The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-05-16

MI bdfnt NuttHblhuO. TtIuTneu
Billy. May the Lord have mercy on
your sinful soulW
Facey was stupefed. where In
thunder did you learn that?" ne de-
manded.
"oh, me savvy too much," said
Billy.
Now. see here" said the lieutenant.
"Yon didn't kill that trader?"
Yes, kill him." said Billy cheer.
fully.
You did," cried the other.
White fellow no good 1 kill him."
said the prisoner.
IF 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 no good; l 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 If 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
nf a In hn - t,.l
On either side of him were Sennett
and Roche; and in front, beside a
table covered with a flag, was Pick
thorn, with a clerkly outfit and a
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; l kill him."
quavered the prisoner.
pleads guilty" said Easement to
the clerk
What did you do 1t 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 II of Pick
thorn shall not weary the reader
with his labored English that lingua
Franco 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 q
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 unintelllgibility of
which he was a 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 IL ever there was a flat.footed,
self.confessed murderer, would say
IL Is the dusky gentleman In the dock
The blood of Biggar cries aloud for
vengeance, and It would be shame II
It cried In yain," he said.
Stick to the prisoner" cried the
court.
Il bow to correction, SIR" went on
Burder. II 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. | 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-
Tense, Mr.. Facey?" said Easement, as
the queens prosecutor took his seat.
Il do, sir" returned the first lieuten-
ant, nervously.
II should like to say, FIRST of ALL"
he began, that ! will not crossex-
anime these dirty old savages who
have given evidence against my client.
| quite agree with everything my hon.
orable friend has said regarding
them, and l cannot think that the
court Will attach undue Importance to
any evidence they may have given.
We've been told that the Kanakas
are losing all respect for whites, and
that II we don't take some strong
measures there will be the deuce to
pay in these islands. Perhaps there
will be; but Is that the British justice
we're so proud OF, or is II fair play,
to the unfortunate wretch
who is trembling before you? From
what I've seen OF the whites In this
group, can say emphatically that
I'm in line with the Kanakas. Now,
as to this Billy: What is there against
him but his own confession? and that,