The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-02-05
OLD COMRADES
STRANGELY MEET
Pathetic incident at a Trial
For Murder.

ollotiit u IN J.'HN'i ti''!I ' va
We'll, judge. Scein that these hon
able twelve gentlemen has brought me
in guilty. it would be highly disrcspec'-
full for me to SAY anything agin their
verde. iIoWsorver, mgbbr they
wouldn't mind my saSim that when
the crime was committed here in -Ari-
iona ] WAS ighiin' IN Cuba
WHY did you moi bring forward evil
drncc OF that during thu ,rial:'
We'll, judge. the regiment J font
with wasn't ~ ruitr,l FROM these PARTS.
ana most ol NY comrades loft Illei:
bodies on san Juan tl!ll
There WIS something 50 tloMr>t al'-
pearing il the Old soldiers manner that
judge, jury and Spectators Were Nisibly
affected. One oi the spectators edged
around TO where the Judge sat and
Whispered something in his ear,
This gentleman said the Judge to
the p@risonpg, "Su!s lhrt he was in
Cuba durin@ lie Spanish american
war, and perhaps you might prove
your case by him"
Don't remember ever 10 nave seen
the gentleman remarked the pris-
oncr.
You say" said the man, that you
were ut san Juan hil!:'
II vas
What rc-imont:"
The i'll New York"
Its plain you're lynn. since no such
regiment went up the hill"
"ltcckon there wasn't. but there was
Il snaH us got separated from that
regiment and fell in with the -th ILL
nois. the company on the right end o
the line, and the Teller that fell in was
myself"
why, yo cusscd liar, L commanded
the company on the extreme right OF
the TIL Illinois myself"
you didn't no SIGH thing. You're
playin' some game on me. Got some
grudge to send an innocent man to the
%hangman."
The spectators were at tiptoe Of ex-
pcctation. The conditions were indeed
novel. Each seemed bent on disprov-
ing the others identity.
lCIl yOus IOtllcu lHC Soll>I-luuSu
man, "Cap'n Josh Bingham command
ed that company"
And | tell you" retorted the other
angrily, I'm Cap'n Josh Bingham"
Great Scott, cap'n, how you have
changed" he said at last. I'd never
ha' knowed ye."
But the other would not admit the
acquaintance.
Judge" ne said. this man has un-
doubleday got hold of my army record
and is e%ndenvoring to make something
out of ii. never saw him before In
my life"
lyon set there. Cap'n Josh Bingham.
and say you saw me before In
your life. How you forget how when
we got to the top % the hill n Span
lard started to club you with the butt
Of his rifle and how n man stepped In
and. after receivin' the blow on bis
shoulder"-h the veteran tore open
his shirt and exposed Il healed wound
run his bayonet through the Teller.
Do you mean to say you don't remem-
her that?'
"Yes. l do remember that. but you
wasn't the nan that saved my life.
That man carried me off the field a few
moments later when | was wounded.
and he got a Spanish bayonet in his
forehead that left a wound like q Turk
ish scimitar. I'd know that wound
anywhere"
"What was his name?" the prisoner
demanded. growing angrier and shout
ing louder with every word.
"Jim Hicks"
The spectators started. The prisoner
had been tried under that name.
Jim Hicks: yes. that war him-Jim
Hicks. and that war me. You'd recog-
nize the sea- anywhere would ye.
cap'n? Well. what dye think o. this7'
He pushed aside a lock of shocky
hair and displayed a scar the exact
counterpart Of a scimitar. The captain
started.
why, JIM. Can it be? No-yeA.
How you have changed Jim! That
campaign has told on Us both. Your
hand. old comrade."
While he was speaking he was edg-
ing around to where the prisoner stout.
and. first grasping his hand. he aztec.
ward took him in his arms. The sI"r.
tators. having witnessed this dialogue
on which a human life hung, no s"':r'c
saw the denouement than they 8" ~
q shout that made the log courtI"m~~
ring. The judge raped for r..
charged the jury to retire to recons, e
their verdict and to bring in one III ar
cOrdance with the new evidence. IT. =
they did, pronouncing the prisoner ut
guilty. Jim Hicks and his "vet'' co..,
pnnion left the courtroom togeth.
Sauntered toward the outskirts Of thu.
settlement. their arms around eaci,
others necks. followed by the good
wishes Of every settler. When they
reached a point where two horses were
hitched they mounted and rode away
"somepin beautiful In that friend
ship" remarked one Of the observer
to another.
Beautiful! Takes battle1elds u
make them friendships"
A few hours later. a sheriff rode into
the place. described Captain Bingham
and ao9N that no wanfoA him for hnr...ssa