The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-08-05
The House Of the Black
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suuuSniy, 4 WltnurdW al my Charges
Let the prisoner GO"
I'm Judge here answered the Off
Ger sternly. "Tn make my ruling at
the end of the trial. Let the next pris-
oner be called" The sheriff tapped the
man on his shoulder. and he arose sui
ienly.
what's your name2'
John Cllnca."
John clinca, hold up your hand and
be sworn"
The fellow obeyed slowly.
DO you plead guilty or not guiltyT'
II don't plead"
Mr.. Clinca, you're in O bad position.
There 10 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 If you make q clean
breast Of II, It will not many way harm
your case
IF I turn states evidence, will 1t
clear me?' he asked, looking up for
1T win not harm your case, to say
the least, / advise % to do it,
THE man that helped do these breaks
was Leon Heller"
leon Heller?"
"Loney's brother
did you make the break at Keich-
lines? OF course you did, or that
stamp book would not have been found
among our effects"
your honor. I object" The SQUIRE
partially arose, but the justice did not
notice him.
II say o have no hope OF trying to
escape this charge; you made that
break, isn't that true? 2"
yes he admitted sullenIy.
did o kill Karl Keichline2"
ut was In self defense He spoke
eagerly. HE had Leon down, and was
chokin' the life put of him. / tried to
yank him off, but I couldn't break his
hold. Leon was chokin', and / grabbed
that pipe and swatted him. I didn't
I didn't know / had till next day. He
SC near finished Leon that / had to
carry him all the way home" N
did you break into Squire Harris
wick's?"
mo"
Have either Of these prisoners here
associated with your"
mo"
do you recognize this book?"
Yes; It's the one we got at Keich-
"sure?" The prisoner examined it
attentively.
Yes" ~
"Your honor" spoke UP Amos, heres
the book we found in the cave. The
sheriff gave II to me last night to take
care Of" He handed 1t to the Judge,
who passed 1t TO h prisoner.
Are you sure this amt the book 2"
the judge asked.
Il can't tell EN- apart. They look
jest alike"
your HONOR interposed Amos
again, Karl Kelchline's clerk is out
side. l ask that he be called to iden-
tify the book
Bring him In" commanded the
judge. The sheriff went out, and came
In Immediately with a nervous young
man who was duly sworn.
Here are two books. Will you tell
the 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 know7"
II used It every day for years; Iknow
by the looks of IT." &
Its the book found In the barn"
announced the Squire.
"Nosuh, it's not" retorted Amos; it's
the other"
You've got EN- mixed UP; you can't
tell now which Is which, he sneered.
Your honor" spoke up Jim defer
entially, IT haven't examined the book
found In the barn, but the one found
In the cave has a knife cut on the back,
where the Squire tried to mutilate 1t
last night when I stopped him."
"Here-here: I object" Numbered the
Squire.
"Yas." interposed Amos with a drawI,
and IL you turn to page 1856, you'll find
a little piece OF paper with some OF
my writin' on 1t. / kinder thought they
might get mixed up"
"Then'th book found in the cave Is
the genuine one" announced the Judge
de~cisively.
"say. your honor. may I speak?"
pleaded Amos.
"If you have any evidence bearing on
this case
wal, now, I amt very much on
stickin' my nose into other peoples
swill berrels. I've allus cal'lated II was
a mans first duty to mind his own
business, but Ii sometimes takes judg-
ment to tell when you're mindin' II.
I'm willin' the Squire here should fight
the Paintings here till there amt any
thing left OF airy one OF 'em but yeller
fuzz. / sorter like to see a good fight
goin' on, but if folks, cats, or ROSTERS
fight before me, they've got to fight
fair. I won't stand round with my
hands in my pockets and see a man
licked with @ foul hold. Now 1t looks
amazingly to me as II the Squire broke
into his own store, and hid the goods
there in the barn himself, and doctored
~ NAA0S 1oSN ~ 80 " 6SN SANA SOh-
yicted Of murder"
''Here-here, Judge, I protest." broke
In h old man excitedly. That amt
evidence. That's personal spite. I pro-
test" He sat down, his lace fairly pur-
pie; his hands working convulsively.
You're out OF order; you'll be seated,
Amos" ordered the Judge sternly.
ALLEN Farthing will arise and be
sworn"
The man arose calmly and took the
oath, the Squire cycling him all the
time like a lynx. The old man was
laboring under high excitement; the
veins in his face stood out like 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 h SQuire's sat
isfaction an alfbi for myself and Tom
and now an alibi has been proven for
Jim. We, therefore, are concerned In
no way with the Kelchline murder.
Moreover. this man here confesses that
he did II himself. An alleged robbery
Ia committed I'm the Sources store. He