Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-11-09

Ills NNuSAtCi
lose Sierra" said the Judge. do
you remember a man who once stop,
ped at your hacienda and whom you
endeavored to Seduce from his al
legiaucc IL that government which
now exists, but was then struggling
for its exiSteuceW
Il do"
i And do you remember having given
him Il choice between accepting an
appointment under the Diax govern,
ment and II trial for treason, which
meant deathY
Il do"
but the man escaped. You remem-
Der that. too, don't your
Il de-"
/ You never knew how he managed
to pass the guards you threw around
your hacienda on every available
routeT'
Il did not"
lit would not have then been best
for you to know this. nor is II now,
but the assistance your prisoner re
/ ceived at that time is OF great impor.
lance to YOU now Had 1t not been
| for that assistance another victim
would have been added to the one
for shooting whom you have just been
adjudged guilty"
All this was a puzzle to those pres.
ent except the prisoner and his daugh
ter The Judge spoke with evident
emotion, The prisoner seemed deeply
moved, His daughter rs the address
proceeded wound her arms tighter
about her father. There was an i'm
pressivencss to the scene that held the
audience spcllbound. When the judge
began 10 speak every one thought that
he was about to give another instance
than the one before the court why the
prisoner should suffer death. When
he entered upon the last matter he
mentioned all We're thrown into II
state of doubt as to what was coming,
I'VE are entering In Mexico" he
continued. upon new AEGEAN age
ushercd in for the civilized world by n
former president OF the United States
at the close of the greatest rebellion
the world has ever seen. For that in
surrection not Il drop of blood was
spilled after the surrender | have
been given discretion by my govern
ment as to the punishment TO he met.
cd out for acts that occurred during II
period when every mans hand was
against every other man. 1t is not
meet in this age, when universal peace
is dawning for the world. that Mexico
should remain in barbarism. The acts
of the troublous times through which
we have recently moved belong to a
dead past and should be buried with
that past. The act of which you have
been found guilty was repeated again
and again on both sides. That the
revolution has triumphed Is no cause
for committing in the name of justice
acts OF revenge,
THE finding of the jury Is set aside,
You are at liberty to 20 free"
BY his address the Judge attempted
to prepare the feelings of those pres
ent for what had neither been expect
ed nor desired. But the temper of the
people was revengeful and had for
ages been used to different principle.
a few applaudcd, but the majority
grumbled There were those present
man to whom this magnanimous treat
ment had been accorded. They had
brought the accusation that they might
be revenged--might revenge the dead
they loved. They rcbelled against the
decision, Cries of Hang him! shoot
himw Use the machete" were heard,
and movement was made by the
most active toward the prisoner. The
judge arose and, raising his hand en-
joined silence.
ain striking this man" he said, you
strike the girl who loves him"
"IIe struck those we loved" some
one cried.
Let me tell you one thing more, that
which | spoke OF, but did not speak.
You remember that | mentioned the
escape of one whom the prisoner would
have sacrificed, | am that person"
4 silence followed this announce
ment. That the judge had set aside II
sentence of death upon the man whC
had intended to take his life filled
secured their attention lie went a
step further.
Il will tell you how | escaped.
owe my life TO that girl" pointing
"She ii was who gave me disguise
ana drove me through her fathers
guards, r!sking her life for mine Had
it been III covered that the person sit
ting beside her was the rebel they
were watching for SHE would have
! doubtless been sacrificed If you strike
! him you strike her and through her
; you strike me, who have done my part
I to establish the goyernement under
t which we now hope for peace and pros
t perity."
The crisis had come and turned In
t favor Of the Judge. Those who had
opposed his decision stood looking sui.
. lenly on. while the others were won
over by his magnanimity and by