The San Francisco call., 1910-09-18

Mr.. Jackson got from that to talking
about courts and evidence, and cor
roborating testimony; and though for
a while l couldn't make out what he
was driving at, presently 1t began to
appear to me that he was trying to
prove that all the witnesses ON the
states behalfehad been lying. He was
wonderfully clever In his way of maxi
ing the testimony seem improbable.
He pulled even mine to pieces, pointing
out the revolvers not being where
said 1t had fallen. He declared there
was plot against the prisoner: that
the gunsmith who had testified about
bribed to do so: and he appealed to the
feelings of humanity and justice in the
jury.
He spoke beautifully. It made ones
heart beat to hear just the tone OF his
voice, even though one couldn't quite
understand what he was saying. And
yet 1t was strange I thought that with
everything he said he did not bring
forward, or even try 70 bring forward.
one single direct proof to show that
Johnny Montgomery was innocent
l was In q very confused state of
mind indeed when Mr.. Dingley got to
his feet Though I had never heard
him speak In q court had read in the
newspapers that he was Our golden
tongued orator." and father had been
used to say that, 'Dingley was whirl-
wind" But now, when he rose, and
turned toward the jury box and began,
his voice sounded stiff and cold. as If
he brought 1T out with a great effort.
He didn't shake his finger at the jury,
as Mr.. Jackson had done, nor fling out
his hands, nor lift his arms in the air
and bring them down as IL he were
bringing the world down on ones head.
n a q I'm lrr cff@ ~ H.,
or fact, even voice gathered up the
evidence of the different witnesses as
one would beads in the hand, and
strung them together; and saw long
chain of evidence winding around
Johnny Montgomery. AS he went on
measuring It out, for the first time /
understood how heavily my testimony
the whole defense. In spite OF Mr..
Dingley the case seemed to be proving
itself, and as he went on he warmed to
the very sound of his own argument;
MS voice began to ring out more and I
lost sight and memory of everything
that Mr.. Jackson had said.
All heads were craning toward him as
ne stood with his back to us all, talking
at the men in the jury box as IL they
were the only people in the world. The
Spanish Woman was leaning forward,
her elbow on her knee, her head
dropped, her hand hiding the lower part
or her face, but looking out from under
her eyebrows like picture I had once
seen or prophecies. I felt suge that
we were being wound up every. moment
more and more tense, and ewhen Mr.
Dingley stopped he left us at the highest
pitch possible for human beings to bear.
When he sat down again he gave a
quick glance behind and around him
ana, as for a moment 1t fingered on
the Spanish Woman, thought it seemed
little defiant.
hardly realized what was happen
ing around me. The Judge was read
ing something endless to the Jury, not
one word of which my ears could take.
Then that sound ceased. and presently
/ noticed that the jurymen were leav-
ing the room
With the closing OF the door upon
them the aspect of things behind the
ratings changed. the Judge getting up.
walking restlessly back and forth In
front OF his platform for minute, then
going back to his writing; the clerk OF
the court keeping on with his, and
most of the lawyers going out. Mr..
Dingley passed us with just bend OF
the head, and father glanced after him
and made little sound IN his throat, a
sort of meditative him" of surprise.
But the crowd kept very quiet; as the
minutes passed the room grew more
and more still A sense of nervousness
was over all. Every time a door opened
there was rumor that the Jury waa
coming back
Well, II may be five minutes and It
may be all night heard Mr.. Fergu-
son saying to father. That pistol dis
appearing is going to give him a
chance Father answered: THAT was
a guilty mans defense. just the same
But I seemed to have forgotten there