Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-13

j COUNCIL cnambers followed az respect
4 full distance by the assembled people,
who took seats quietly on the rough
wooden benches prepared for them.
When all were seated. and the clang-
ing Of the bell had ceased, the chief
councillor rose and called loudly the
| name Of Matthew Allen.
Immediately the 1ailer appeared at
the door.
Matthew Allen" he said IN solemn
| tones, II call on thee in the name Of the
king to produce the woman in thy
charge, one Margaret Maryland. before
this tribunal. Bring forth the prison
| er!''
Amid breathless silence be resumed
his seat
Presently the grating noise Of the
opening and shutting Of an iron door
was heard, then the sounds Of footsteps
coming along tine corridor. All eyes
were turned toward the entrance and
there was a ripple of excitement and
deep interest as the old keeper, leading
the prisoner, appeared In the doorway.
Eagerly the spectators fixed their curl
GUS glances on Margaret, who wore a
plain dress Of black cloth unrelieyed by
any color or ornament save the gold
cross on her bosom, that shone brightly
on its fine gold chain. Her glittering
hair, brushed back smoothly, wac coll
ed in loose knot, and she walked with
dropping head, her pale face wearing
an expression Of suffering and hopeless
misery.
They advanced slowly, the jailer find
iLg difficulty in making way for them
through the crowded aisle, until they
came to an open space before the coun-
Gil, where Matthew, seating Margaret
on wooden stool placed there for the
purpose, left her. So intense was the
stiffness in the room that the noise Of
the falling of pin could have been
heard as the assemblage gazed at the
prisoner brought face to face with her
judges and accusers and We now sat
alone apart, her hands ciasped togeth-
er in her lap, her proud head bent and
her blue eyes dull and heavy, their
glance not lifted from the floor.
The chief councillor sat on a bench
surrounded by the council. and back Of
them, seated on wooden stools, were
the witnesses and accusers. Josiah
Taunston, summoned to serve In both
capacities, sat with his mother in a
place of prominence and received a
large share of comment and curious at
tention. Seated just before him in the
council was one of the visiting judges
from Sterndorf, who, after surveying
Margaret's youth and beauty with as
constituent, turned to josiah, saying
softly:
by my faith, good sir, the maid is
possessed of wondrous beauty and
looks not like one that had sold her
soul to the DEVIL
Josiah's grim face darkened.
"Hist, man! Look not her way, an
put thy thoughts on holy things. Tc
appear winsome Is of her evil art; tits
one of the first tricks she doth use te
put folk under her SPELL IT'S well
were here to warn thee, friend"
The man turned about with fright
ened expression and, fixing his glance
on the audience, kept it there.
Soon the chief councillor, in large
curled wig and loose gown Of black
rose to his feet.
Margaret Maryland, rise"
The prisoner, without lifting bel
eyes, obeyed his command.
Margaret Mayland," he continued
speaking with stern distinctness, "i1
the name of the king, thou hath beer
taken into custody and now brought t.
trial on the following charges: Con
nivance with Satan in rebellion agains
God, possessing malevolent influence
over human beings and supernatural
powers to injure them, to read thei
thoughts, to fascinate and harm by ,
look, to control the elements and II
other ways most wicked to practic,
the awful crimes Of magic, black ar
and witchcraft. Thine accusers state,
he continued, that already thou has
wrought much suffering to thy neigh
bors in this village. Woman, hail
aught to say in thy defense?"
For the first time Margaret lifted
her eyes. Good sir, of the charge
thou dost name I am not guilty." sh
answered gently.
"Hast thou secured any one to ar
que in thy defense, to plead for thee7
he demanded.
NAY, sir"
Her head fell forward, and sh
clasped her hands together tightly.
IL have no friends hefeabout
save one old woman, who can d
naught but cry for me-"
''Thou mayst be seated"
A murmur Of deep interest RAJ
through the assemblage as the oil
councillor said: "Councilmen, we wi
proceed with the trial. Let the frs
. witness be called"
He resumed his seat with solem
, dignity, while the court crier, bris
Ting with Importance, rose at once
calling dramatically, Josiah Taur
ston to the witness bench!'