The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-10-05
TheCroSSon
the Moon
By JOHN II. WARNACK


uons like warning waves In time Of
storm. He had just been visited by
the mother OF Jim Turner, the mar
VINO at 8 o'clock that evening was tc
be hanged for the murder of his
father. The governor had remained
apparently calm during the interview
out the woman's visit had shaken his
nerves, had made him question the
Justice OF the law and caused him to
doubt his own Judgment.
Governor" the woman had said,
II Jim Turner dies tonight, the soul
OF an innocent man will whisper into
the ear OF God the story of legalized
murder. My son was accused of tax.
Ing the life of his gentle father, my
husband. He has been tried before
the courts of this state, and has been
| pronounced guilty by jury Of twelve
ignorant mountaineers; but the evil
dence produced against him is almost
entirely circumstantial, and before God
l swear that my noble boy is innocent
| would gladly give my own life to be
able to absolutely prove his innocence
and to take the unearned stain from
the name of Turner in this state"
He was called the pardoning gov
ernor, and his political enemies had
made the most of the fact that already
during his brief tenure of Office he had
robbed the gallows of four men who,
under the law. had been condemned to
death. A pardoning governor, yes; a
merclful man, surely; a leader whose
neart was as great as his mind-but
was he allowing his brain and his
heart to be ruled by a moral weak.
ness? Was he going to pardon this
man who had been sentenced by the
Judge to be hanged by the neck until
ne was dead. for the murder Of one
or the bestowed citizens Of the state?
he had only thirty minutes in which
to decide.
He reviewed all the evidence In the
case. Turner and his father were last
seen together strolling through the
woods, during the early autumn. The
son came home alone, and an hour af-
terward his fathers body was found, I
half-covered by leaves. A bullet had
pierced his heart, causing instant
death. The young man, Jim Turner. |
had returned home with a rifle which |
he and his father had taken with them |
into the woods. On the day previous
to the murder, II murder 1t was, the
young man had threatened to leave |
ais home on account of a misunder-
standing which had arisen between
MIN and his father. That was all. but
was 1t not enough? What further eyi.
aence was necessary to prove young
Turner's guilt? And yet, why did he
not leave the rife by the side of his
'atnerS body In order that the coro
1ers jury might return a possible YER
iict OF suicide? On the other hand,
low could It have been suicide. when
10 weapon was found by the dead
nan? Who else could have committed
he crime, If not his son? The elder
Turner had not had an enemy in the
He was a generous man,
nd one of the mildest and most for.
fearing. Could some one have shot
i'm accidentally? This could not be.
or the shot had been accurate. Sure
1t was premeditated. The bullet
ad entered the heart, passing entire
through that organ, and the cloth
ng over the wound was powder
urned, therefore the shooting must
ave been at close range Yet the
Dung man had been seen and spoken
when he and his father had entered
he woodland he had returned with
ne rifle! And Turner was no fool.
his was the puzzling part of the af-
air. Surely, or at least possibly,
here was another explanation, If 1t
ould be found. However, the courts
ad given the accused man the benefit
I every plausible doubt. and still he
ad been found guilty.
Suddenly the governor lifted his
cad and looked out through the win !,
ow screen at the early rising moon.
Id his eyes deceive him? What was
lis he saw? Across the great orb, ex. :
ending abo1e and below 1t, shone a
1lliant cross, the emblem of Cal
ary, the sign of the death of one who
I'd pardoned his crucifers.
Inc governor was not superstitious. =
gain and again he looked in won :
ierment. The cross still shone -
early across the yellow moon. T.
Mary" he called suddenly. and al =
ost Immediately his beautiful daugh- ;,
r stood in the doorway. 4
Where have you been, child?"
On the veranda, star-gazing or 81
Their moon-gazing. The moon is
rely tonight, don't you Think"
Yes" said the governor, 1T is beau an
ul."
1T never seemed so golden" she
mt on. How soft and sweet the W.
Sht is! Can't you come out a while ed
ID me, father?' all
In few minutes, perhaps, dear
just now. / only wished to know fei
ere you were. had not seen you tb,
such a long time, almost three tio
lrs." ''0
Ter ripping laughter foated back DC
him as she skipped from the room. pla
She did not notice IT," said the adj
ernor to himself. 1T seems to be acf
re only for me. What does 1t Z
mi Is it an optical Illusion, won the