The Bismarck tribune., 1924-07-15
The Fugitive
Juryrnan
By GEORGE ELMER COBB

By GEORGE ELMER COBB
The last hour OF working day,
the last words Of the prosecutors
closing argument being spoken, the
last chance Of the prisoner at the
bar seemingly gone through the evi.
dence of his devoted and beloved
wife.
For two weeks Harold Winton
had been on trial for his life. He
was accused of the wilful murder OF
Abner Cook, his uncle, whose for.
tune he had now inherited through
the last will and testament OF the
deceased.
From the first the Jury held to
their conviction that the prisoner
was guilty.
The night Of the murder was one
not readily forgotten. Upon that
evening from six o'clock until ten
there prevailed the most terrific
wind and rainstorm that ever Wis
tied the district.
Winton claimed that he had been
to the city, that when the storm
struck Lisle he left the electric car |
he was in and he resolved to start
across country for home on foot.
One mile from town, he narrated,
the fury Of the tempest drove him
to take shelter about six O'clock IA
an old deserted factory, mile out
of Lisle. Seeking its shelter, ne
| found a companion, storm-bound
like himself. He had never known
this person before, who told him
that he was a travelling artist, his
name Arthur vaille. They had
chatted and smoked until after ten
j O'clock. The stranger had gone on
| to Lisle, and Winton proceeded
home.
His wife was forced to testify
that he did not arrive there until
after midnight, which doomed the
prisoner from the start with eignt
Of the stern-faced. hard.hearted,
biased members Of the Jury.
There was one young man on the
fury. however, Elmer Whitcomb,
from a distant town, who from the
first had settled in his own mind
that Winton was victim of CIR
cumstantial evidence. Perhaps his
sympathy for the pure-faced. gentle
souled wife influenced him. Per
haps a constant sight Of the DIS
tressed sister of Winton, always IN
tears. always by the side Of her I'M
, periled brother, moved the pity OF
, Elmer Whitcomb more than ne
knew.
; And then there was another vast
!, influence that moved this man to
!. the depths when that name, Arthur
Vaille, was mentioned. A queer,
confusing thought haunted his brain.
He had beard It before-where?
when?
The courtroom was dim and
l shadowy. for dusk had come on.
Z AS they filed out of the doorway
s Whitcomb felt his hand caught In
8 a warm, quivering clasp. 4,
ner "on" h. msrc'f1' nssSSsHt !. pleading wh''
5 1t was Verona Wintor, the sister
Of the prisoner. The young man
thrilled as he realized that this
sweet girl had read his soul. that
there was bond between them
and his duty arose more compelling
ly than ever before him.
The fury were taken to their ho
ltel. After supper, in charge OF Z
court deputy, they began the usua
evening walk for exercise. 1t hat
grown dusk. As they passed dow
an unlighted street Elmer Whit
i comb carried out a plan he hn,
formed In his mind. He straggle'
behind. slipped down dark ale.
and. unobserved. disappeared.
There was a great commotiOn II
Fairfield the next day. Such thin,
as q deserting juryman had neve
been heard of before. ."
They searched for WhitcOmb, bu
did not find him. Verona Winto
= received note, brief, unsigned, bu
! she guessed who had sent it an
kissed the single word 1t contained
"Hope!"
= OF course, q verdict could not b
legal with only eleven jurymen.
ID would take month before the sl0'
y. machinery of the law could brin
~ up the case anew. It was q graft
M ad full respite for the prisoner.
~ Five weeks later. just as the ne
II nc fury had convened, Elmer Whitcon
=" walked quietly into the courtroo
l'c and approached the bar of Justice
ay IT am here to receive my purisl
., ment." he said simply.
r. There was bewilderment, excit
ny ment In the courtroom. Then VIII
comb turned and nodded to ms
w. who had accompanied him as 4
. as the door.
~o "Your honor" he explained.
la have been thousands Of miles aw,
ms on hint got from a friend In t
'ge city to flnd this gentleman. he
Arthur Vaille, the witness who q
ng prove the innocence of the prison
at the bar.
Then Elmer Whitcomb sat dow
His glance swept the room. It W
the to find a sought-for face-that Of
err beautiful girl, whose glowing ey
of seemed to send him soul MESA
Use that repaid him for all his efforts
The Verona.
ay, Harold Winton was a free m
[iss before the sun had set. Elm
for Whitcomb, hero now In the et
her nation Of the people. received
to sentence of the court with q sal
fied smile-"one day In jail and
frs. fine of $780,"
D. "The law requires me to take {
ars action" said the Judge. II rel
int. the fine. and your "a hours
prisonment should give you time
lion realize what a noble man you hs
has BEEN"
'ns There came TO that prison cell
-. h n ev1Av