had found his wife dead on
the kitchen floor, the marks Of fingers
/ on her throat
Cross-examined. SchuTman said that
/ his wife and he had frequent duarreIs.
but none Of them had been serious. The
attorney who had been assigned to de
fend Anderson did not follow up his
point His client had told him nothing.
and he was cropping in the dark. praying
TOT some cIew- He found none, and
( schurman left the stand 10 make way
for the neighbor who had helped him TO
/ take Anderson. As the chief witness
stood aside, his testimony mistaken. a
suppressed murmur vent through the
crowd-a deep, hoarse murmur-
And again Anderson turned his mead
/ that he might not see the vengafuI
/ gIances shot at him from every side.
At dinner that evening some heavy
/ oppression seemed to be resting on
Lawton- He made no effort to shake
it of. but sat with serious face. eating
little and saying less. When the meal
was over he beck0ned 10 Davidson and
together they strolIed down to ;he pas
ture. Neither spoke until they we're
I out Of earshot Of the house. Then Law
/ ton said:
/ I've been trying TO make up my aind
whether TO tell you something, I sup
pose you'd like to know it for your
paper but I promised not to tell" lie
+ besitaJed for a minute. I spose ii
won't make much dtyerence now" he
said finally It's TOO late to interfere.
! Well, the boys are going to take Andar-
/ son out and hang him as soon as It's
! dark
/ Tom caught him by The arm.
Tonight" he said
/ yes, tonight don't believe in that
kind Of law myself. and ] made up nv
mind to stay away. Perhaps you might
get something about ii for your paper
when it's over"
..s--.- 1900.