Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-10-03
TheP risoner's I estimony


~ on my clients testimony"
The prisoner the pallor Of death. too
weak to stand. sat In the witness box
passed his hand over bis brow and be
gan. rs It seemed. In the middle--it was
at the end Of his story.
II was gradually waking. II must
have been night. for 1t was dark as
Erebus. beard the stroke OF deep
toned bell aud counted three. II must
haze been 3 o'clock In the morning. II
IN midsummer il would soon be light;
If in mldwlnter the darkness would
continue til nearly I. But could not
remember whether II was summer OF
winter. felt no bedclothes over me
so | concluded II must be summer.
.One thing knew-my bed was very
hard. The muscles OF my back. on
which was lying. ached. hut ! was
principally taken up with where ! was.
/ remembered who | was and that |
had been very sick ia hospital, but
could not now lie there. for the hospital
ward was lighted. and the nurse In
charge always, when not engaged With
patient. sat at 4 table on which was
a shaded lamp. My bed had been soft.
Where was 1?
The odor OF the room was very had.
and could not feel that there was any
ventilation. put my hand down be
side me aud felt wood explored the
wood. aud II appeared TO be a table.
What did IL mean?
Il wished to get up to find out where
was Bur / was very weak. too weak
to 90 rummaging around in a strange
dark room. too weak TO go about any
where. too weak to stand. No. I could
not get up. must lie where | was
and think II out. With difficulty | sue.
cecded In turning on my side.
Il hadn't even pillow.
II thought and thought and thought
but could come TO no conclusion.
Then | worked myself toward the
edge OF my wooden bed and reached
out with my arm as far as could aud
felt-6ther wood. IL was smooth. like
that On which rested. and, as far as |
could feel, the same shape. raised
myself on my elbow aud put out the
other hand. This enabled me to reach
Il little farther. | felt
Great heavens!
That's flesh. Cold, clammy fieshi
Il shrank back aud lay still. Ny
heart now was humping. The instinct
~ Saff txraa.rvasIan naYn.. IN sytxa mo
will power TO regain my self control.
When my heart had somewhat Quoted
/ raised myself again and reached
again This time ran my hand along
the side of a human being.
III came 20 me suddenly. was In
a diskecting room.
Il felt myself falntinS. but q ter
ride thought nerved me. Suppose l
relapsed into Inconsistencies. Morn
ing would come and with IL medical
student who would begin to cut me up.
Perhaps his first thrust would be In a
vital part Heavens, must get ur
and make an effort to get out OF the
horrible place. Terror gave me strength,
and sat up. Then. bracing my hands
on the edge Of my table, lowered my
self TO the foor.
TOO weak TO walk, ! got down and
era wled-crawled In among tables till
at last l felt a wall. Along this !
groped till felt a window casing.
Pulling myself up. reached a shade.
Moving It aside. admitted little
light from a street lamp far below.
My sight was keen. and / saw what
appeared to be a door. Long l looked
at IL with a view to fixing its direction.
But / dared not go straight for it. I
must follow the wall. This l did and
reached II after what seemed an age,
wondering the while II would make
myself heard In case found II locked.
ut was ajar. thank Godl
Crawling through II. / entered an
anteroom. There was no light in II. but
a light in building close by gave me
all needed. | was in coat room.
Among other articles were pieces Of
clothing doubtless left there by stu
dents TO put on for dissecting work.
found coat. vest. trousers. hat. shoes.
In coat pocket found a bottle OF
liquor. drank II all and went out and
drawer found box with stamps and
few small bills with some change.
knew ! must have something TO sustain
me, and this would buy H. | took the
money. 1t was my first theft
Il was going toward the street door
xrhaFa ! h.a ri tho xpnrJu.