The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-07-19
Her Former
Sweetheart
BY CHARLES E. BAXTER

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Copyright 1922. Western Newspaper Union.
In his cell the prisoner awaited the
summons Of the warder that was TO
call him back into the courtroom, there
either to find freedom or--the grisly
prospect Of the electric chair.
There was no escape from that al
Tentative. His counsel had advised him
that verdict Of manslaughter, even a
second-degree murder verdict, was Inn
possible. For only the unwritten law
could save him.
lie had killed the man whom he sus-
pected Of being his wIfe's lover--not
in hot blood, but with fendlsh malice.
He had poisoned his wine at the club,
Of which both were members.
Charles Ellison was not a popular
figure. Cold, relentless, cunning,
shrewd, with bad name In business,
he had broken his wlfe's heart, they
said, with his studied Indifference. FL
llson knew very well that there was
not much sympathy with him. Still,
the unwrltten law might save him.
Mary Ellison was beauty. She had
broken many hearts before her mex
pllcable marriage with Ellison. She
had ruined her own life, after running
others lives. Men cursed the day they
had fallen victims to her.
In the jury room a little knot had
gathered about the two antagonists.
One was the foreman; the others name
was Price. Price was putting up a
fight for an acquittal; the foreman
wanted q verdict Of murder II One first
degree. The other ten were swayed
backward and forward as they lis
tened.
But all had agreed that It must be
the one thing or the other. Compro-
mise was impossible.
"See here, now, Mr.. Price" expostu-
lated the foreman, that won't wash.
that argument The law says that n
man who kills another man In cold
blood is guilty OF murder. The prerog-
alive Of mercy rests with the governor
aud pardons board. That's not our af-
fair The evidence Is conclusive"
what about the sanctlty Of the
homer Price demanded "Are our
homes, our women folks, who are weak
and dependent on us for gudance-are
they to be at the mercy OF any scoun-
drel who comes along?'
"But he poisoned hlm-treacherous
ly poisoned him" put in one Of his lis
teners.
Price turned on him fiercely.
"Well, suppose he did? Prusslc acid,
wasn't It? Didn't 1t Kill him instan-
taneously? Wasn't that kinder and
better than shooting him and perhaps
letting him linger In agonyT
That's not the argument" said the
foreman, sturdlly Murder Is murder.
Our business is to bring in verdict
according TO the evidence"
81 say It's mott" Price shouted. 81
say It's our duty to send that man
home to his sorrowing wife"
"Sorrowing wifem scoffed the other.
"She1l sorrow lot more If the scoun-
drel goes back to her. Why. it's been
shown by the witnesses that he's
broken her heart !"
That's not the point, either" insist
ed Price. ats our duty TO uphold the
unyritten law-that grand safeguard
OF the American home. The sanctity
Of marriage, gentlemen, the inviolacy
of the bond between husband and
Wife"
Hear, hearl" cried one Of the other
jurors. Let's take ballot, Mr.. Fore
manw
wait As ! understand you. Mr.,
Price, you claim that by sending this
man back to his wife, even II 1t kills
her, we shall be upholdng the AmerI-
can spirit Of family life. That we must
give this precedence over what the law
says"
THE law Why, 1t IS the law"
Numbered Price. TITS the law en-
craven In the moral code OF every ma
ton since the Ten Commandments
were handed down upon Mount Sinai I"
"Doggoned II ! want to send him TO
the chair" the foreman muttered.
The ballot showed nine for acqulttal.
The three remaining jurors we're for a
compromise verdict. They fought 1t
all over again.
faint as II that Mrs. Ellison was
/ one of these angel saints" said the