The news-herald. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1909-1911, August 05, 1909, Image 2

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    Simple Blouses
the 'STosYjomnm Mium ,
j Tho maUnlTfacti In this f ij 8
story of circumstantial evidence R j ' i&iF? YWZ'aXA '
are drawn from an actual re- fi , Vwf I WMW Wwi I
( corded case, only such change if i fP&1rWWlr? vVV I V1 yMffMC w'A '
of name, an local color being Q 1 WMWWrmMt - 3 JAj7S4v ''t
ports to that of fiction. All the S ZZVk mMWJrW $ V
essential points of evidence, U?M ifAMtfW YA,Jk Xl l
however, .re retained. j
! i H the members or" the Call v III MtHhi yMjBifl CI lhA
A Skin club dropped lntp VSlj , ') (V i YsZ?h ifeWCTF
their accustomed places iM L t " ty M AV VflV I '
I Judge Dennett entered SSI Ja&29 CEStl 1 Mfd
Pcl fi'0 n11". dignified "-r J J ' f h W
mitj nnKiinii miitii vuuni-u i mz s. .ft, i mi jr f -yvwt i run i if Mi rarwi i mi i in niiJ n i i mi
lilm unwIttltiKly to assume the nerson
al appcaranco of a wearer of the wig
and ermine of Wackstoninn days.
Judge Dennett Introduced him aa
Judge Tanner and assured the club
that his guest was primed with many
a reminiscence of his long career and
would gladly furnish the story of the
evening. Afler the pipes of good fel
lowship had been burned for a space
Judge Tanner arose and began his
story of circumstantial evidence.
"I orten wonder," he said, "If there
Is a trial Judge of any considerable
experience who lias not carried some
one case as a load on his mind and
conscience for years after the verdict
of the jury Is In and the condemned
led away to execution. It la a wise
provision of the law that makes the
Jury the Judge both of the law and
the. evidence, and the Judge but the
medium through which ' the law
reaches the twelve; and I cannot con
ceive the condition of mind of those
early English Judges, before whom,
when they had arrived at a conviction
of guilt, even tho Jury was power
less. It was from their arbitrary and
unreasonable rulings, now happily not
held within the power of tho Judge,
that most of our records of miscarried
Justice have resulted.
"Within my own experience there
has como one case which I believe is
as strange as nny of record and which
for years, as I looked back upon It,
caused me to doubt the ability of man
ever infallibly to pass Judgment upon
a fellow creature. The parties now
are nil dead and I tell It for the first
time. IJut to the story.
"In a little city on tho circuit In
which I have held court for more
years thnn I care to think of there
was at one tlnio a hotel kept by a
very respectable man named Jona
than Miller. It was the favorite stop
ping place for commercial travellers
awl thus tho most prominent and best
paying hotel In the city.
"One evening a Jewelry salesman by
the name of Robert Conway arrived
at tho hotel Just before supper. He
Instructed Miller to send his grips up
to his room and remarked in the hear
ing of several at the desk that he did
not care to have them left In the gen
eral baggage room as ho was carrying
a far more expensive line of samples
than usual. Ho also asked that tho
door be carefully locked and the key
brought to him.
"Supper over, ho fell In with a
salesman for a shoe house and one
for a clothing firm and they repaired
to the bar where they played cards
and drank until 11 o'clock, when they
nil retired. It happened that the hotel
was well tilled and the clothing man
nnd tho shoe man had been forced to
take a double room together. This
room was directly across the hall
from the ono occupied by the Jewelry
salesman.
"About two o'clock In tho morning
tho two roommates were awakened by
groans which seemed to come from
tho room of their companion of tho
evening across the hall.
"They aroso and without stopping to
dress hurried out to see what the trou
ble was. You can Imaglno their hor
ror to And Conway, tho Jewelry man,
dead, tho bed blood-soaked, and stand
ing over him, a dark lantern in one
hand nnd a bloody knife In the other,
Jonathan Miller, the landlord, who
trembled violently and gasped Inco
herently when they burst Into the
chamber of death.
"The case seemed black enough
against him. There was not a sus
picion in the mind of anyone In the
city that he 'could be otherwise than
guilty. Yet when taken before a Jus
tice for a preliminary hearing ho most
stoutly maintained his Innocence and
told a story which had It not paled
Into Improbability by the side of
damning circumstances against him
would have been plausible In the ex
treme. "He said ho had Just reached his
room after, as was his custom, sit
ting up until a train due at half past
one, came In. Ho had not had time
to remove his clothing when he, too,
lienrd groans coming from tho nelch-
borhood of Conwny's room. Like the
two salesmen, he had hurried to In
vesicate, and as a weapon of do
fenso he bad taken tho knife. He
nlso picked up the dark lantern which
he ulwayH used In making his last
rounds of tho hotel and which was
Ktlll lighted.
"When he reached the Jeweler!
door he was aiirprlsed lo find It Btund
leg open. The groans had ceased
and he entered, and going up to the
bed, flashed his light upon the bloody
spectacle of the murdered man's
body. So great was his horror and
surprise that he dropped the knife
upon the bloody sheets, and had only
just picked It up again when the two
traveling men entered.
"His trembling and fear at their
arrival he attributed to tho natural
horror it tho situation and the ter
ror of the instant thought that guilt
might point to him.
"With s'uch a degree of sincerity
was his story told, and so firm was
the landlord's bearing before tho pre
liminary court that he attracted many
sympathizers who believed his story
and looked upon him as tho unfortu
nate victim of a most peculiar com
bination of circumstances.
"Hut these circumstances were too
pntent to be Ignored and Miller was
bound over to await the action of
the grand Jury, indicted and in due
course of time brought to trial be
fore me.
"In the time Intervening between
his arrest and his trial the landlord's
attitude was a mixture of terror and
bravado which did not tend to In
crease the belief of tho general pub
lic in his Innocence. I myself, al
though I have always endeavored .to
enter a trial free from prejudice,
had I been a venireman, should have
been forced to admit that I had
formed an opinion concerning the
guilt or innocence of the accused.
"The state naturally rested upon
the testimony of the two salesmen
who swore to the events of the fatal
evening and to entering the room
Just In time to find the landlord bend
ing over the body. They were both
firm In the conclusion that his terror
upon seeing them was the terror of
discovered guilt. I admit that de
fendant's counsel should not have al
lowed this portion of their testimony
to go to the Jury, but no objection
was made to it.
"Also further damaging evidence
against him was produced to the ef
fect that he had a short time before
become liable through indorsing a
note for a large sum of money and
that his ownership of the hotel was
threatened In case he was not able
to raise the amount. This seemed
to furnish a powerful motive for tho
crime. That he had always borne
a good reputation, that his record for
honesty was such that he might eas
ily have raised the sum of money he
required on a loan, and his own story
of going to Conway's room nnd find
ing the body were all that the unfor
tunate landlord had to offer In his
own defense.
"There could have been but one
conclusion as to what the verdict of
the Jury would be, although I am sure
that I gave them the law without par
tiality. Miller took his sentence with
resignation and when I askod him If
he had anything to say, he arose and
addressed the court as follows:
" 'Your honor. It comes to every
man once to dlo. For the sake of my
dear wife who stood by mo so nobly
through this terrible ordeal I should
have chosen for myself a different
end from that which Is to be my lot
1 have no fault to find with the view
tho Jury and this court have taken of
their duty, but you are making a
terrible mistake. You have convicted
an Innocent man. I am not guilty
of the death of Robert Conway. I had
nothing whatever to do with his
death. Some day the truth will come
out. but I fear it will be long after
I have done with this world. I have
no more to say but that I am Inno-
cent, and this I will declare to tho
end.
"How many men when facing death
on the gallows have said the same.
I wonder how many men have said
It truly. It Is true, as Tope sayn,
that hope springs- eternal In tho hu
man breast, but I often wonder If we
do not muke a grievous error In not
giving grouter credence to tho dying
statement of a condemned man.
"Jonathan Miller paid the penally
of the death of Robert Conway with
the same stoical resignation which
had marked the end of many a man
in the samo extremity. With his
death the case Beemed at an end and
it passed from my mind alone with
many other cases which have arisen
in a long and busy career. I probably
never again would hnve recalled It
except Incidentally had It not been for
a strango occurrence.
"I was Just retiring for the night
one evening about two years after
the execution of Miller when I was
startled by the sound of a horse dash
ing madly up to my gate. Thero
was a loud rapping on the door and
upon opening It the panting horseman
cried:
'"Huck Everett's Just been shot
down In Klley's saloon. He's dying
and wants to see you right away.
Says he's got an Important confession
to make.'
"I hurried out, and mounting the
messenger's horse, spurred full speed
for Klley's place, which was a disrep
utable roadhouse about a mllo dis
tant. On tho way I tiled to recall
who Huck Everett might be, and at
last remembered him as tho porter
In Miller's hotel at tho time of the
Conway murder. When I arrived at
the place ho was almost gono, but
with the aid of a stiff drink of whisky
ho revived sufficiently to mane the
following confession:
" 'I'm a goner, judge, but before 1
cash In I've got to get something off
my mind. It's Conway. I've seen him
day and night. My God, Judge, there
he Is now pointing his bony finger
at me! Take him away. For God's
sake take him away.' Ho gasped In
terror and the froth upon his pallid
lips was bloody. We thought ho was
going before his weighty secret was
told.
"'Come, Huck, have it out and
you'll go easier,' I said as I held his
head.
" 'Yes, Judge, I've got to tell It,' he
whispered. 'It was me that killed Con
way. Miller never dono It. The
thing took hold on mo when I took his
grips upstairs and he said they was
full of Jewelry. I slipped In and
knifed him as he slept and got what
there wns In his pockets. I was Just
turnln' to the grips when I heard
the landlord comln' down tho hall. 1
slipped out aud got past him, and
never could understand why he
didn't see me. " When they put it
on Mm I hadn't the nerve to speak
up. My God, I've got Miller on my
soul, loo! There they both stand.
Take "em away, and he went into
unintelligible ravings which finally
ended In the gasp of death.
"You can Imagine my state of
mind upon bearing this terrible con
fession. Was not Miller's death
upon my soul as well? Was I not
equally culpable for not bavins a
keener insight Into character that I
might have read his Innocence in
his steadfast attitude? Many a long
night as 1 walked the floor of my
chamber 1 turned these questions over
ing my mind, never finding an an
swer that was satisfactory to my
conscience. I seriously considered re
signing from the bench. My faith
In man's Justice had received a crush
Ing blow. For five years I carried
that weight of self accusing guilt, and
only the synijalhy of my friends and
the loyalty and trust of my townsmen
sustained me.
'One night I was seated In the study
of Rev Charles I'oindoxter, tho rec
tor of tho Episcopalian church. Be
fore a cheery grate fire we talked Into
the night nnd to him I unburdened my
soul.
" 'My heavens, Judge' ho said to mo,
laying his hand on my shoulder,
"Why haven't you told mo all this be
fore? I might hnve saved you these
yenrs of troubling. Never before have
I disclosed that which has boon Im
purled to me in the confessional, but
In this case I believe my duty to
the dead is outweighted by my duty
to the living. When you sentenced
Jonathan Miller you condemned a
guilty man. You remember that I at
tended him as a spiritual adviser In
his Inst hours. - To me alone he told
tho true story of that fatal night. Ho
was guilty of Conway's death although
his hand did not strike tho blow.
Ho went to Conway's room with the
Intent to murder him nnd rob him of
his wealth. It was for that fell pur
pose that be took tho knife and lan
tern. hen ho reached tho room
he found the deed already dono, and
even as the two traveling men en
tered the room ho was meditating
upon how ho might secure the coii'
tents of the satchels and hldo them,
Let your mind rest, Judge; his hand
was us guilty as the bund that struck
I bo blow!
"Thus was the weight of years lift
ed from .my mind, and this, gentle
men, 1.4 my Btory."
iK
Amid the congrntulatloDB and
thanks of the members of the Calf
Slwln club Judgo Grower from the
rhiiir announced that Judge Sturgis
had a story for tho tiext meeting.
tCopyiifclil, l'X'J, by V. U. Clmpnmu.)
These pretty simple blouses are
Mouse material, of which there is such
The ono at the left side has a tiny
same. Tucks are made over the shoulder to waisrr-back and front, also In
:enter or front; insertion nnd buttons
the illustration at the top has a
with three tuck3 each side; the long sleeves are close-fitting and are tucked.
tfelow that the blouse illustrated
might either be in lace or embroidery.
across bust, a strap outlining the yoke;
by a strap.
The blouse on the right Is quite a
the shoulders ; It fastens in the front,
are trimmed with Insertion and lace
Materials required: for each blouse,
Vn 'IHIn ? Tiinlfl lnufillnn nnil S'..nrH
3 yards lnserion nnd -yard piece lace; for No. 304a, 1 yard' em
inches in width; for No. 305a, -yard piece lace.
broidery 5
ADAPTED FOR FORMAL CALLS
Visiting Dress In Orchid Mauve Cash
mere Trimmed with Buttons
and Worn with Sash.
Orchid mauve cashn;ere Is used
here. The slightly hlgh-walsted. skirt
(s trimmed at the foot by one tuck.
jnd a hem;-it has a little train at
the back. One tuck Is taken over each
shoulder, sewn to waist back and
front. The yoke, which Is either of
pleco embroidery or lace, has A
shaped pleco of embroidered mnterlnl
arranged at each side; If preferred,
this piece might bo covered In figured
or chene silk.
A wrapped senm Is made down the
outside of each sleeve, trimmed with
buttons put on In sets of threes, a dl
rectolre snuh of mauve satin Is worn.
Herhlve hat of straw nnd chiffon,
trimmed with a Jet button and an ai
grette. Materials required: 7 yards 4ti
Inches v.lde, Vi-yard lace, 1 yard satin
42 Inches wide, dozen buttons.
To Make the Curiosity Jug.
Get a two quart jug or larger, if
wished, nnd gather enough nlcknucks
and trinkets to cover It. Take some
putty, roll out to the thickness of
half an Inch nnd place around the
Jug. Then put on the trinkets, press
ing them firmly Into tho putty, Tho
more you have, tho better tho Jug will
look. When all Is well hardened give
a cont of gilt paint nnd you will have
soniethlns odd ns well ns ornamental.
styles that may be carried out In any
a charming selection this season.
square yoke of lace with collar of th
form the trimming.
band of embroidery down center front.
has a yoke with nlastron to waist, that
Tucks are made on the shoulders and
the sleeves are finished at the wrists
simple style, with six small tncka on
under a box-plait. The collar and cuffs
edging.
about 2lA yards 28 Inches wide- tot
rlnr Inn,, - nri , . ,
NOVELTY IN LACE INSERTION
Simple Arrangement by Which Plain
Dress Can Be Made Into Orna
mental Affair.
Lace Insertion with both edges dis
playing little scallops appears on some
of the Swiss evening dresses, Bnd,
what Ja more, In very showy outlines.
On one dress of Swiss this lace fea
tured the bretelles over the shnnMor
The two long pieces meet at the waist
line, where a belt holds them down,
and they extend In two straleht nleroa
sido by side, to the hem. A lace band
encircles the dress at the hem and
knee lines.
Wide laces with plain edges are made
to produce Jacket lines on the one-piece
dress. This arrangement is worth
mentioning, since it really makes a
plain dress a very ornamental affair.
The straight lines from shoulder to
hip line outline coat edges. At the
extreme edge they form points, ex
tend straight across the hips and
make a single point at the back. The
front emplecements pass over the
shoulder, form a V-shaped yoke, then
one single portion of the lace extends
to the edge of the coat, down the
back seams. A tucked band of the dress
material crosses the coat at the point
of the yoke In the back, passed under
the arms and Is placed under the lace
and over the bust. A narrow' strip
of insertion holds tho Insertion to
gether at the lower ends of the
front. This dress Is made with a
Dutch lace collar.
Tan Shoes Popular.
Tan shoes are more worn this sum
mer than ever before, perhaps becaus
they are commonly considered as cool
er than black. For country wear the
are more suitable and hnw m,. j..'.
of walking much less than the black
snocs.
Ulack buckskin and rupiIa t, ,.,
suede are also much worn. There ie
an especial dresslne for sncia k
w .. v. v. v. omirn
and after it has been applied and be
iore me snoe dries a coarse hand
brush is used to brush the nap of the
shoe the wrong way and restore the
original slightly roughened surface
These shoes are more porous ana
therefore cooler than the glazed or
finished leathers and do not wrinkle
In the way the others do when they
are slightly large, as they should be
for comfortable summer wear.
A Fascinating Hand Bag.
A hand bag that Is delightfully sum
mery can be made from heavy white
filet net with an oil-over embroidered
scroll running over it done In narrow
white soutache braid. The net It
doubled at the bottom nnd sloped
at each end toward the top, which
is at least two Inches narrower than
the bottom. Wedge shapo ends of
filet are sewed In. The bag Is made
up over white linen, and tho handle Is
of heavy white braid.
Development of Chest.
In the development of the dies
there are many ways of obtaining ths
d sired eMra Inches, but massage and
deep breathing the all that Is neces
sary, nnd If practiced regularly for
six weeks the narrow chested woman
would be surprised at the results.