Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-12

He simply told the court that his re-
volver, IL produced, would answer whether
he had fired the shot or not because he
had carried 1t fully loaded that morning.
Are you sure that your revolver was
fully loaded when you entered the house?'
Absolutely"
Produce the prisoners revolver" de-
manded the court
Sergeant Ambrose took the stand and was
sworn. He had picked the revolver up off
the ground, where Ellison dropped 1t, and
upon examination before the court declared
1t was in the same condition as it was
when he picked 1t up.
The revolver was handed to the prisoner
for examination. Ellison grew deathly
pale.
rs that your revolver"
Yes"
us it fully loaded. as you have stated?"
No. One shot has been fired" Ellisons
voice was low. He sank into his seat limp
and hopeless.
That was ALL There was buzzing of low
tones. The court held short consulta-
tion Ellison was ordered to stand up for
sentence
The will of the court was that CORPORAL
Ellison should die for killing an officer
should be shot at the expiration of one
hour
The severity OF the penalty stunned Eli
son and his comrades, for even those who
had testified against him were his friends.
1t was silent group that marched back.
He was crushed, mlserably lonesome and
forsaken. He kept his eyes fastened upon
the cabin as long as 1t was in sight, long
ingly wishing for another look at the girl.
But she did not appear and he gave a
sigh of resignation.
The confederate prisoners had been ma
roled-no time to fool around with prison
ers on march of this midland had lost
no time in disappearing. The regiment was
already on the move again and was soon
out OF sight, Ellison was left behind
guarded by the squad that had to do the
work OF sending a fellow soldier into the
great unknown. War was not a nice game.
AT rive minutes to the time set for the
execution Ellison was blindfolded and
marched to the shallow hole in the ground
which he had mercifully not been allowed
to see dug.
The squad lined up at twenty PAGES with
their Spencers The silence was oppressive
just at that moment an ominous sound
came out OF the east from the direction in
which the regiment had gone. All ears
were strained to the utmost as they caught
the sound. 1t was the faint clatter of a
galloping horse-galloping furiously; IL
meant news Of some kind. The lieutenant
in command of the squad surreptjtiouslv
set his watch back five minutes. To the
last man they were hoping 1t was for Eli
son.
They had not long to wait 1t was for
Ellison, and 1t was good news As soon
as the despatch bearer hove in sight he
waved a paper TO the expectant squad.
He had brought the annulment Of Eli
sons sentence, his release as a prisoner
and his reinstatement as a corporal.
They were ordered TO rejoin the com
mand at once.
Why the annulment they did not know.
And probably few OF the regiment ever
did know why the court reversed its find
ings.
Ellison himself did not know I'LL after
the war had ended. Then after the regi-
ment was mustered out ne went again to
the Mississippi plantation--the plantation of
Lieutenant Cady-for be It known, the
place belonged to the Mississippi leuten-
ent who was captured and paroed that
day, and the girl was Theodosia his daugh-
ter.
Ellison was received this time, not as
an enemy, but as a friend, In the new
masters house, with the negroes again
occupying their quarters-dhough free-on
the rehabilitated plantation.
When Van Dorm passed the Cady place
the day before the tragedy the lieutenant
had been permitted to visit his sick wife.
He slept In the loft that night and when
he was awakened by the ruffian in the
room below and saw him make a lunge
with his knife at, as he thought his
daughter, he fired through a crack In the
floor. lie had started TO descend, but saw
Ellison leave. and was motloned back by
Theodosia as the two troopers entered
From their remarks and later Theodosas
promptngs he got the drift OF the affair.
He left hurriedly as soon as the coast was
clear and nearly stumbled over Ellison,
lying unconscious, 9th his revolver on the
ground teside him. AS quick as the
thought had entered his mind. he picked
up Ellson's revolver and ramming. the
muzzle into the soft earth, fired There
was a dull plump as the load was dis
charged. Then he liz out and Joined Van
Dorm.
When his daughter came to him after
the trial and reported the decision they
Immediately set about 20 save Ellhlon.
And that is the end OF the story, except
this: Mrs Theodosia Ellison told me this
story one quiet evening on the same old
Cady plantation. while gray-haired Boa
Ellison corrected her occasionally and M
in a word now and then between romps
with his grandchildren.
(CopyriRht 1910 by the N Y 4arnId c,oA