The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-15

a tribunal, our young men will shortly be restored to us. We have met here to- day. not to discuss measures of ven- geance and retaliation, but to consult to- gether as to the best means Of securing evidence of the innocence of the young men. Speaking for myself, l think 1t would be well to place the whole mat ter in the hands of Mir. Sanders. leaving him to act as he thinks best
 This was agreed to by the meeting, more than one of the audience declaring loudly that Mir. Sanders was the very man for the occasion. By unanimous agreement it was decided that one of the most distinguished lawyers in the state should be retained to defend the young men.
 It was the personality of Meriwether Clopton. rather than his remarks, that soothed and subdued the crowd which had assembled at the court house. In his own mind, however, he was not at all sure that the radical leaders at Washington would not be driven by their outrageous rancour to do the worst that could be done.
 MT. Sanders was the first to leave the court room, but he was followed and overtaken by Silas Tomlin. Be igged Silas. of you don't look like you've seed a ghost!'' exclaimed MT. Sanders.
 Worse than that, Sanders Paul has been carried off. But I wanted to see you, Sanders, about this business You'll need money, and If you can't get it anywhere else, come to me; I'll take it as favor. ' MT. Sanders mounted his horse-known far and wide as the Hacking Roan-and was soon out of sight. His destination was the residence of Mahlon Butts and in no long time his horse had covered the distance.
 Although the murder of Hotchlliss was more than week old, a considerable number of negroes were lounging about the premises of Judge Butts-he had once been a justice of the peaee-and in the-road near by. They moved about with something like awe talking in low tones or in whispers. Mir Sanders tied his horse to q swinging limb and went In. He was met at the door by Mahlon him i self.
 Why, come in, William; come in an make yourself welcome. You uv heard I of the trouble. l make no doubt or you wouldn't be here. It's turrible, William | turrible, for a man to be overcome in this off-hand way, wi no time for te say his pra's
 Judge Butts dignity was of the heavy and oppressive kind. This dignity, which i was fortified in ignorance, had received a considerable reinforcement from the | fact that he was candidate for county office on the Republican ticket.
 'Mahon, If you don't go and run that | gang of niggers off, I'll take the shot i gun to 'em. They've been hanging around-why, howdye, MT. Sanders? I certainly am glad to see you. It looks 1 like old times to see you in the house" !"
 Becky Butts was younger than her hus- band, who at fifty appeared to be an old man. Her sympathies were so keen and persistent that they played boldly in her face, running about over her fea- 1 lures as the sunshine nipples on a pond i of clear water.
 Set down. Becky" said Mr. Sanders. after he had responded to her saluta- | ton. I've come to find out about the killing of that feller Hotchltiss.
 You may well call it killin, William, i bekaze Friend Hotchlxiss was stone dead few hours arter the fata, shot was fred" declared Judge Butts.
 Where was the l1illn' done?' inquired MT. Sanders. He addressed himself to Mrs. Butts, but Mahlon made reply.
 "We found him, William, right sprang in front of Ike Varner's cabln-right thar an nowhere else. He war doin' his level best for to git on his feet, an he tried to talk, but not more than two or three words did he say"
 Well, what did he say?" inquired MT Sanders.
 Tt was the same thing ever time Why Tolliver, Tolliver'-them was his very words
 Are you right certain about that Mahlon?" asked MT. Sanders
 "As certain an shore, William, as tl.-4
 once, he said it a dozen times"
 "Whar was he wounded, Becky?' ask ed Mir Sanders.
 Between the left car and the temple
 Did you have doctor?"
 We sent for one, but if he come, we never saw him." Mrs. Butts replied
 What time was Hotchlkiss killed ?"
 "Bout half-past ten; maybe a little sooner"
 This was all the information MT. San. ders could get, and it was great deal more than he wanted in one particular He knew that Gabriel Tolliver was in. nocent of the killing; but the fact that his name was called by the dying mar was almost as damaging as an ante mortem accusation would have been.
 Mir. Sanders rode to Ike Varner's cabin few hundred yards away and he en tered the house without ceremony.
 Who is that? Lai MT. Sanders, yo, sho did skeer me-" exclaimed Edie. would as soon have spected to see 7 ghostl'
 "Youll see 'em here before you'r, much older" replied MT. Sanders. grim ly. They ain't fur off Whers Ike?'
 "Lal ef you know anything about Tx, you know more than l does. I ain't laic eyes on that nigger man. not eence-'
 Not sence the night Hotchkiss wa. Killed said MT. Sanders, completing hei sentence for her.
 ''Lae MT Sanders! how'd you know that?"
 'I know a heap moren you think do" MT. Sanders remarked "Hotchkfs. was talkin' to you at the gate thar wher he was shot. What was he sayin' ?'
 The woman's face flushed and sh, turned her eyes away. Why. he wasn'i sayn' word hardly; I was doin' al the talkin'. ast him if he wouldn't hay, drink of cold water, an he said h, would an I took 1t out to the gate. an while l was talkin', they shot him. The, certainly did"
 Did you ask Ike about it?" MT. San ders inquired
 "La ain't seen Ike sence that night exclaimed Edc, flirting her apron with , coquettsh air
 Now, Ede," said Mir Sanders. with ; frown, you know as well as I do. tha when you heard the pistol go off an, saw what had happened. you run in tn house an flung your apern over you head" It was q wild guess, but 1t wa close to the truth.
 La, MT. Sanders! you talk like vol was watchin' me. 'Twant my apern twas my hans. didn't have on no aperr that night; had on my Sunday froek
 An you know jest as well as I q,