Evening journal., 1905-02-25
AN ALIBI
Iorirlnal1

W AooAdAA NouAu Dt ucdhu Oh tht ShoNs
and there was no one abroad.
had reached the town OF NJ. n few
minutes before by train and, finding
no conveyance at the station, had
started to walk TO my hotel.
Suddenly, midway between street
lamps, where It was dark, ran against
man. stood stock stiT. The snow
on either sicte Of MS was deep. and
waited for the man to divide the way
with me. Instead Of that he began to
talk to himself incoherently, seeming
to be unconscious Of my presence.
Horrible" he muttered, "horriblel
Death-desth that might be prevented
by little loose change he may have
had in his pocket, and he wouldn't give
it. He's a dog, a murderer. hope I
may see him burn with an everlasting
fire."
"You seem in trouble" / said in a
kindly tone.
TROUBLED Isn't it trouble that there's
but one person in the world who can
help and who won't help? / told him
mother was dying; that I had been sent
to the drug store for a prescription and
hadn't a cent to pay. He told me to
get out"
remembered that all my change had
been spent, and had only a ten dollar
bill. would go with the young man
to a drug store, pay for the medicine he
required and give him something be-
sides.
Come" 1 said. lead the way to a
drug store"
Il only fear they are all closed" he
said. Its very late"
He led me to one drug store after an
other. We found every one closed and
no one to answer a night bell. had
been with him nearly an hour. This l
knew, for had arrived at ten minutes
after IL and the town clock was nov
striking y. and, having made failure,
l was obliged TO let him so home witt
out his medicine. As we were about =
part l was fumbling in my trousers
Il
when l clasped silver half dollar.
Here" 1 said, "take this coin. It's a
pocket piece of the year of my mar
riage, with my wife's and my initials
scratched on It. Take it. You'll need it,
and more"
He seized the piece eagerly, then turn
a ed and vanished in the darkness.
1t was three months after this that
had occasion to go to NJ. egain. am
\ lawyer by profession and had case
> to come Off In court there. Having
/ some time to spare at the courthouse
: before my case would be called, stroll.
. ed into the criminal court room.
A man was being tried for the mur
3 der OF his uncle. 1t seemed TO be a very
, plain case against the accused. He wai
= very poor and his uncle was very rich
and the accused was sole heir at law
The prosecuting attorney proved con
clusively that the young man had ever,
. inducement TO kill his uacle from th'
fact that the old man was making ar
rangements to leave all his property 4
% endow certain institutions. It did nc
appear to me that the defense had an.
case at all. Indeed, the last persol
y known to have been with the murdered
! man, and that only an hour before hi
: death, was the accused.
: There were so many heads betweeI
- me and the prisoner that did not 10
some time get a good look at him
/, When did, there was something sbon
his face and figure that was famili2
.. to me. The prosecuting attorney wa
N summing up to the jury.
- I'VE have proved" he said, "that tn
!, prisoner was with the murdered maj
! as late as II o'clock; how much late
i, we cannot prove, but no one saw hin
leave. At half past II a cry wa
N heard; n maid entered the old man
: bedroom and found him dying. Their
was a convenient door for the murder
- er's escape without being seen. A
at e half past u the prisoner was arreste
ON the street muttering maledlction
- against his uncle"
= The last words brought back a pfc
=. ture that had appeared TO me on tha
i stormy night three months before.
= waited TIL the speaker had inishet
a. then said to the judge:
'Your honor, / am an attorney.
believe ! can throw some light on thi
case and request your permission
- examine the prisoner"
- After much wrangling permissio
was granted.
u 'Hsve you ever seen me before?"
asked.
"Not that I remember"
= did not meet you one night thre
i; months ago when you were going fc
medicine for your motherT
g IL met a man. II l could ind hiI
. l could prove my innocence"
"What did you do with the coin /
gave you3"
-, 81 gave 1t to my mother. Is is no
~ in the hands OF my attorney"
~ ION that coin" I said. turning
.is the jury, "are my initials and those
ne my wife. 1t is a half dollar coined
~ 1891. met this young man on Il
~ night Of Jan. 20 last a few minute
Ie after IL and remained with him 4
~ shortly after H."
10 Amid a sensation the coin was pr
10 duced and found to be as 1 had sta
lus ed. The jury found a verdict Of n
ns guilty without leaving their seats.
M Miis About TO be convicted Of killing b
"a uncle, the accused in E twinkiing four
nc himself exonerated ana heir to a fc