The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-02-28
BLIND JUSTICE
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one knew her, and the body had been
held as long as seemed best for iden-
tification. The only person to whom
the slightest suspicion attached was
man who had been seen walking on
the road near where the body had been
found. The police of the neighb0ring
towns had been notified, and the man
had been arrested and identified by the
person who had seen him. The prisoner
was undergoing his examination.
did you ever see the deceased be
fore?" asked the coroner.
Never"
"What were you doing on the rOad?'
81 am commercial traveller and Of
ten walk from one town to another in
stead of waiting for train. 1t was so
in this case"
did you see anything of this girl on
the road?'
81 have told you that l never saw
her before"
The coroner conferred with police
official. then turned again to the pris-
oner
'There is no evidence against you,
and l suppose you are entitled to
discharge. but you will have to re-
main in the care of the police for a
short time"
At that moment several persons en-
tered, leading a blind man.
'This man, your honor" said one Of
them, has come to town looking for
his daughter. who, he says, has been
recently led away from her home. We
have told him of this dead girl, and
he desires to know if it is she he is
seeking"
The moment the old man appeared
the prisoner started. Then he looked
about him to see if his agitation had
been noticed and feeling assured that
all eyes were and had been on the
blind man, resumed the careless air
that he had shown during his eXamina-
ton The blind man, who was old and
on whose face were the lines of suffer
ing, was led up and stood trembling
before the coroner. After some pre-
liminary questions he was asked to tell
his story.
"My little girl" he said, lis a good
girl She is all I have to love and
the only person in the world who loves
me- She cannot be dead. She is not
dead She must not be dead Size
worked in a factory, and when she
went to work in the morning she gave
me loving kiss. All the long day
waited for her to come home, and then
there was another loving kiss, and,
though tired, she talked brightly to
me. cheering me like the flame Of
fire on the hearth to you who can see.
She never went gadding about in the
evening, but stayed at home with me,
though l encouraged her to bring her
young companions to our home.
But of late she had seemed troubled.
She could not cheer me as she had
been used to doing, or If she did,
knew it was with an effort. And
noticed that the more troubled she
was the more affection she showed ME
Two weeks ago she embraced me more
tenderly than ever before hanging
about my neck as though she would
never let go"
''From that day have not seen her.
My neighbors have told me that she
had been seen several times with
man, but l could get no description of
him. / feel sure the man they saw her
with has been the cause of her leaving
me. I have visited a number Of towns
in hopes of finding her, without sue
cess. These people have told me that
you have a dead girl in here who is
not known. but 1 do not think it can
be my girl. Still, l will satisfy myself
that she is not
How can you do thatP' asked the
coroner you can't see''
Il can tell my Maggie said the wit
ness.
"YOur honor - said the prisoner,
then checked himself
"Well, what is it?' asked the cor
oner
Nothing; only that an Identification
by blind man is travesty OH JUS
tice.''
''How does that concern you" asked
the coroner, looking at the prisoner
with a new interest
"Only generally" replied the prison
er, endeavoring to resume his care
less manner.
"By what MEANS" said the coroner
to the witness, "can you know your
daughter"
"Let me put my hands on her face.
and l will know her at once.'
An ashiness spread itself over the
features of the prisoner.
LEAD him to the body" said the
coroner. "and place his hands on it.
The old mans hand was placed ON
the waist. He started. He ran his fin
gers up the body till he came to the
neck, when he uttered moan. Quick
ly he passed his hand over the face
from chin to forehead and staggered.
''Oh, Maggie, Maggie!' he nSaned.
''Your daughter?' asked the cor
Oner quickly.
my daughter" walled the old man.
There was a silence broken only by
the blind mans sObs; then he was led