Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-02-04

My lOfu, lie Sdlu, IL 10 NY udtS
to oppose the application of my learn
ed friend. If, as your lordship said,
he had come into possession of mate
rial eTidence, l, as representing the
Crown, should certainly not oppose
his application But | would point
out to your lordship that, as we think,
our chain of evidence for the prosecu-
ton is complete and unbroken, and
submit that the adjournment would be
both unusual and uncalled for"
II am afraid l must agree with Mr..
Sewell,' said the judge, gravely. The
trial must proceed; we must go on
The spectators drew long breath
1t would have been a terrible disap-
pointment to have been robbed of so
exciting drama at the conclusion Of
only the first act
Mr.. SeweH proceeded to call his wit
nesses.
The first was Browne, who had
found the body, and Faradeane stand
ing beside it. The revolver was pro-
duced and handed to the jury.
Mr.. Edgar asked, DO you Identify
this?"
There was a moments pause.
ct bears the prisoners initials"
said Mr.. Sewell
Mr.. Edgar examined the revolver
closely. Then he said
Has anyone a magnifying glass?'
| A buzz went round, and a gentleman
"a doctor-handed his pocket-glass to
him.
Il call your attention, gentlemen Of
the jury, to the fact he said, slowly
and impressively, that these initials
have been recently made. Now,
Browne, I ask you-and be careful how
you answer-were those initials upon
this revolver when you picked it up?"
Every soul in court waited for Tie
answer.
They were" said Browne.
Mr.. Edgar drew pen-knife from his
pocket and handed it with the revolver
to the jury
Il ask you, gentlemen, to compare
the engraving upon that pOcket-knife
and the initials scratched upon the re-
volver. Further than that | cannot
go, unless his lordship permits me to
go into the dock and swear that the
initials on that knife were engraved
nine months ago.
Mr.. Sewell rose.
my learned friend cannot be wit
ness and counsel at the same time"
| 81 am aware of that said Mr.. Ed
gar, boldly. Il simply place the
knife beside the revolver for the jury's
| inspection
While this little scene had been en-
acting Olivia had leaned forward with
parted lips and dilating eyes, her heart
throbbing with faint hope. Then she
sank back, her hands tightly clasped
in her lap
Inch by inch, with terrible sequence,
Mr. Sewell unfolded his case, and min
ute by minute the case for the prosecu
ton looked darker and more unanswer-
able
Faradeane stood apparently m
moved his hand resting without
tremor upon the front Of the dock, his
eyes fixed upon the ground.
At last MIR. Sewell said, This is our
case, my lord"
Mr.. Edgar rose, and squaring his
shoulders as a man does who is fac
ing more than ordinarily difficult
task, said:
'sMy lord and gentlemen of the jury;
know that | have no need to ask
your indulgence. l know that | need
not point out to you how terrible is
the responsibility which rests upon my
shoulders With you lies the verdict,
but with me lies the awful RESPONSE
bility Of so pleading for the life OF me
prisoner at the bar that no chance,
however slight, shall escape my notice.
I am aware that expressions OF bellef
in the innocence or guilt of client
made by counsel can have but little
weight; but, gentlemen, feel that
must tell you that if there should be
any shortcomings in my pleading on
this mans behalf, such shortcomings
will not arise from any doubt OF his
innocence.
II stand here to fight for his life,
and if needed any spur beyond tnat
of a sense of duty, / should find it in
the thorough belief which l entertain
of his innocence, and that notwith-
standing that he has, for reasons of
which I am not afraid to state | am
ignorant, seen fit in the first instance
to plead guilty.
Gentlemen of the jury, you have
heard from the eloquent lips of the
counsel for the prosecution the story
of my clients life. You have heard
how, in moment of unreasoning pas
sion, he, the bearer of a high and no
BILE name, married an ignorant ana
low-born gypsy girl.
Now, mark, gentlemen of the jury,
this man who is accused of this crime
He did not-aS alas! too many men OF