The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-18
Not According
to Law
By ETHEL HOLMES


Winnie Douglas, much to Bob's dis
com6ture. The lovers did not hide
their caresses from the dog, who gave
every evidence Of jealousy. Some
times they caressed on purpose to see
the dog show his distress. Bob didn't
show his teeth and growl; he was too
respectable dog for that He looked
up at them pitifully, whined and wag-
ged bis tail in a melancholy fashion
When Winnie was a little girl she
was permitted to play with a boy
named Joe Dixon. a neighbor, the son
Of parents Of low degree. By and by
she went away to school, and when
she returned she was Of an age to IN
derstand the difference between the
Dixon family and her own. So she
dropped Joe. From that time till Win
ME became engaged to Fred whenever
Joe met her he greeted her with a
malicious look. He was now a man
grown. and she was woman.
One day Bob came to Winnie in q
most deplorable condition. He had
been cut In many places with knife,
but seemed to be troubled about some
thing else. Winnie endeavored to bind
up his wounds, but be would not per.
NIT He kept moving away from her
and barking TIL she was convinced that
he wished her to follow him, and she
did 30. He led her to a lonely place in a
road. where she found her lover dead,
badly cut like the dog.
There was absolutely no clew as to
how Fred Boynton came to his end,
but It was evident from his cGs and
those Of his dog that he had been at
tackled and that Bob had attempted to
defend him.
The only person who believed that
she could point out the murderer was
Winifred Douglas, but she said not a
word Of this to any one. To make a
charge without the slightest proof
would avail nothing. She adopted Bob.
and the two mourned together, the
dogs Jealousy being turned to affec.
ton by a common grief.
When the murder occurred Joe Dixon
was not at home. At any rate, he was
understood not to be at home. Wini-
fred did not meet him for some months
after the murder. Then, seeing him
coming toward her on the street, she
fixed her eyes upon his face scrutiniz-
ingly. She thought she saw several
scars on It Joe did not look at her.
They had not spoken since Winnie had
gone away to school He was evident
~ very much affected by the meeting
and hurried by.
Winnie had plan for fixing her low
ers killing on Dixon-not sufficient evi-
dence to convtct him. but to remove
all doubt as N his criminality. She
told the chief OF police her story, and
Dixon was arrested and charged with
the crime. At Winifred's suggestion
the prisoners face and hands were ex-
amined with a magnifying glass and
found to be covered with scars, scarce
ly visible to the naked eye. There
was nothing in this alone to indicate
his guilt, but Winifred was not relying
on It alone.
The police were much averse to Dig.
on's arrest and declared that they were
not responsible for 1t, averring that
they were gathering evidence that
would surely convict another person
OF the crime that Dixon was charged
with. When Winifred insisted that
Joe be brought to trial they demurred
unless she would openly charge him
with the murder. To this she consent
ed, and the case came to trial
Wtnifred was the only important wit.
ness The prisoner sat regarding her
with an unintelligible stare. He SEEM
ed puzzled to know what she was 60
Ing to do with him. When she took
the witness box and began the story
which had been told her every one
watched and listened to her intentIy.
She made an excellent impression.
When she came to the story Of Bob's
coming to her badly cut the courtroom
was profound by silence, except for
her voice. Here she stopped, and those
who had examined the prisoners face
and hands testified that they were
SCARED
May It please the court" said the
prosecuting attorney. "the next witness
s a dog"
In obedience to a message, a servant
In the Douglas family entered, lead.
Ing a handsome collie. He came I'M.
willingly, looking timidly at those
gathered In the room Presently catch
Ing sight OF Winifred, he sprang To-
ward her, but he was held In leash TIL
bis eye caught sight Of the prisoner.
who sat pale as death regarding him.
Then the dog gave a growl and
spring toward Dixon He was suffered
to 50 free and in another moment was
tearing Dixon's neckwear, endeavoring
10 get his teeth In his throat
This was enough He was torn avay
and taken out Of the courtroom.
The prosecutor rested his case. Tho
counsel for the defense summed IN IN
4 half hearted way. He did not he.
lieve that a verdict based on such eyi.
ience would stand, but he knew that
svery person in court believed in his
clients guilt The judge Instructed
the jury that so long as there was no
witness OF the crime and not even cir.
evidence involving a hu.
man being they could not convict the
NaUaNkhArA-