Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-08-06
The House of the Black
szE:4 Pate. Ring Copyright. 1905

suddenly, II all my charges.
Let the prisoner CO.
In Judge here answered the Off
Ger sternly. 'Tll make my ruling at
the end Of the trial. Let the mex pris-
oner be called" The sheriff tapped the
man on his shoulder. and he arose sui
ienly.
What's your name?"
John C~linca."
John Clinca, hold UP your hand and
be sworn"
The fellow obeyed slowly.
ID you plead guilty or not guilty %
II don't plead"
Mr.. Clinca, you're In a bad position.
There is evidence TO incriminate you
not only In robbery. but also in muir
der. The question with you is only con
corning the degree. Who was associat-
ed with your II you make a clean
breast OF 1t, IL will not in any way harm
your case"
IF l turn states evidence, will it
clear me2" he asked. looking up for
the first time.
ut Will not harm your case, to say
the least. / advise you to do it,"
THE man that helped do these breaks
was e Heller"
Leon Heller?"
"Loney's brother"
did you make the break at Keich-
lines? OF course you did, or that
stamp book would not ave been found
among you effects"
Your honor, 1 object" The Squire
partially arose, but the justice did not
notice him.
81 say you have no hope OF trying to
escape this charge; you made that
break, isn't that true?"
Yes" he admitted sullenly.
Did you kill Karl Keichline?"
1T was In self Defense" He spoke
m nRplv sfIIa nod Y nn,.. Aryr ~ ,x.nn
chokin' the life out Of him. / tried to
yank him of, but I couldn't break his
hold. Leon was chokin', and 1 grabbed
that pipe and swatted him. / didn't
try to kill him, SO help me, I didn't, and
l didn't know | had till mex day. He
so near finished Leon that / had to
carry him all the way home"
did you break into Squire Harris
wick's?"
NO"
Have either OF these prisoners here
associated with your"
NO"
do you recognize his book?"
Yes; it's the n we got at Keich-
lines
"sure?" The prisoner examined it
attentively.
Yes"
Your honor" spoke up Amos. here's
the o we found In the cave. The
sheriff gave Il to me last night to take
care off, He handed 1t TO the Judge,
who passed II to the prisoner.
Are you sure this amt the book"
the judge asked.
II can't tell EN- apart. They look
jest ALIKE
Your honor interposed Amos
again, Karl Keichline's clerk is out
side. ! ask that he be called to iden-
tify the book"
ssIO~4-~ L.. - -
Judge. The sheriff went out, and came
in Immediately with a young
man who was duly sworn.
Here are two books. Will you tell
he's court which OF them is Karl Keich-
lines stamp book ?" The young man
picked up one of them instantly.
That's the one" he said with de-
cision.
How do you know
81 used it every day for years; l know
by the looks OF it,"
It's the book found in the barn.
announced the Squire.
"Nosuh, it's not" retorted Amos; it's
the other"
you've got 'em mixed up; you can
tell now which is which," he sneered.
Your honor" spoke UP Jim defer
entially. II haven't examined h book
found in the barn, but the one found
In the ave has a knife cut on the back,
where the Squire tried to mutilate IL
last night when / stopped him"
"Here-here; / object" Numbered the
Squire.
"Yas," interposed Amos with a drawl,
and IL you turn TO age 1856, you'll find
a little piece of paper with some of
my writin' on 1t. / kinder thought they
might get mixed up"
''Then the book found in the cave is
the genuine one" announced the Judge
declsively.
say, your honor. may I speakY''
pleaded Amos.
IF you rave any evidence bearing on
this case"
wal, now, / amt very much On
stickin' my nose into other peoples
swill berrels. I've allus cal'lated 1t was
a mans first duty TO mind his own
business. but 1t sometimes k judg-
ment to tell when you're mindin' II.
I'm willin' h Squire here should fight
the Paintings here till there amt any
thing left OF AIRY one OF EN- but yeller
fuzz. I sorter like to see a good fight
goin' on. but IL folks, cats. or ROSTERS
hght before me, they've got TO fight
fair. / won't stand round with my
hands in my pockets n see a man
licked with a foul old Now II looks
amazingly to me as IL the Squire broke
into his own store. and hid the goods
| there in the barn himself, and doctored
UP that book so as to get Jim here con-
victed OF murder"
"Here-here, Judge, / protest" broke
In the old man excitediy. That amt
evidence. That's personal spite. I pro-
test. He sat down. his face fairly pur-
| pie: his hands working conyulsively.
you're out of order: you'll be seated.
Amos" ordered the judge sternly,
-Allen Farthing win arise and be
sworn"
The man arose calmly IND o the
oath. the Squire cycling him all the
time like a lynx. The old man was
iaboring under high excitement; tne
veins In his face stood u IKE purple
cords. !.
II know nothing about this business,
the man began in clear tones. I've
had no connection with 1t whatsoever
I've already proven to the SQuire.s sat
isfaction an alibi for myself and Ton
and now an alibi has been proven foI
| Jim. We. therefore. are concerned II
no way with the Keichiine murder
Moreover. this man here confesSes thai
he aid II himself. An alleged robber,
Is committed In the Squire's store. "a
bases his suspicious ON the nnding OF !
handkerchief that we can easily provs
never belonged to OF US he ieads
the sheriff to the haymow In my Darn
go ..~~o..orv fha goods and the kclcn'