Might and Main Library. Number 56, 1907-03-16 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Y, rene se Sl = {5m es Penra strived at Clen willis ff he Has a more puzzled-than Mrs. Martin. He did not like the idea of the housekeeper receiving orders from Joshua Vernon, and yet he had to acknowledge that young Craig, if so minded, might destroy valuable papers, and so, perhaps, help himself. : On ‘the other hand, was it not his duty, as one of the executors, to have searched the library himself, and so have placed. it beyond the possibility of any one tampering | with the papers? Zeutgard determined to search the desk, and see what could be found in elucidation of the mystery. CHAPTER IV. MORE MYSTERY. The murder of such a prominent man as the squire and owner of Glen William naturally aroused public feeling to the highest state of excitement. Three different newspapers, having great prominence and large circulation, had tried the case, found the murderer, discovered his motives, and set at rest the mystery sur- rounding young Vernon Craig.» But, strange to say, each paper had a different assassin, and each furnished distinct, and widely different motives. We do not say that the papers mentioned names; that might be considered libel in case of failure; but each so manifestly described the alleged assassin that no one could mistake the man. Only one of the three was certain it was little Tim, the - stable-boy, who had been arrested the day following the murder, and in the columns of-that paper his whole life _ was tinged with carmine. His* mother’s name was brought into the report, and it ‘ was even said his father was a criminal. The day of the trial was fixed, for Tim had no money. Had he been wealthy and guilty, or possessed good friends, his trial could have been delayed for many months; and, if convicted, appeal after appeal would haye prevented the sentence being, carried out for some years. But Tim was poor, and so his trial was hurried on. Law- yer Comyns, the partner of. Mr. Zeutgard, had undertaken the defense, though he declared there was not one bit of evidence against the young man, and ne prosecution was Ae bound to break down. The morning of the trial came, and ‘the sun shone just as brightly as it ever did.. : The court was crowded. It always is when any cele- brated case full of horrors is to be tried. Artists were there, ready to sketch the witnesses, the counsel, jury, and, in fact, any and everybody. Reporters were ready, with nicely sharpened pencils, and the judge took his seat on the bench. In olden times it was a bench, ‘but now a comfortable and easy cushioned chair received the capacious body of the learned judge. The jury was impaneled, though not without some aie. ficult if a man read the newspapers, he was too intelligent for a juryman, and if he could not read at all he was deemed a to be too ignorant to sit in judgment on a fellow creature. One man, with a face very much like an ancient fiddle, droned out that the only book he read was the Bible: whereupon he was immediately challenged by the defense because that good book preaches, in one part, the doctrine, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” But. at last twelve ordinary-looking citizens were ac- _.cept ed, and the court was all ready for the. trial. . The pieteict pened maving a better knowledge of poli- thi the. case pit the: Si Pri and with iy eloquence - roved eM Bae down than an assistant "istriee eae Ww to his chief, and made the judge angry. “Go on with the case, sir,’ thundered the. judge. 4 he The lawyers took no notice, but continued to orien together, Piet) “Mr. Attorney, iil you go on with me trial, or am 3 to dismiss the jury?” et Then came a thunderbolt. y Maen 4 y The district attorney, who had so ace prowl tin ib. rhs to be guilty, and had so eloquently stated the case, ‘now turned to the judge, and, with just as much earnestness, —~ said : : : ay Bh fiir tl “I find, your honor, we have no case.” at ae: ~“T find that every moment of. the prisoner’ s time can, be A ae accounted for, and that he can be proved innocent.” i <a a “What do you mean?” — oe “Your honor, my clerk gave me the wrong brief. My. .t assistant was away, and only returned this morning ae . Si as I had finished my opening. He then told me that he ha hee prepared another brief, setting forth the innocence of ‘the. a defendant, and advising that a nolle prosequi be entered: i ‘It is a case of mistaken zeal on the part of my ‘cletk?’ 49% ‘om There was a buzz, of excitement in the court, nit the judge frowned. pes band For.a few moments he did not ee then, callin {hee prosecuting attorney up to. him, he whispered for ‘9 few .Y minutes. Bass ig, ae ae “The prisoner is discharged. ee ie Tim did not realize what it meant; neither did Lawyer ” Comyns. TON “Will you not, your honor, declare that there is no stain on my client’s character 3 fae asked Comyns. Pe Te eat \ “He is discharged. What more can I do? If h ns e guilty, he wouldn’t be discharged.” , me “There is something back of all this,” gard to his partner. “Reckon so. Where will the blow strike?’ “Who can tell? The attorney keeps his lips as close gether as a clam does his shells.” : Tim left. the court, and was warmly congratulatec |. te * Vernon Craig, who had been subpoenaed as a witness. ~~ ec The whole proceeding was as strange as the iis an a itself, and set every one talking. aye | Two of the newspapers metaphorically clapped™ their - wings and crowed, for each was certain that their ake | aa pected one was the murderer. - ia i : Nothing had been heard of Joshua Vernon since the day © , when the will was to have been read, and some wondered | Ay whether he had relinquished all claim to the estate. _ ss ba es, But Zeutgard knew differently; he knew that, legally, at: . the present outlook, Joshua Vernon would be recognized 9) as the next of kin, a therefore, the’ owner of Glen William. tbe | Zeutgard and Conv employed an, able déteauaes to a a watch the district attorney’s office, so that they might knoy 2 who was suspected. 1}. : cs But the attorney was astute, and if he suena anglbne’ imc he kept it to himself, and wove his web in absolute secrecy. ~ 2 Vernon soon recovered his health, which had been’ some-_ | -what shattered by the fall, and, as Mrs. Craig was. once + 4 again restored to health, he begged her to tell him * she © a knew. ape a “ “Tt is but right, Vernon, that you should hear from. m ae the story of your infancy,’ she said, as she placed her. ha a on the boy’s shoulder and gently forced him | toa seat bern ca her on ue longue. a oe whispered a a te = 7 BED ae looking.” “Why, mama, you are the handsomest’ woman I mi. She eipilke at the pe et but did not reply, Ls