Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-20

, = T. ! 4 & f f,
had become something different from
a girl by answering questions IN the
witness box.
BY two o'clock we were back IN
court again: and how changed every
thing seemed! All that desultory feel
ing Of the morning was gone, and az
/ looked about over the faces could
see how everyone's mind was fixed on
the same thing. A woman whom did
no. know, jostling at my shoulder as
l went in conf1ded to me that what she
wanted was "To hear Dingley tear the
defense to pieces" wondered II the
only people in the room who didn't
want to hear that were myself and the
Spanish woman.
But 1t was Mr.. Jackson who got up
first. Though had heard all the evil
dence that morning it had come out IN
such little bits and patches with such
disagreements Of lawyers between,
and had myself been SO in the midst
Of 1t that I had no idea as to how ~
would sum up; and had been waiting
anxiously to hear what this man, whom
father said was such fine lawyer,
would say.
He began with q sort Of grafton, all
about the Montgomery family, ana
what fine family they had been, how
much they had done for the.city! Then
he talked about Johnny, and he drew
very beautiful picture Of him, speak
ing of his great promise and fine char
acter and then of the blow which was
being struck at his brilliant career;
and It was somehow awful to have TO
listen to it, for even, supposing it were
true, this seemed scarcely the time
for saying it. could see Johnny's race
getting more and more set-looktng ana
grim, as II he hated listening to the
words that were pouring over MS
head.
Z Then, in some way couldn't follow,
Mr.. jackson got from that to talking
about courts and evidence and cor
roborating testimony; and though LOT
q while couldn't make out what ne
was driving at, presently 1T began TO
appear to me that he was trying TO
prove that all the witnesses on the
states behalf had been lying. He was
wonderfully clever in his way OF max
ing the testimony seem improbable. He
pulled even mine to pieces, pointing
out the revolver's not being where
said it had fallen. He declared there
was a plot against the prisoner; that
the gunsmith who had testified about
the buying of the pistol had been
bribed to do so; and he appealed TO
the feeling Of humanity and justice
In the jury.
He spoke beautifully. 1t made ones
heart beat to hear just the tone OF his
voice. even though one couldn't quite
hot ho NO
yet it was strange thought that with
everything he said he did not Drlng
forward, or even try to bring forward,
one single direct proof to show that
Johnny Montgomery was innocent.
! was In very confused state 81
mind indeed when Mr. Dingley got 70
his feet. Though had never heard
him speak in court bad 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, ana
turned toward the jury box and began.
his voice sounded stiff and cold, as II
he brought it out. with a great effort.
He didn't shake his finger at the jury
as Mr.. jackson had done, nor fling olt
his hands, nor lift his arms In the ar
and bring them down as If he were
bringing the world down on ones head.
He simply stood there, and In matler
Of fact, even voice, gathered up the
evidence of the different witnesses as
one would beads in the hand, ana
strung Them together; and saw long
chain Of evidence winding around
Johnny Montgomery. AS he went on
measuring 1t out, for the first time
understood how heavily my testimony
counted. It seemed to do away with
the whole defense. In spite OF MT.
Dingley the case seemed to be prov
ling itself, and as he went on ne
warmed to the very sound OF his own
argument; his voice began to ring out
more and l lost sight and memory OF
everything that Mr.. Jackson had SAID.
All heads were craning toward him
as he stood with his back to all OF us,
talking to the men in the jury box as
| if they were the only people IN the
world. The Spanish woman was lean-
ing forward, her elbow on her knee,
I her head dropped, her hand hiding the
lower part of her face, but looking out
from under her eyebrows like picture
/ had once seen Of a prophecies felt
that we were being wound up every
moment more and more tense, and
when Mr.. Dingley stopped, he left US
at the highest pitch possible for hu-
man beings to bear. When he sat down
again he gave quick glance behind
and around him, and. as for moment
| it fingered on the Spanish woman, !
thought 1t seemed little defiant.
/ hardly realized what was happen
ing in the room around me. The Judge
was reading something endless to the
Jury. not one word Of which my ears
could take. Then that sound ceased
and presently noticed that the jury
men we're leaving the room.
With the closing of the door upon
them the aspect Of things behind the
Irailings changed, the Judge getting up,
walking restlessly back and forth IN
front Of his platform for a minute and
going back to his writing; the clerk
Of the court keeping on with his, and
most OF the lawyers going cut MI.
Dingley passed us with just little
bend of the head, and father glanced
after him and made little sound IN
his throat, sort of meditative "h'm
~ s,,rnrisa put the crowd kept very