Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-28
While the Jury Was Out.
$500

CO HE mid-morning Colorado SUI
beat down upon a restless little
group Of men on the steps Of The
Bort Morton court house; upon the
dusty cottonwood trees growing dispir
atedly on each side Of the road thai
stretched away from the little sandy
square to become, a few hundred
yards below, the main street Of the
town, and upon the tin roofs OF the
two-story brick or frame stores on
each side Of 1t. The jury had been out
over night, and although it was 1C
O'Clock in the morning, had given nc
sign. The prisoner had not yet been
brought up from the county Jail near
by, and the group of men indirectly
interested in the proceedings were sit
ting and lounging about the steps
smoking and carrying on desultory
conversation. The district judge, sit
ting on the top step, was an Eastern
college man, about 40 years Of age,
once an athlete, and still with trim,
slender figure.
The small boys among the group of
hangers-on in front Of the steps were
beguiling themselves tossing the ball,
and the prosecuting attorney, young
graduate from the East who had come
Up from Pueblo, called out:
'"Here you are, Johnnie, give us a
catchw
The small boy who had the ball
grinned sheepishly, and threw 1t at
aim.
Harder, harderw said the young
awyer, cheerily. That's no way to
pitch ball. Throw it in this way"
and the boys hands were scorched as
he caught the return.
"Say, kin you pitch curve" he
asked Lets see you do it."
"All right" said Hardy, taking off
DDS coat. Here you go. Hold on" he
added, you couldn't catch it If I did.
Here, Mr.. Hackett, go out there and
let me throw you few curves"
The others laughed at this, for
Hackett, the senior counsel for the
defense, also up from Pueblo, for the
trial. was an enormous middleweight
HooSier, feet inches in height and
weighing $50 pounds. He had a mass
OF crisp black hair and wore a black
broadcloth frock coat and trousers, low
turned-down collar and ready-made tie
He was slow moving and ponderous,
though forceful and shrewd in his pro-
fession; deliberate of speech and any
thing bat an athlete.
Here, I'll catch you," exclaimed the
Junior counsel, Blake, a somewhat
lanky, powerfully built Westerner, ris-
ing and depositlng his rough brown
sack coat beside Hardy's.
Gee! you've got muscle" he added,
rubbing his hands after the first pass
Murray" yelled the small boy,
''that was a corker. Git on to them
curves, Clarencew he cried in worship
ful admiration.
: Wouldn't mind a little Of that ex-
erclse myself" said the Judge, rising
anterestedly and hesitating on the
steps.
"Why not have a little game while
we are waiting?' said Hardy, half jok-
Gngly. "Come on, sheriff.
Moved by a common impulse, the lit
tie group frightened up, threw away
their cigar ends and moved half apollo
getically into the sand square. At the
left Of the court house and adjoining
It was small open i&ld Of well-trod
den, dusty grass, where a scratch half
game was played occasionally and
where horses were tethered during the
court. One of the small boys was dis
patched for a suitable bat and ball
and catcher's glove, and by the time
the sides were arranged he came racing
back with them, highly excited, follow
ed by several other small boys.
No one had the slightest idea of
being drawn into a game when he left
the steps; but the reaction had worked
Snsldiously. The trial had been par
ticularly exciting one, and those who
lad followed it were tired after the
three days strain in the ill-ventilated
court room. The sympathies of all had
undoubtedly been with the prisoner, al
though the state had been vigorous In
its prosecution and the judge had con-
scientiously done his duty. Murder had
been committed at jamestown Greek
a few months previously, though a
change Of venue had been obtained
10 Fort Morton, the prisoners own
Gown.
Copperthwait had always been
luiet, law-abiding ranchman. He was
Inder 80 years Of age, big, broad
houldered and swarthy, diff1dent in
nanner and somewhat slow Of speech,
hough he had been slowly and thor
,ughly angered in a quarrel over a
lunch Of cattle. Six or eight steers
b