The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-08-26

8SzeAR&11N my little contribu-
= tion to this SYM
postum in the style of fiction. The
facts, however, are drawn from my
own experience. AS 1t is my first at
tempt at anything outside the paths
of legal literature / crave the indul-
gence of you all. With your permis-
sion will read my story" The Judge
then read the following narrative in
manner that showed he had not,
during his years on the bench, forgot
ten his early skill before jury.
Jim Dismukes sat In mute resigna-
tion and stared into the face of the
Judge; that stern yet sometimes kind
ly old face that meant so much to
Jim. He wondered in his simple way
why there should be so much OF
trouble and SO much of solemnity
about so unimportant member CT
the community as himself. He won
dered more than all why that terrible,
Unknown thing called the law had
seen Mt to drag him from his little log
home and keep him through those
long months shut up behind the
barred windows Of the modest county
Jail while, except for the doubtful at.
tention of Bin" his half-grown boy,
the little ten-acre patch might be
growing up in raEweed and cookie
bur.
or course jim knew that one dark
and forbidding Eight traveller trailp-
Ing homewar6 along the little fire.
quented highway that ran into the
timber just beyond his place had
stumbled over the body Of young Ar
thur Ballard. Jim knew people said
Ballard had been murdered. He knew
when he went with the crowd to look
at the body by the dina, early morn
ing light, he had seen that reeking,
horrible gunshot wound in his breast,
end he had trembled and grown pale.
He knew he was charged with firing
the shot that made that wound. And
Jim also knew, deep down in his own
heart, whether OF not this charge was
true. Jim knew, and this knowledge
1t was now the duty OF Judge, twelve
men and states attorney 10 drag
forth.
AS Jim sat before those terrible
inquisitors and watched the changing
play rpon the countenance Of the
judge .a.aa tow-headed, stubby-nosea
tiated the dlstkbEsee f. lin, lin ~, 49,. .saee
fours. and began the perilous ascent
OF his long and awkward legs. Jim
bent oveT and patted the little head
but Se,i. Ann grabbed the child ~
ner lap again with the whispered in
junction:
There now, Buddy mustn't bother
pappy. Pappy's busy"
"Pappy" was indeed busy.
The last man Of the panel had INST
been accepted Ivy both sides.
i wish | had ii more lust ltsa
him." thought Clay Sheppard. the
young and ambitious states attorney
as he passed the veniremen over to
the defense.
Il can trust him at least to give
Jim square deal" thought old Tom
Robinson who had volunteered ~
save Jim, II possible. simply because
he couldn't help doing kind Cee8s
any more than he could help living.
The twelfth man truly was an
ideal iuryman. In a small commm-
nifty the questioning OF venirem
Is largely a matter OF form. Either
the state or the defense can tell long
before the trial by looking over the
list Of veniremen what men they would
like to have on the jury. Amos Watson
was one of those who would have |
been picked in advance by both sides. |
A farmer of expansive acres, which |
lay in the high priced prairie beyond
the timber OF which Jims place was |
a clearing. he was identified with all |
that was progressive In the eommu-
1ity. He was q deacon In the church.
8 director In the bank, an officer In
the county fair association, and. In
fact. held most OF those honors which
beyond the city, are the capstones Of
success. He was indeed an ideal Jury
man. In the city he would have been
challenged for cause. for, with all
The rest OF his good qualities, he was
Intelligent.
The attorney for the state then
lrose for his opening AS he de-
'cribed with the minutest detail Jim's
movements upon the fatal night, Jim
srithed and would have given all the
world, yes. oven his precious ten
Icres to have escaped the starcs that
eemed to burn into the back Of his
neck. At the same time he
wondered how the states at ]
orney knew things about him that I
Ie didn't know himself.
Then old Tom Robinson brought {
ears to Jim's eyes as he referred cas-. !
ALLY to Jim's devoted wife, his hon
ct faced boy, soon to grow into man y
ood and the little innocent babe that
ratified at its fathers knee" Older /
u&ow.,ov ovnn fhnu Ta~~.f~ .~-..aa D