Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-18
The Argus Daily Short Story
Self Confessed Criminal-By Edward Blake.
Copyrighted Associated Literary Press.

, been made by another person rom the
filler of the paper and certainly net
that OF my client The prosecuting at
tOrney's experts declared that my eli
emit had both filed in the check and
written tho signatures.
What puzzled me was that Mrs. IT
win manifested no interest IN secUr-
ing an acquittal. She said she felt
that she had committed sin and could
never hope to obtain any mental com
fort in the matter til she had paid
the penalty. Her actions were so
strangely at variance with her confes-
sion that I was forced to the conclu-
sion that she was labOring under a
haIlucination. without intimating TO
her my object 1 asked her for infor-
nation as to her family record, think
ing l might discover that there was
insanity in her family which had crop
ped out in her. She resolutely declined
to assist me in the matter, but L hunt
ed up q cousin of hers, who informed
me that a maternal grandmother of his
own and Mrs. Twins had in her old
age fancied herself to be troubled with
malignant spirits.
Acting upon this, ! called in alienists,
hoping to prove by them an abnormal
mental condition on the part Of my
client The first alienist who exam
Ined her pronounced her in perfect
health in every respect, including her
mind The second, after great deal
of cross questioning, in which be was
lendeavoring to fulfil a theory, gave
Il as his opinion that she had received
at some time a severe shock which
might have produced mental aberra-
ton.
Never did an attorney get hold Of
more pulling case. and both Judge
and Jury were similarly affected. As
for me, my sympathies were so far en-
listed for my client that ] could not hX
my mind on any other subject II she
were of sound mind and guilty OF the
crime there was something unusual,
something noble, in her desire TO ex-
plate it. If she were not Of sound
mind and not guilty the mystery Of
the case was sufficient to enlist ones
deepest interest.
The result of all this was that ] fell
in love with my client She was fully
ten years my senior, widow, and liv-
ing on the slenderest income. None OF
these considerations was in itself suf-
fcient to prevent my loving her or mar
ryiag her, but to feel that my happi-
ness was dependent upon a union with
d self confessed fOTser was sufficient
TO drive nee to insanity.
The theory Of justice IS that an &C
cused person f. either innocent or
guilty-that he must he proved guilty
to be punished. Nevertheless com
promise, which enters into all other
matters Of life. enters into law as well
The jury was obliged to bring in a
verdict of guilty. but recommended the
culprit to mercy. The consequence
was that in sentencing her the judge
gave her the Iightest sentence posi-
bic within the law. He condemned
her to serve a term Of six months IA
the state peaitentiary.
That a woman I hsd come 70 love
should spend one minute behind bars
was not only abhorrent TO me, but it
unbalanced my equanimity. I at once
moved for a new trial, then when
alone with my client confessed my
love for her.
She was strangely moved by my con-
fession. tt seemed TO give her both
happiness and misery. When I asked
her as TO her feelings toward me she
broke down. weeping pFofuseIy. but
gave no answer. When she had quiet
ed she begged Re TO let the sentence