Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-18
Dryden quietly. "fS there any Escott
of this confession? p

Dryden quietly. rs there any record
OF this confessionr'
. eyes, sub. The confession 70 written,
sworn to and signed BY Jesse Bream.
It Il attested by two competent Wit
nesses. It 10 in the posssssion OF ths
sheriff Of Rails county. And the shes-
III Of Rails county has just delivered
the person Of Jesse Bream to the jail
authorities hero in Nineveh, sub. charg-
in him, on BIZ own confession, with
the murder Of stamford Tucker"
MAY 1t please the court" said Major
Dryden, 1.-THE defense will next place
in 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 q sudden and tensely dra-
matte stir through the crowded court
room. 1t was followed by q trium-
plant cheer from d group of Tom
Stricklands friends near the door.
And twenty minutes later Thomas
Of the dreadful crime that had been
laid to his doing.
But Colonel Todhunter was not
among those who first crowded around
Tom Strickland with their congratula.
tons. He went instead to where he
he'd seen old Rafe Doggett almost fur
lively join Lottie- May, sitting apart
lo1 Nov S,o wi n
given his testimony. Alike upon the
faces OF the old man and his grand
daughter there rested an expression Of
pathetic dread
What air they a-goin' to do to my
girl, Colonel Todhunter?" asked old
Doggett piteously. "'Tain't all her
fault that she done what she done,
saw Jesse and then runnin' away with
him She wanted to tell all she know.
ed, but she was a-skeered for her life,
Colonel Todhunter. I amt excustn'
her none for her own badness, God
knows, but the law amt got no call to
punish her along o. Chickasaw Jesse's
SIM.
Rafe," replied Colonel Todhunter. 'Tve
already made sure just how Lottie-
May stands. She'd ha' been an accom-
plice o. Chickasaw Jesse's for not COM
in here at first and tellin' what she
knew If the truth wasn't plain now
that she didn't tell because Chickasaw
Jesse threatened to kill her II she did.
NJ 70 fC in
Strickland's behalf and dom 1t like
she did proves that she was innocent
just the minute she was free agent.
I've laid all these facts before the
court, Rafe The law amt goin' to pun
ish Lottie-M May"
Old Rafe Doggett bowed his white
head as If In prayer.
Thank the Lord God Almighty" he
spoke at last "And me and Lottie
May won't trouble Nineveh's folks
after this day. I'm a-goin' away fun
here, Colonel Todhunter. l couldn't
live here no more to sare my life. And
Lotte-Nay's a-goin' with me-goin'
somewhere away fun here where her
mothers shame and hers won't be in
sver'body's mouth like now in Nine
veh."
You can go any time you want to.
Rafe," said Colonel Todhunter- ''Th'
amt no charge against Lottie-Aay on
the docket o this court You can 60
now If you feel like it."
The old man and the young girl
moved toward the door
{oI
screening both. as far as lay in his
power, from the curious staring of the
multitude.
Lottte-May spoke no word during
their progress. Her face was still tense
with the shadow of that dread but late
ly lifted from her soul. More than ever
did she seem the Hagar of this little
Missouri community Hagar now go
ing into uttermost exile.
At the door she turned and looked
back into the courtroom. Her eyes
rested upon Tom Strickland's face.
Mary Todhunter stood at Toms side.
A great joy shone in her eyes. Toms
upon this girl whom he loved SO dearly.
With a little cry OF poignant heart
break Lottie-May Doggett threw one
arm across her grandfather's age
stopped shoulders, seeming to draw
him and herself beyond the seeing OF
that which had so moved her to uncon-
trollable anguish.
The next moment the door had closed
upon the two, shutting them out from
Ninevehs vision.
Go be Continued.)