“At length the long expected day arrived, the time to which I had been
looking forward with a mind crowded with hope and anxiety; the day which
was to settle the fate of Miss Bramlett, as well as my own, for Lottie
had suffered herself to become so completely entangled with Viola’s
affairs that no power could separate them.
“I ate a light breakfast and hurried to Mr. Rockland’s residence, in
order to meet Lottie, according to previous arrangement, for the purpose
of escorting her to the jail. As she met me at the front portico with
both hands held out for me to shake, a smile of unusual brightness
played on her beauteous face, while a hopeful confidence beamed from her
pretty blue eyes. I noticed that her toilet was exquisitely arranged,
displaying evidence of unusual care, skill, and taste. She was clad in a
neat-fitting robe of dove-colored silk, the body cut so as to exhibit
the symmetry of the waist without encumbering the movements of the arms,
terminating close up round the throat, and crowned at the top with
snow-white lace. A large golden chain encircled her neck, at the end of
which was suspended a beautiful locket of the same kind of metal,
containing a picture of my unworthy self, which was held against her
bosom by a golden arrow running through a little ring, and fastened to
her dress. The abundant wealth of golden hair was handsomely braided,
and resting in beautiful coils at the back of her head, being pinned up
with a Cupid dart, while an exquisite hat with two drooping plumes
covered her well-shaped head.
“‘Edward, what is the matter with you this morning? I declare, you look
as blue and solemn as if you were in a funeral procession, following a
dear friend to the grave!’
“‘Lottie, have you no fears as to the result of the trial to-day?’
“‘Now that is a real Yankee style of answering questions; nevertheless,
I will give you a direct answer. I have no fears, but to the contrary, I
am full of confidence and hope; this is to be a day of great triumph for
us. But now I wish to know what makes you look so melancholy?’
“‘While I am hopeful, I am full of doubts as to the result, and those
doubts cling to me, despite my efforts to shake them off.’
“‘Well, all I can say is wait and see. But it is high time we were
going, for I must have a private interview with Viola at the jail before
she goes to the court-house; is the carriage ready?’
“‘Yes, I saw it pass the window just a moment ago!’
“When we arrived at the jail, Miss Bramlett embraced Lottie
enthusiastically, uttering many endearing words of affection and
gratitude. Her toilet was in every respect exactly similar to Lottie’s
and save the color of the hair, they were very much alike. Lottie
requested me to leave her alone with Miss Bramlett until the time
arrived for her to go to the court-house, and I went out into the hall
and began to pace up and down the floor, counting the moments, as they
appeared to crawl at a snail’s pace. When the two girls had been
together about an hour, a gentle rap sounded on the door of Miss
Bramlett’s room, and when it was opened the sheriff said:
“‘I am ordered, Miss Bramlett, to accompany you to the court-house; you
need not be in a hurry--I can wait until you are ready; take as much
time as you wish.’
“‘I am ready, sir, as soon as I can put on my hat and cloak.’
“‘Doctor Demar,’ said the sheriff as he came out, ‘I will place my fair
prisoner in your custody and request you to escort her to the
court-house in the carriage, and I will walk.’
“‘Why not ride in the carriage with us?’
“‘I have too much respect for Miss Bramlett’s feelings to do anything
that would look like guarding a prisoner.’
“I seized the hand of the generous-hearted officer and thanked him for
his kindness, promising to take the ladies as he requested, and he
hurried away.
“When the carriage halted in front of the court-house, an immense crowd
of curious idlers began to collect near the door, eager to get a look at
the beautiful murderess (as they were pleased to designate Miss
Bramlett), and it required the services of a couple of policemen to
clear a road through the dense mass of humanity for the ladies to enter
the door.
“Judge Flipout, who sat on the judicial bench reading the morning paper,
laid it down and gazed intently at the fair prisoner for a moment, then
descended, and taking Miss Bramlett’s hand, inquired about her health.
After a few minutes’ conversation with her, he turned round and
addressed Lottie:
“‘Miss Wallingford, have you concluded to deliver a speech in defense of
your pretty client?’
“‘No, I have not, but if I were to make a speech, you would hear new
ideas expressed, such as would not be complimentary to courts, lawyers
and judges. I used to be simple enough to think that courts were the
very fountains of justice, where the weak and helpless could procure
redress for wrongs inflicted on them by the strong and powerful, but the
scales of ignorance have lately been removed from my eyes.’
“‘Indeed! I am very sorry to learn that you have such an unfavorable
opinion of us, but I trust you will alter it when you know more about
us.’
“‘I am sure I should be delighted to see something that might be
considered an improvement on the farce I witnessed here the other day.’
“‘You must not set those two cases down as a sample of what we do all
the time, because the court was forced by the law in those cases to
render decisions the effect of which was to enable guilty parties to
escape.’
“Then Judge Flipout again addressed Miss Bramlett, remaining by her side
a moment.
“‘Open court, Mr. Sheriff,’ he said as he looked at his watch. ‘I wish
you a speedy delivery, Miss Bramlett, as much for Miss Wallingford’s
sake as for your own. You have been quite fortunate in securing the
friendly services of such an astute attorney.’
“Then his Honor resumed his seat and listened to the reading of the
minutes, while the lawyers began to whisper to each other, and
occasionally point toward Lottie and Viola. I was close enough to hear a
whispered conversation carried on by Hogjaw and Quillet in regard to the
two charming girls.
“‘Which one is the prisoner?’ inquired Hogjaw, as he started toward the
ladies.
“‘The one sitting nearest this way,’ replied Quillet.
“‘There are no evidences of guilt in that face, certain. By Jupiter, she
is pretty!’
“‘Yes, but I do not think her as beautiful as Miss Wallingford. I have
never laid my eyes on such a model of perfection; there is an
indescribable charm about the expression of her features that eclipses
anything I ever beheld. Just look at that pretty golden hair--did you
ever see anything like it? Look at those large blue eyes, and that saucy
dimpled chin, the straight, symmetrical form, the exquisite neck, the
rosy cheeks!’
“‘Stop, Quillet, I cry enough! you are done for, that is plain; that
girl has captured you beyond question.’
“‘I would give a California gold mine if I could capture such a woman
for a wife!’
“‘Do you think Miss Bramlett is guilty?’
“‘I am truly sorry to be compelled to say that I do, though I do not
believe she was in her senses when she committed the murder.’
“‘Why do they not plead insanity then?’
“‘Ah, there is where the unaccountable mystery comes in; but I have
lately been informed that Miss Wallingford is in possession of some very
strange facts which she believes will secure the acquittal of her
friend.’
“‘Is it true that Miss Wallingford has lived in the jail with the
prisoner all the time?’
“‘She has been with her most of the time, despite the continued
remonstrances of old Rockland and all of her friends. I tell you what it
is, that girl understands law as well as a majority of young members of
the bar, and we are going to have some rare fun here to-day.’
“‘How is that?’
“‘Miss Wallingford has secured permission of the court to cross-examine
some of the witnesses for the State; and I think we shall see a regular
duel between her and one of the female witnesses.’
“‘Well, Quillet, you must let Miss Wallingford have a fair chance.’
“‘Indeed I will! she shall have her own time, and shall be allowed the
privileges of a regular member of the bar.’
“‘I guess Miss Wallingford picked up her legal knowledge from old
Rockland’s abundant store; he is a cold-hearted old cuss, but I regard
him as the best lawyer in Tennessee.’
“‘Yes, and I believe he hates everybody in the world except his wife and
Miss Wallingford, and they say he worships the very ground on which that
girl walks; he has crammed her head full of solid information, and I do
honestly believe she is the most intellectual woman I ever met.’
“‘There comes old Rockland now, looking as pale as a ghost.’
“The iron lawyer moved slowly across the room and dropped into a chair;
resting his elbows on a table and placing his face between his hands, he
stared vacantly at space without apparently noticing anybody in the
house.
“‘Mr. Quillet,’ said the judge, ‘are you ready to proceed with the
Bramlett case?’
“‘We are ready on the part of the State, if your Honor pleases.’
“‘What says the defense?’
“Mr. Rockland straightened himself up, gazed at the judge a moment, and
ran his eyes slowly over the vast crowd of spectators, then fixed his
gaze on Lottie as if he were waiting for her to answer the judge’s
question.
“‘Yes, papa,’ she whispered, ‘tell the judge we are ready.’
“‘I believe we are ready for the defense,’ growled the old lawyer as he
resumed his seat, and again rested his face in his hands.
“‘Call the _venire_, Mr. Sheriff,’ said Flipout, as a frown began to
darken his brow, occasioned, no doubt, by the confusion produced by the
restless crowd who had come in to witness the proceedings.
“The first juror who presented himself was Gabriel McCracken, a very
little man, with large red nose of the Roman type.
“‘Have you formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of the prisoner at the bar?’ inquired Mr. Quillet.
“‘I have.’
“‘Stand aside.’
“Thomas Tadler answered to the second call, who said he had formed and
expressed an opinion, and was promptly ordered to stand aside.
“The forty-seventh man called was the first one who had not formed an
opinion about the case, or anything else, because he did not have sense
enough to shape an idea on any subject. He was a tall, hump-shouldered,
slim man, with weak, watery eyes, a starvation look resting on his face,
and a three-cornered head, covered with a profusion of long, tangled
brown hair, and an idiotic expression of countenance.
“‘What is your name, sir?’
“‘Obadiah Crookwood!’
“‘What is your occupation?’
“‘I are a peanut peddler!’
“‘Have you formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of the prisoner at the bar?’
“‘No, I hain’t; never hearn tell of the concern afore.’
“‘Where do you reside?’
“‘T’other side ov the bayou.’
“‘What is your age?’
“‘Don’t ‘zactly know--suppose summer about thirty, forty or fifty!’
“‘Are you a married man?’
“‘Not now--useta was.’
“‘Your wife is dead, then!’
“‘Bless your soul, her sort don’t die!’
“‘Where is your wife?’
“‘She’s livin’ with another feller.’
“‘How does it happen that your wife is living with another man?’
“‘We swapped wives.’
“‘Then you have got his wife, and he has yours?’
“‘Not ‘zactly, because hizen jumped the track and run off with Jim
Stitcher.’
“‘Why did you not then take your wife back, when the other woman
repudiated the trade?’
“‘Because I didn’t want her.’
“‘If your Honor please, I think this a competent juror,’ said Mr.
Quillet.
“‘What say you for the defense, Mr. Rockland?’
“The iron lawyer waved his hand slowly toward the jury box, without
looking up or uttering a word, and Mr. Crookwood took his seat.
“The next juror who answered was a coal-black negro, with large flat
nose, flared nostrils, and a mouth extending from ear to ear, with a
form measuring six feet three at least.
“‘What is your name?’
“‘Ebenezer, sah.’
“‘What is your Christian name?’
“‘Lord love your soul, boss, I iz no Christian nigger--I iz a stray
sheep from de congregation!’
“‘Have you any other name besides Ebenezer?’
“‘Ah, you bet I has, boss--lots on ’em!’
“‘What are they?’
“‘Solomon, Absalom, Lazarus, Ebenezer, sah--dey calls me Laz for short.’
“‘Have you ever formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or
innocence of the prisoner at the bar?’
“‘Lord love your soul, boss, I never goes in a bar, I iz a temperance
nigger; I iz an honorable member of de Murphy ‘stution!’
“‘You do not understand my question: have you formed or expressed any
opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Miss Viola Bramlett?’
“‘How could a nigger ‘spress hisself about a lady ’cept he knowed her? I
nebber seed dat ar gal afore in my born days!’
“‘Then you have never formed or expressed any opinion about her guilt or
innocence?’
“‘Nebber ’spressed myself about white folks, nebber ‘sociates wid white
people--dis nigger ’fesses to be a ge’man!’
“‘I think this is a competent juror, if the court please.’
“‘What say you for the defense?’
“Another careless wave of Mr. Rockland’s hand, and the juror was ordered
by the court to take his seat in the box.
“It was very clear to my mind that Mr. Rockland was perfectly
indifferent as to the material being collected on the jury, and it was
also evident that he regarded the entire proceeding as a mere matter of
form to be passed over in order to reach the inevitable verdict of
guilty against the defendant.
“Out of a _venire_ of three hundred men, they succeeded in securing a
jury of brainless idiots, and if any man had been bound by contract to
furnish a dozen fit subjects for a first-class lunatic asylum, he could
have used that jury as a legal tender for the debt.
“While Mr. Quillet was reading the bill of indictment, Viola fixed her
beautiful eyes on him, and listened attentively, and I could see the
regular rise and fall of her bosom, while her breathing was as calm and
gentle as that of a slumbering infant; not a muscle of her face moved,
nor did any evidence of fear or excitement manifest itself on her
features. Lottie’s hands trembled slightly as she pulled the leaves from
a rose, and let them fall at her feet; no other signs of emotion
appeared.
“The spectators and lawyers were listening in breathless silence,
anxious to hear what sort of a plea the defendant was going to put in.
Absolute quiet reigned throughout the spacious room, only broken by the
solemn tones of Mr. Quillet’s deep bass voice, as he read the awful
charge of willful and malicious murder against the beautiful prisoner.
When he came to the last word in the bill he turned from the jury, and
fixing his keen black eyes on Viola’s face, paused for a moment, as the
prisoner rose to her feet and looked firmly into the face of the
attorney-general. It was not a bold, brazen-faced, defiant stare, but it
was such a calm, dignified, charming look as I suppose the angels in
Heaven are wont to cast on each other.
“‘Miss Viola Bramlett,’ said Quillet, as he bent forward, ‘are you
guilty or not guilty?’
“‘Not guilty!’ was answered in a firm but sweet tone.
“Then commenced a tremendous scramble among the spectators seeking to
secure eligible seats, so as to hear the evidence. Flipout began to put
the pressure on his nose, while the dark frown re-appeared on his brow.
“‘Mr. Sheriff,’ exclaimed the court, ‘if you do not instantly put an end
to this confusion the court will impose a heavy fine on you; order those
people to sit down, and station a deputy at each end of the aisle with
instructions to keep it clear, and report the names of persons who
disturb the business of the court. Have your witnesses called, Mr.
Quillet, and proceed with the case.’
“As the vast crowd of witnesses began to move to the front, I was
reminded of Byron’s ‘Vision of Judgment,’ wherein he gives such a
sublime history of the trial of George III. When Saint Peter called on
Satan for his witnesses, the King of darkness waved his hand down toward
hell, when up rose a black cloud of lost souls, almost as numerous as
the legions of locusts that infested the shores of Egypt. Now I do not
by any means intend to assert that the crowd of witnesses who came
forward to testify against Viola Bramlett were as numerous as the
countless throng that come up to offer evidence against England’s dead
king, but I merely give it as my candid opinion that his Satanic Majesty
would have scorned the idea of introducing into a decent court such a
motley crowd of witnesses as those who appeared to swear against Miss
Bramlett. I do not apply these remarks to all of them, however, for
Doctors Dodson and Plaxico were of the number. I was horrified to see
Mrs. Ragland step forward and array herself on the side of the State.
Could it be possible that Viola’s own aunt was to be a witness for the
State? I looked at Lottie to see if any evidences of alarm appeared in
her face, but nothing of the sort was perceptible--all seemed calm as an
unruffled lake, while the corners of her mouth were closely drawn down.
Zip Dabbs appeared at the head of the long column of witnesses, and if
he had held the sun in one pocket, the moon in the other, the world on
his shoulder, with the final destiny of the entire human race in the
palm of his hand, he could not have put on a more self-important air
than he did on that occasion. Tadpoddle appeared with his little eye on
duty, while he was making an ineffectual effort to imitate his
illustrious leader. Miss Jemima Tadpoddle, with her tall, gaunt form
looming high above ordinary women, moved deliberately toward the clerk’s
desk, and kissed the Bible with a smack as the oath was administered by
the clerk. Miss Clattermouth stood by the side of her tall friend,
looking like a Lilliputian by the side of Gulliver, with her little
mouth handsomely puckered as if she were afraid that the important facts
known to her would escape before she got a chance to tell them to the
jury.
“As soon as the clerk completed the task of swearing the vast number of
State witnesses, the court ordered the defense to call and swear theirs.
“‘If your Honor please,’ growled Mr. Rockland, as he deliberately rose
up from his seat, ‘I believe we have no witnesses on the part of the
defense.’
“‘Yes, we have, papa,’ said Lottie, in a whisper, as she plucked at Mr.
Rockland’s sleeve, ‘we have some witnesses, but we do not wish to have
them sworn just now.’
“Then the iron lawyer stated to the court that he had just learned the
fact that the defense would probably have one or two witnesses, and
asked permission to have them sworn at a later period, which was readily
granted.
“‘We shall ask your Honor,’ continued Mr. Rockland, ‘to order the
witnesses under the rule.’
“The court then instructed the sheriff to have all the witnesses
conducted to a comfortable room adjacent to the court-room, and to
station a reliable deputy with them, with orders to keep them together.
“‘Will you insist on the rule being enforced as to Doctors Dodson and
Plaxico?’ inquired Mr. Quillet.
“‘No,’ said Mr. Rockland, ‘we consent that they may remain here.’
“Doctor Plaxico was the first witness who took the stand on the part of
the prosecution.
“‘Doctor Plaxico, you will please face the jury, and then proceed to
relate all the facts and circumstances connected with the death of Harry
W. Bramlett.’
“The doctor coughed two or three times, wiped his brow with his
handkerchief, ran his fingers between his cravat and throat as if the
supply of air in his lungs was about to be exhausted, then, in a voice
tremulous with emotion, he began as follows:
“‘Harry W. Bramlett died on the night of the 10th of February; his death
was caused by poison administered to him by some person to me unknown.
Death was produced by strychnine, large quantities of it being found in
the stomach of the deceased. I am a practicing physician, and have been
actively engaged in that profession for ten years past; could have saved
the boy’s life if I had been called an hour sooner. Assisted at the
autopsy, found considerable quantity of strychnine--more than sufficient
to produce death.’
“‘If you found any strychnine concealed about the premises, please tell
the jury all about it.’
“‘Immediately after the child expired I began to examine the premises
with a view of securing any evidence which would tend to unravel the
strange mystery that appeared to surround the affair; the circumstances
having directed my suspicions to----’
“‘Stop, Doctor Plaxico,’ said Mr. Rockland; ‘don’t say anything about
your suspicions, if you please--just state the facts that are known to
you.’
“‘Very well. I found a small phial of strychnine in a bureau drawer that
stood in Miss Bramlett’s sleeping room, which apartment adjoined the one
in which young Bramlett died. The phial was concealed in a little secret
niche on the inside of a large drawer, among a great quantity of fine
jewelry, and upon very careful inspection I noticed that some of the
strychnine had been dipped out of the phial with the blade of a knife,
or some other smooth substance, which had left its imprint plainly to be
seen on the surface of that remaining in the phial. When Doctor Dodson
arrived, I gave him a detailed account of what had occurred, and
requested him to grant me a private interview, which he immediately did.
As soon as Doctor Dodson and I were alone, I proceeded to describe all
the symptoms that had presented themselves in young Bramlett’s case, at
the same time informing him that the child had been poisoned.’
“‘Doctor Plaxico,’ said Quillet, ‘be so good as to describe the conduct
of Miss Bramlett in every particular, from the moment of your arrival
until the time you left the premises.’
“‘When I first arrived at the house, Miss Bramlett appeared to be in the
deepest distress, wringing her hands and weeping bitterly; but when the
boy expired, she ceased to weep and began to stare wildly about the room
as if searching for something, while a strange, inquiring expression was
perceptible on her features. I noticed that she frequently picked up the
little blue papers that lay on the table, and examined each one
attentively, then replacing them, she turned round and gazed at me with
a mysterious look, as if she were waiting for me to say something. She
would frequently glance at the door, as if she were expecting some one
to enter, and any noise seemed to frighten her.’
“‘We now turn the witness over to the defense for cross-examination,’
said Mr. Quillet.
“‘You may stand aside, doctor,’ said the iron lawyer, ‘we will not
trouble you with any questions.’
“‘We will examine Doctor Dodson now, Mr. Sheriff, if you will call him
in,’ said Mr. Quillet.
“‘He is here, sir,’ replied the officer as Doctor Dodson came forward
and went on the stand.
“‘Tell the jury all you know about the death of Harry W. Bramlett,
Doctor Dodson--the cause of his death and all the circumstances
appertaining to it.’
“The old physician was greatly agitated, though making a vigorous effort
to conceal his emotions, but with only partial success. A tear glistened
in his eye, while his hands trembled, and his breathing was short and
labored.
“‘I am a practicing physician; was called to see young Bramlett a few
days before his death; ah, ha! and found him suffering with ordinary
chills and fever, don’t you see? ah, ha! Well, you see it was on the
afternoon of February 10 that I prescribed quinine; making up five
doses, I put them in blue papers and directed Miss Bramlett to
administer one dose every two hours, commencing at four o’clock p. m.,
ah, ha! don’t you see? I was again called to visit the patient late at
night, and when I arrived was horrified to find the child dead, ah, ha!
Plaxico then requested me to grant him a private interview, and when we
were alone he informed me that the deceased had been poisoned with
strychnine; then I was greatly frightened, thinking it possible that I
might have made a terrible mistake, don’t you see? I instantly went and
examined the phial from which I had taken the medicine, which was left
on the mantel, and found it was pure, unadulterated quinine, don’t you
see? I then carefully inspected the contents of the blue papers on the
table, and found two of them containing quinine, just as I had prepared
them, while the other three were empty. I felt greatly relieved, because
I was convinced that I had made no mistake, don’t you see how it is
yourself, ah ha? Miss Bramlett said she had administered the medicine
exactly according to my directions, commencing promptly at four, and
when she gave the third dose at eight her brother soon thereafter became
seriously ill. I assisted at the post-mortem examination, and found a
large quantity of strychnine in the stomach, enough to produce death; am
satisfied that deceased died from poison.’
“‘What was the nature of Miss Bramlett’s conduct while you remained in
the room?’
“‘The poor child appeared to be paralyzed, stunned, as you may say, with
grief; the fact is, she seemed to be perfectly crazed by the sudden
death, ah ha! yes, don’t you see? She had a frightful, wild appearance
difficult to describe!’
“‘Did you question Miss Bramlett about the phial of strychnine that
Doctor Plaxico found in her bureau drawer?’
“‘Yes, I asked her for what purpose she had purchased the phial of
strychnine? She hesitated a moment, and appeared to be greatly confused
by the question; then she said that she would rather not tell, and I did
not urge her any further. I asked her if any other person had been in
the room after I had left the quinine and before her brother suddenly
grew worse. She said that no one had entered the room, so far as she
knew.’
“‘Did you examine the phial of strychnine? if so, how much had been
taken out of it?’
“‘A small quantity had been dipped out with the blade of a knife, or
some other smooth instrument, which had left its imprint on that which
remained. The phial had the usual label on it, with the word “poison” in
large printed letters, and a picture of a skull and crossbones just
below.’
“Doctor Dodson was permitted to stand aside, Mr. Rockland declining to
cross-examine him.