The Huttig news., 1909-03-20
THE AUCTION
 FLAG
By F. L. GARDNER.

SlOnal lie. After being admitted to the bar opened an office in sub urban city and hung out my shingle. Aside from few petty cases my time was mostly spent ill day-dreams. After studying up some of the prominent cases of the time would stand at any desk, and with an imaginary court room. judge, jury and spectators. would plead the case from my point of view-and of course it was always decided by my argument-'Oh,' I said to myself one day, If dreams would only come true.' But dreams will not give man the wherewith to keep the wolf from the door, and I felt as though l would like to go out and shoot man and then plead my own case
 When l had about concluded that reform wave was sweeping the coun- try my star of destiny began to ascend. It's an old saying that It's an i'll wind that blows no good At this time a circumstance arose that put me on the road to success, and eventually a realization of my dreams.
 One day while sitting in my office 1 felt so blue and discouraged that I concluded a little outing would be of benefit to me and make me feel a little more cheerful. Taking my camera in hand, started off to take some views of the falls and stepped into the drug store to purchase some cigars. Hello, Frank exclaimed the tyn. I want to see. A friend of mine has sent me a new brand of plates. I have not the time to use them just now. If it will not be too much trou- ble, l would like to have you take this plate and holder and try it on something that suits your fancy After several hours spent at the falls I start ed to return home, and just as I was about entering the village of W I bethought of my friends plate, and. glancing at the sun, I found that I would have to work quickly, as thun- der-storm was fast approaching Fo- cusing the camera upon the main street of the village made the expos ure and felt aggravated when I noticed large auction flag floating from a building in the foreground; but per. haps the objectionable feature could be remedied in development.
 Shortly after I reached home all thoughts of photography and auction flags were driven from my mind by the thrilling report of 2 horrible murder; sI ~ .a., ltIzaatar and d-'s.a ar<,ve'T- sne was accused as the murderess. From the first day that her father had brought a new wife to his home moth CT and stepdaughter had formed a hatred for each other On the day of the murder hot words had passed be- tween the two. I'll kill you ex- claimed the girl in passion; and then, mounting her bicycle, she rode away. It transpired that passerby over heard the threat. Shortly after the girls departure a neighbor found the elderly woman lying dead in pool of blood in the kitchen. Circumstances seemed to point to the girls guilt. and her admission that she made the remark overheard made the case seem almost conclusive
 "To make a long story short. I was assigned as her counsel All the evi. dence the girl could offer was that she had ridden away on her bicycle and only heard of the murder on her return home. Your honor,' I said as I arose to plead for the defense. if you will permit this photograph to be used as evidence, I will prove that the prisoner was far away from the scene of the murder and is as inno. cent of the crime as I am The pic. lure shows her standing beside her bicycle drinking from wayside sprine | In the village of W, ten miles | from the scene of the crime. The hands of the clock on the town hal | indicate half-past three, the exact time that the tragedy occurred
 An audible murmur sounded through the court room. Your honor. said the counsel for the prosecution after the photograph had been admit ted and examined, I coincide with the evidence as submitted by the other side We know that the picture was not made after the murder, but what proof have we that it was made the day that the crime was commit ted? It would have been possible to have made it on the day before. The opposing counsel may have made a mistake in his recollections. Unless it can be proved that the picture was made on the 25th of August the evi dence amounts to naught
 Your honor,' I said in reply. the old blacksmith shop shown in the pic ture was sold at auction on the 25th of August. The auctioneer's assistant is prerar 10 prove that the flag was placed in position early in the fore noon, and remained transfixed unti
 after the sale at 4:30 D. m. The case
 was then given to the jury, who ren dsred a verdict of not guilty
 "A few years later the real murderer
 was apprehended, convicted and pait
 the penalty for the crime