The Ocala evening star., 1922-09-01

what you say may be true. 1t may
not I don't know. / only am sure of
one thing-that a person Is sane in
the eyes of the law until adiudged
otherwise. Therefore. her evidence at
this time is perfectly legal and prop
err"
''Tt won't be as soon as I can bring
an action before a lunacy court and
cause her examination by board OF
alienists."
+'That's something for the future. In
that case things might be different.
But I can only follow the law, with
the members of the jury instructed, of
course, to accept the evidence for
what they deem it is worth. You will
proceed, Mrs. Rodaine. What did you
see that caused you to come to this
conclusion?
Cant you even stick to the rules
and ethics of testimony" 1t was the
final plea of the defeated Farrell. The
coroner eyed him slowly.
Mr. Farrell came his answer, 'I
must confess to deviation from reg
ular court procedure in this inquiry.
1t is customary in an inquest of this
character: certain departures from the
usual rules must be made that the
truth and the whole truth be learned.
Proceed, Mrs Rodaine, what was 1t
you saw?'
Transfxeds Mortified, Fairchild
watched the mumbling, munching
mouth, the staring eyes and straying
white hair, the bony, crooked hands
as they weaved before her. From
! those toothless jaws story was about
to come, true or untrue, story that
would stain the name Of his father
with murder. And that story now was
at its beginning.
81 saw them together that afternoon
early" the old woman was saying. 81
came UP the road just behind them,
and they were fussing. Both Of 'em
acted like they were mad at each 9TH
er, but Fairchild seemed to be the
maddest.
81 didn't pay much attention to
them because I just thought they were
| fighting about some little thing and
| that it wouldn't amount to much. /
went on up the guIch-I was gathering
| flowers. After awhile the earth shook
| and | heard big explosion, from away
| down underneath me-like thunder
| when it's far away. Then, pretty
soon, I saw Fairchild come rushing
out of the mine, and his hands were
! all bloody. He ran to the creek and
washed them, looking around to see
/ if anybody was watching him-but he
/ didn't notice me. Then, when he'd
/ washed the blood from his hands, he
/ got up on the road and went down into
town. Later on, thought I saw all
three of 'em leave town, Fairchild,
Sissie and a fellow named Harkins. So
I never paid any more attention to it
until today That's all know"
She stepped down then and went
back to her seat with Squint Rodaine
and the son, fdgeting there again
craning her neck as before, while
Fairchild. son of a man just accused
or murder, watched her with eyes fas
cinated from horror. The coroner
looked at slip of paper in his hand
civilian Barton" he called. A mi
ner came forward, to go through the
usual formalities, and then he asked
the question:
did you see Thornton Fairchild or
the night he left. Ohadi?"
Eyes, d lot of us saw him. He drove
out of town with Harry Harkins, anG
fellow who we all thought was Sis
sic larsen"
"That's all. Gentlemen Of the jury,
he turned his back on the crowded
room and faced the small, worried ap
pearing group on the row of kitcher
chairs, you have heard the evidence
I You will find a room at the right IL
which to conduct your deliberations.
Shuf1ing forms faded through th'
door at the right. Then followed Ion.
moments of waiting, in which Rober
Fairchild's eyes went to the floor, Ii
which he stroye to avoid the gaze O.