The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-10-16

beard and mustache, which might have
humanized his ugly features, We're
close cropped, giving him Il hairy and
unnecessarily brutal appearance. Had
Deake Gilbert and he changed places
each would have more nearly con-
formed to my preconceived notions Of
professional types. The n had all
the cold solemnity, the intimidating
menace, the unsympathetic savagery Of
Il prosecuting official as l had imagined
him, while the other, if not the ideal
advocate. was at least distinctly hu-
man and companionable.
AS l studied the two men, however.
l felt thankful they could not change
places, for l was convinced that the
prisoner would have Il better chance
with Gilbert against her than with
Barstow in the prosecutors role. and
l was already strongly prejudiced in
favor of the accused. Indeed, it was
almost impossible to associate the idea
of murder with the delicate. refined
little M who sat quietly watching
the jury without a sign of fear. She
was lOJ ul-lOI even UdnU-
some-decidedly not pretty. But the
calm dignity Of her bearing, the
thoughtful expression Of her dark eyes
the simple serenity of her whole be-
ing gave her a grace II charm far
more satisfying than mere beauty.
The time was not distant when l was
to question the meaning of her placid
;%x. - J~,lk a.. b. 80,
pect more than a masked expression
in her face. But ever with her coun-
sci standing before me and addressing
the court l could not at first bring my
; self to believe she was on trial for her
life, and when this fact was forced
upon me I took refuge in the POSSIBLE
ity Of her being the victim of some
terrible misunderstanding or blunder
which would be discovered and recti-
fed before it was too late.
May it please the court. Gentle
men Of the jury"
The sound Of Gilbert's voice startled
mt to the reality Of my surroundings.
which I must have lost in my study
Of the defendants face. Then with a
sinking heart l realized that Barstow's
preliminary plea had failed and that
the actual trial was about to open.
l shall never forget my sensations
at this crisis. but I was to experience
many moments far more distressing
before l was much older.
The prosecutor leaned against the
back of his chair and silently studied
the jury for some moments after his
opening words. and. although I was
not the only person who shifted ner-
vously in his seat during the solemn
pause.r1 felt that l alone disturbed the
quiet Of the court.
"In. following this case. gentlemen"
he began again. speaking slowly and
impressively. Il think it will aid you.
and | know it will help me. if you will
strive to remember who and what |
represent. ! am the public prosecutor
Of this cOunty-not a lawyer with a
case to be won or lost. 1t is my prov
ince to seek out the facts surrounding
the commission of any crime and to
present them to a body of men known
rs the grand jury, and to receive from
it instruction as to what person or per-
SONS should be tried for the offense.
Now murder has been done in our COM
m%unity-the surrounding circumstances
have been laid before the grand jury
and it has ordered me to place upon
trial the prisoner at the bar. But al
though l am firmly convinced that this
Indictment was justified. and that the
p,Ii1f,. rNn VtV. is ,ny, ltnfnVn tina n,yr
l want you to understand ut the out
set that YOU are the sole judges of the
facts, and that l am here in the public
interest-in your intcrcst-in the inter
est of all law abiding citizens, to pre-
sent those facts III an orderly manner
and as fairly and fully as the ends of
justice demand. In other words, l am
for no II but the public and against
no II but the criminal, and YOU are
to decide the guilt or innocence Of the
accused.
Early in the morning of Nov. 3.
1897, II Gregory Shaw. Il we'll known
resident Of the village of Pollicet, in
this county, was found dead In the pri-
vatc study Of his dwelling. The body
was discovered by IL servant named
Field. who detected the odor of gas es-
Gaping from her employers study, and,
finding the uoor locked, summoned 9TH
er members Of the household to her as
sistance II forced IN entrance to the
room. Mr.. Shaw was found lying face
downward on the loo near his desk,
anu, as all the gas jets were turned on
and a deadly atmosphere filled the
room, there was little question at the
ONE as to the cause Of his demise.
\ hasty examination Of the premises
disclosed a heavy rug stuffed up the
fireplace chimney. wet blotting paper
in the keyhole and damp newspapers
in the crevices of every door and win
dow. In fact. there We're all the inli-
cations Of Il deliberately planned sui