The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-02-10
CHAPTER INV.

Half an hour after George Bostock
announced his intention of making q
confession, a little row had gathered
in the ward where he lay. a scared.
weird look in his eyes, his bloodless lips
twitching convulsively, the hand over
which he held power flung outside the
coverlet, which it plucked in his
spasms of nervousness, his deathlike
face shining from perspiration in the
flare of the gas.
Seated at a table beside the bed was
George Coris. coming over the tesla
menta"y declaration which had just
been made; a clerk, alert n shrewd.
standing just outside; a magistrate.
whose heavy c~ountenance was lighted
by grim surprise, beside him Mack
worth, for whom the solicitor had sent.
keeping near the door, attentive. grave
and triumphant. Headwick not far re-
moved; the house 6 and a sister
at the lower end of the room, watchful
and ready to give their services at this
fateful moment; the former absorbed
In an interest which was centered in
scientific speculation, the latter scared
by the thought that the man she had
attended was n criminal, and awed by
the spectacle before her.
The silence, scarce broken by the
scratch Of a pen, the occasional move
ment Of feet, and the painful sound of
the patients labored breathing became
oppressive, n the atmosphere which
the ventilator in the high, narrow win
dow did little to purify, grew heavy.
All present felt the strain and solicit
tude, the terror n tragedy of the
scene, and were awed by the almost
palpable presence of approaching
death. This nan declared. himself to
be the shedder Of human blood, and
now tardily removed the heavy blame
which had fallen on an innocent
m
1t was with something of relief that
they heard George Coris raise his
clear. distinct voice, and addressing the
patient, say:
Il will now read to you the confess
sion of murder you AVE made in the
presence Of a magistrate and other wit
nesses here assembled"
George Bostock moved his head by
way of response. his eyes fixing them
selves eagerly upon the solicitor, who,
after a seconds pause, took up the
document he had written and read it
aloud as follows:
Il. George Bostock., of my own free
will, II in anticipation of my imme-
date death, do hereby make confession
that on the night of the .21st of Sep
TENDER last, | encountered the late Da-
vid Dumbarton in the Hinton road neal
his wife's house, ~whereupon a quarrel
ensued between US which led to blows,
and ended by my inflicting a wound
upo him from which he died a few
minutes later in the presence of his
wife, whose protection he sought.
And l furthermore declare that l,
without solicitation or aid. u in a
moment of passion committed this
g%rievous crime, the blame of which
deeply deplore to have allowed to rest
upon one entirely innocent of it's guilt.
n III token of the truth of these
statements. l take my oath in the pres
ence of witnesses, and subscribe my
name"
The oath vas hurriedly taken and
then with ~feverish eagerness he held
out his hand for the pen with which
he hastily wrote his name. Then let.
ting it droop from fingers, he. with
an air of intense relief. lay back upon
the pillow Of that narrow bed from
which he might rise no more, his face
CHASTITY, his yes luminous. wild and
fixed upon space. his mind needless OF
what went or around him, the append
ing of the witnesses signatures, the
dispersal OF he group which had wit