Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-29

looked round the court What Is this day
going to bring forth for re27 ! said to myself.
Is 1t freedom or is IL siberiag" This alone &C
cupiea my mind. don't think | realized my
surroundings OF what was going on at all, Inc
fashionable ladies' and the soldiers IN Inform
gazed ct nae, but ] scarcely VAS aware Of It.
Then came the worst time Of ALI The Presi-
dent began 70 san up. Somehow | had hopt'a
that he would help me. ONCE or twice during
the trial he bad seemed kindly disposed toward
me ! soon discovered nay mistake.
The President spoke aii tae time as though
! committed the murder NY hopes fell 10
nothing ] could not believe that the jury
would not take notice Of what the President
said. looked at my lawyers, They seemed al
most as sad ais |, and / began TO prepare my.
self for the worst.
Al last the President finished speaking. Leok.
ing toward me, he said;
.'The last word is with you, Bells"
| nerved myself and looking the President
full in the face said
Judges, iurymen, / am weak and exhausted
! can scarcely stand. | swear | am Innocent
and implore you to acquit me aud allow me TO
return to my unfortunate children, who are
waiting for me-"
The President handed to the foreman OF the
Jury paper on which was written two cues.
lions which they were to answer. The FIRST
asked whether the hoy mad been murdered for
ritual purposes, and the wcuads inflicted in
the manner described. The second was
IF this is proyedsIs Mendel Bells guilty OF
the murdery"
cast hurried glance around the court. The
Jury were beginning TO walk out. | caught the
eye OF the student Golubioy, who, / had been
told, was my great enemy. 1t was he learned.
who had my wifes belongings searched and
ordered the arrest of my son David A shiver
ran through me, and ] hardly felt the soldiers
touch me on the shoulder to take me to my
court cell for the last time.
was kept waiting an hour and half 1t
seemed a lifetime All my hopes had gone
after the Presidents speech tried to pray
but could not. Even the soldiers who guarded
me took pity on me, and tried to cheer me-
At last the bell sounded. heard for the last
time-"Bring in the prisoner My guard had
been increased to nine soldiers. who entered
the court with me and stood at my side and all
around me with drawn swords | felt sure |
was lost man.
Then the jury came In. i looked at them and
tried to read their thoughts They refused to
look at me, and | thought they were ashamed
to. knew then I was lost
In few moments, which seemed to be an
eternity, the foreman stepped forward and read
from paper he held in his hand. 1t was the
long first question. | watched his face while he
read 1t told me nothing. But sooa he stopped
reading, and. looking up, said;
Yes it Is proved"
The words came in husky whisper l was
shaking with emotion. My doom was sealed,
II must be all over with me, clntched at the
rail and steadied myself.
One thought came into my mind--"ilow can
l take my life?" But even for this was not
enough educated
Then the foreman read again:
rs Bells then guilty of having, with rrac9n.
ceived intention and conspiring with other per-
sons, undetected, from motives OF religious
perversion committed murier?'
There was a pause. Looking at the Presi-
dent, in highly pitched voice the foreman al.
most shrieked