The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-07-28
A ANGULAR CASE,
Where cIrcumstantIab Evidence play,
Cd Justice False.

!. Il =
It began in the Blue Horse taverl
, lon the highway leading to Albany.
ii Toward the close OF an autumn da
half dozen me nsat in the old ba
room discussing events which the
were leading to the outbreak of Th
American revolution. As such tim
J arguments were very likely to be ratI
or more vigorous than ordinarily woui
i pc the case. And this was no exec;
, ton. Fearing that trouble might r,
suit. one OF the men exclaimed: Com,
Wickliffe, stop this. Such disput
is nonsense"
| Wickliffe was an ugly looking fellow
short and stout, with dark, salloy
face, black eyes, low, wrinkled fore
head and lips that barred his teeth d
occasions like a-dog preparing to site
my quarrel is with Harry Blake,
ne snarled. 1T is none of your affair.
We'll. Wickliffe," Blake cried good
naturedly. II you will quarrel / won't
III say no more"
Evidently Wickliffe was bent OF
trouble, for he muttered something
which brought cry Of aSharne.. from
every one In the room. Blake's face
became deadly pale. "Wickiffe.o be
said steadily, Il didn't hear what you
said. but l dare you to repeat it. II
you do and there's one improper word
IN It. this hour will be the bitterest q.
your life."
once more the offensive words were
nung at him, and In an instant Blake
nad seized Wickliffe and thrown him
across the room. For a moment he
lay stunned, but presently, his face
dark with hatred, he rose and. sbak.
ing his fist at Blake, exclaimed.
You may take your measure for 4
CONN. You viii need one.o
Not before you," was Blake,s repIy
Shorty after the quarrel Wickliffa
left the Blue Horse for his home
biake. whose road lay in the same di.
rection. followed soon. Ten minutes
later two more Of the loiterers also
gong over the highway taken by
Wickliffe and Blake. started on their
homeward way.
The last two travellers had r;ddan
several miles. talking earnestly Of the
SURFING events which then engaged
mems minds. when a loud crv was
heard at a little distance. In moment
IT was repeated.
Mercy!s the voice pleaded. and
tnen, "Oh. Harry"
Can Blake be settling scores w;.b
Wekiine?" exclaimed Grayson one 81
the two riders. ~ =
IN a moment they had pallonad
around corpse Of trees at bend ~
me road. Within twenty wards 81
sSm, on his back in the dust ,av
Mickhne dead. Bending over him
''ood Blake. grasping q knife wriyen |
% me halft In his busom.
faken red-handad.. Grayson cr;a1
*nlle Walton, his companion himself
! magistrate, sprang from his bsrss
sou Win
why, didn't kill him. Blake said
=. You are mad. found
lying dead and was about 10
'uii this knife from the wound when
GU came up.s u "hen
Grayson shook his head. II wish
ouid believe you, Harry, he said
oue as ! ho4s to be saved saw Won
tab him. / did,
y would be hard to imagine \ situa.
on more likely to convince a iurv of
ae prisoners guilt. Conan Doyle n
y wildset fancies in deduction never
resented more damning evidence 10
neriock Holmes and DIR. watson-the
uarrel In the Blue Horse tavern the
pitnet resented. the fight. the counter.
,eat OF death. the departure OF both
nile their temper yet was warm ana
zen the terrible tableau on the h,rb.
ay. Aen
what might man expect even nov
IN the thousand loopholes that the
y provides for escape? There could
only one conclusion now. as then
q that conclusion the Jury reached I
lthout leaving the court room
axes protestations were vain. He
g on the scafrold declaring his IN. !.
three months after the execution tho ::
dse who presided ut the trial was l
mnoned to Albany to see a prisoner !.
Iuer sentence Of death. Grayson l
'ose Testimony chiefly had conyicted !.
axe, also was summoned. Much IN I
'nder. they entered the cell together !.
'fouf the prisoner said "a the
age. presided at the trial Of Harry !
AXE.
n did" :.
And you" truning to Grayson Y
wore you saw him stab wickli,fe 4,
your testimony he was hung v
! saw Blake stab him. Grayson \,
d. II
You did not" the prisoner sneered NJ
y J killed Wicklire. / sprang into y
wood at Blake's approach. His NJ
ry was true" "
rhe confession was so clear and fun NJ
y II left no doubt in the Judges y
nd that q fearful wrong had been N
Ia