Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-02-28
An Adroit Judge.
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the prominent governors, Miguel San
chez. settled in HAVANA lie was not a
bad man at heart, but he had been
obliged by Captain General Weyier to
do great many cruel acts
A number of those who bad suffered
under Sanchc2s rule when the war
closed went to live in Havana. San
chez had been In the tobacco business
before the war and at the close re-
turned to shat business He wished
only to live peaceably and earn a llv-
ing for his family. But those who had
felt the effect Of Weylers iron rule,
administered through his subordinate.
were not minded that the ex-governor
should escape without punishment
One day Il man was found murdered
in the streets of Havana. and a wit
ness came forward who swore that he
had seen Sanchez commit the act.
Judge Antonio Herrera presided at
Sanche2s trial. In the witnesses the
judge recognized Cubans who had been
active in the revolution. Nevertheless
a good case was made against the for
mer deputy of the merciless Weyler
The jury brought in verdict of guilty,
and it only remained for the judge to
pronounce sentence.
miguel Sanchez. stand upv
The prisoner arose, pale and trem-
bling. lie was supported by his daugh-
ter, dusky Spanish girl with liquid
eyes bordered by long lashes.
Miguel Sanchez" said the judge,
"do you remember me?"
az do" faltered the prisoner.
when did we last meet?"
'I ordered your arrest. You were
brought before me, and sent you to
prison"
what were your words on that &C.
casion?"
II don't remember"
'T do. You said: The crown Of
Spain demands your influence to put
down the revolution or your life. I
give you two days in which to
choose"
The judge paused moment. The
courtroom was dealthly still except
for the sobs of Dona Maria Sanchez.
do you remember some months lat
els dlIeI Duu SOL away lIOlu yOu-lt
was through the connivance of one
near your person-that you were be-
sieging the town of c., where you had
me, backed by number of revolution
lists, surroundedY'
"I do"
"You found nut too hard for you to
crack. You cared little for any one
wit hn
evening a note was put into my hand
by one who slipped away and was lost
in q crowd before could mark hin,
The note was from you. You asked
me to meet you without the walls,
promising me safe conduct. You
limited that the crown was ready to
pay me a good price and give me an
important post in case would abjure
the revolution and throw my influence
on the other side. sent a man made
up to represent me. What became of
him?'
Sanchez stood with bowed head.
Again there was silence except for his
daughters sobs.
81 will tell you" continued the judge
HE was arrested and was about to be
shot when he succeeded in convincing
you that he was not the person he ap-
peared to be. He was permitted to re-
turn to me as a messenger with anoth-
er safe conduct and further offers"
The judge paused again. This time,
besides the sobs of Dona Maria, there
were mutterings among the eX-revolu-
tionists who had secured the prisoners
conviction.
"What have you to say" continued
the judge. ''in explanation of your
treachery?"
The prisoner raised his head. looked
at the judge and said:
Nothing"
Something lighted in the eye of the
judge that had not been there before.
He sat regarding the prisoner, who
was still looking flXedy at him. Then
the judge broke the silence.
"You have this to say. You were
simply Il machine to carry out the or
ders of butcher What you said were
the words of General 'Weyler. What
you did were his acts"
The pallor Of the prisoners cheek
gave place to a tlnge of color. DOna
Maria looked up at the judge with a
new expression.
at is l, not a tyrant, who judges
you now. as l was judged. And this
is my decision. The revolution is ac-
complished 1t is not for me, Il judge
of the court, to dispense vengeance.
This case has been trumped up against
you by those who wish to be revenged
upon you for acts of which you were
only the tool. They might as well
strike an AK and leave the headsman
who welded it untouched. Sentence