Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-13

seat. The jury was called, Ed Rankins name
| among the first.
Rankin had not heard a word about the Rum
petty case, yet the nature of it was as clear tc
him as daylight. This brute was up for cruelty
to those four shlverng creatures on the bench
in the corner, and they would never dare testify
against their prosecutor
Now began the process of wedding out the jury,
which when it came his turn Rumpety perform.
ed with free hand. The prosecution having dis
missed some half-dozen and passed" the
jury, the defendant began his inquistion. He
asked no unnecessary questions, gave no reasons
for his prejudices, but with unalterable decision
declared, II won't have that man on the jury at
ALL" or, II don't want him. he may GO.
Rankin among the first to be thus summa.
rily rejected. and he Joined the crowd outside the
bar, only half contented with his release.
And now the trial began. People from the
town of Wolverton testified that the boy Victor
had appeared in the street fleeing from his
home, four miles away, crying that his father
was going to kill him The child's ear had been
frightfuly bruised and swollen, and there were
unmistabe marks Of i'll usuage upon him. The
man Rumpetys barbarty was notorious on all
the countrywide and this was the third success
sive year he had been up before the court. II
had never been possible to secure conviction,
owing to the dogged persistence of his victims
in peruring themselves in his favor.
AS one after another of the trembling fam
ily shufhed up to the wtness-seat and swore
with hanging head and furtive eyes, that Dennis
Rumpety was a kind husband and father, who
never punished them, this model parent sat with
cleaning eyes and an evil smirk resting his case
upon the Testimony of his fahmily.' If occa
sionav the witness hesitated Rumpety would
lift his eyebrows or make slight movement
which sent the blood into the pale cheek OF
woman or child and an added tremor into the
faint voice.
,thaf hapnpn
somebody should hit the wretch a whack over
the head every time he raised an eyebrow.
The district attorney was especially persistent
with the boy, the immediate victim in this in
stance.
Victor" he said, Estate to the jury why you
accused your father OF abusing you ana wanting
10 kill YOU. if it wasn't true
The boy hestated.
Don't be afraid to speak the truth. He shan't
hurt you"
But the boy knew better.
"Sure I led he said,
"And what did you lie for"
because | was mad.
"put what made YOU get mad with such kline
"Because he came into the cellar and found
fault wild me about the potatoes
Had he reason to find fault with you!
The boy looked at his. father; one look wa'
enough ALL. g. orY
yes sorr. ] had an ugly NJ on,
Poor little shrinking shivering wretch with his
cowed figure and trembling lips!
I'd Rankin felt the blood boil in his veins
He glanced at Myra Beckwith, sitting among
the audience within the bar, She was leaning
forward with her hands clasped tightly watch
ing the boy, There were tears in her eyes, and
Rankin blessed her for them.
1t was clear that the district attorney himself
was a good deal wrought upon, for his manner
grew queter every minute. He sat with his
head slightly forward looking out from under
his brows straight into the miserable little face
before him. His questions came short and Incl
sve.
| The poor little chaps answers were getting al
most naudible He looked spent with misery and
apprehension, He gave no sign of tears. His
wan pinched little face looked as if he had
cried so much in his short life that there waG
no longer any relief in it, He was soon dismissed
and went shutting back to his cold corner.