Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-04

~ hare learned his true character dur
ing these days."
| innocence; that his refusal to answer
| her cntrcaties had been the last straw
to the load under which 1t had gone
murderer of Moreau To seem the
cringing criminal. the pitiful liar aud
| actor in her eyes. The thought stung
| him. Her faith had meant so much.
| The ominous feeling weighed heavily
on Fielder when he rose TO continue the
| testimony for the prisoner. so rudely
disturbed the evening before. In such
a community pettifogging was of no
avail. Throwing expert dust in jurors
eyes would be worse than useless. In
his opening words he made no attempt
to conceal the wcaknccs of the de-
Tense. evilentially considered. Strip
ped of all husk. his was to be an ap-
peal to Caesar.
| Through cloud of witnesses con-
cisely. consistently, yet with winning
tactfulness that disarmcd the obicc-
tons of the prosecution. he began to
lead them through the series of events
that had followed the arrival of The
self forgotten man. Out of the mouths
of their own neiGhbors-Devlin. Bar
ney McGian. Mrs. Halloran. who came
down weering-tEcy were mace to see
| as In a cyclOrama the struggle for re-
habtlitation against hatred ard suspi.
c1on, the courage that had dared for a
childs life. the honesty of purpose
that showed IN self sur-cndcr. The
prisoner, he said. had recovered his
memory before the accusation and Is
serted his absolute Innocence. These
who believed hin guilty of the murder
of DIR. Morcau must believe him also a
vulgar liar and pose;r. IIcs LEFT Tie
Inference clear: If the prisoner had
fired that cowardly shot lie knew it
now; il be lied row he had lied all
along. and the later life he had lived
at Smoky Mountain. eloquent of faif
dealing. raightforwaIiIness Of pur-
pose. kindliness and courage. had been
but hypocrisy. the bootless articcc OF
q shallow buffoon.
The scssion was prolonged past The
noon hour, and when Fielder rested his
case it seemed that all that was posi-.
Bile had been said. lie had done his ut.
most. He had drawn from the people
of Smoky Mountain dramatic story
and had filled in its outlines with color,
force and feeling. Ard yet as he clos
ed the lawyer felt sick sense of fell
| ure
Court adjourned for 2n hour, and in
the interim Fielder remained in little
room in the building, whittier DIR.
Brent was TO send him sandwiches and
| coffee from the hotel.
You made a fine effort. Tom" the
latter said as they stood for q moment
in the emptying courtroom. You're
doing wonders With no case. and the
town ought to send you to congress or
the strength of it. l declare. some OF
J your evidence made me feel as mean rs
a dog about the rascal. though know
all the time he was as guilty as the
devil" Get
The lawyer shook his head Il don't
blame you. Brent" he said. for yot
don't know him as l do. | have seer
much of him lately, been eftcn Will
him, watched him under stress, for Ia
! doesn't deceive himself; he has II.
thought of, acquittal! We none of II.
knew Hugh Stires. We put him dow
!. | for shallow, vulgar blackieg. withou
redeeming qualities: But the man W.
; are trying is n gentleman. a refinct
and cultivated man of taste and feel
Ing. / have learned his true characte1
during these days."
!. WELL said the other. IF you be
lieve in him, SO much the better You'll
make the better speech for it. Tell III,
one thing. Where was Miss Homer
81 don't know"