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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1932-06-30, Page 6PAGE •SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS, THURISDIAY, JUNE 9, 1932., John Uri Lloyd Continued from last week.) CHAPTER LX 'Trouble in 'Stringtown County Court Judge Eiford"'arose, and locking his arm in mine moved toward the door, • as he did so 'excusing 'both Of us to the circle. "Mr. Drew ;will return an- other evening," he remarked. "1 ,would speak to him in the quiet of my home to -night." Something in the (tone of his voice led me tto know that he wished to talk seriously in private and as if to impress the fact more emphatically, we walked in silence to his home. "Did you notice the tall, -white- haired man who left the room before we did?" he abruptly asked. "Yes."' "That man has been in Stringtown for a week. He stops at the tavern, but has no business here, unless it be in connection with this casein which you are concerned. He has been ask- ing questions of all kinds regarding (Red -(Head and yourself, and has in- quired into every detail of the poison- ing affair. He . has interested himself in Red -Mead's record since he came among us as a boy. That he is ,not alone is shown by the fact that many uncouth men call to see him, but they soon depart. The rumour has gotten out that he is a friend of Red -{Head, from the mountains, and that a scheme for the boy's rescue is contemplated." "And how am I concerned, Judge?" "'That I shall ,now tell you, Sammy. iWould to God you had kept out of this easel You were asked to remain away from Stringtown until after (Court week, were you not?" His eyes were upon me. "Yes." "And the messenger told you that such was also my desire and advice?" "Yes." "Did you forget that twice you promised to follow any aldvice when the time arrived for inn to serve you by asking you to grant me a favour?" I made no reply. "As a judge, sworn to do, the duty of a judge to this great Common- wealth of Kentucky, I could not well do more. As a friend to you, I could •do no less. Why diel you not take the advice of your two friends?" Before I could answer, had I any reply to make, he continued: "Ugly things are being said in Stringtown. The ,people of .Stringtown County, too, are con- cerned in this case, more so even than (when old Cape was tried for stealing the gold. 'There are factions, among us, and some viciousness begins to creep in; not that Red -Head has made friends, Mei that this thing of sending outside the State for an extpert to tes- tify against one of our citizens is an innovation." "But "But why do they accept that my testimony will be against him?" "Because you are engaged by the prosecution, and, people believe that chemical experts sell their evidence and give theirtestimony to support the claims of the side that engages them; and," he added, "it alsoseems to me that expert chiemical testimony is not always on the highest moral ;plane." "But I surely found strychnine, Judge; should I not give my evi- dence?" "It is now too late to retreat, and 'for this reason I would speak to you in confidence,, iSalnmy. Your father was my friend; you need advice, as I once felt you might, and even though II am to be the ju'd'ge of this ease, I +am in darty bound to give it,"' "You have :.my thanks for your in- terest,.and '1 regret • now that I did not take the 'hint you sent ;i 'Susie". "Had I ,not believed that you would listen to her ;pleadings, I might have made it stronger, but it .is now, too late. Sammy," he continued, "you'are satisfied' concerting the chemical iprovings you 'have made?" •'"1 am,;' it 'no't pro'balble,; or at least pos- sible, -that you place too ,great cred-, 6008 in statements made by author- ities in whom you confide?" - "No, for, I have veriified" thetieac- tions." "May not conditions unknown to you induce other bodies than strych- nine to give the same readtiolrs." "Positively not." "Are you"—he hesitated slightly— "proof against prejudice that on the one Mand bind's you to blind confid- ence in scientific methods, 'and on the other hand leads you to desire to help the . side that secured your services?" I winced, 'for Ifelt 'the thrust even through the kindly tone of the judge. "I am :a man of seience, and free from .prejudice." "The faith you mets of science have in human .aithority; and the sneers you cast on the Supreme Ruler, and the dogmatic conclusions of men :who. search in fields your science is ' too feeble to invade', seenn to me very near man -worship or egotistical• fan- aticism. Sir,"—he .spoke severely now—"1 Sail to see the difference be- tween your blind allegiance to ever- changing science and the fanatical faith of a superstitious slave bound to signs and omens, which result from the empirical observation of cycles of phenomena; but let that thought pass and turn to your own sellf. Are you free from human error?" 'Yes, in this case, for I have gone over the reactions again and again." 'Enough, Sammy, enough; would that I too, felt this .sane confidence in man's infallibility and in the science that holds you in her toils. I am an old man, any child, and' have met many dramatic and pathetic experi- e'n'ces. I have seen men shot in the heat of passion, and have sentenced men to the gallows on the testimony of witnesses who. saw the plunge of the knife or the flash of the pistol held by the murderer. But never yet have I been forced to candennr a man to the gallows on the evidence of a person who was in another State at the time of the murder, who not only did not see the crime committed, but ,who knew nothing about its occur- rence. And, Sammy, whileduty to the Commonwealth will not permit metoever shrink from doing my duty. to man and .men, in ail earnestness I pray God to strike ole dead before on the testimony of Samuel Drew• I am :forced to hang this boy. Mark well your words, Sammy; on them rests a human life..A defenceless .man to whom life is sweet lies now in the dItringtown. County jail — one from whom no man has the right unlawful- ly to take one bright day. Mark well, too, the position of your odd friend, the judge,wwho begs you to err on the side of humanity rather than to do a wrong in the belief that science is infallible. Give this helpless mac a Benefit of every doubt, whether it hu- miliates your science, disturbs your dogmatism, or checks your ambition. lIn after years you will find that you have made no mistake." I arose to go, arose without con- ceding that there was a chance for me to err or relent. At the door the judge held, my hand long, and after bidding me,good bye said, „in the most earnest tone'( had eller known him -to Use: `God grant, Samuel Drew, that you do not oau'se me to hang an in docent mac;' and after I had passed front his door he called me 'hack. "Sammy, there will .b'e trouble next week; hear up .bravely, dare. to do right even though it be at ambiiien's expense. 'Sammy," and his voice sank very low, almost to a whisper, as his lips spoke into. my ear, "keep what I say • in confidence. The ald'm,an you saw leave the grocery is named •H'ol- coanlb; he can'ie to Inc fast .night and I• drew up his will. He deft all h'is'pos- se'ssions, both real and personal, to R'eci-IT-14d. an+d ,S.usie, share and .share alike; hut,sa+id he,'Tn case Red-iilead dies=anld he may die suddefi'ly, : but *will never be hung -it must all go to the girl Susie' Thergill be,trotrblein Stringtown 'County 'Ooart next week, I alttetan'ted lo withdraw' rip hand, but t'he-speaker held it and continued:: "This is Keaiitalcicy, not Ohio; Ken The case opened in the:,esnal Way' footstep S'avrinyo' " and interest `soon eentred in the' 6vi- Bront the loco cif' Jodge Ilford I deme that- came rapidly l before the an - turned with heavy heart and lagging' !Court and jury. The prosecution an- �footstep.toward. the .home of myimo- nonaced that it1 tended 110 prove thcr, realising now that the coming that po son was Llie cause of Mr.week would brig _'a death crisis to' Cyo'rdnuaii's death ankh that ' the drug ,someone I knew, and dor the first hadbeen' purchased by The prisoner, dime I ai,p;preciated the fact that I was •an"cl administered by hips to the viz - not a mere onlooker. >tini. Tothis the'attorneys•for the de- • hese closing words in -.'my mind Ifcuce interposed a denial; feebly it when 1 raised n g eyes "from `the to nae, although it' is possible 'ground because of a stop that sounded (halt being in the dark concerning the on the stones ahead of •nae• _A'tall fords nature of the evidence to be offered, carie Into the moonfig-ht,,passed ole 'they could not in opening rnaTke their close and disappeared behind me. It denial stronger. As the trial progress - was the old man from the i1i'oimitains. ed it could be seen that the judge pro_ OHA,PTE'R LXI posed to conlfne both parties to a strict 'statement ,:of fact,'for 'ever' at-, Suaie, Red -Head, and Myself Again; tempt to lnte'rjeot side i'ssue's or to go into personalities .was s'kiliuil'y defeat- e'd by his rulings, and yet :the day 'passed before 'the prosecutor 'was ready to oall me as a witness. Every step was tenalciously 'combated by Counsel ' for the defence,: who, as the theory of the prosecution unfolded it- self, became a'ggre5sivel'y violent an+d. left no stone unturned 'in his attempt, to d'iscred'it a witness or. cast cioulit on the evi'denice. When time for ad- journment carne that night, the pro- secution had proven: • ,Furst, That Red -(Head and Mr. Nordmaa had quarrelled a few days previously to his death. Ik was shown that, out of patience With his indolent habits, Mr. Nord''man 'li'ad scolded him for not 'working. The witness who testified' to this stripped to•baoco in Mr. Nordman's barn and heard ev- ery word 'of the altercation, and -also heard Red - !-lead swear that he would be revenged. 'Second, 'The village druggist testi- fied that he sold Red -!Head one-eighth ounce of strychnine. His book of poison sales an Which the entry had been trade and • dated was ,produced as evidence and admitted. The. prison- er had stated that the stiycheine was for' Mr. Nordinan, who d'essired to put it in the carcass of a lamb that had +bee» killed by foxes, which letter he hoped to kill when they returned to (feed, the coining night. 'Th'ird. The servants -testified. that .l'Ir. Nordman arose . in good health the morning of his death, ate a jigh't abrea'lefast, as was his habit, and that 'Red -{Head alone breakfasted with by the side of the prosecuting attor- 'him. Very soon thereafter he was ney, and then raised my eyes to the stricken with a severe pain in the sto- chair where sat the man charged with mach; and then they gave hien a dose murder, the very place and apparent- cif laudanum and called the grhysician, ly the very chair ii) which Cupe once Fourth. The ,physician testified thiat sat. His hair was red' as of yore, he found Mr. Nordmat, in great pain, sorrel -red, like no other hair I had muscular convulsions having set in ever seen; his eyes were fixed on 013' and paralysis of the legs, He adminis- fa'ce, those same little yellow eyes; tered an emetic, to which, however, his red ears and that florid face cov- •(he patient did not freely respond. In ered with freckles were before me reply to 'a direct question of the pros- again, Tanker and longer was that' ecator the. witness said that the case crimson neck. I -looked him square' in presented all the sympto'91s of st 'Ich- the eye, and then my _glance, not his,' nine poisoning, fell to the floor, but not before II This closed the evidence of the clay caught a .glimpse of a gentle move- and I: was .informed ' by the prosecu- ment of the left ear, the amocking tion thatmytestimony would be ta- movement fannil.iar in other years, and 'kelt immediately after Court convened I knew that he yet defied me.the next morning. next I raised ne eyes they:l ni Y y CHAPTER ',XII. naught the forin of the sheriff, who with a brace of pistols in his leather "ThejFoud Is Over, Holcomb." belt stood :close to the prisoner, and That nightI awoke often, for in airy then I turned to the audience. The ears rang again and :again the words room was filled with men, and no one of judge Elford: "You . will hang the needed to tell inn they were from far prisoner, Sammy." and near. I recognised many String-, ,That sentence still dominated my town men,. I also saw many whom I mind when Court convened next felt were amen of Stringtown County;'.morning; but when I looked at' the and there, too, sat the tall man from presiding judge no evidence of emo the )mountains of Kentucky. In full 'tion on his part couid beseen; pas view cif the prisoner, neither seemed sive and composed he satlooking to notice the other. He was flanked about.the room, apparently as uncon- on either side by a line o.f men dres's-, scions of personal responsibility as ed in the same manner as himself; in- any of the spectators. I seated myself deed, I should say that he formed the by the side of the prosecutor and pro - 'Central figureof a group distinct from needed to arrange my specimens, re- our home folks, but they seemed not agents and the :apparatus. The eyes of to know each other. Ian in the Court were now concentrat And then my:eyes turned toward ed on use, even 10 Oaf olf the prisoner, the front row, scanning each face un --'who scarce ten feet distant, sat be - til they rested on that of one I he.' sorbed, the armed sheriff. Seemingly ab - til though''( to meet again in the sorbed in manipulative op'erabi•ons; -I Court of Stringtown County. There yet • noticed every movement of those sat Susie, her eyes fixed onspace, f about me from time to time I raised My heart fluttered and L'wished (blot+my eyes 0117'y -to catch the fixed gaze instead of sitting by the prosecutorI of whomsoever they rested on,. where were in the place of old negro Cupe, 'soever they turned juryiven, sheriff, who sat by her• side. Then came a 'attorney for the. prosecution and'•.. for mental .inventory, and by -a mind-IThe dole rte, H.o1co'mh from the mbar flash I saw that we three, Susie, Red.' tains' Cupe; Red-II/tad and Susie,. all Bead and',niyself, were once , morel --all I say but one, judge Elfiind. He con'ftanmiteg one another acid our -fate; I'seemted 'unconcerned regarding either and I eaw'to'o"that, seemingly we h,ad any presence or my movements.drawn into, the turriroil all who both,( That he e awaited my convenienlce I saved and hated us and it seelmed to .knew; and that this famous; case had In- tense ire as though, be is superstition or not idralwnf itself datcii, and ..• had 'focusse'd tselme I' . _ every condition necessary to a tragic an also know'Aiesd' end of one or' ail was mow perfected. ,tease Oiliness, friend and foe, taction, II knew•that nature of the men a'b'out, ;feudist,:. judge, , prisoner. and jury II knew that mlany Men had•s'but to put their hands insidetheir; coats to de- fend their honour or their friends, and 1 realised too, that every man'' present knew both his enetuy and his friend; but no- evidence•of this' fact: could 'be seen in face or action. 'T'hen'I turned again to Judge Elford, he whom every iron in the room respected, be who s'o'w 'stood 'before all this. assemblage sworn to .sift , the right from ' the wrong, and. who I Ihiew,-far' ie' had told ane 'sd='believed that 'before thie' case closed some oif those, present en would have setheir fast oearth.' Wile wonting of the trial • dawned, rand 1 entered the special bus that had been engaged to take two attorneys, ;the judge, a few close :friends of these ge'lltle+nlen—a ,few jurylnen among them --ane( :m'yselift to Court. It was .the way I: had passed to the trial df Cupe. 'I looked neii.her to the right nor to 'the left as we passed '••through the wi1 lege, but followed Jludge Ellford to the court -house, where I felt a sen'sa'tion of relief as I entered the portals of that stone building, with its great round pillars in front and its iron - ;barred jail in the rear. I then held my final audience with the (prosecu'tin'g at- torney, and at :last stepped into the court -room: of ,Stringtown County., IThe judge sat in .his ,place exactly as he did when last I saw him, years ago in that sante seat. Time had en- feebled him physically, bat not men- tally, for that fine intellectual ;face and placid brow were surely the snore im- pressive by reason of the lines that age had deepened, and by the touch of brighter silver left in his snow- white beard and hair, The jssry was in its place, its mem- bers typical of the former jury be- fore which in this very room I had been a witness; 'sone of them may have been the same individuals. Be- fore each man stood that ever -(present box of sawdust, and -from the move- ment olf their jaws or the pouched cheek it could be seen that none need- ed to be instructed concerning the ob- ject Of these utensils. I seated myself were awaiting 111y. voice. I turned any eyes' to the jury;-ao•t a mouth was in motion,firm set :were each pair .of jaws, never before had such a thing ;been known in Kentucky: The last boulch was ;.gliven the vessels before die, and then I whispered to the at- torney ip'y whose "side r sat: "II am ready," and raised my : eyes to the face of the judge, who, ' catching the movement, without awaiting voice to bid hlisis open the court, , bade me arise, A strange innovation did he then 'snake,' an .iiinov'ation,,that struck+ me to the heart; for instead of 'turn- ing die over to the eleric to be aw'orn, as hrci been done with all other wit- nesses, he too arose;, and before' Bolsa I held' up :my hand, and frgm hiin carne in deep, measured' tones the ;question of the 'oleins oath: "Deo -you solemiahy swear`to tell the tnuth, the wlt'ole truth and nothing but the inti th 1" "I do.J 'My voice startled ire. I1 any man wdioreads these lines 'could have been '111 my. place, he too would have been startled by that first word, The•pa'st, with its prelsentimeots and omen's, /show crystallising inito form, the mid- night pleadings of the girl •I loved, the• solemn a'dv'iice of Judge E'llfdrd; yetwere in my ear, The ominous circle before tie, the doubt concern- ing tre reoelpbion of day testimony, and_aastly the pensive ;face olf iSusie to my 'right and the 'hateful face of, Red - [Head to edIHea'd'to my left' were enough to dis- 19085585 one more : experienced. But the sensation 'that followed these ;words passed and an the calm ,tihat ifotlo'wecl I- became 'myself, ready to protect any reputation. I looked • a't IRed-Head; his gaze was fixed on me; our eyes met,: and I saw in them the Full' measure of .hate, I -felt in my own 'heart; 'and',•then I •sand • to. myself: '34 I don't Jiang. that fellow' he will shoat me dead when next we meet. If brain does not conquer now, ,it will be Muscles' turn next" Point by point ithe prosecution drew from the the sbatemient that I had ewamlined the suspected liquid 'for all known poisons bath inorganic and organic. Sind then II was led to the reaction's of strych- nine and to its location among dile !poisons, These I gave in detail, tlhe !p'articulars of .which 'need not he re- peated, and finally I was asked: "Did yet. get those reactions from the 'snlbstance tested?"`.. "I did." 'Have you specimens of the subs- tance?" I have. "Can you show the jury and; the Court the group test for alkaloids and also the colour of reactions of strych- nine t, "I can." "I ask, then, that Professor Drew be allowed to corroborate his testi- mony by ex erinlents that will sub- stantiate his words;" and an this point, alter a legal battle with the at- torneys for the ddfence, the judge ruled' in our favour. Then I made the tests .for alkaloid'swith the group re- agents showing the ,presence of alka- loids. Next I made the .respective col- our test with morphine which did not respond and then with strychnine which did, each juryman craning his neck close about. me in order to get a good view of the purple or blue - Violet colour that sprang into exis- tence in that 'porcelain dish, where'the strychnine test was applied, to fade away into green, and red. `That is the reaction: of stryehaiine," 11 said, and ,proved it by means of a crystal' of pure strychnine, Then came the final question: "You swear that you lfotutd strychnine in the contents of tbait stomach?" , "I do." Opposing counsel :now viciously as- sailed me, but to no avail," for I :brought my authorities and Showed bhat• this test was -accepted by chem- ists of the world, and that Fowne, Fresenius, Turner, all considered it conclusive, and at 'last, triumphant, I was dismissed.. •. " Judge Elford now came down from his chair. "Repeat -the tests that I may see ,them .chase," he said, He stood over die,' and, side by side, both sfiryohnine and' the suspected sub's= Mance, I gave the test , foralkaloids and also the colour test for strych- nine. The sante violet'blie colour carie with booth, ; "'Will no othez4 substance produce that reaction?" "None." "This is' a great world; there are iteany coirant1ies in Ill; do nolle of the thousands of forms of vegetation in these various .lands act as d'oes'ethis substance?"' He spoke into my very ear. "Not to my Science Says n'o." "The servants administered' a dose cif laudanum, and l:audaaum contains monplvine. Is not morp'h'ine an alka- loid?". - knowledge. To be continued,, PROFESSIONAL CARDS'. Medical ;DR, H, HtACIH RO'S'S, Physician, and Surgeon. Late of London, How- pital, London, England. Special: attention to diseasesofthe eye,'eer,, nose and throat. Office and anal- dente behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No, 5; Residence Phone l(l4. 'tsR. F. J. BIURIROIWS, Seaforth; Office aiid residence, Godericii street east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron, Telephone No. 46: 'DR. C. MIACIKIA?Y —C. Mackay,. honor graduate of Trinity University and gold medallist of .Trinity Medical College; ' member of the 'College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario- DIR. F. J. R. FO!RSTER-(Eye, Else Nose and Throat. Gradualte in Medi- cine, University of Toronto int. Late Assistant New Rork Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield** Eye, and. Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, England, At Comae- ercial Hotel, 'Seaforth, 3rd Monday ie; each month; from 11 a,m. to 3 p.m DR. W. C. SIPIROAIT,--Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London. Member - of College of Physicians. and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office fat' rear oir Aberhart's dtug store, Sea%rt!. Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.na., 7411 -9 p.m. Otherhours by appointaae*t. Dental !DR. J. A. MLTNIN, Successor te. Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, ill- Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Saw' hardware, . Main St., Seaforth, Phone 151. DR. • F. J. BECHELY, graduate - Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's, grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 105W, residence 1B5f. Auctioneer. GEOIRIGIE . ELLIOTT, Umlaut Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can pe made for Sale. Date at The Seafor!'h Netys. Charger. moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON AND ,REID'S, REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors to James 'Watson) •M.AILN ST., SEAFORTII, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed i%cted at lowest rates in First -Close Companies. THE McKILLHP Mata I a Fire la sitranca FMA11zM AND ISOLATED TOWN PROXIMITY, 0 -L Y, INSURED - . Officers •- John Bennewies, 'hagen, President; Jas Connolly, •God- erich, Vice -Pres„ ID. IF. 'M'c'Gre'go ,. 'Seaforth No. 4, !Sec,-Treas. ' 'Directors -(Geo, R. 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