The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-05-07
A Unique Murder Trial as
Described by the Foreman
Of the Jury, In Which Is
Revealed the Most AStound.
Ing and lnconceiyable Act
Of Rascality.
Copyright, 1906, by Harper Bros.
Cinderella.
? SUPPOSE it was somewhat pre-
sumptuous for an unknown bach

sumptuous for an unknown bach
elor and recluse like myself to
think of giving a II at the
Hermitage, but Barbara Frayne's sug-
gestion to that effect was the first
thing to enter my mind after I left
the courtroom, and l stopped at Polll-
Get on my way from Melton the next
morning and reminded her Of her prom
Use to act as the committee of arrange
ments Her enthusiastic response set
tied the matter, and before the day
was over 1 was actively engaged in
fulfilling her preliminary orders. In
fact, for the next few weeks | thought
Of little else. and the hours | passed
in the company Of my committee Work
ing up the details of the affair were
the happiest l had ever known. But it
must be admitted that the long looked
for evening was q bitter disappolnt-
ment when it anne.
In the first place, the Fraynes did not
appear until the dance was in full
swing, and, in the second place, l saw
nothing of Miss Barbara after she ar
rived. Indeed, I had scarcely vel
coined her when a beardless youth
vhisked her away and l merely caught
aeeting glimpses of her afterward as
she clided across the hall or library
with one or another Of her numerous
partners. l had counted on havlng the
first dance with her. but l solaced my
self with the thought of the cotillon
which was to follow the supper, and
for a tn NV duties as host prevented
mo from\ ing how little the even
Ing was fulfns.g my expectations.
At supper I~Nmaneuvered to place
Miss Barbara at my table, but again
| was disappointed, and when found
myself stranded with three hungry
chaperons I began to grow disguised
with the whole affair. l shall never
forget the appetites Of those
At first it was amusing to watch their
enjoyment of the refreshments, but as
time wore on and the dining room be-
gan to thin it ceased to be a joke, and
I grew restless, impatient and dis
couraged. At last. in sheer despair
that they would ever rise from the Ia
BILE. I excused myself and hurried to
the library, but l had no sooner reach
ed it than l wished myself back again.
The cotillon had already begun, and
Barbara Frayne and Deake Gilbert
were paired as partners.
For a moment I. stood in the crowd
ed doorway watching the merry throne
of dancers, and then sought my der
at the back Of the. house and, sitting
down in the curtained bay window
gazed out on the wintry landscape. Il
had been a~ggravating enough to SET
the girl for whom the dance was Civ
en- handed from one callow youth t.
another, but to stay and watch Gil
bert monopolize her for the c~otillio1
was more than I could tolerate.
The situation was ludicrous. but |
might easily have become humiliatin:
If any one had discovered my feelings
and I promptly determined to reioil
my guests and do all I could to max
the evening worthy of its inspiration
With this thought I turned quick.
from the window, but paused as
caught the sound of Abel Corning
voice.
HE wouldn't have got much NOR
If he'd stood trial" the assistant prose
cutor was saying as he entered tn
room.
1 felt / could not meet Gilbert's as
sociate at that moment, and, hoping h
would soon retire. l drew back agai
behind the curtains.
"But a ten year sentence is nothin:
under the circumstances proteste
his companion, whom I recognized q
q fellow named Henley.
"It's enough for Barstow," answe
ed Corning, lighting a cigarette. TT
mere fact of conviction means ruin
a lawyer. He couldn't have been he
for more than manslaughter in Il
first degree, and I think Gilbert W;
right in accepting something short
that to escape a long trial. They :;
Alice Emory dissuaded Barstow fro
making a fight, and, strange as it NJ;
seem, she is sticking to him throu:
things"
"When did he throw up the sponge
"Today.'
The men smoked in silence +
awhile, and I waited impatiently +
them to finish their cigarettes.
"Do you believe the jury would ha
convicted Alice Emory if she had
gone on the stand:" inquired Hen!s
after Il pause.
Corning shrugged his shoulders.
"You must ask our host that lu
tion," he responded. "Hut even If I'll
had acquitted her most people wo,
have believed she was guilty ana t
matter would never have been clcal
~. Barstow pretty nearly cLeckm