The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-07

upon their unexpected numbers and listened to their wild talk must con- fess that my heart failed me. Though they had not the advantage in num- bers, they knew each other, were pre- pared to work together, were, in gen eral, desperately courageous and reck- less and imbued with the greatest con- fidence. The decent miners, on the other hand, were practically unknown to each other and, while brave enough and hardy enough, possessed neither the recklessness nor desperation of the others. I think our main weakness sprang from the selfish detachment that had prevented us from knowing whom to trust.
 am not going to describe that most turbulent afternoon. The details are unessential to the main point, which was our decision. Counsel was ap- pointed by the court from among the numerous ex-lawyers. The man who took charge of the defense was from New York and had served some ten years in the profession before the gold fever took him. I happen to know that he was a most sober minded, steady individual, not at all in sym pathy with the rougher elements but, like most of his fix, he speedily be- came so intensely interested in plying h.s profession that he forgot utterly the justice of the case. He defended the lawless element with all the tricks at his command. For that reason Woodruff was prevented from testify ing at all, except as to his ownership of the cattle, 80 that the effect of his pathetic story was lost. pr. Rankil
 had no chance to appear
 We retired to sRandall's little room to deliberate. Not man of the twelv' of US had the first doubt as to thu guilt of the prisoners. We took bal lot. The result was eleven for acquit talsand one for conviction. had cas- the one vote for conviction.
 We argued the matter for thres hours.
 There's no doubt the men ar' guilty" said one. ''That isn't the ques ton. The question Is, dare we de clare itT'
 "It amounts to announcing oul own death sentence" argued another Those fellows would stand together but who of the lot would stand by us Why, we don't even know for surt who would be with us."
 This case ought never to have be- tried by a jury" complained a thi-d bitterly. Tt ought to have been triet K in miners court, and if 1t hadn'1 been for those soft heads who wers strong for doing things regularly in stead of sensibly wed have had f done that way"
 Well" said an older man gravely "I agree to that. am going te bt governed in my decision not by tht merits of the case, but by the fact that I have a family back in the states. consider my obligations to them great | CT than to this community"
 I reasoned with them for a long time, bringing to bear all the argu ments I had heard advanced at vari ous times during our discussions il Danny Randall's back room. At last seeing could in no manner shake their resolution, gave in. After all I could not blame them. The case was to them only one of cattle steal ing. They had noschance to realiz. that it was anything more. Withou' solicitation on my part they agreed tt keep secret my opposition to the yer dict of acquittal. Our decision was greeted by wili yells and the discharge of pistols os the part of the rough element. Tht | meeting broke up informally and il confusion. It would have been use l less for the presiding ofacer to have attempted to dismiss court. The mol broke through en masse to congratu l late the prisoners. Immediately tht 1 barkeepers were overwhelmed witt work Here and there I could see 1 1 small group of the honest men talk ! ing low voiced, with many shakes c the head. Johnny. Old and Cal, wh' had attended with his arm slung up had their heads together in corner 1 Danny Randall, who, 1t will be re l membered, had not appeared publicl. l in any way. stood at his customar.
 corner of the bar watching all tha
 was going on. His gamblers were pre- pairing to reopen the suspended games After conferring together . momen
 the three express messengers mad their way slowly across the room t | the bar I could not see exactly wha
 happened but heard the sudden re 1 verberations of several pistol shots l The lamps and glasses rattled witl 1 the concussion, the white smoke of tn
 discharges eddied and rose. An i'm
 mediate dead silence fell, except 10
 the sounds made by the movements Q
 those seeking safe places. Johnny an'
 his two friends, shoulder to shoulder
 backed slowly away toward the dool Johnny and Old presented each tw
 pistols at the group around the bal
 while Cal, revolver in his well hand | swept the m.--zzle slowly from side t
 side. Nobody near the bar stirred
 The express messengers backed to tn
 door.
 | Keeps your heads inside" warne
 Johnny clearly. On the words the l vanished. a | k-I~ svvrrr hr>rnE