Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-04
THE JUDGES CRIME.
CHAPTER /.

berations fell unheeded.
That day he had been engaged in the
trial Of Lawrence Gent, charged with
the murder of his quondam friend
Charles Barnard. The body had been
found on a lonely heath on the outskirts
of London under circumstances which
told strongly against the prisoner Gent.
In his evidence, Policeman Collier, who
had discovered the body of the murdered
man, deposed that at 2 o'clock the pre-
vious day he had heard the two young
men quarreling violently, and had, in
deed, separated them in a fierce struggle.
Gent had turned angriiy away, threat
ening to have it out with Barnard on the
first opportunity, and the finding of his
purse close by the side OF the murdered
man some hours later seemed piece of
evidence sufficiently strong to warrant
his arrest.
Gent professed himself utterly innocent
of the crime, and alleged that the purse
had been stolen from him after he had
| left Barnard. He admitted the quarrel,
| but refused to disclose the cause of the
disagreement.
His defense rested purely on an alibi.
| At $3.50 a. M, the time mentioned by
| Policeman Collier as the exact moment
he had heard Barnard's last groan, Law
renee Gent swore that he was beneath
the roof of Homestead cottage, a small
vlna some miles away from the scene of
| the murder. Policeman Collier further
deposed that in the distance he had seen
the figure of the man who had attacked
Barnard in the act of running away, and
he was fully prepared to swear to the
identity of Lawrence Gent.
Unfortunately for Gent, the landlady
of the house, the only person who could
substantiate his tale, had died suddenly
the day after the murder. Reasonably
emo, 'qh, the prosecution argued that a
younA nan in chambers was not likely to
spend IS night at lonely cottage with
out ,ome special reason, which Gent
fla d to allege. and the whole defense
Ia ked FEASIBILITY.
Unless Lawrence Gent can prove an
alibi,' pondered the judge, leaning his
head thoughtfully ON his elbow, Il see
little hope of escape for him.
As he thought regretfully of the SEN
tence it might be his duty to pronounce
the next day, the judges stern mouth
relaxed a little. He remembered that a
year ago this same Gent had asked per-
mission to marry his daughter Muriel,
and that he had given him short and
peremptCry rejection.
Though of good birth as far as wealth
was concerned. Gent was no match for
an heiress such as Muriel would be. and
though Mr.. Justice Lorimer in his inmost
! heart feared that his daughter had been
attracted toward this man, he was con-
tent to know that Muriel had obeyed him
and had broken with her former sutton.
! With a glance of unusual tenderness
Mr. Justice Lorimer raised his head and
looked up at the portrait OF mis- dead
wife which hung above the desk. How
! Muriel ressembled her mother! The
same deep gray eyes, the same sunny
brown hair, the same red, curved mouth.
| Absorbed in his musings, the Judge
failed to hear the opening of the library
door and the soft football of girl upon
the thick Turkey carpet.
| Blanehed to the same hue as the white
wrapper she wore, Muriel Lorimer stole
farther into the room.
| In her face might he read the agony
OF sensitive woman who, brooding long
over some desperate resolution, has at
all hazards to her own soul resolved at
! length to carry out her purpose.
Afraid almost to breathe for moment
she leaned heavily against a table. From
her childhood a slight fear of the Judge
had lurked in his daughters mind How
should she tell him her story? She his
only daughter, of whose beauty and grace
| he had been in secret SO proud.
Quick, quick! The time is flying and
the fate of mans life hangs tremblingly
in the balance. Her words alone can
save him. God give her strength to
speak, and Mt once
Father" The cry welled up from the
depths of her agoni2ed heart. "Murieli
What is it? You are ill., he cried,
alarmed by the girls face and wide-open
eyes.
But the words fell UNDECIDED on NIu-
riels ears. No matter at what cost.
her tale must be told now. without a
moments pause.
Father, tomorrow you try Lawrence
Gent again for murder You must not
90. You shall not go" grasping his
arm in uncomfortable agitation some
one must take your place. Tie is inno-
cent. know til can prove it. You
said only an alibi could save him have
been coward. But tomorrow I must
give evidence. That night-that nigbt@
she repeated her words in 4 g,sning
voice Lawrence Gent and were olone
ut Homestead cottage" '
She stopped. Over her fathers face
had swept look So terrible that
physical fear a>saied the Girl. As the
Judge raised his arm Nluriel reroiIo3
against the wall.
Il