Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

r'Where are the women?" asked Annie, trying to keep down iLc lump that rose chokingly in her throat. "They're In a separate part of the prison," replied the keeper. "Isn't it dreadful?" she murmured. "Not at all," he exclaimed cheer fnlly. "These prisoners fare better in prison than they do outside. I wager some of them are sorry to leave." "But it's dreadful to be cooped up In those little cells, isn't it?" she said. "Not to bud as it looks," he laughed. They are allowed to come out in the corridor to exercise twice a day for an hour and there is a splendid shower bath they can take." "Wher? is my husband's cell?" she whispered, almost dreading to hear the reply. 'There it is," he said, pointing to a door. "No. 456." Walking rapidly ahead of her and stoppte g at one of the oell doors, he sapped loudly on the iron grating and cried: "Jeffries, here's a lady come to see you. Wake up there!" A white, drawn face approached the grating. Annie sprang forward. "Howard!" she sobbed. "Is 1'. you, Annie?" came a weak voice through the bars.' "Can't I go in to him?" she asked pleadingly. , The keeper shook his head. "No, m'm, you must talk through the bars, but I won't disturb you." He walked away and the husband and wife were left facing each other. The tes.rs were streaming down An? nie's cheeks. It was dreadful to be standing there so close and yet not be able to throw her arms around him. Her he&rt ached as she saw the dis? tress in h:s wan, pale face. "Why didn't you come before?" he naked. "I could not. They wouldn't let me. Oh, Howard," she gasped. "What a dreadful thing this is! Tell me how you got into such a scrape!" He put his hand to his head as if it hurt him, and she noticed that his eyee looked queer. For a moment the agony of a terrible suspicion crossed bor mind. Was it possible that in a saoment of drunken recklessness he bad shot Underwood? Quickly, almost breathlessly, she whispered to him: Tell me quickly, 'tis not true, It, it? Too did not kill Robert Underwood." He shook his head. "No," he said. Thank God for that!" she ex? claimed. "But your confession?what does that mean?" *T do not know. They told me I did It They insisted I did it. He was eure I did it. He told me he knew I did it He showed me the pistol. He j was so insistent that I thought he was tight?that I had done it." In a deep , whisper he added earnestly: "But fou know I didn't, don't you?" "Who is he?" demanded Annie. The police captain." "Oh, Capt. Clinton told you you did it?" Howard nodded. "Tea, he told me he knew I did it. ' He kept me standing there six hours, sjoestioning and questioning until I I was ready to drop. I tried to sit down; he made me stand up. I did i not know what I was saying or doing. He told me I killed Robert Under? wood. He showed me the pistol under the strong light. The reflection from the polished nickel flashed into my eyes, everything suddenly became a Mank A f*w moments later the cor? oner came in and Capt. Clinton told I blm I confessed. But it isn't true, An nie. Tou know I am as innocent of : that murder as you are." Thank God. thank God!" exclaimed Annie. "I see it all now." Her tears were dried. Her brain was beginning to work rapidly. She al? ready saw a possible line of defense. "I don't know how it ail happened," went on Howard. "I don't know any more about it than you do. I left you to go to Underwood's apartment. On the way I foolishly took a drink. When I got there I took more whisky. Be? fore I knew It I was drunk. While talking I fell asleep. Suddenly I heard a woman's voice." "Ah!" interrupted Annie. "You, too, hesrd a woman's voice. Capt. Clinton said there was a woman in it." Thoughtfully, as if to herself, she added: "\W must find that woman." "When I v.oke up," continued How? ard, "it was dark. Groping around for the electric light, I stumbled over ? -mething. It was Underwood's dead body. How he earue by his death I have not the slightest idea. I at once realized the dangvrous position I was in and I tried to leave the apartment unobserved. Just as I was going, Underwood's man servant arrived and he handed me over to the police. That's the whole story. I've been her? since yesterday and I'll be devil? ish glad to gc: out. "You will get out," she cried. "I'm doing everything possible to get you free. I've been trying to get the !?? t lawyer In the country?Richard Hrev ster." "Richard Brewster!" exclaimed How? ard. "He's my father's lawyer." "I saw your father /esttvday after? noon," she said quietly. The Langley cctton mill, capital "You did!" he exclaimed, surprised. 'Was he willing to receive you?" "He had to," she replied. "I gave him a piece of my mind." Howard looked at her In mingled amazement and admiration. That she should have dared to confront a man as proud and obstinate as his father astounded him. 'What did he say?" he asked eag? erly. "I asked him to come publicly to your support and to give you legal assistance. He refused, saying he could not be placed in a position of condoning such a crime and that your behavior and your marriage had made him wash his hands of you forever." Tears filled Howard's eyes and his mouth quivered. "Then my father believes me guilty of this horrible crime?" he exclaimed. "He Insisted that you must be guilty, as you had confessed. He offered, though, to give you legal assistance, but only on one condition." "What was that condition?" he de? manded. "That I consent to a divorce," re? plied Annie quietly. "What did you say?" "I said I'd consent to anything if it would help you, but when he told me that even then he would not come per? sonally to your support I told him we would worry along without his as? sistance. On that I left him." "You're a brave little woman!" cried Howard. Noticing her pale, anx? ious face, he said: "You, too, must have suffered." "Oh, never mind me," she rejoim d quickly. "What we must do now is *o get you out of this horrid place and 1 clear your name bet?re the world. We must show that your alleged confe?- ' sion is untrue; that it was dragged from you involuntarily. We must find that mysterious woman who came to Underwood's rooms while you lay on the couch asleep. Do you know what ray theory is, Howard?" "What?" demanded her husband. "I believe you were hypnotized into making that confession. I've read of such things before. You know the 1 ooys in college often hypnotized you. ! You told me they made you do ail i kinds of things against your will. \ That big brute, Capt Clinton, simply 1 for.?ed his will on yours." "By Jove?I never thought of that!" j he exclaimed. "I 'know my head I ached terribly after he got through all that questioning. When he made me look at that pistol I couldn't resirt any more. But how are we going to break through the net which the po? lice have thrown around me?" "By getting the best lawyer we can procure. I shall insist on Judge Brew ster taking the case. He declines, but I shall go to his office again this after? noon. He must?" Howard shook his head. "You'll not be able to get Brewster. He would never dare offend my father by taking up my case without his per? mission. He won't even see you." j "We'll see," she said quietly. "He'll see me if I have to sit in bis office all day for weeks. I have decided to have Judge Brewster defend you be? cause I believe it would mean ac? quittal. He will build up a defense that will defeat all the lies that the police have concocted. The police have a strong case iecause of your alleged confession. It will take a strong law yeT to fight them." Earnestly she added: "Howard, if your life is to be saved we must get Judge Brewster." "All right, dear," he replied. "I can only leave it in your hands. 1 know thr.t whatever you do will be for the be?:t. I'll try to be as patient as I can. My only comfort is thinking of you, dear." A heavy step resounded in the corri? dor. The keeper came up. "Time's up. m m." he said civi'ly. Annie thrust her hand through the bars; Howard carried it reverently to bis lips. "Good by, dear," she said. "Keep ' up your courage. You'll know that I am working for your release every moment. I won't leave a stone un turned." "Good-by, darlinc. he murmured. He looked at her longingly and there were tear* in her eyes as she turned away TU be back very soon." she said. A few minutes later they were in the elevator and she passed through the big steel gate once more into the sunlight street CHAPTER XIV. i Outwardly, at least. Judge Brew ster's offices at S3 Broadway In no way differed from the offices of ten thousand other lawyers who strive to eke out a difficult living in the most overcrowded of ail the professions. They consisted of a modest suite of rooms on the sixth Moor. There was a small outer office with a railed off inelosure, behind which sat a half j do/en Stenographen busy copying legal documents; as many men clerkl were writing at desks, and the walls I were fitted ntth shelvee filled with ponderous law books, in one corner | room with glass door marked Ur. Bn wster, Private." Assuredly no casual visitor could guess from the appearance of the place that this was the headquarters of one of the most brilliant legal minds in the country, yet in this very office had been prepared some of the most sensational victories ever re? corded in the law courts. Visitors to Judge Brewster's office were ujt many. A man of such re? nown was naturally expensive. Few could aford to retain his services, and in fact he was seldom called upon except to act in the inteiest of s/ealtby corporations. In these cas; s, of course, his fees were enormous. He had very few private clients; in fact, he declined much private practice that was offered to him. He had been the legal adviser of Howaiu Jeffries, Sr., lor many years. The two men had known each other in their younger days and practically had won success together?the on.' in the banking business, the other in the service of the law. An im? portant trust company, of which Mr. Jeffries was president, was constantly involved in all kinds of litigation of He Felt in Singularly Good Spirits. which Judge Brewster had exclusive charge. As the lawyer found this highly remunerative, it was only nat? ural that he had no desire to lose Mr. Jeffries as a client. Secluded in his private office, the Judge was busy at his desk, finishing a letter. He folded it up, addressed an envelope, then lit a cigar and looked at the time. It was three o'clock. The day's work was about over and he smiled with satisfaction as he thought of the automobile ride in the park he would enjoy before dressing and going to his club for din? ner. He felt In singularly good spir? its that afternoon. He had just won in the court a very complicated case which meant not only a handsome ad? dition to his t^uA account, out a signal triumph over his legal oppo? nents. Certainly, fortune smiled on him. He had no other immediate cases on hand to worry about. He could look forward to a few weeks of absolute rest. He struck a bell on his desk and a clerk entered. Handing him the note he had Just written, he said: "Hare this sent at once by mes? senger." "Very well. Judge," arswered the clerk. "By the by," frowned the lawyer, "has that woman been n to-day?" "Yes?she sat in the outer office all morning, trying to see you. We said you were out of town, but she did not believe it. She sat there till she got tired. She had no idea that you went out by another stairway." "Humph," growled the lawyer; "a nice thing to be besipged in this man? ner. If she annoys me much longer, I shall send for the police." At that moment another clerk en? tered the room. "What is it. Mr. Joms?" demanded the lawyer. "A lady to see you. judge," said tin clerk, handing him a card The lawyer glanced at the bit of pasteboard, and said immediately: "Oh, yes, show her in." The two clerks left the room and Judge Rrowster, after a glance in the mirror to readjust his cravat, turned to greet his visitor. The door opened and Alicia entered. She was fault? lessly gowned, as usual, but her man? ner was flurried and agitated. Evi? dently something had happened to up pot her. and she "had come to malce her husband's lawyer the confidant of her troubles. The Judge advanced gallantly and pointed to a chair. "Good morning, my dear Mrs. Jef? fries; how do you do?" "Is Mr. Jeffries here?" asked Alicia, hurriedly. "Not yet," he replied, smiling. "This is an unexpected pleasure. I think it is the first time you have graced my office with your presence." "How quiet it is here!" she ex? claimed, looking ground nervously. "It is hard to believe this is the very center of the city.*' Taking the seat offered to her. she went on: "Oh, Judge, we are dreadfully wor? ried." You mean about the Fnderwood case?" Alicia nodded. "Yes. Mr Jeffries Is terribly upset. As if the comlog trial and all the rest of the scandal were not < Dough. Hut now we have to face something even worse, lomething that affects me ? reo more than my husband. Really, I'm frantic about it " "What's happened now?" asked the lawyer, calmly "Thai woman Is goiru: on the sfag<\ that's gll!" she snapp< d "H'm," Mid the lawyer, calmly. "Jusi think'" she cried, "the name, 'Mrs Howard Jeffries'- my name paraded before the public' AI b 1 when everything ihould be doi to i.p I: out of t Ii*? papen thli ? < ... is going to Haunt herself on the iUas!w Company, capital $360,000 and the She fanned herself lodignar.My. while the lawyer rapped his (leak ab stnt-niindi dly with a paper cutter. Alicia went on: "You know i have never met the woman. What is she like? I under? stand she'? been bothering you to take the case of that worthless hus? band oi hers. Do you know she had j the Impertinence to come to our house l and ask Mr. .It Cries to help them? 1 1 uiAed my husband to describe her, j but all I could get irom him was that i the was Impertinent and impossible.*' ! She hesitated a moment, then she added: "Is she as pretty as her pic? tures in the paper? You've seen her, of course?" Judg i Brewster frowned. "Yes," he replied. "She comes here every day regularly. She literally compels me to see her and refuses to go till I've told her I haven't changed my decision about taking her case." "What insolence!" exclaimed Alicia. "I should think that you would have her put out of the office." The lawyer was silent and t^ved somewhat nervously with the pi per cutter, as if not quite decided as to what response to make. He coughed and fussed with the papers on the desk. "Why don't you have her put out of the office?" she repeated. The judge looked up. There was an expression in his face that might have been interpreted as one of an? noyance, as if he rather resented this intrusion into his business affairs, but Mrs. Jeffries. Sr.. was too im? portant a client to quarrel with, eo he merely said: "Frankly, Mrs. Jeffries, if it were not for the fact that Mr. Jeffries has exacted from me a promise not to take up this case. I should be tempted to?consider the matter. In the first place, you know I always liked How? ard. I saw a good deal of him before your marriage to Mr. Jeffries. He was always a wild, unmanageable boy. weak in character, but he had many lovable traits. 1 nra very sorry, indeed, to see him in such a terrible position. It was hard for me to real? ize it and I should never have be? lieved him guilty had he sot con? fessed to the crime." "Yes." she assented. "It Is an aw? ful thing and a terrible blow to his father. Of course, he has had noth? ing to do with Howard for months. As you know, he turned him out of doors long ago. but the disgrace is none the less overwhelming." The lawyer looked out of the win? dow and drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. Suddenly wheeling round, and facing his client, he said: "You know this girl he married i3 no ordinary woman." "Oh!" she exclaimed, sarcastically. "She has succeeded In arousing your sympathy." The Judge bowed coldly. "No," he replied. "I would hardly say that. Rut she has aroused my curiosity. She is a very peculiar girl, evidently a creature of impulse and determination. I certainly feel sorry for her. Her position is a very pain? ful one. She has been married only a few months, and now uer husband has to face the most awful accusation that can be brought against a man. She is plucky in spite of it all. and is moving l eaven and earth in Howard's riefen?-.". She believes herself to be in some measure responsible for his mis fortum . Apart from that, the case interests mo from a purely profession? al point of view. There are several strange features connected with the ease. Sometimes, in spite of Howard's confession. I don't believe he com? mitted that crime." Alicia changed color and, shifting uneasily on her "chair, scrutinized the lawyer's face. "What was behind that ralm, inscrutable mask? What theory had he formed? One newspaper had suggested suicide. She might herself come forward and declare that Rob? ert Underwood had threatened to take his own life, hut how could she face the scandal which such a course would involve? She would have to admit visiting Underwood's rooms at midnight alone. That surely would ruin },er in the eyes not only of her husband, but of the whole world. If this sacrlrice of her good name were necessary to save an Innocent man's life, perhaps she might summon up enough courage to make it. Rut, after all. she was by no means sure her? self that Underwood had committed suicide. Howard had confessed, so why should she Jeopardize her good name uselessly? "No," repeated the judge, shaking his head, "there's something strange in the whole affair. I don't believe Howard had any hand in it." "Rut he confessed!" exclaimed Alicia. The Judge shook his head "That's nothing," he said. "There have ben many instances of untrue confessions, A famous affair of the kind was the Room case in Vermont. Two brothers ronf<ssed having killed their brother-in-law and described how the) destroyed the body, yet some time afterward the murdered man furm 1 up alive and well. The object of the confession, of course, was to turn the verdict from murder to manslaughter, the circumstariti.il ? vid? nee sg ?inst them having been so strong in the dayi of witchcraft the unfortunate women accused of being witches were often urg< d by relatives to couf< ss as being the only wa> of escape open to them Ann Poster, at Salem, In 1692, confessed that she was a witch. She said the devil appeared to her In the shape of s bird, and thai - he attends dan pI ing or \?. Itchi nl Sah m vil a? -;i e was not Insane, b -f the honor ??!' the aceusalloi 1 iifthi again?' ' 1 r had bei n too i " for i\ Howard'* conf? i mnj 1 ?e due tO BOIW ? ' ??I hop. ror his poo said Alicia, "thai you niaj b. i . lil Semlnole cotton mill will be merged, and that he may be proved Innocent, , Lut everything is overwhelmingly against him. I think you are the only one in New York to express such a doubt." "Don't lot got his wife," remarked the judge, dryly. "No," she replied. "I re a lly feel sorry for the girl myself. Will you give her some money if I?" The lawyer shook his head. "She w< a't take it. I tried it. She wants m to defend her husband?I tried to bribe her to go to some o:her lawyer, but it wouldn't work." "Well, something ought to be done to slop her annoying us!" exclaimed Alicia. Indignantly. "Mr. Jeffries suf? fers terribly. I can hear him pacing up and down the library till three or four in the morning. Poor man, he suffers .-o keenly and he won't let any one sympathize with him. He won't let me mention his son's name. I feel we ought to do something. Try and persuade him to let me see this girl and?you are his friend as well as his legal adviser.'.' Judge Brewster bowed. "Your husband is a very old friend, Mrs. Jeffries. I can't disregard his wishes entirely?" There was a knock at the door of the private office. "Come in," called the judge. The door opened and the head clerk entered, ushering in Howard Jeffries. Sr. Th?- banker, still aristo? cratic and dignified, but locking tired and careworn, advanced into the room and shook hands *ith the judge.flaho greeted him with a cordial smile. The:e was no response on the bank? er's face. Querulously he demanded: "Brewster, what's that woman doing out there again? It's not the first time I've met her in this office." Alicia looked up eagerly. "Is she out there now?" she cried. "What right has she to come here? What's her object?" went on the banker irritatedly. The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. "The same old thing." hj replied. "She wants me to take hei case." The banker frowned. "Didn't you tell her it was impos sible?" "That makes no difference," laughed the judge. "She comes just the same. I've sent her away a dozen times. What am I to do if she in? sists on coming? We can't have her arrested. She doesn't break the furni? ture or beat th< office bpy. She sim? ply sits and waits." "Have you told her that I object to her coming here?" demanded the banker, haughtily. "I have," replied the judge, calmly, "but she has overruled your objec? tion." With a covert smile he add? ed, "You know we can't use force." Mr. Jeffries shrugged his shoulders impatiently. "You can certainly use moral force," he said. "What do you mean by moral force?" demanded the lawyer. Mr. Jeffries threw up his hands as if utterly disgusted with the whole business. Almost angrily he an? swered: 1 "Moral force is moral, force. 1 mean persuasion, of course. Good God, why can't people understand these things as I do?" The Judge said nothing, but turned to examine some papers on his desk. He hardly liked the inference that he could not see things as plainly as other people, but what was the use of getting irritated? He couldn't af? ford to quarrel with one of his best clients. Alicia looked at her husband anx? iously. Laying h* r hand on his arm, she said soothirgly: "Perhaps If 1 were to see her?" Mr. Jeffries turned angrily. I "How can you think of such a , thing? I can't permit my wife to I come In contact with a woman of that character." Judge Brewster, who was listening in spite of the fact that he was seem? ingly engrossed in his papers, pursed his lips. "Oh. come," he said with a forced laugh, "she's not as bad as all that!" I "I'm sure she isn't." said Alicia, em? phatically. "She must be amenable to reason." The banker's wife was not altogeth? er bad. Excessive vanity and ambi? tion had steeled her heart and stifled impulses that were naturally good, j but otherwise she was not wholly de? void of feeling. She was really sorry i for this poor little woman who was fighting so bravely to save her hus? band. No doubt she had inveigled ' Howard into marrying her, but she? 1 Alicia?bad no right to sit in judg? ment on her for that. If the girl had been ambitious to marry above her, in what way was she more guilty than she herself had been in marry? ing a man sin did not love, simply for his wealth and social position? Be sides. Alicia was herself sorely troubled. Her conscience told her that a word from her might set the whole matter right. She might be able to prove that Underwood com? mitted BUicfdt She knew she was ? coward and worse than a coward because she dare not speak that word The more she saw her hus? band's anger the less courage she had to do it In any case, she argued to herself, Howard had confessed. If he shot Underwood there was no sui? cide, so why should she Incriminate h reelf needlessly? Hut there was do reason why she should not show some sympathy for the poor girl who. after all. was only doing what any good aife should do. Aloud she repeated: I'll see the girl and talk to her. sim must litten to reason." "Reason!" exploded the baaker, angrily. "How cs you expect reason from n women who hounds us. logs our u>. Ish , i, tries to conn.' '. <\i to? ' tke h r up?" Judg I ?> ' ho had apparent |y |aid no attention to the banker's with Thomas Barrett, Jr., <?f Augusta remarks, now turned around. Hesi? tatingly he said: "I think you do her an injustice, J<'ffries. She comes every day in the hope that your fe?lings toward your son have charged. She wishes to give color to the belief that I:is fa? ther's lawyers are championing his cause. She was honest enough to tell me so. You know her movements are ciostly watched by the newspapers and she takes good care to let the reporters think that she comes here to discuss with me the details of her husband's deltnse." The hanker shifted impatiently on his ci.air. Contemptuously he said: "The ncwspareis which I read don't give her th-.- slightest attention. If they did I should refuse to read them." Wifh growing irritation ho went on: "It's no use talking about her any more. What are we going to do about this latest scandal? This wom? an Is going on the stage to be ex? hibited all over the country and she proposes to use the family name." "There is nothing to prevent her," said the lawyer, dryly. The banker jumped to his feet and i exclaimed angrily: "There must be! Good God, Brew? ster, surely you can obtain an injunc? tion restraining her from using the family name! You must do some ? thing. What do you advise?" "I r.dvise patience," replied the judge, calmly. But Mr. Jeffries had no patience. He was a man who was not accus? tomed to have his wishes thwarted. He did not understand why there should be the slightest difficulty in carrying out his Instructions, i "Any one can advise patience!" he exclaimed, hotly, "but that's not do? ing anything." Banging the desk angrily with his fist, he exclaimed: "I want something done!" Judge Brewster looked up at his client with surprise. The Judge never lost his temper. Even in the most acrimonious wrangles in the court? room he was always the suave, pol? ished gentleman. There was a shade of reproach in his tone as he replied: "Come, come, don't lose your tem? per! I'll do what I can, but there is nothing to be done in the way you suggest. The most I can do is to re? main loyal to you, although?to be quite candid?I confess it goes against the grain to keep my hands off this case. As I told your wife, there are certain features about it which inter? ior me keenly. I feel that you are wrong te?" "No, Brewster!" interrupted Mr. Jeffries, explosively. "I'm right! I'm right! Yo". know it, but you won't admit it." The lawyer shrugged his shoulders and turned to his desk again. Lacon? ically, he said: Well, I won't argue the matter with you. You refuse to be advised by me and?" I The banker looked up impatiently. "What is your advice?" The lawyer, without looking up from his papers, said quietly: I "You know what my feelings in the matter are." I "And you know what mine are!" exclaimed the banker, hotly. "I re | fuse to be engulfed in this wave of hysterical sympathy with criminals. I v ill not be stamped with the same hall mark as the man who takes the life of his fellow being?though the man be my own son. I will not set the seal of approval on crime by de? fending it." The lawyer bowed and said calmly. "Then, sir, you must expect ex? actly what is happening. This girl, I whatever she may be. is devoted to ' your son. She is his wife. She'll go ; to any extreme to help him?even to selling her name for money to pay ' for his defense." j The banker threw up his hands with ; impatience. "It's a matter of principle with me. Her devotion is not the question." With a mocking laugh he went on: "Sentimentality doesn't appeal to me. "It's No Use Talking About Her Any More." The whole thing is distasteful and hideous to m My instructions to yon are to prevent her using the family name on the stage, to buy her oft' on her own terms, to get rid of her at any price." "Except the price she asks," inter? posed the lawyer, dryly, shaking ins h< ad, he went on: You'll Und that a wife's devotion is i \> r) Strong motive power, Jeffries. It ?/III move Irresistibly forward in i Ite of all the barriers you and 1 can ' t.? stay its progress. That may oond like a platitude, but It's a !.i? t th< less " I k ho had hi en listening w ith ? ? ?ns to the con iersath n. Int? i rui <? timidly: ludgi Brewati r is 1 ght. ! ; I girl is woi k i ! i 11. Public oplni in tu; .< hi i it ul ural?" i pr. iident