Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-03-01
AN ALIBI
tOriginal.l

for the storm there was not sound.
No football could be heard on the snow,
and there was no one abroad.
had reached the town Of NJ. a 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 1t was dark, ran against
| q man. stood stock still. The snow
on either side of us 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, horrible!
Death-death that might be prevented
by a little loose change he may have
had In his pocket, and he wouldn't give
1t. He's dog, a murderer. l hope
may see him burn with an everlasting
fire."
"You seem in trouble" 1 said In q
kindly tone.
Trouble! Isn't it trouble that there's
but one person In the world who can
help and who won't help? I told him
mother was dying; that had been sent
to the drug store for prescription and
hadn't cent to pay. He told me to
get out"
remembered that all my change had
been spent, and had only ten dollar
bill. I would go with the young man
to drug store, pay for the medicine he
required and give him something be-
sides.
Come" 1 said, "lead the way to a
drug store"
II 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. l had
been with him nearly an hour. This
knew, for had arrived at ten minutes
after IL and the town clock was now
striking II, and, having made failure,
L wac oDilSCu " iCI hiLl 81 hOlhC WILL
out his medicine. AS we were about to
part 1 was fumbling in my trousers
pocket with my keys and other articles,
when clasped silver half dollar.
"Here," said, take this coin. It's
pocket piece Of the year Of my mar
riage, with my wife's and my initials
scratched on it. Take it. You'll need 1t,
and more"
He seized the piece eagerly, then turn
ed and vanished in the darkness.
1t was three months after this that I
had occasion to go to NJ. again. I am
lawyer by profession and had a 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 MUIR
der Of his uncle. 1t seemed to be a very
plain case against the accused. He was
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 every
inducement to kill his uncle from the
fact that the old man was making ar
rangements to leave all his property to
endow certain institutions. 1t did not
appear to me that the defense had any
case at all. Indeed, the last person
known to have been with the murdered
man, and that only an hour before his
death, was the accused.
There were so many heads between
me and the prisoner that 1 did not for
some time get good look at him.
When l did, there was something about
his face and figure that was familiar
to me. The prosecuting attorney was
summing up to the jury.
1--WE have proved" he said, ''that the
prisoner was with the murdered man
as late as IL o'clock; how much later
we cannot prove, but no one saw him
leave. At half past IL cry was
heard; a maid entered the old mans
bedroom and found him dying. There
was convenient door for the murder
er's escape without being seen. At
half past II the prisoner was arrested
on the street muttering maledictions
against his uncle"
The last words brought back a pic
ture that had appeared to me on that
stormy night three months before.
waited till the speaker had finished,
then said to the judge:
"Your honor, 1 am an attorney.
believe l can throw some light ON this
case and request your permission to
examine the prisoner"
After much wrangling permission
was granted.
"Have you ever seen me before"
asked
Not that l remember"
did not meet you one night three
months ago when you were going for
medicine for your mother?"
II met man. If l could find him
! could prove my innocence"
"What did you do with the coin he
gave you?"
II gave 1t to my mother. 1t is now
in the hands of my attorney"
'On that coin," 1 said, turning to
the jury, "are my initials and those Of
my wife. 1t is half dollar coined in
1891. l met this young man on the
night of Jan 20 last few minutes