Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-01-31

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AS to evidence. my lord" he began
with a slight hesitation
But Mr.. SeWell rose.
My lord he said, 1T is my duty
to oppose the application of my learn.
ed friend If, as your lordship said,
he had come into possession of mate
rial evidence, |, 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"
Il am afraid must agree with Mr..
sewell," said the judge, gravely. The
trial must proceed; we must go on"
The spectators drew a 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.. Sewell 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 identity
this?"
There was moments pause.
ut bears the prisoners initials, 4"
said Mr.. Sewell
Mr. Edgar examined the revolver
closely. Then he said.
Has anyone magnifying glass?'
A buzz went round, and a gentleman
"a doctor--handed his pocket-glass to
him.
i call your attention, gentlemen Of
The jury, to the fact he said, SLOWLY
ana lmpressively, that these initials
nave been recently made. Now,
Browne, ask you-and be careful how
you answer-were those initials upon
this revolver when you picked it upo"
Every soul in court waited for ,he
answer.
They were" said Browne.
Mr.. Edgar drew pen-knife from his
pocket and handed it with the revolver
to the jury.
ask you, gentlemen, to compare
the engraving upon that pocket.knife
ana the initials scratched upon the re.
VolVer. Further than that I cannot
60 unless his lordship permits me to
30 INTO the dock and swear that the
lntlals on that knife were engraved
nine months ago"
Mr. Sewell rose.
My learned friend cannot be wit
ness and counsel at the same time"
Il am aware of that" said Mr.. Ed.
gar, boldly. Il simply place the
knife beside the revolver for the iurv'g
While this little scene had been en-
acting Olivia had leaned forward with
parted.lips and dilating eyes, her heart
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 tn
moved, his hand resting without a
tremor upon the front of the dock, his
eyes fixed upon the ground.
At last Mr.. 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.
MY lord and gentlemen of the jury:
| know that | have no need to ask
your indulgence. 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 responsi.
bility Of so pleading for the life of he
prisoner at the bar that no chance,
however slight, shall escape my notice
am aware that expressions of belief
in the innocence or guilt of a client
made by counsel can have but little
weight; but. gentlemen. | feel that
must tell you that if there should he
any shortcomings in my pleading ON
this mans behalf, such shortcomings
will not arise from any doubt of his
innocence
Il stand here to fight for his life.
and If | needed any spur beyond ina.
Of sense of DUTY, ] should find 1t in
the thorough belief which [ entertain
of his innocence and that notwith.
that he has. for reasons of
which | 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 tie
counsel fer the prosecution the story
of my clients life. You have heard
how, in a moment of unreasoning pas,
sion, he, the bearer of high and no.
l.. 4