Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-04-29
CHAPTER I.
The Master Mind.

"HERE was a sudden. tense ST.
lence in the courtroom as the
judge on the bench lifted his
4 head and stared steadfastly at
the prisoner in the dock All had eyes
only for the man who stood motion
less awaiting under a mask OF pal
lid indifference the words OF doom
that must now be spoken. And as
they looked, thrilled by the awfulness
OF this moment, the watchers felt their
hearts stirred TO a profound pity. for
this victim of the law was young
slender and strong OF body. wholesome
OF face. In his expression there was
no faint of the bestial. no hint of the
lustful. the cruel His whole appear
ance cried out that he was never one
to prey on his fellows. to plumber
them, to slay them. Merely he show
ed himself winsome lad. surely light
hearted in happier case. though now
his face was set In the bleakness OF a
still despair. But the jury of twelve
good men and true had named him
murderer
At last the voice of the judge sound
ed. Henry Allen. the jury, after
careful consideration OF all the evil
dence presented i'm your trial. has
found you guilty OF murder in the first
degree This is the capital offense
against the law. and for IL the law
demands the capital punishment The
defense has urged that your action in
Staying man within his own house
was justified by the unwritten law.
since the one thus done TO death had
by the arts Of seduction alienated the
affections OF wife, and therefore the
penalty exacted by the written law
should be abrogated In behalf OF one
who has thus punished the violation
OF the sanctity OF the home. Yet,
though the guilt OF the murdered man
I'm this regard has been fully estab-
lished. this plea as TO the potence Of
the unwritten law In such instance has
not prevailed The jury has seen at
to disregard IT completely and has rem
dered an unqualified verdict of guilty
against you. IL only remains. then.
for the court 10 pronounce upon you,
Henry Allen, the extreme penalty com
handed by the law for the crime Of
which you have been found guilty"
Then followed a short interval OF
dreadful silence, through which. as al
ways. the prisoner maintained his des
perate calm OF despair. His demeanor
abode immobile even while the judge
spoke the few words that decreed
shameful death. Perhaps the pallid
face grayed TO a ghastlier hue. but
there was no other sign, nor was there
as he went stumbling listlessly from
the dock. obedient TO the leading OF
his warders.
The hush that was still over the
courtroom was broken by gasping cry
from somewhere in the crowd A few
close by him we're aware that the
sound had issued suddenly from the
lips of an old man on one OF the rear
benches. For a few seconds II seemed
that he was about to sSvooD. when.
almost at once. Ne eTo,gd began to
press its way out, the old man went
with the others. moving. indeed, with
a briskness and a nervous energy that
seemed surprising in one Of his years.
and doubly so in view OF the emotion.
al strain through which he had just
passed. He pursued his way rapid
~. That way took the old man north
ward by the subway TO Twenty eighth
street and afterward eastward TO a
house near Third avenue. which retain
ed still traces OF gentility almost
wholly unaltered by the years. Here
the man entered with a latchkey and