Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-03-18
THE RECOGNITION
OF JESSE BADL[IGH
BY II. II. GREEN
BY II. II. GREEN

next day found her greatly depress-
ed, and yet hopeful that everything
would in the end turn out to be for
the best, for, after all, she was a
philosopher who had ever found COM
fort in the belief that God who rules
in the affairs of the world, who tints
the lilies, and cares for the sparrows
is never too busy or too unconcerned
to watch over his children, and do
for them according to his almighty
power and wisdom and love. So she
braced up and went about her house
hold affairs as though such thing
as trouble had no existence in the
world. While Jesse was too young
in years and Of too happy DISPOSE
| ton to feel very acutely the weight
of the burden which was laid upon
him, he nevertheless was hurt be-
cause few of the children in the
school, as soon as they heard what
had befallen him conducted them
selves toward him as though they
believed him guilty.
CHAPTER X.
When the time set for the trial
was reached, Jesse accompanied by
his mother went direct to the Office
of Justice Barthell, before whom
the case was to be tried. Mr. and
Mrs. Armstrong, Stephen Petrie
Joseph Pettus and Frank Inness
were already there when they arriv.
ed as was also Mr.. Frank Sayre
counsel for the defense; as well az
Mr.. Nj. A. Harmon, District Attorney
James Cobb and the witnesses on
both sides. 1t is needless to say thai
the Office was crowded with interest
ed spectators VINO were divided in
opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of the accused.
When everything was in readiness
Justice Barthell caused the informa
4 tion according TO the usual forms Of
procedure in like cases to be read
in which it appeared that the State
of Iowa was against Jesse Badleigh
who was charged with the crime O
petty larceny. For that the defen
dent did on or about the sixteenth
day of February 1856 in the town
ship of DEBORAH, in the county 0
Winneshiek and state of Iowa, felon
iously steal, take and carry off mo
; ney to the value of ten dollars from
the meat market of Killum AM
Dressam, in DEBORAH, Winneshiel
County, Iowa, the said ten dollar
being the property of the said Killun
and Dressam.
Jesse Badleigh, are you guilty o
not guilty?' asked the Justice.
In clear, ringing voice heard b,
every one in the room, Jesse replied
| am not guilty your honor"
NJ A. Harmon, the District attor
ney had been elected to the office h,
held, because his fellow-citizens ha(
confidence in his ability as a lawye
and his well.known integrity. TIL,
fact that he was at this time serving
his third term was evidence sufficien
; that their confidence had not beer
misplaced In physical proportion
he was somewhat below the average
not over five feet five inches in height
nor over one hundred and thirt,
pounds in weight. His complexion
was dark. So was his hair. His eye
were black and piercing, shadowet
by eyelashes of the same color
Whenever he fastened his eyes upol
you in an intent gaze as he wa
sometimes prone to do, it made 20,
feel as though they were veritabl
IeX-rays boring in and laying bar,
your innermost thoughts, and Civ
ing you kind of creepy feeling tina
you were in the wrong of it whethe
or no. OF extremely nervous tenn
Iperament his every movement seem
ed as though it was impelled by hid
den springs which were concealed
somewhere inside of him and Gale,
into action at will. So alert, S,
: rapid, so swift his every action
touchy, peppery, and at times ever
waspish. he was often a real terro
to witness and on this account wa
dreaded by such as were timid.
But with all this he was possesse,
of temper that never permitted hin
to wrongfully accuse or do intention
al injury to anyone. In his youth h.
had gained considerable repute as al
athlete, and the abstemious habit
he had formed at that period had re
manned with him in after years
hence he had ever enjoyed with tn,
advantage of a good constitution
almost perfect health of body, hav
ing exemption from such ailment
and disabilities as are the inevitable
accompaniments of youthful indis
cretions and follies.
He was also a prime favorite witt
the young ladies Of the town, among
whom he ranked as a veritable Beat