Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-05-15
By
DONFORD YATES

But you wouldn't have looked for
It, would you?"
mo. Not-not looked for It."
there?"
lists just possible"
THANK you"
thought that was devilish good. So.
I think, did Corker, smiling his lazy
smile. don't know how 1t impressed
the jury-they're not giving anything
away. And the judge has a face like
an image.
Would you believe it2 They'd got a
slice Of that tree. Took four men to
carry it in-on a sort OF bier. And there
they stood. turning slowly round by
numbers, so that everyone in the court
could see what there was to see. And
there was the scar, as large as life.
Eleven inches dead. And, damn 1t,
that was the length Of the scrape on
Next Sensation, the policeman that
had been winged. He was there. he
saw the murder done Counsel for
the defense cross-examined him.
Il think you say the car never
stopped"
1T never came to a standstin"
at slowed down, the shots were fired,
and at once the car gathered speed. Is
that right?"
Quite right, sir"
You were considerably shaken?"
Anyone would be. My mate was
dead and ="
How did you know he was dead?"
He'd fallen face down in the mud
and he didn't move"
You fell, too?"
Il think so. know I was on my
knees, looking after the car.
when was this?"
Directly after the firing. The whole
thing was over in a flash. One min
ute the car was stopping and he was
walking up to its door. The next It
was all over and we were down on the
ground and the car was away"
I'm flash2"
ut got away very fast"
You'd had the shock Of your hfe2"
at was very unexpected
You'd expected to be shown IL 4
cense?"
Il suppose So"
Instead. before you knew where you I
were, your mate was dead and you I
were down on the ground with bullet I
In your shoulder"
That's right, sir"
Were you dazed2"
yves"
''FalnCI
mo, sir. Not then"
when were you faint?"
Later on at the station, sir.
Before you made your statements"
"Oh, yes"
"You were on the ground, daZed and
suffering considerable pain2"
mo pain at the time, sir. I didn't
aotice It,"
And you picked yourself up. to see
he car diSappear?"
in time to get its number"
LET me put it like this. The car
vent off with rush.
"As hard as 1t could"
Exactly. AS hard as 1t could. Have
'ou ever tried to take the number Of
car In similar circumstances? At 2
o'clock in the morning in pouring rain,
hooked out of your life, dazed, wound
d, on your knees in the road?"
Il can't say have sir"
"And the car-not standing still, but
ushing away from you as hard as 1t
ould2"
II saw it plain, sir-its number"
You've said you we're daZed."
80 I was. But I'd got enough left"
TO take the numbers?"
YES"
And repeat it accurately As min
ties later?"
yes, sir"
without having written it DOWN."
Yes, sir"
Rather a lot to ask Of wounded
lan2"
"I'd enough to make me remember
!"
IT suggest that you had had more
nan enough to make you forget it."
mo, sir"
s'Wait q minute. After the car was
one, you cared for your mater"
II did what / could"
You managed to drag his body TO
ne side Of the road2"
Yes, sir"
Then you blew your whistle, and
hen your appeal was not answered,
Oh stumbled a quarter Of a mile to
ne police station and gave the alarm"
Yes, sir"
The police turned out, the Division !