Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-17

heern de shoOtin' He pass straight /
by me on de road. and he seem to be /
staggerin' lax. He was talkin' TO his |
self rs he pass whar l was hidin' in
de brush. He had his pistol swingin'
in his hand. sub, lax man what was
too excited to put it back after he use
it. sub
The prosecuting attorney moved a
step nearer the witness. You saw
that man plainly. Abe:' he asked
| You got a good look at his face:"
"Yass. sub. Hit was a bright moon
light night. seen dat ar man dess
as plain as 1 done see you dis hyar
minnit, suh.''
Did you recognize him."
"Yass. sub. knowed him soon's
set eyes on his face, sub
do you see him in this courtroom
now"
"Yass. sub"
Point him out to the jury, Abe"
The negro. now feeling treasured. lev
eled his black finger ut Tom Strickland
dramatically. The eyes of the two. the
white man ard the black, met, each
holding the Others as if fascinated.
In those of the witness there was a
sort of histrionic relish of the value of
the situation tempered by latent ap-
prehension. In those of the accused
there was strange and pitiful per
plexity.
''Dass him. suh," spoke the witness.
Hit was Mistah Tom Strickland what
/ seen passin' me ON dat ar road, sub
Lawdy massy! done know him since
he want mon knee high to a duck,
subj
There was sudden stir throughout
the courtroom, movement of tense
excitement, followed by a sinister hush.
After you saw and recognized this
. man. said the prosecuting attorney,
, what happened them
Il laid right dar 'twell he done gone
out o sight, sub. He was a-goin' in to-
ards town. and l dore keep my eyes
on him 'twell he turn & ben in de road
, and CANT see him no mo-. Den I
wait 'twell l shu' he amt a-comin'
back. After dat, got up and started
on my way. keepin' in de shadow side
O de road
. 'Well:" asked the prosecuting attor-
, ney. Tell the jury what happened
1 then. Abe"
The witness shufled uaeasily in his
.: chair, something of awe in his black
p face.
: II had come purity nigh to de hog
f path whar was to strike off inter de
bottom lands" he resumed, when |
;. stumbled ovah sump'in a-layin' on de
{ groun'. part in de road and part in de
= grass side o de road"
He wiped his face with his open
|. palm. Hit was n MANI he said-and
: then. his voice solemn-"and de man
was dead He been shot. l seen de
|. place whar he shot-right in de head
f 'twix' de eyes. on'y des lii bit high,
@ or up. When l stumble ovah him and
1 nigh fall stretch out my hand, down
lax, and hit tech de place whar he
been shot and got al bloody"
The negro shuddercd.
Did you see the face of this manT'
- asked the prosecuting attorney.
"Yass. sub"
3 Did you recognize it?'
n "Yass. sub
K "Abram," said the prosecuting attor-
ney. tell the jury who the dead man
t was whose body you thus found and
whose face you saw and recognized"
8 Hit was young Mistah Stamford
l Tucker" the witness made answer
L Il knowed him. sub. dess as we'll as
know Mistah Tom Strickland settin
q right hyar TO my eyes, sub
e The prosecuting attorney waited q
moment. his shrewd eyes studying the
t. faces of the jurors.
ABE" he asked, "why didn't you al
once report the finding of Stamford
l. fuckers dead body and the seeing Of
IS Thomas W. Strickland. pistol in hand
n as he came away from the spot where
that body lay?"
% The witness shook his head stubborn
ly. "'Twan't none o my business
X sub" he replied. Hits a mighty foo
niger what goes mixin' hiss'ef up in {
Is shootin' scrape 'twix' two white gent
IT mum. sub. | was sEeered ter do it. sui
-dass why-and dess pick up my fee
III and make tracks fas as l could t
NdiAp IA VIC bOAAOiL " DC
s sub. And you amt heern no wu'(
ar 'bout'n what seen. and you amt hat
me fetched to yo' office. 'cept'n wa
er fool ernuff ter tell dat ar ole Isr'e
FAINT what run ercross down in d.
bottom lands. subj
X The states attorney turned to tn
counsel for the defense. You ma,
take the Vines" he said.
A searching cross examination ralle1
lg TO weaken in any respect the testimo
BIT ny just given. At it's conclusion Majo
IS. Gentry Dryden whispered earnestl,
" with Colonel Bill Strickland.
to 1t was plainly dispirited and hope
at less conference. Colonel Strickland
as leaned back YEARLY at the end.
1T can't make any difference" h
o. muttered sadly. They've got the rop
re around Toms neck now
And, although the words were no
10 audible, this certainty of conviction
m seemed to be in the thought of all
ID Into the jurors faces there came
Re look of pity as their eyes met those O
er the accused man, the latter perplexed
bewildered, helpless.