The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-01

be. indeed. that Billy Is a monomaniac
with a confirmed dalusi0n that De has
killed Biggar; the court may smile,
but I think ] am right Do stating that
such things have occurred and have
even led to miscarriagas Of justice In
the past tell you, gentlemen. 4 be-
Heve 1t was the whole blooming bay
that killed Biggar and that Billy was
just as guilty or just as innocent as
the rest. And there is one thing !
feel mortal sure about; That IL we
take the prisoner outside the heads
we will soon get the gag on his
mouth, and learn a good deal more
about this ugly business. Under old
Jib's searchhght he's got to keep
close lip; but take him out to sea, and
1 answer for It he won't be 50 reticent." "
A dead silence fell upon the court
when Facey drew his case to a close
and resumed his seat Nothing could
be heard but the scratching Of Pick
thorn's pen and the reverbrating
growl of the blow-hole as it fretted
and fumed within for the screaming
blast which was soon to follow. Case
ment rammed his hands deeper into
his pockets, gnawed his tawny mus
tache, and protruded his chin. At last,
with a start, he awoke from his
reverie, and barked out;
"Mr Sennett, as the youngest mem
Der. 1t is for you to speak first"
q think he's guilty, sir" said Sen
nett.
Easement turned bis quick glance
on Roche.
Same here" said the doctor
THE finding Of the court" said the
captain after another pause, is that
the prisoner Billy is guilty Of the muir
der of T. H.-what's his name?-Big4
gar, at Sunfower bay, on the blank
day Of September, 1888, and is con-
demned to be shot as an example to
the island Sentence to be deferred
until l get the ship back from New
Ireland. where I've to look into that
Carbutt business and the outrage al
MacCarthy's inlet, on the chance OF
the prisoner making further confes-
sion and duplicating others in his
crime. The court is dismissed"
Beg pardon, sir" said Pickthorn
looking up from his writing as the
others rose to their feet What am
to call the case-the Queen versus
Billy what?"
BILLY nothing" said the captain
savagely. Call him William Pick
thorn II you think it sounds better"
The verdict of the court was ex
planned to Jibberik, and the old rogue
and his pair Of friends we're landed
In the cove. the boat returning to find
the ship with anchor weighed and the
loosened sails tapping on the yards
In few minutes she was steaming
out to sea, and every one grew conf
dent that Billy's tongue would soor
wag as he saw Sunfower bay dwindle
behind him. But the dogged savage
stuck TO his tale; he had but one
reply to all inquiries, to all probing
and pumping for further particulars
of the murder On his side the con
Yersation began and ended with:
white fellow no good; | kill him
On other topics he could be drawn ou
at will. and proved himself mos
tractable. sweet-tempered, and fal
from unintelligent fellow. The mer
got to like him immensely, keeping
him in perpetual tobacco and proyld
ing him with more grog than was
quite good for him In the fo'castlC
1t was rank heresy to call him mur
derer or to express any doubts re
garding his innocence. He became a.
once the pet and the mystery Of tht
ship, and his canvas cell the rallying
point for all the little gayeties OF
board. He played cards we'll. was al
apt pupil on the accordion. and a
checkers he was the master OF th'
ship! And he not only beat you, bu
he beat you handsomely. shaking
hands before and after the event, lik'
a prize fighter in the ring.
Billys artless ways and Soundles
good humor had won the who'll
wardroom to his side; and hi
grim determination to die, at ono