The Meeker herald., 1922-10-07


Copyright. 1874. Western Newspaper Union
DO you believe In the unwritten
law"
Il do not. ] believe In the law Of
the land. and l intend to do my part
In enforcing It."
The prosecuting attorney beamed.
the Judge sighed gratefully. Ten jur-
ors had been dismissed because they
would not give 4 satisfactory answer
to the question. The defendants coun-
sci also beamed, though the Jurors an
swer had been DANA ging to his clients
chances.
"And above all. gentlemen, you will
remember that the unwritten law
plays no part In the Jurisprudence OF
this country"
The prosecuting attorney wiped his
forehead and sat down. Mrs. Ellice.
In the dock. wiped her eyes with her
little handkerchief. She had killed
her husband In cold blood because OF
another woman. He had been a brute.
He had mistreated her. There seemed
no way 10 which she could escape the
penalty which the law enforces i'm
partially upon men and women who
eddy go 10 the electric chair. Never
WAS there clearer case.
The defending counsel did NOT plead
the unwritfen law at all. What was
the use: Every one knew that 1t was
played our. TOO many women had
killed. Law must be enforced. A life
for n life.
Ellice. 1t appeared, according to her
own statement. had u twin sister. The
twins were devoted to each other. Her
sister, learning Of her wrongs, had WIS.,
tied the Nat and shot her husband
Had anybody seen the twin? No.
unfortunately she always passed for
Mrs. Ellice. They had been cstranged
for years. and never met.
Ha. Then why had her sister
avenged her wrongs? Why could not
evidence be brought to prove the exist
ence OF this mythical sister? The jur
ors smiled II was pretty thin. II was
ridiculous. Surely the defending coun-
sci could have thought Of a better line
Of defense than that
Yet he was one Of the leaders OF the
criminal bar. Well. the wisest men
make mistakes sometimes. He had
underestimated the intelligence OF
the jury. So Mrs. Ellice had to Z"
to the chair.
The judge was speaking. Gentle
men, you will acQuit your minds Of all
sentiment and remember that the laws
Of this country must be upheld. You
will deliver your verdict In accordance
with the evidence"
The Jury were In their room. We'll.
gentlemen" said the foreman. Sup
pose We begin by taking a ballot"
They balloted. each handing his
opinion to the foreman. who opened
each paper and smiled as he thrust
1t into his pocket. "Of course we are
all decided that the unwritten law
shall play no part in our delibera-
TONS" he said Now, about this twin
sister"
The Jury were coming into court.
The verdict was a foregone conclusion.
They were all hard-headed men. bust
ness and professional. Yet there was
shade Of anxiety on the judges face.
all eyes turned toward the steps that
led up to the dock.
Mrs.. Ellice WAS coming up between
two guards. She was a little. fair.
haired woman, with tiny hands and
feet. 1t seemed incredible that that
little hand could have committed muir
der. She was very brave, very
calm.
Damn the iawr" shouted a man In
the courtroom.
The judge nodded to the deputy
sheriff, who removed the man. Mrs
Ellice was crying quietly into her
handkerchief She swayed. One OF
the guards supported her.
The members Of the Jury were look
ing at her. A buzz ran through the
courtroom. Condemnation was on
their -brows. She had taken II life.
There ives no room for sentimentality.
Gentlemen. are you agreed upon
your verdict Do you find that the
prisoner. Madge Ellice. is guilty or
not guilty OF the murder of"
Not guilty" said the foreman.
Cheers ran through the courtroom
The defending counsel tugged Mt his
collar and smiled. He had avoided
disaster to his future by the narrow
est squeak. The prosecuting attorney
smiled and nodded. Strange how
calmly. he took 1t. The shade of
anxiety on the Judges face dlsap.
peared. He was smiling. He looked
like happy man. Perhaps he really
believed in the twin sister.
Mrs. Ellice was recovering from
her swoon. She came to just In time
to shake hands with the jurymen.
Like Rosda AZ Ancient Eovot