Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-14

! sensational character, evidence which
would show conclusively that MurrelI
| should be held to await the action OF
the next grand jury-this was after a
conference with Hues-I guaranteed
his safety. Sir, the man refused to
listen 70 me. He showed himself ut
! terly devoid of any feeling OF public
! duty" The bitter sense OF failure
and futility was leaving the Judge
The situation made its demands on
that basic faith In his own powers
which remained imbedded In his char.
acter.
They had entered the courthouse
square. On the steps OF the building
Belts was arguing loudly with Hues.
who stood In the doorway, rifle in
| hand
Maybe you don't know this is coun-
ty property" the sheriff was saying.
"And that you have taken unlawful
possession of It for an unlawful pur.
pose? I am going to open them doors
"a passed. of strangers can't keep
folks out of building their own
money has bought and paid fort"
While he was speaking. the judge had
pushed his way through the crowd to
the foot OF the steps.
THAT was very nicely said Mi.
Belts" observed the judge. He
smiled widely and sweetly. The sher-
If gave him hostile glare. DO you
know that Morrow has left town"
the judge went on.
II amt got nothin' to do with Judge
| Morrow. It's my duty to see that
this building Is ready for him when
he's q mind to open court In it,
"You are willing to assume the re-
sponsibility of throwing open these
doors?" inquired the Judge affably.
II shorely am said Belts. why,
some OF these folks are our leading
people!"
The Judge turned to the crowd, and
spoke in a tone OF excessive clv1llty.
lust a word, gentlemen!-the sher-
If Is right; it Is your courthouse and
you should not be kept out OF it. No
doubt there are some OF you whose
presence in this building will sooner
or later be urgently desired. We are
going to let all who wish to enter, but
I beg you to remember that there Will
be five men inside whose preJudlces
are all in favor Of law and order.
He pushed past Hues and entered the
courthouse, followed by Yahcy and
Hannibal. We'll let EN- in where |
can talk to EN-" he said almost gaily.
...Besides, they'll come in anyhow when
they get ready. so there's no sense IN
exciting them"
In the courthouse, Murrell, bound
hnnd and foot, was seated between
Darlington and the Earl of Lambeth
in the little railed-off space below the
Judges bench. Fear and suffering had
5larched his unshayen cheeks and
given a wild light to his deeply sunk
en- eyes. At sight OF Yancy q smoth-
cred exclamation broke from his lips;
be had supposed this man dead these
many months.
Hues had abandoned his post, and
the crowd. suddenly grown clamorous,
stormed the narrow entrance. One or
the doors, borne from It's hinges, went
down with a crash. The judge, q
fierce light flashing from his eyes,
turned to Yancy.
mo matter what happens, this fel-
low Murrell IS not TO escape-if he
calls on his friends to rescue him he
is to be shot,"
The hall was filling with swearing,
struggling men, the floor shook be-
meath their heavy tread; then they
burst into the courtroom and saluted
Murrell with a great shout. But Muir
rell. bound, in rags, and silent, his
lips frozen in woltish grin, was q
depressing sight, and the bo!dest felt
something of his unrestrained lawless-
ness go from him.
Less noisy now. the crowd spread
itself out among the benches or
swarned up into the tiny gallery at
the back of the building. Man after
man had hurried forward, intent on
passing beyond the railing, but each
had encountered the judge. formida-
BILE and forbidding, and had turned
aside. Gradually the many pairs OF
eyes rowing over the little group sur
rounding the outlaw focused them
selves on Slocum Price. 1t was in I'M
conscious recognition Of that moral
force which was his, tribute to the
grim dignity OF his mistaken courage;
what he would do seemed worth con-
sidering.
He was charmed to hear his name
pass in a whisper from lip to lip.
Well, it was time they knew him. he
squared his ponderous shoulder and
made gesture commanding silence.
Battered, shabby and debauched, he
was like some old war horse who
shifts the odor of battle that the wind
incontinently brings to his nostrils.
Don't let him speak, cried a
voice. and tumult succeeded.