The Cass County Sun (Linden, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 20, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 13, 1924 Page: 3 of 8
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THE CASS COUNTY SUN
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By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Copyright by W. G. Chapman
CHAPTER XI—Continued. /
—15— ,
Winton. feeling decidedly subordi-
nate. suffered Ned to give his direc-
tions to his boys. Within a few
minutes the natives, lined up In groups,
were submitting to the most rigorous
Inspection devised. Mouths were pried
open nnd tongues pulled up. clothing
ripped open, heels broken off patent-
leHther dancing shoes. It was a weird
scene In the light of the full African
moon, and one that Impressed itself
on Wlnton's mind Indelibly.
He began to understand Van Beer's
viewpoint better, and he realized as
never before the volcano of savagery
thnt slumbered beneath the veneer of
civilization In Africa.
When the search was at an end, and
the natives hnd been driven Into their
sleeping quarters, Josephs and Ned
came up to Winton, each holding out
two handfuls of pebbles. Winton
looked at them for some seconds be-
fore he realized that they were large
diamonds.
He stared at them, and then at Ned;
nnd suddenly he shook the old man by
the shoulders.
"Ned, you've got your speech back 1"
he shouted. "Do you know that?
Speak, man I" >
Ned opened his mouth, and from his
throat issued u succession of guttural
clicks. It was Hottentot—Winton
knew that, but no more.
"Speak English, man I" he shouted.
But Ned only looked at Winton
mournfully. The blow upon the skull
hnd shattered all but that corner of
Broca's convolution In which the Hot-
tentot speech-center had been created.
Hottentot Ned could speak; but that
would be his sole tongue for the re-
mainder of his years.
He began talking rapidly to Jo-
sephs, who listened and translated.
"He says, Mr. Garrett," announced
the compound manager, "thnt he
warned you at the hospital, and
thought you understood. He says that
he bad suspected Seaton of buying
stones from the boys and selling them
to De Witt through Van Vorst. He
taxed him with It, and Seaton broke
down and confessed. That was on the
night of the robbery. Mr. Burns meant
to tell you at once, but you had gone
to bed early. Seaton must have got
word to Van Vorst to finish the Job
that night, and next day It was too
late."
Too Intel The words echoed through
Wlnton's brain. It had been too late
from the beginning; for If he could
have understood what Ned had tried
to convey to him In the hospital he
could have kept control of the Big
Malopo.
The double handful of stones would
have brought him more than Davis had
paid him; enough to have made the
loan unnecessary. Now he was In the
grasp of the syndicate, purser only
through Davis's tolerance; and that
was doubtless extended for the present
with some ulterior object In view.
Winton stared at the dull baubles. If
only he could lay his hands upon Sea-
ton the claim might still be his. But
how could he support a charge- of
fraud on the single evidence of Ned
Burns, given In Hottentqt?
Suddenly Winton started back, star-
ing through the shadows as If he had
seen a ghost.
An old man was coming unsteadily
through the gateway. It was Seaton
himself. He groped his way across the
compound, bleary of eye, unsteady of
gait, went up to Winton, and laid a
trembling hand upon his arm.
"I've come back," he mumbled
drunkenly "My gal's gone, and I've
done with this life of a dog. I'll be
De Witt's tool no longer. I've come
back to take my medicine."
business in Malopo seemed to have
CHAPTER XII.
The Trial.
It was the general opinion of the
group upon tlie steep of the Continen-
tal that Judge Davis was going to get
what had been coming to him for a
long time. Bets to that effect were
freely offered, and there were very
few takers, ever at long odds.
The forthcoming trial was the sole
topic of conversation in Malopo.
Everything had combined to favor
Wlutou against the syndicate.
On the very day following Seaton's
return a long-expected proclamation
had been mudfc by the high commis-
sioner, placing Maiopo under the col-
ony's Jurisdiction, and delegating
Judge Crawford, who was then hold-
lug sessions at Vryburg, to proceed
thither for the purpose of organizing
u civil government and hearing ail
criminal and civil cases.
The ludependent regime had come
to an end, u> the relief of the settle-
ment. and Judge Davis was relegated
to his position as magistrate, thereby
being eliminated from the peuding pro*
ceedlngs.
Public opinion In Malopo, linking up
Kvaton's return aiKl arrest with the
theft of the big stone, was decidedly i
hostile ro the syndicate. There was
no fear of a packed Jury. The syndi-
cate's Inlluence seemed to have shrunk
to nothing.
Wlnton's lawyer was a young
Scotchman named Brown, who had re-
cently arrived on the diamond-fields;
he threw himself Into the case with
ardor, knowing that luccess would be
his making. Winton and he held con-
stant conferences.
Winton had wished to use Seaton's
evidence to prosecute De Witt, but
Seaton's anxiety to have everything
thrashed out was so great, and he
cared so little what happened to him-
self, that It was decided tc arrest the
old man instead. This would enable
him to tell his whole story, much of
which might otherwise have been
ruled out. It was the general opinion
that, vhen he had finished, the syndi-
cate would be In a bad way.
Seaton hnd wandered Into the des-
ert and uttempted to find a domicile
with one of the tribes. But be had
been set upon and badly beaten.
This treatment seemed to have
aroused his tong-dorman. manhood. As
a culmination to the suffering that lie
iiad endured in the past at De Witt's
hands It seemed to have effected a
change in the old man's nature. A
sort of moral strengthening had come
over Seaton In Jail. He had refused
the prison doctor's prescription of
liquor, and announced his intention of
fighting De Witt to the bitter end.
As the days went by the rumor be-
gan to spread that Davis had quar-
reled with De Witt and refused to
stand by him. Brown was of that
opinion.
"De Witt hat known all the syndi-
cate's secrets for years, and done all
Its dirty work," he said. "But Davis
Is too shrewd to have compromised
himself. I believe he will be glad of
the opportunity to break with De
Witt."
"Why?"
"When a rogue like Davis has used
a lesser rogue for years, lie's apt to
get tired of him. Davis Is an old man
and wants to keep his name clean,
even at a pecuniary loss."
Winton thought over that aspect of
the situation, but it seemed to him
more or less Immaterial. If he could
win his fight nnd hold his claim, he
meant to realize on It and return to
his own country. He felt that he
could no longer exist in the land where
Sheila lived, dishonored and an out-
cast.
He avoided visiting Seaton In jail,
but Brown reported thnt the old man
was holding firm In a surprising way.
He had been approached by emissaries
of the syndicate, and had refused to
see them.
A few nights before the trial opened
Winton received a visit from the last
person whom he had expected to see.
It was De Witt himself, who came to
his cottage Just as he was about to
retire.
The man looked broken as he stood
In the doorway, hat in band. As Win-
ton rose he came forward, flung It
upon the table, and sat down In a
chair, breathing heavily.
"You think you've goi me?" he de-
manded.
"I hope so."
"See here," De Witt burst ont.
"what are you playing for? Is It the
claim or Is It something else?"
"You'll have to see my lawyer."
"To the devil with your lawyer. I've
done with Davis. He's tfce crookedest
rogue In South Africa. You know what
I want, Garrett, and I Know what you
want. Suppose I turn against Davl.s
and get you back your claim, will you
prosecute?"
"My lawyer—*
"The devil I I've come to yon as
man to man. I've had blows from you,
and I've taken them. That's something
no other man can say. I'll help you
out If you'll help me."
"What do you want?"
"Sheila 1" shouted De Witt with nn
expletive. "I want to know If you'll
give her up. Come, is it a bargain?
You've got her and you don't want
her. She'd come to me quick enough
If it wasn't for you. I'll give evidence
that will return you control of the*-'
claim if you'll—"
Winton was upon his feet, shaking
with rage. De Witt sprang up and
grabbed his hat.
"Won't, eh? Well. I'll show yon!"
he snarled, hacking toward the door.
He was outside before Winton could
close with him. Winton hesitated,
and then went hack into his room and
closed the door. H1b nerves were raw
and quivering, but he was glad that
he had not luld hands upon De Witt
again.
The Incident aroused In him a
stronger resolve to shake the dust of
Malopo from his feet But for his
resolution not to yield to Davis, to see
the thing through, he could hardly
have remained another four an<*
twenty hours In the wretched town.
But on the morrow he had put Shena
out of his mind for the time being,
and was again busy with his lawyer.
t>m day of tike trial arrived, am
ceased. The courtroom was packed
to Its utmost capacity hours before
Judge Cruwford took his seat on the
bench, while outside an Increasing
crowd, which choked the market
square, clamored In vain for admis-
sion. The line of horses and vehicles,
severul rows deep, extended for blocks
on each side of the courthouse.
Seaton In court presented a very
different appearance from the Seaton
that Malopo had known and despised.
Three weeks of abstinence from liquor
bad made a new man of him and
braced him up, so that he was hardly
recognizable at first as he strode with
a firm step Into the dock.
A new suit and clean linen had
given him not merely a respectable
appearunce, but something of the air
that he had hud In his early days, and.
as Brown had surmised, this was likely
to have Its effect upon the Jury.
What seemed to interest the spscta-
tors most was the resolute manner In
which he returned the look of De Witt,
who, seated though he was among the
witnesses, was In reality, as all knew,
the defendant. He was represented
by a lawyer, and was the central figure
in the courtroom, excapt, oerhnps,
Judge Davis.
The multiplying and shifting rumors,
which had been flying through Malopo,
had settled down to the belief that
something dramatic and sensational
was to be looked for. Involving both
De Witt and Davis.
The Judge was seated In the gallery,
where places had been reserved for a
few of the chief men of the town. He
was a noticeable figure aming the
other occupants, as he bent forward
from his place in the front row, look-
ing down on the spectators. His keen,
judicial face was as Impassive as a
mask. Opposite him, on the floor rf
the courtroom, sat Judge Crawford
In Davis' accustomed seat above the
clerk.
Crawford was a short, sandy-haired
man. a jurist of reputation, with an
uncompromising manner.
Seaton was formally charged, and
the trial began with the reading of
his written confession, in which, con-
trary to the general expectation, there
was no inculpation of De Witt. It
a short nnd plain admission of hav-
ing purchased diamonds from the boys
on the claim.
Then followed the first sensation. In
the appearance of Ned Burns, clicking
and grunting, in the box.
De Witt's lawyer, Intervening, scored
the first point against Winton after
the physician bad explained the na-
ture of Ned's affliction.
"Do you mean to say that Is man
In In possession o. his full senses and
capable of giving evidence?" he asked.
"1 do, undoubtedly."
"You admit that there la r. brain
lesion ?"
"Yes."
"But yon are quite sure that It is
not of n nature to Impair his Judgment
or truthfulness?"
"I am absolutely sure."
"How many cases like this hive you
treated i t the course of your expert
ence?"
"None, but I have read—"
"Thank you," said the lawyer, look
Ing triumphantly at the Jury.
It was becoming cleur that De Witt's
lawyer meant to allege conspiracy on
the part of Winton and Seaton against
the syndicate. Winton followed with
a brief account of the events that had
occurred on the night of the r>bbery,
and the evidence of two or three sub-
sidiary witnesses followed.
When Seaton was placed. 1-. the wit-
ness-box the excitement reached fever
pitch.
"This Is your own confession, writ-
ten and signed by you?" asked Brown.
"Yes. sir."
"You make this of your own free
will, without monetary or other In-
ducement of any kind, and knowing
the consequences?"
"Yes."
"It contains the whole truth, noth
Ing but the truth, and nothing more
than the truth?"
"It's all true." answered Seaton.
"There's nothing that ain't true in It.
"You Induced Mr. Garrett's boya,
with small suras of money, to bring
you the stones, and you sold them to
the man Vnn Vorst on a basis of one-
fourth of their carat value, you say?"
"I did."
"How much do you compute that
ycu paid to the boys in the form of
bribes?"
"One hundred and twelve pounds,
nine shillings, and nlnepence," re-
turned Seaton promptly.
"Who supplied you with this
money?"
"Mr. De Witt there."
The stir In the courtroom was fol-
lowed by Intense silence.
"Your motive was to make money?"
"No I" shouted Seaton with sudden
energy. "It was fear of that man who
has hounded me for twenty years."
He leaned forward and thrust out
his hand toward De Witt, who rose to
his feet slowly.
His lawyer pulled him dorm and
leaped to his feet.
"I object—" he began.
"Not sustained," snapped Crawford.
"In what way, and why, has Mr.
De Witt hounded you?" Inquired Sea-
ton's lawyer. "Are you willing to
waive privilege snd make a full state-
ment te this court r
"Yes, I'll tell you," ci led beatoa
"That's what I come back for, becuus«
I'd rather be a dead dog on a gibbet
than a Jackal uny longer. I'm going
to end this game. I've played It too
long. He's driven me from pillar to
post for years, malting me do hla dirty
work for lilrn. He made me betray
the secret of the new amalgam process
on the Rletfonteln In Johannesburg,
He's used me like thut, and when I've
warned him he was driving me too
far he's laughed at me and told me 1
could swing if 1 preferred t<^ and by
God I'm going to. Ke made me tell
him—"
"I object to this evidence I" shouted
De Witt's lawyer. "These allegations
against my client are totally Irrele-
vant, and made to arouse prejudice—"
"Objection sustained," said Judge
Crawford. "The witness will confine
himself to evidence bearing upon the
alleged theft of the stones."
"Tell the court the story of youi
relations with Mr. De Witt In so fat
as they relate to your theft of the
diamonds," said Brown.
"When I came to Malopo," answered
Seaton, "my gal had wrote me that
Mr. De Witt was gone for good. So
I went bock. But 1 met him in tin
coach going up from Taungs. Mr. Gar.
rett was there, and there was a bit
of an argument' between them. The
uext morning, after we had arrived,
Mr. De Witt came to me and offered
me a Job on the Big Malopo. Then
Mr. Garrett got the control, and 1
asked Mr. De Witt for another Job. 1
knew what was coming, but I was in
want, and I had to get something, even
from him. He told me to go to Mr,
Garrett and ask him to make me com-
pound manager, and I'd get the place.
I knew what was wanted. It was the
West Bletfonteln over agnln—"
Judge Crawford's gavel fell Just as
De Witt's lawyer sprang to his feel
again.
"The Jury will disregard all evidence
concerning other relations between
Mr. De Witt and the defendant," he
said.
"Omit all further references to othei
jobs tliat you have done for Mr. De
Witt," said Brown.
The gavel fell again.
"Mr. Brown, you will abstain fron
suggesting the existence of other re
lotions between the defendant and
Mr. De Witt." sold the Judge.
There followed an animated dlscua
slon. The Jury, who had been follow-
ing the evidence Intently, looked t>or«4
and disappointed, and paid no attea
tion to the dispute.
"De Witt promised me he'd leave mt
alone," continued Seaton, when he wai
permitted to resume. "But after we'l
begun to excavate anyone who knew
anything about diamonds could set
that the main pipe was either on out
claim or pretty nigh us. Then Vaj
Vorst came to me and said Mr. Gar
rett was green to the business and
there was a chance to make money. I
refused, and sent him away.
"He come back, and he was alwayi
after me, trying to get me to drink
but 1 was trying my hardest to rnakt
good to Mr. Garrett. At last he com*
to me and said De Witt was behlnf
him, and the syndicate behind D«
Witt, nnd If I come to heel there'd b<
good money In It, but if I didn't D<
Witt would stick his knife In me. I
knew what thut meant."
"What did it mean?" asked Brown.
"I object to that question," shouted
De Witt's lawyer.
"The witness will confine hlmsell
strictly to testimony bearing upon thi
alleged diamond theft."
~ "He'll say something before he cae
be stopped."
"In that ense," the Judge bland
ly, "the Jury will disregard the evi-
dence at ray Instructions."
"Your honor, you know perfectlj
well they can't."
"Sit down, sir!"
"In my client's Interest—" begai
the lawyer.
"Mr. Lange. your client Is not oi
trial. Your status In this case is on'
of courtesy only."
"Tell the court what hold Mr. !>
Witt had over you, In so far as It hai
reference to the robbery," said Browt
quietly.
"Aye, I'll tell. That's what I conn
for," answered Seaton, fixing his eyes
on De Witt, who returned 'lis star'
with a sneering smile.
At this Juncture nil eyes weri
turned, with a simultaneous 'mpulse
toward Judge Davis in the gallery
The old man sat there Impassively, hh
square beard thmst out from hli
scrawny chin; he seemed the lets
affected of any of the spectators.
"It was twenty-three years ago."
Seaton began. "I was prospecting fee
diamonds In Grlqunland. Them wai
the early days, and there wasn't riuct
law or order In the country. I'd beet
out after stouea, but 1 hadn't fount
none.
"There was a lot of us prospector
on the tnall of what turned out a..er
ward to be the West Griqua mine
which was grabbed by the syndicate
None of ua had hee* successful, act
we'd fixed up a sort of base camp
where we'd rest up whwi we returned
to get lid of our veld sores and fei st
We'd pttcl.e*u our tenta together, a
as to be sociable like.
• - — (TO bs cwraunianj
■{J
emwne
v.
$
SPIRIN
Say 44Bayer Aspirin"
INSIST! Unless you, see the
"Bayer Cross" on tablets you
are not getting the genuine
Bayer Aspirin proved safe by
millions and prescribed by phy-
sicians for 24 years.
o Accept on1y I
Bayer package
which contains proven directions
Ilandy "Bayer" boxes of 12 tablets
Also bottles of 24 and 100—Druggists
Aspirin is the trade mark of Buyer Manu-
facture «f Moaoacotlcacldenler of Kallcrllcacld
Now the Clock's O. K. Again
Clocks do not run faster during the
night than the daytime, claims one as-
tronomer, who lias a six-Inch transit
circle with which he tells the accuracy
of time.
PEOPLE WHO WERE
PIMPLY FACED
Are so happy about their experi-
ence with the wonderful Black and
White Ointment which gets rid of all
their skin worries, that they would
like to tell those who are still trou-
bled with such things as blotches,
pimples, bumps, rash, eczema, "break-
ing out," etc., how foolish they are to
keep on going around looking like
they had lost all their interest in life.
It is simply a question of knowing
what it takes to clear out these dis-
eases of the skin, and the makers of
Black and White Ointment seem to
have just what the skin needs to get
rid of them quickly. The fact that
nearly two million packages of It are
sold every year proves how success-
ful it Is.
Black and White Ointment Is eco-
nomically priced, in liberal packages.
The 50c size contains three times as
much as the liberal 25c size. All deal-
ers have it.—Advertisement.
Nobody Wins
"Marriage Is a great game, Isn't It."
"Yes; but It always results in a tie!"
—The Yale Record.
WOMEN! DYE FADED
THINGS NEW AGAIN
Dye or Tint Any Worn, Shabby Gar-
ment or Drapery.
Diamond Dyi
es.
Each 15-cent package of "Diamond
' Dyes" contains directions so simple
! that any woman can dye or tint uny
\ old, worn, faded thing new, even if
; she has never dyed before. Clioose
nny color at drug store.—Advertise-
ment.
Might Help
"Money makes the mare go."
"1 wish that mare knew I have $2
on her."—Louisville Courier-Journal.
The prices of cotton and linen have
been doubled by the war. Lengthen
their service by using Ited Cross Ball
Blue in the laundry. All grocers—Ad-
vertisement.
Wild rabbits, which overrun eastern
Washington, are being trapped and
shipped to Alaska for food for foxes.
e |pli9H
■ T* j Tomorrow
Alright
A vegetable
IT! aperient, add*
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the digestive and
•limlnatlv* oyatem.
Improve* the appe-
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Headache and Bil-
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Constipation.
"Used for over
Chips off Old Block
N? JUNIORS—Little PR*
One-third the regular doee. Made
Of iiim ingredients, than candy
coated. For children and adulta.
Mat SOLD BY YOUR
S$>I
fc'y- m
I
* .
;''v 3
■i $
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Banger, J. E. A. & Erwin, W. L. The Cass County Sun (Linden, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 20, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 13, 1924, newspaper, May 13, 1924; Linden, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth341595/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Atlanta Public Library.