The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-13

COAIeupIuOISly. OHC0 more 10 ldCou
the packed benches. Put down your
weapons!" he commanded. "This man
Murrell will not be released. At the
first effort at rescue he will be shot
where he sits-we have sworn this
plotting is at an end" He stalked
nearer the benches. mot one chance
In thousand remains to him. Either
he dies here or he lives to be taken
before every judge In the state, II
necessary, until We find one with cour-
age to try him! Make no mistake
1t will best conserve the ends Of JUS
tice to allow the state courts juris-
diction in this case; and pledge N.Y.
self to furnish evidence which will
start him we'll on his road to the gal
lows!" The judge, tremendous pres
Outfacing the crowd, q sense Of the
splendor of the part he was being
called upon to play flowed through
him like some elixir; he felt that he
was transcending himself, that his In
spiration was drawn from the hidden
springs Of the spirit, and that he
could neither falter nor go astray.
"You don't know what you are med
ding with! This man has plotted to
lay the south In ru1ns-he has been
arming the negroes-it is incredible
that you should all know this-to
such say, 60 home and thank God
for your escape! For the others
his shaggy brows met in a menacing
frown-"if they force our hand we
will toss them John Murrell's dead
carcass-that's our answer to their
challenged"
He strobe out among the gun muz-
zles which wavered where they still
covered him. He was thinking Of Ma
haffy-Mahaffy. who had said he was
still a man to be reckoned with. For
the comfort Of his own soul he was
proving 1t.
DO you know what a servlle insur-
rectton means?-you men who have
wives and daughters, have you
thought of their fate? OF the mon
strous savagery to which they would
be exposed? Do you believe he could
limit and control it? Look at him!
Why, he has never had a considera-
ton outside of his own safety, and yet
he expects you to risk your necks to
save his! He would have left the
state before the first blow was struck
his business was all down river.
but We are going to keep him here to
answer for his crimes! The law, as
implacable as it is impartial, has put
its mark on him-the shadow in
which he sits is the shadow of the
gallows!"
The Judge paused, but the only
sound in that expectant silence was
the heavy breathing of men. He drew
his unwieldly form erect, while his
voice rumbled on, aggressive and
threatening in its every information.
You are here to defend something
that no longer exists. Your organ
ization Is wrecked, your signals and
passwords are known, your secrets
have become public property-1 can
even produce list of your members;
there are none OF you who do not
stand In imminent, peril-yet- under
stand. I have no wish to strike at
those who have been misled or
coerced into joining Murrells banGI"
The Judges soddsn old face glowed
nov with the magnanimity of his SEN
t1meots. But I have no feeling OF
mercy for your leaders. none for Muir
rell himself. Put down your guns!-
yea can only kill US after we have
killed Murrell-but you can't kill the
law! II the arch conspirator dies In
this room and hour. on whose head
will the punishment faI?' He swung
round his ponderous arm tn . sweep
ing gesture and shook q tat but ex..
,presslve fore-dngsr in the faces Of,
those nearest him. 'On yours-and'
yoQr-and yours!"
Across the space that separated
them the Judge gr1nned his triumph
at his enemy. He fad known when.
Feu4ress entered the room that q
word or q sign from him would pre-
cipitate q riot, but he knew now that
neither this word nor this sign would
be given. Then quite suddenly he
strobe down the aisle, and foot by
foot Fentress yielded ground before
his advance. A murderous light
flashed from the Judges bloodshot