The Winslow mail., 1924-05-30


the secret of the new amalgam process
on the Rietfontein in johannesburg.
| He's used me like that, and when I've
warned him he was driving me too
far he's laughed at me and told me
could swing if 1 preferred to, and by
God I'm going to. He made me tell
/ him
81 object to this evidencew shouted
! De Wits lawyer. These allegations
against my client are totally irrele
want, and made to arouse prejudice"
Objection sustained" said Judge
Crawford The witness viii confine
himself to evidence bearing upon the
alleged theft of the stones.
Tell the court the story of your
relations with Mr.. De Witt in so far
as they relate to your theft of the
diamonds" said Brown.
"When / came to Malopo," answered
Seaton, my gal had wrote me that
Mr.. De Witt was gone for good So
I went back. But l met him in the
coach going up from Taungs. Mr.. Gar
rett was there, and there was a bit
/
next morning, after we had arrived,
Mr.. De Witt came to me and offered
me job on the Big MalOpo. Then
Mr. Garrett got the control and
asked Mr. De Witt for another job. l
knew what was coming, but | was in
want and had to get something, even
from him. He told me to go to Mr.
I ocf- tO
pound manager, and I'd get the place.
l knew what was wanted. 1t was the
/ West Rietfontein over again"
Judge Crawford's gavel fell just as
De Wits lawyer sprang to his feet
again.
THE jury will disregard all evidence
concerning other relations between
Mr.. De Witt and the defendant" he
said.
"Omit all further references to other
jobs that you have done for Mr.. De
Witt" said Brown.
The gavel fell again.
"Mr. Brown, you Will abstain from
suggesting the existence of other re-
lations between the defendant and
Mr.. De Witt" said the judge.
There followed an animated discus
sion The jury, who had been follow
ing the evidence intently looked bored
and disappointed, and paid no atten-
ton to the dispute.
"De Witt promised me he'd leave me
alone," continued Seaton, when he was
permitted to resume. But after we'd
| begun to eXcavate anyone who knew
anything about diamonds could see
that the main pipe was either on our
| claim or pretty nigh us. Then Van
Worst came to me and said Mr. Gar
rett was green to the business and
there was chance to make money. |
refused, and sent him away.
He come back, and he was always
after me, trying to get me to drink,
but I was trying my hardest to make
good to Mr.. Garrett. AT last he come
to me and said De Witt was behind
him, and the syndicate behind De
Witt and if l come to heel thered be
good money in it, but if didn't De
Witt would stick his knife in me.
knew what that meant"
what did it mean?" asked Brown.
'''l object to that question: shouted
D" Wits lawyer.
"The witness will contne himself
/ strictly to testimony hearing upon the
alleged diamond theft"
"HeW say something before he csn
be stopped
I'm that case, said the judge bland
ly, "the jury Will disregard the evil
dence at my instructions"
Your honor. you know perfectly
well they can't
"Sit down, sir"
I'm my clients interest" began
the lawyer.
"Mr. Lange your client is not on
trial. Your status in this case is one
of courtesy only"
"Tell the court what hold Mr. De
Witt had over you, in so far as it has
reference to the robbery said Brown
quietly.
AYE, I'll tell. That's what l come
for" answered Seaton, fixing his eyes
on De Witt, who returned his stare
| with Sneerlng smile
At this juncture all eyes were
turned, with a simultaneous impulse,
toward Judge Davis in the gallery.
The old man sat there impassively, ms
square beard thrust out from his
scrawny chin; he seemed the least
affected of any of the spectators
"It was twenty-three years ago.
Seaton began ~ was prospecting for
diamonds In Griqualand. Them was
the early days and there wasn't much
law or order in the country. I'd been
out after stones, but L hadn't found
none.
ITO be Continued)
Think