Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-12-26
Lessons Last
Drive
= - - - - - - - - - - .
By CHARLES E. BAXTER



him. Lesson was lying huddled up
on the seat of his rig, dead, a bullet
from Dobb's weapon in his heart.
Sitting, crouching, rather than ly-
ing. He was hudGled over the front
of the vehicle, and his hands clutched
the reins tightly, Is If they had con-
tracted spasmodically at the moment
Of his death. And there stood Dobb.
1t was sparsely settled agricul-
tural community. The nearest neigh
Dor was a quarter of mile away
old Evan PIN. 1t was PIN and his
sons, Charles and EwarI, who found
Dobb standing so stupidity there. 1t
was all they could do to induce him
to return inside his house. There
Dobb remained in sort of trance.
I'm glad was all that he would
say. I'm glad"
Early in the morning the police ar
rived and took him away to the coun-
~ Jail. And there sat Dobb, brood
ing, his head in his hands. I'm glad"
he said. I'm glad"
son was notorious money-lender.
He had half the township in pawn,
for times We're bad and the land was
stubborn. He had had Dobb at his mer-
cy, and was going to foreclose. Dobb
had written him note daring him
to come and see him.
A foolish note and Lesson, who
was no coward, had taken up the
challenge. Lesson was a nervous, ex-
citable man with chronic heart
complaint and a poor digestion. Half
his cruelties were the result of this
Indigestion. He would fly up in the
air at the least thing. He had i'm
mediately harnessed his horses and
driven over to the Dobb place.
Mrs. Dobb had come out and begged
Lesson to return. Lesson had not
said word but sat in the rig, wait
ms for Dobb. Dobb burst from the
house, abused Lesson, and opened fire
on him. He had fired six times, and
only the single bullet had found its
mark.
Lesson had died without a word,
and it looked very bad, indeed for
Dobb. 1t was a hanging state, and
the farmer jurymen, much as they
had detested Lesson, We're not likely
to exculpate Dobb. Then there was
Dobbs challenge. That was the
worst thing of all. That showed pre-
meditation.
Dobb was brought under guard to
the inquest. The courtroom was
packed. The minute the judge had
taken his place Dobb arose.
81 killed him he began.
you d-n fool" whispered his
lawyer, tugging at his coat, but in
vain.
to be temporary insanity, he sat down
himself, hoping all would be for the
best, and that Dobb would make a
clear impression of insanity upon the
court
81 killed him." shouted Dobb. He
was going to sell me up and turn me
and mine out into the road to
starve-"
"Sit down." called the judge. You
will be heard at the proper time"
mo time like this" yelled Dobb
Il want to go to the gallowS. | don't
want no palaver. There amt no call
for it. The man was skunk, and his
time was come. That's all there was
to it,"
IF you don't sit down and be ST.
lent you'll be removed" said the
judge.
Dobb was pulled back and the evil
dence began. 1t was shown how Dobb
was found at the door of his house
with the weapon in his hand The
bullet that had been extracted from
Lessons body fitted it. 1t looked
bad for Dobb.
Murchison, the medical examiner,
was called. you performed an
autopsy on the body of the deceased2
asked the judge.
Yes your honor"
what in your opinion was the
cause of death?'
Heart disease replied Murchison.
you mean-induced by the bullet?"
mo, heart disease. The strain of
the approaching interview was prob
ably too much for Leesony He was
dead long before the prisoners bull
let struck him. The horses must have
stopped at the door of their own ac-
cord. Dobb fired at corpse"
Dobb stood up in the midst of the
sensation.
you're a liar" he hoWled. II killed
Aim-darn. You, you want to rob me
of getting even with a skunk like
that? | killed him."
you will return a verdict in ac-
cordance with the evidence" said the
magistrate to the jury
81 killed him" whimpered Dobb, as
his wife led him away.
Useless Animal.