第60章

MR.SHEEHAN'S HINTS

"Never," said the Tocsin on the morrow, "has this community been stirred to deeper indignation than by the cold-blooded and unmitigated brutality of the deliberate murder committed almost under the very shadow of the Court-house cupola last night.The victim was not a man of good repute, it is true, but at the moment of his death he was in the act of performing a noble and generous action which showed that he might have become, if he lived, a good and law-fearing citizen.In brief, he went to forgive his enemy and was stretching forth the hand of fellowship when that enemy shot him down.Not half an hour before his death, Cory had repeated within the hearing of a dozen men what he had been saying all day, as many can testify: `I want to find my old friend Fear and shake hands with him.Iwant to tell him that I forgive him and that I am ashamed of whatever has been my part in the trouble between us.' He went with that intention to his death.The wife of the murderer has confessed that this was the substance of what he said to her, and that she was convinced of his peaceful intentions.When they reached the room where her husband was waiting for her, Cory entered first.The woman claims now that as they neared the vicinity he hastened forward at a pace which she could not equal.Naturally, her testimony on all points favoring her husband is practically worthless.She followed and heard the murdered man speak, though what his words were she declares she does not know, and of course the murderer, after consultation with his lawyer, claims that their nature was threatening.Such a statement, in determining the truth, is worse than valueless.It is known and readily proved that Fear repeatedly threatened the deceased's life yesterday, and there is no question in the mind of any man, woman, or child, who reads these words, of the cold blooded nature of the crime.The slayer, who had formerly made a murderous attack upon his victim, lately quarrelled with him and uttered threats, as we have stated, upon his life.The dead man came to him with protestations of friendship and was struck down a corpse.It is understood that the defence will in desperation set up the theory of self-defence, based on an unsubstantiated claim that Cory entered the room with a drawn pistol.No pistol was found in the room.The weapon with which the deed was accomplished was found upon the person of the murderer when he was seized by the police, one chamber discharged.Another revolver was discovered upon the person of the woman, when she was arrested on the scene of the crime.This, upon being strictly interrogated, she said she had picked up from the floor in the confusion, thinking it was her husband's and hoping to conceal it.The chambers were full and undischarged, and we have heard it surmised that the defence means to claim that it was Cory's.Cory doubtless went on his errand of forgiveness unarmed, and beyond doubt the second weapon belonged to the woman herself, who has an unenviable record.

"The point of it all is plainly this: here is an unquestionable murder in the first degree, and the people of this city and county are outraged and incensed that such a crime should have been committed in their law-abiding and respectable community.

With whom does the fault lie? On whose head is this murder? Not with the authorities, for they do not countenance crime.Has it come to the pass that, counting on juggleries of the law, criminals believe that they may kill, maim, burn, and slay as they list without punishment? Is this to be another instance of the law's delays and immunity for a hideous crime, compassed by a cunning and cynical trickster of legal technicalities? The people of Canaan cry out for a speedy trial, speedy conviction, and speedy punishment of this cold-blooded and murderous monster.If he is not dealt with quickly according to his deserts, the climax is upon us and the limit of Canaan's patience has been reached.

"One last word, and we shall be glad to have its significance noted: J.Louden, Esq., has been retained for the defence! The murderer, before being apprehended by the authorities, WENT STRAIGHTFROM THE SCENE OF HIS CRIME TO PLACE HIS RETAINERIN HIS ATTORNEY'S POCKET! HOW LONG IS THIS TOLAST?"The Tocsin was quoted on street corners that morning, in shop and store and office, wherever people talked of the Cory murder; and that was everywhere, for the people of Canaan and of the country roundabout talked of nothing else.Women chattered of it in parlor and kitchen; men gathered in small groups on the street and shook their heads ominously over it; farmers, meeting on the road, halted their teams and loudly damned the little man in the Canaan jail; milkmen lingered on back porches over their cans to agree with cooks that it was an awful thing, and that if ever any man deserved hanging, that there Fear deserved it --his lawyer along with him! Tipsy men hammered bars with fists and beer-glasses, inquiring if there was no rope to be had in the town; and Joe Louden, returning to his office from the little restaurant where he sometimes ate his breakfast, heard hisses following him along Main Street.Aclerk, a fat-shouldered, blue-aproned, pimple-cheeked youth, stood in the open doors of a grocery, and as he passed, stared him in the face and said "Yah!" with supreme disgust.

Joe stopped."Why?" he asked, mildly.

The clerk put two fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly in derision."You'd ort to be run out o' town!" he exclaimed.

"I believe," said Joe, "that we have never met before.""Go on, you shyster!"Joe looked at him gravely."My dear sir," he returned, "you speak to me with the familiarity of an old friend."The clerk did not recover so far as to be capable of repartee until Joe had entered his own stairway.