The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-11-17

ana made OIL with II. The dog came
back without the cap, and Kincaio
except that he was not in the thicker
at all, and certainly not within a quar-
ter mile Of the scene Of the murder %
That might be So"
'Of course it's so. if Arthur Kincaio
says II is, insisted Orde. But what
90 you think of this2 The cap had q
.22-caliber bullet hole through the
crown, and Pritchard was armed with
.22-caliber rifle"
What does Mr.. Kincaid say to it?''
That's just the trouble" cried Orde
in despairing tones. IF he'd plead
sef-defense any Sury in Michigan
would acQuit him without leaving the
box. But when we asked him how
that bullet hole got in that cap he
says simply that he doesn't know: il
wasn't there when he lost the cap.
Could anything be more absurd?''
Bobby reached out and softly closed
the register.
Then he turned to grip Johnny
Mr.. Kincaid is my friend" ne
Missed. Understand that? He's my
best friend. II you ever say anything
about this afternoon"
Let go!" cried Johnny. struggling.
You hurt. You needn't get mad
about it. He's my friend, too. 1 amt
going to say anything" Bobby re-
leased his arm. He must have done
| II, though" concluded Johnny
| "Of course he did il. I'd have done
} It, Pritchard was an old beast You
ought TO have been along with me
when he ordered us off his land"
Mr.. Kincaid says he was never up
at that end"
There's his cap. with the hole
/ shot in it," Bobby pointed out 1T
was right where. Pritchard was when
/ shot at it,"
Johnny nodded.
IF we let that out they'll have us in
as witnesses.
I'VE mustn't" said Johnny.
/ Interest in the trial was such that
! people came from far out in the coun-
! try to attend il. Every day of the
I preliminaries the court room was filled
! with silent spectators. The boys found
themselves unable to get beyond the
( outer corridor. Here they hung
around for sometime, in the vain hope
\ OF hearing something. Finally they
| gave IL up and wandered out into the
grounds.
1t was by now nearly December OF
! a remarkably open year. Although
| Indian summer had long since gone
| and although the low. black clouds
and heavy gales OF late autumn had
! given repeated warnings. winter had
/ somehow failed to arrive. There was
| as yet no snow; and the sun. turned
silver in place of the harvest gold
I sometimes, as now dispensed consid-
| cradle warmth. In consequence OF the
/ mildneSs without and the crowd
within, the windows of the court room
! had been lowered at the top The
boys could almost catch the words OF
| whomeVer was speaking.
Come on, let's shin up that tree, "
suggested Johnny.
Immediately they acted on the in
| spiration. The highest limbs capable
J of bearing weight were still some
| three feet below the window stills. Still
! the boys could hear plainly what was
going on and could see into the room
on an upward slant.
| The legal processes had been full
filled and the first witness was giving
| his testimony.
Il was working in my field, throw
| ing out manure, when I saw the prs-
oner come out of the popple thicket
| on Pritchard's place"
How far were you from the thick
et?"
My field is right across the county
road"
AT what point did the prisoner
emerge from the thicket as respects
the spot where the body was found -
He came out right opposite, q
good quarter mile. 1 should say"
Anything unusual in the prisoners
appearance or actions?"
that"
After Il few more questions the
witness was excused. In an instant
no appeared in the Doys line of Wis
ion and sat down.
Another witness was sworn. and
deposcd that he had been driving
along the county road, and had also
seen Mr.. KincAid emerge from the
Ticket without a hat This witness
likewise, on being excused. crossed
the room and took his seat near the
window
This point established. the prosecu-
ton called upon the man who found
the body. He stated that he was in
the employ OF the deceased; had gone
out afoOt TO look up a strayed COW;
had come across the body late in the
afternoon, Pritchard had been Killed
Dy knife thrust in the throat He
lay on his back. He had carried
2Z-calibre rifle. with which he was
accustomed to shoot hawks and
crows. The rifle had been discharged.
In looking about for evidence witness
mad found cap lying by a STUMP
ten feet or so down hill. He identi-
fed the cap. He also took a seat
where Bobby and Johnny could see
nina short. thick-set man, with
swarthy complexion and very oily
long black hair