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

Billy Nay the LORD have mercy on
your sinful zouli"
Facey was stupefed. where In
thunder did you learn that?" he de-
manded.
"oh me savvy too much" raid
Billy.
Nov. see here. said the lieutenant.
You didn't kill that trader?o
Yes. XIII him, said Billy cheer
fully.
you did," cried the other.
White fellow no good; / kill him"
said the prisoner.
II you tell that to the captain he'll
shoot you" said Facey. II the pris-
oner was to be defended he was go
Ing to give him all the help he could.
The black boy looked distressed and
nodded forlorn assent
You'll be big fool to say that"
said Facey.
white fellow 40 good; kill him."
repeated Billy.
You unmitigated idiot, you'll do for
/ yourself" cried the lieutenant, angrily.
What's the good Of my talking for
you II you can't stand up for your
self?"
At ten o'clock the court martial was
assembled on the quarterback. The
captain. with his brawny shoulders
thrown forward. and his hands deep
in his trouser pockets, had all the air
Of man in the throes Of Indigestion.
On either side Of him were Sennett
and Roche, and in front. beside q
table covered with a flag, was Pick
thorn, with a clerkly outfit and
Bible. Billy stood in chains beside a
couple Of marines. looking extremely
depressed. The old gorillas. their
filthy kits bulging with what they
had begged or pilfered, were in charge
OF the sergeant, who had all he could
do to prevent their splitting on the
deck.
Facey was the first one sworn. He
deposed as to the capture and identity
of the prisoner Then Billy was led
up to the table and told to plead.
Kiss the book and say whether you
murdered the trader or not" said the
captain.
White fellow no good; kill hin"
quavered the prisoner.
pleads guilty" said Easement to
the clerk
what did you do It for? demand.
ed the court
Billy reiterated his stock phrase.
Take him away" said the captain.
Jibberik was the next witness. He
kissed the book as though it were his
long-lost brother, and looked almost
unabashed enough to beg it Of Pick
thorn. shall not weary the reader
with his labored English, that lingua
Franca Of the isles which in the west
ern Pacific is known as Beach da Mar
He told a pretty plain story: Billy
and the trader had always been on
bad terms. One night, crazy with
palm-toddy, Billy had sneaked down
to Capt Toms house and shot him
through the body as he was reading a
book at supper AS to the subsequent
burning and looting Of the station the
old savage was none so clear, shelter
ing himself In the unintelligibility Of
which he was master
Then rose Burder for the queen. He
was a cheeky youngster. with pink
cheeks, a glib tongue, and no end Of
assurance.
Il don't propose to waste the time
OF the honorable court" he began;
but If ever there was a fatfooted,
self-confessed murderer, / would say
it is the dusky gentleman in the dock.
The blood of Biggar cries aloud for
vengeance. and It would be shame II
1t cried In vain" be said.
stick to the prisoner" cried the
court.
Il bow to correction, sir" went on
Burder Il say again. this is no time
for half-measures; and say that Sun
flower bay will be a better place to
live in without Mr Billy. l leave 1t to
the honorable court. with every conf
dence, to vindicate justice in these
Islands by condemning the prisoner to
the extreme penalty of the law. The
case for the queen is closed. gentle
men"
Il believe you appear for the de
fense, Mr Facey?" said Easement, as
the queens prosecutor took his seat
Il do, sir" returned the first lieuten
ant, nervously.
Il should ike to say, FIRST Of all,
he began, that l will not cross-ex
anime these dirty old savages who
have given evidence against my client
1 quite agree with everything my hon
orable friend has said regarding
them, and I cannot think that the
: court will attach undue Importance t.
any evidence they may have given
We've been told that the Kanaka:
: are losing all respect for whites, anC
that if we don't take some stronl
measures there will be the deuce tt
pay in these islands. Perhaps there
! will be: but Is that the British iustic,
we're so proud Of, or is it fair play
3 gentlemen, TO the unfortunate wretcl
7 who is trembling before you? From
2 what I've seen Of the whites In thi