The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-07-26

4 both sides Of the Gaze, and the
attorney for the state had
grown severe and eloquent III urging
conviction. The jury had remained in
retirement MI the morning and ut last
had fled in and rendered their vcr
dict. David Buckley, the prisoner at
the bar, was found guilty Of having
deliberately and in the night stolen Il
bale Of cotton from Il neighbours barn,
branded It AS his own and, taken 1t to
market the next day.
He was short, thicksct man near
the age Of sixty-grny. stiff haired and
sulleI faced, md JUST now more an
CRY, 1t wns thought, ut certain neigh
bors who had testified against him
than chagr!ned ut the verdict Of the
court. He glanced mt his WIFE, who
sat against the railing behind him. and
then stared steadily at the floor till
the sheriff came and led him back to
jail.
Later IN the afternoon he was
brought back to receive his sentence.
The judge, a tall. powerful man, dark
Of hair and eye and rs brown rs q
Spaniard, was about to order him to
stand UP when Hiram Hillyer, Il well
to do cotton and grain merchant Of
the town, rose and begged permission
to speak to the Judge In private before
tho prisoner was sentenced.
''Well. l reckon we've got time, Mr..
Hillyer." the Judge said pleasantly.
III it's anything In Ruckley's favor I'd
like to hear 1t. I've been on the bench
seven years, and don't think I ever
had man before me that was painted
rs black by his neighbors."
Making his way through the cluster
OF lawyers and students Of the law
around the stove to opc Of the vacant
jury rooms, the merchant waited for
the judge to join him, and when he
came Iullyor, nervously pulling at his
short. gray beard. faced him, an eager
look in his mild blue eyes.
"I'm afeard 1t ain't nothin' in the
old mans favor, Judge Moore" he fall
tered. "The truth is, I'm a-thinkin
about his son. Judge, cf thar ever
was finer, more honest an upright
boy than George Buckley. hain't nev-
or run across I'm"
"Oh, you can't tell me anything about
George" said Judge Moore. "He and
1 are friends. He voted for me and
legged for me IN the Upper Tenth dis
trlct All, SO he sent you to me, did
he? Well, what docs George want?
l was glad he wasn't in court to hear
all that stuff against his daddy"
You see. we thought-mc'n' George |
both thought that maybe you mought |
Justice mought be carried out by I'm |
posln pretty heavy fine. an -
oio Buckley isn't able to pay
cent oroke In the Judge. "I'vc made
INQUIRIES, and II his little farm is sold
II VIII leave his old wife without any
means means or making support. No, the
9lgs up with him."
but Georges been sovin' moncv for
the last five years." said II,llver INV.
1ously. "Tve got 1t borrowed fro,' ,,,>
AT regular rates. I can lay NV honna
on the money at a momept,s rnt,aa
Yes. he can raise q reasonablc omn,,nt
all right" ''''
Judge Moore .frowncd, thrust h,s
h"nos into the pockets Of his trousers
ana turned to window which looked
out on the courtyard, where few
idlers lay on the grass near the hitch.
ing rack.
I'M not going to be the medium
through which deserving innocent peo
pie suffer for tho guilty." he said
firmly. "Pve thought it oil over. I
was afraid George might ask this. but
it's no go. I've made up my mind on
that score"
"Oh. judge, don't say thatw pleaded
Hillyer. "The boy simply can't bear
1t. You SEQ. Judge Moore, since I
tuck i'm an sent i'm off to school he's
been sorter away from his home, an
the feller's got as mich feelin' rs any
body else. Then when he got through
college an give i'm place in my
business he's stood with the best folks
in the town, an 1t would 90 hard with
,im-to have his own daddy at the coal
mines"
~ know all that, Nfr. Hillyer. Tvc
thought Of 1t twenty, times during this
trial.sI hardly slept last night trying
to make up my mind what to do In
saaef the jury didn't recommend Buck
70.