Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-12

am going to tell you something and 1
hope that in your mind, and in the mind
of the public, the good which it will
do may in some measure atone for the
wrong"
His horse stumbled, and he did not
complete the sentence. l was afarid to
say anything, was afraid that eagerness
on my part might stir the vagaries of
his peculiar mind and drive him into
stubborn silence. So l said nothing.
He rode close to me, reached over and
put his hand on my arm. Mr. Hawes, "
he said, leaning toward me, and in the
moonlight his face was CHASTITY, "Mr.
Halves, Alf Jucklin did not kill Dan
Stuart"
What" l cried, bringing my horse
to a stand still and seizing his bride
rein.
Let us be perfectly calm now, and
III tell you all about it. Turn loose
my bride rein and let us ride on slow
ly."
Down the moon -whitened road the
horses slowly walked. waited for him
to continue. mo, sir, ALI didn't kill
him. I found him in the road, after
Alf had called me and 1 took him into
my house and there was not a mark on
him, not one. 1 stripped him and no
where was his skin broken. Dan was
born with organic disease of the heart
and for years had been treating him.
He was sensitive and never spoke Of
his ailment and l was the only one who
knew the extent Of it. Two years ago
I told him that he was likely to die at
any minute, and I repeatedly warned
him against fatigue or any sort OF
agitation. And it was rage that killed
him when Alfs pistol fired. The ham,
mer of Dams pistol caught in his pock-
ct and his failure to get it out threw
him into a rage and he died. I told the
coroner that he was shot through the
breast, and I slyly contrived not to be
placed upon my oath. They had Airs
confession, and that was enough. And
no one cared to strip the dead man
to examine the wound. 1t was piece
of humbuggery, as all coroners' in
quests are, and SO the verdict was
given. 1 am mean man; l acknowl-
edge it-I am narrow and vindictive,
but 1 would have made confession Of
the manner of Dams death rather than
to see Alf hanged. / knew that there
would be a new trial; I intended to
leave the community and 1 resolved to
defer my statement until just before
going. That about covers the case,
think"
will you go with me to a justice of
the peace, write out your statement and
swear to it?" asked, striving to be
calm.
Certainly. Old Perdue is a justice.
Wen go over there"
The moon was still high as galloped
pocket. l went straightway to Conk-
wright's house and with the door
knocker set every dog in the town to
barking.
why, what on earth is the matter?"
the Judge asked as he opened the door.
"Oh, it's you, is it, Bill? I've got ne
gro here somewhere, but Gabriel might
blow blast in his ear and never stir
his wool. Come into the library"
He lighted a lamp, and handed him
the doctors statement. He read it
without the least show Of surprise; and
putting the paper into his pocket, he
sat down, closed his eyes, and with his
thumb and forefnger pressed his eye
lids.
"Etheredge is going to leave in the
morning" l said.
He ought to be sent to the peniten-
tiary. But let him go. Penitentialy is
better off without him. In the morning
we will have several Of our leading doc
tors exhume the body to verify the
statement. I'll attend to it. Yes, sir.
A certain form must be observed. A
jury will be impaneled, the statement
will be read, and the judge will. in a
sort of a charge, declare that the pris-
oner is innocent. Some things are
strange after all. A venomous scound-
rel, but let him go. Yes, I'll attend to
everything in the morning. You'd bet
ter sleep here"
mo, I'm going to the Jail and then
t. the telegraph office"
To be Continued