The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-31

otAlA UhOUSAb- ChOlO "oS - SAo>ASS ON
With this end in view he had be-
come an associate attorney with Jen-
kins in order the better to conduct M.
LatouE's case a along aL tn the lines :s which
asked sliG him m On @ one go occasion What led him
to entertain a hope that Latour would
many ns Gys1Iea; thh;gs s1' ne We 7se9d then re-
joined. "what are some, Of them7''
He hesitated a moment mad then replied
5aughingly: - "You Y, see 7s hate ahxis to ae-
said shortly after the murder was
committed that / thought the assas-<
sin was short and probably did not
weigh over 135 pounds; that he most
likely had some especial reason for con
cealing his footprints, and that he had
popularity in his gait. I felt toler-
ably sure then Of all this; but now Ut it
tall in his stockings and thin; and that,
emaciated as he is, he tips the scales
at $50 pounds by reason Of his large
frame. His feet are as commonplace
as-as yours, Doc, and his gait as reg.
ular as-mine. Is it to be expected
illusions without struggle?'
When the hour for the trial arrived.
Gwen insisted on accompanying us to
the courtroom. She had great deal
Of confidence in George and felt sure
the m prisoner m 5 p1 guilt, he S would % triumph M
in proving him. innocent. She deter.
mined, therefore, to be present at the
trial, even before her attendance should
be required as witness.
| M LatouF, when he was led into the
prisoners box, seemed to have aged
greatly during his incarceration. 1t
was with a marked effort that he arose
dictment was read to him. When the
words: "Are you guilty or not guilty7'
were addressed to him. every eye was
arnea upon aara aa ana eve5T ear ] ilseehe e't
no sound came. The question was re-.
not guilty7' Like one suddenly awak-
ened from a reverie, M. LatOur started,
turned toward his questioner, and in q
full, firm voice replied: "Guiltyl' I
was so dumbfounded that I could offer
Gwen L. no word Of comf9rt S4 to a5leyiate ! 3
seemed about the only ones in the court court
room who we're not taken off their feet,
so to speak, by this unexpected plea,
and George was at Gwen 8 side in a
moment and whispered something to her
which I could not hear, but which I
upon her. We had all expected long,
complicated trial, and here the whole
matter was reduced to mere formality
by, NJ. Letour's simple confession,
"Guilty! " Is it any wonder, there
fore, that we were taken aback9
While we were recovering from our
Maitland was engaged in private CON
versation with the Judge, with whom,
he afterward told me, he had become
well acquainted both in his own cases
o m as 81 an nez expat aTShs ehemst He
never told me what passed between
them, nor the substance of any Of the
brief interviews which followed with the
prosecuting attorney, his associate coun-
sci, and other legal functionaries. All I
knew is that when the case was resumed
ing the practical conduct Of the case in
Maitiand's hands. ~ -
If hazlenut had the shell Of cocoa
nut, it's meat would, in my opinion, sus-
sustains to the mass Of verbiage in
which it is enshrouded. For this reason
you will not expect me to give q detailed
account Of this trial T couldn't if i
would, and I wouldn't if + could. My
knowledge Of legal procedure is far from
Of law. My memories Of Blackstone are
sHSh as nsed FeaeS aEs no amb
have recollection that somewhere
Blackstone says something about
eavesdropping-I mean in its literal
z?nssfsemshpg pnss fss rGeR aRoq fs,na the DIP
estate; but for the life of me I could
not tell what he says. More distinctly
do I remember this learned lawgiver
| stated that there could be no doubt of
!, the evidence Of witchcraft, because the
Bible was full of it, and that witches
should be punished with death. This
) made an impression upon me, because
> it was an instance, rare to me then,
! otherwise exceptionally able, may have
t spot 50 encankered with creed bigot.
|. ry and superstition as to render their
z judgments respecting certain classes of
s phenomena erroneous and illogical, pue-
}, rile and ridiculous.
+ But to return to those points Of the
trial which I can remember, and which
), / think Of sufficient interest to put
l before you. These refer chiefly tc
y and of the government 8 chief witness
Q M. Godin. Such portions of their tes W
: timony as I shall put before you J
/ reported by Maitland s friend, Simonds
0 When Maitland began for the defense
f he said: "At about half-past 7, on thu
y night Of April %, John Darrow me1
his death at his home in Dorchester
He died in the presence of his daugh
ter, Messrs. Willard, Browne, Hern,
and myself. His death was caused BY
!. injecting a virulent poison into his sys
q :. tenn thru slight incision in his neck
y confesses he himself inflicted. woul(
j like to know a little more definitel,
t how he. succeeded in doing it withou
o detection, in the presence, not only O.
n his victim, but Of five: other person.
q sitting close about him. M. Latou
will please take the stand"
! As M. Latour stepped into the wit
4 ness box a wave Of suppressed excite
- ment ran all over the courtroom. Ever,
= nerve was strained to it's tensest pitch
'. every ear eager for the slightest sy]
4, liable he might utter. What could b
,e done for man who had confessed, an
h. what would be the solution of tn
1T crime which had SO long defed the At
to thorities7 The explanation was now t
,r be made, and it is no wonder that til
excitement was intense. -"
nt I omit all uninteresting formalitie
l Q. Have YOU ever seen me befo1
see today7
sst A. Not to my knowledge.
@. Have you any reason to believ
Y, I have ever seen you before today7