Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-01-27

kept her there, grilling her with all
the tactics known to artful barristers
for an unconscionable length of time,
but she was still serene and unccn-
fused.
by heaven!" exclaimed Anse Havey
to himself. as he leaned forward,
she's maxim fools Of 'em allan
she's dom it for mel"
Even the Judge, whose face had
been sternly set against the defense
shifted in his chair and his expression
softened. The commonwealth attor-
ney rose and walked forward, and
Anse Havey clenched his hands under
the table, while his fingers itched to
seize the tormentor's throat
you don't know that Anse Havey
didn't incite this murder. You only
choose to think so. Isn't that fact?''
stormed the prosecutor.
81 know that Anse Havey is In
capable of it" was the tranquil retort.
How do you know that?"
Il know him"
who procured your presence in
this courtroom as a defense witness?"
Each interrogation came with rising
spleen and accusation Of tone
q asked to be allowed to come"
"Why?"
Because | know that back of this
prosecution lies the trickery Of inter
ests seeking to dispose of Anse Havey
SO that they may plumber his people"
The lawyer wheeled on the Judge.
Il must ask your honor to admon-
tsh this witness against such false and
improper charges-or to punish her
for contempt" he blazed furiousIy.
But the Judge spoke without great
severity as he cautioned: Yes, the
witness must not seek to imply mo-
tives to the prosecution"
If Iuanita. however. was sustaining
with no outward show Of discomfort
the savage onslaughts of man trained
IN the art OF confounding those who
sat In the pillory of the witness chair,
she was inwardly feeling need of hold
Ing her emotions masked and in check.
AS the questions became more and
more personal, and she recognized in
their trend the purpose of making her
appear biased, she first flushed a lit
tie, then paled little, but her voice
betrayed no hint of annoyance.
The attorney took another step for
ward with q malicious smile. He
paused that the next question and its
answer might fall on the emphasis of
a momentary silence. Then he point
ed a finger toward the girl, with the
manner Of one branding a false wit
ness. and demanded:
is there any sentimental attach
ment between you and this defendant,
Anse Havey?"
There was moments dead silence
In the courtroom, and Anse saw Jua-
nltas face go white. Then he saw her
nnger nails whiten as they lay in her
lap and sudden flush spread to her
face.
She looked toward the judge, and at
once the lawyer for the defense was
On his feet with the old objection;
The question is irrelevant"
Then, while counsel tilted with each
other, the girl drew a long breath,
and the man whose life was in the
balance turned pale, too, not because
of this, but because the woman he
loved had been asked the question
which was more to him than life and
death-a question he had never dared
to ask himself.
1 think" ruled the court, "the ques-
ton is relevant as going to prove the
credibility Of the witness"
SO she must answer
The prisoners finger nails bit into
his palms and he smothered a low
oath between his clenched teeth, but
Juanita Holland only looked at the
cross-exam1ner With a clear-eyed and
serene glance OF scorn under which he
seemed to shrivei She replied with
the dignity OF young queen who can
afford to ignore insults from the gut
ter.
None whatever"
The defendant sat back In his chair
and the smile left his lips as though
He knew that his case was won, and
yet as he saw her leave the witness
stand and the COURTROOM, he felt sicker
at heart than he Id fc,t since ne
could remember He would a most
have preferred condemnation with the
hope asains, hope left Somewhere
deep In his heart that ,here slept in
hers an echo 10 Lis unuttered love-
The question he had never dared tc
ask she had answeced-answered IN
der OATH and liberty seemed low a |
very barren gift.
When he had been acquitted and |
was going out he saw a figure in con
sultation with the prosecutor-a figure |
which had not been inside the doors |
during the trial 1t was Mr.. Trevor of |
Louisville and he was testify saying: |
"Oh, well, there are more ways o. |
killing cat than by choking it with |
butter"
Anse Havey did not require the in |
depreciation of an oracle for that |
cryptic comment. He knew that the |