The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-06-13

be. indeed, that Billy 70 . monomaniac
with a confirmed delusion that he has
killed Biggar; the court may smile,
but / think l am rigtt in stating that
such things have occurred and have
even led to miscarriages of justice In
the past. / tell you, gentlemen, be-
lieve it 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 II 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 searchlight he's got to keep
close lip; but take him out to sea, and
answer for it he won't be so reticent."
A dead silence fell upon the court
when Facey drew his case to 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 1t 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, it is for you to speak first"
| or L cfv
nett.
Easement turned his quick glance
on Roche.
Same here" said the doctor.
1.-THE finding of the court" said the
captain after another pause, lis that
the prisoner Billy is guilty of the muir
der of T. H-what's his name?-Big-
gar, at Sunfiower 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 at
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 were landed
in the cove, the boat returning to find
the ship with anchor weighed and the
loosened sails tapping on the yards.
In a few minutes she was steaming
out to sea, and every one grew conf.
dent that Billy's tongue would soon
wag as he saw Sunflower bay dwindle
behind him. But the logged 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,
versation began and ended with:
l w HitC 1CilOW ~ 6OO0, hAAA AAAAAAs
On other topics he could be drawn out
at will, and proved himself most
tractable. sweet-tempered, and fal
from unintelligent fellow. The mer
got to like him immensely, keeping
him In perpetual tobacco and provid
ing him with more grog than was
! quite good for him. In the fo'castlt
it was rank heresy to call him muir
derer or to express any doubts re
garding hfseinnocence. He became a.
once the pet and the mystery of the
; ship, and his canvas cell the rallying
point for all the little gayeties OF
. board. He played cards well, was al
| apt pupil on the accordion, and a
checkers he was the master of thu
, ship! And he not only beat you, blu
he beat you handsomely, shaking
, hands before and after the event, lik'
} a prize fighter In the ring.
Billy's artless ways and boundles
, | good humor had won the who'll
, | wardroom to his side; and hi
: grim determination to die, at one