St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-06-17

yhTu, Whltin8 lfnphtientiy IoT tus pih
TO begin. II was only to be prelLmi
nary hearing before the justice OF th'
peace. but any sort Of hog-stealing case
was Of great interest to Buckeye
Bridge. Horse-stealing. forgery. bur
glary, arson might arouse other com
munities. but the great legal battles ol
Buckeye Bridge we're fought over tn.
dead or missing body OF the hog. II
the hills north OF the valley was much
wild timber land, and In the autumn
many farmers marked their hogs with
certain holes and sllts In their carr
and turned them out to eat the acorns
But this was not to be much OF
trial; Il was . pretty plain case. Jess
Owens turned the hog out one morn
ing, and the neg, day Buck Powell sold
Il, dressed, to a store at Sarvis Point
Tho ears were left on, and Owens
mark was easily identified. Besides
you could convict Buck on almost any
charge without a witness.
He was one OF the class known n
the community as river rats; he
lived In a board shack near the river
and rented a patch OF land that was
overfiowed about every other year. He
was a shambllng. bilious fellow. with
milky eyes that never looked Mt any
thing In particular. and quivcring
mouth that noved seemed decided
whether it ought TO stay open or shut.
Suspicious attacked TO Buck as read
lily a. summer nios to a runt calf.
IL gucss they'll sure send Buck up"
remarked Cy Todd. one Of group In
the courthouse yard.
"weii. he got the hog all right" said
Jess Owens. 1T was good one. too.
ia been feeding II corn for six weeks.
and had Il Just about ready TO butcher.
II weighed two twenty-five whom Buck
sold II at the Point"
"Just the hog bein' fat would be evil
dcnce enough 10 convict Buck"
ehuckied windy" Jim Davis. He
never raised enough corn In his lifo to
fatten any sort Of hog: and nobody
ever raised enough 10 fatten one OF
his. You could feed one OF thom ra'
sor.backs q whole carload OF corn. and
Il would all 20 to legs and bristie."
II wouldn't have bothered the law
with IT, said Owens. vlndictiveiy. III
Powell had been any sort OF a man.
but I ainr got the stomach TO beat
up an ornery runt like that"
"He ought TO have been run out a
long time ago." declared Todd.
There he IL now"
~ haI a - NTH fha
prisoner. and stopped near the court
house door 20 walt for the squire.
"Is that Poweil's girl2" asked one,
"Yes." answered Windy jim. They
all turned 10 look.
The child was perhaps i2 years old,
had brown hair and eyes. and a clear
face, vivid with personality. She
stood straight. with one hand holding
10 her fathers sleeve.
Seems queer" reflected Windy Jim.
what good children some OF the or
noriest people have. But ! reckon
that Is the only way We can ever get
ahead any. II all the children we're as
trifin' as their dads. this would sure
DO a wilderness OF woe. That little
girl Bess there keeps house for that
skalawag and the two younger chill
dren. And the teacher says she's the
smartest scholar that ever went 70
school In our district."
Billy Houck. the justice OF the peace.
came up. and they all followed into the
courthouse.
The case was called. The prosecut-
ing attorney was there TO represent
the State. The authority Of the justice
was merely 10 hear the evidence and
decide whether or not the accused
should DO held for trial In the Circuit
Court
The witnesses against Poweii-Jess
Owens. several neighbors. the purehas-
or from Saryis Point. and Bess. his
own daughter-wers asked to rise and
be sworn.
Powell had no lawyer. no witnesses.
He sat by little table to the right Of
the justice. leaning on his left elbow.
his chin In his hand. his milky eyes
ON the floor. Bess sat down close be
side him. and coverty sought his hand
under the table. Her head was held
high. and her wide-open brown eyes
searched the courtroom.
The States attorney rose and start
ed to outline tho story Of theft a. II
would be proved.
First. he spoke Of the positive evil
dence he would introduce TO prove tho
ownership OF the hog. lie had spoken
only few words when he noticed he
did NOT have the attention Of the men
In the courtroom. He paused. and
turned 10 see what they were watch
ing. The little girl had gripped the
edge OF the table with both hands and
was leaning forward. looking at him
with surprise aud wonder In her eyes,
as n trying TO understand what that
had 20 DO with II.
The young attorney. slightly annoy
ed. lifted his voice TO attract the at
tsntion OF the court.
Your honor, Tuesday morning Jess
Owens turned this hos out and that
very evening Buck Powell stole it,
There was q slight. sudden move
ment at the table. . quick intake u
breath. The girl was on her feet. pull
Ing at her fathers arm. She was
white. and Der eyes were open wide
with horror and fear. Papa. papar'
abe xhispsred. and the room was stA
enough for all 10 hear.
But Buck Powell did not hook q hts
Shiid; his head only dropped . ltttSs
>esss. and h shook \ slsvg. ~