Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-12-06
I FLASHED FOR
THROCMORTOn,
And Revealed the Secret OF His
SWeetheart's Murder.
By BUSHROD c. WASHINGTON

we nave. itSiIbIlu't tut lOltIiIiH'
handing folded paper to the clerk.
who read aloud the Endorsement on the
back. I'VE, the jury. find the prisoner
guilty of murder in the first degree, as
charged in the Indictment"
civilian Throcmorton." said Judge
Smithson, with judicial sternness. aft
er fair trial, defended by able coun-
sci. you stand convicted of the cruel
and deliberate murder of Olive Ora
ham.
1T has been shown that the young
woman had promised to become your
wife. Her parents. cOnfiding in your
honorable intentions, had recognized
you as her accepted lover, and the door
Of their home was open to you.
"While the motive in your crime is
not apparent. the facts which fasten
it upon you are linked into chain of
circumstances strong and incOntrovert-
ible.
You stood with Olive Graham on
the porch of her home: an instant later
her cry for mercy was heard by her
parents above the storm then raging.
Fastening to her assistance, they
found her murdered body on the slope
of the hill rod from the door.
"You were taken soon after. as it
WERE rcd handed. the bloody knife
with which the deed was done having
been found upon your person.
You have pleaded not guilty. but
state alleged against you.
"The penalty Of your crime as by
statute fixed is death. Have you any
thing to SAY why the sentence should
not be pronounced"'
Thr0crlortUn vas PINK of physical
manhood. we'll knit. erect. with char
acter as straight as his form. He held
medal from "the management" and
was the wcNrer Of II watch, the gift of
grateful passengers when he was TAX
en- from the wreck of his engine
"Throc," as they called him. was more
than liked. He was loved by the grimy
roadmen.
Smithson the character of the man
ard the stubborn facts of the case
stood in solcmn contrast. In such Il
contest character must lose.
The eyes Of ThiOrmortOn Shone
straight into the e., es Of the judge.
There was nothing OF the bravado in
his manner, neither tremor nor sign Of
weakening.
IF it please your honor" responded
the prisoner. rising as he spoke. lit
will shock you and all present when |
say mourn for Olive Graham and am
innocent. But what is it worth to
say it in the face of the evidence?
Had | sat with the jury | must have
come to their verdict. | am ready,
your honor. for the sentence"
Moved by some sudden impulse, the
judge turnel to the sheriff and said
in faltering voice: Remove the
prisoner and return him for sentence
| to the bar of this court. The day and
hour the court will later Indicate"
Old Graham was pensioned track
| inspector, who loved the thunder of
| trains and scream of whistles.
He had built his house thirty feet
| from the roadbed. Just back of it and
extending down to the track was an
abrupt twenty foot cliff of shale, the
perpendicular face of which was
smooth. 1t was in front of it that
they found the body of Olive.
No. 40. just run out of the round
house. had backed up and coupled to
the st. Louis express. 1t was Tom
Doyle's pet engine.
Doyle was looking from the cab
window for the signal to start. AS al
engineer he was Il good second to
| Throcmorton. He was Throc's next
friend and was to have been best man
at his wedding.
He believed Throcmorton was limo
cent because he couldn't believe 9th
erwise. But there were the facts. and
when he thought of them there was
a lump in his throat.
Ted Ellie. Doyle's fireman. had just
raked the CRATE when squad Of the
boys came by.
whats the news? asked Ted.
"Throc's guilty an got to swing"
came back from the crowd.
Fifty juries couldn't make me be-
lieve Throc killed Ollie Graham" said
Doyle. emphasizing with his fist on
the window sill.
The day had been sweltering. clouds
had gathered. and the night was black.
1t was down grade. and Tom Doyle.
with hand on throttle valve and eye on
the rails. was ready to slack at the
curve.
i The storm had burst. and just as the
engine struck the curve flash of
lightning and the focus of the head
light met full on the face Of the cliff.
The sight Tom Doyle saw made him
reel and grip the lever.
"A letter FOR Mr.. Absalom Conway"
called out Goggin. the worthy proprie-
tor Of gambling den in one of the biz
cities, putting emphasis on MIR. Alb
salon." "chat's you. Alb. reckon"
he added, tossing him the letter.
hn lat f,,1l