The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-26

! looked bad-oh, very bad! lie hdu
been penniless, sleeping on a bench
and. therefore, in desperate need OF
money: he had been ordered away
and had returned. he had been caught
fleeing from the place where way
farer had been feloniously assaulted;
he was man who had faced police
magistrates before, although for Vag-
rancy and msdemeanors rather than
for crime. Still, he had a police rec
ord that added something to the hope
lessness of the situation.
True the victim had not been rob
bed, but the motive unquestioHaDly
had been robbery, and the fact that
the assailant had been frightened
away was nothing in his favor True,
also the victim had not been danger
ouslv hurt. but that fact entitled the
assallant to no credit, for the assault
| had been a brutal one, and 1t was
more a matter Of luck than anything
else that it had not proved fatal SO
Jim Raddy could see the penitentiary
looming up ahead of him.
They got me-" he grumbled bitter
". IAN ( never done it. Amt that
the llmit?'
He expressed himself thus to the
LAWYER who came to see him. The
lawyer. Lucas Kirkham, had come IN
response to an appeal made to Dan
Cassidy, a politician to whom Raddy
was occasionally useful. Cassidy had
no present use for Raddy, and conse'
ouently was not particularly interest
ed in his fate. but there We're rea-
sons for not forsaking him altogeth-
er. So he had sent Kirkham, a young
LAWYER whose limited practice and
reputation would justify only a mod
est fee and who might be expected to
be grateful for any business put in
his way.
Looks to me like they got him for
fair" explained Cassidy, "but | got
to make a bluff at helping him. See
what you can do, an send the bill to
me-"
/ II will be seen from this that the
views OF Cassidy and Raddy coin
cided. and there was little upon
which to base hope in the story that
Raddy told.
If I'd done IT," he complained, 81
wouldn't have no kick comm, but
never seen the man till after he'd had
the side OF his head batted in
Did he see you?" asked Kirkham
Nix, he didn't see nobody to know
him." answered Raddy. They drills
him up fer a pipe at me, an he says
it's all so sudden an mixed up he
couldn't tell who hit him. Somebody
tries a throttle hold from behind, he
struggles, an then he gets a clip or
/ the head an don't remember nc
more"
That's bad and good" commented
Kirkham; bad that he didn't SCI
who hit him, and good that he didn'
see you afterward."
But they'll send me over anyhow,
declared Raddy disconsolately. The!
don't need more'n a case when the!
git man like me"
That's true" admitted Kirkham.
An they'll put me away on gen'ra
principles"
Perhaps not"
"Wot's the play?" asked Raddy
quickly.
Why" said Kirkham thoughtfully
Il think you'd better confess"
Jim Raddy, in his own expressive
language, blew up" instantly, ant
the things he said to the lawyer were
not at all polite. Confession, ever
when guilty, was not in his line, anC
to confess to a crime of which he was
innocent was preposterous. He did
mt expect to escape conviction, il
/ view of the circumstantial evidence
and the attitude of the police, but he
did expect to have some effort made
to tighten the penalty. Not in these
words, but to this effect, and in terms
unmistakable. did he express himself
and the lawyer listened with a toler
ant smile that was aggravating. No
the slightest impression apparently
did the TRADE make.
"Raddy." said Kirkham imperturb
ably, when the flow of angry eXpostu
latons had dwindled to a rumble
you confess--make up good story
to fit the facts-and then see what
happens"
They'll pass me out bunch o
years" objected Raddy.
Perhaps returned Kirkham. 'ant
+. perhaps not. Anyhow, it won't be as
big bunch as they'll pass out if yor
make a fight that gets the judge ant