Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-07-22


"Yes. sub And, furthermore. under
oath, he told mighty strange story
of happelin' that In itself might ha'
hung Tom Strickland"
There was quick stir Of heightened
dramatic expectancy In the courtroom.
Major Gentry Dryden paused until 1t
had subsidized
what was that strange story, Colo
mel Todhunter." he asked. which. as
you have Just testified. the man Jesse
Bream told you and the sheriff OF
Rails county under oathT'
"He told me, sub. that Tom Strick-
land himself appeared on the scene
of the murder almost the next moment.
AS | hollered to STAN Tucker, cussin'
him and telliu' him that was a-goin'
to kill him for havin' wronged Lottie-
May. said Chickasaw Jesse Bream,
STAN Tucker drew his gun and fired
Just the mint | fired My shot got
him, but his'n didn't tech me. When
| saw that he was a-layin' still | ran
up to his body. looked down and saw
that had plunked him through the
head. right between the eyes. and that
he was stone dead. Then turned and
started to run down the road to'ards
the town OF Nineveh.
"I hadn't gone any ways hardly
when a man came to'ards me on that
road. When he saw me he laughed,
and the next mint he outs with his
gun and fires ut me. was skeered.
cause didn't want to be recognized,
und | turns and runs straight through
the woods. lookin back once or twice.
And that man came to the edge OF the
woods. and heard him laugh and
then mutter like he was drunk and
talkin to himself, and then he delib-
erately turned back on the Black Bot
toms road and went to'ards town."
"Did Jesse Bream tell you and tho
sheriff of Rails county, Colonel Tod
hunter. that he recognized the man
whom he thus met after having killed
Stamford TuckerY'
"He did, suh."
"What was that mans name"
1T was Thomas w. Strickland, sub.
Chickasaw Jesse Bream swears that
he saw him plainly, and he takes his
oath that 1t was Tom Strickland"
"Did Jesse Bream tell you what he
did after that encounterw
"Yes. sub He says that he lay out
in the woods for about an hour and
that then he went back on the road
and came into town and the next day
he went to Oklahoma. not gettin' back
here to Nineveh until the day before
the trial began, suh."
There was momentary pause.
Colonel Todhunter." resumed Major
Dryden quietly. "Is there any record
| Of this confess!onT
"Yes. sub. The confession is written,
sworn to and signed by Jesse Bream.
It Is attested by two competent wit
nesses. 1t is in the possession OF the
sheriff Of Rails county. And the sher-
ifr Of Rails county has just delivered
the person Of Jesse Bream to the jail
authorities here In Nineveh, sub, charg-
in him, on his own confession. with
the murder Of Stamford Tucker"
'"May 1t please the court" said Major
Dryden, 1.-THE defense will next place
I'm evidence this sworn confession OF
Jesse Bream and ask that the case
against Thomas W. Strickland, charged
with the murder Of Stamford Tucker.
be dismissed"
There was a sudden and tensely dra-
matte stir through the crowded court
room. It was followed by a trium
phant cheer from group Of Tom
Stricklands friends near the door.
And twenty minutes later Thomas
W. Strickland stood free man, cleared
Of the dreadful crime that had been
laid to his doing.
| e4o m o0wTTyrEOv