The State's case seemed torn to shreds, and its evidence, which but a few moments before had seemed plain as day in its application, was now full of unsolvable mystery. I waited breathlessly to see where his wonderful logic and eloquence would finally lead him and us, while the jury hung in spellbound attention on his every word. Then, when he had each one helplessly at sea looking eagerly to him for some explanation that would fit the case and solve its doubts, he turned abruptly to the dock and pointing to the prisoner, said: "Forget that man; he did not do it! You must start afresh in this case if you are to find the murderer! "I may not tell you who he is; that is not my duty; but I will tell you what sort of a man he is, and why and how he did this deed. "It is all so plain that he who runs may read. "It was a man in White's own station in life, a man who knew him and knew his ways, his haunts, his very nature. "A man who was implicated with him in some wrong-doing and feared for his own safety while the weaker vessel shared the dangerous secret with him. "A man of pride whose reputation was dear to him; a man of resource and determination; one who did not know fear or hesitation. "That man, whoever he may be,--and such a one only killed White,--was the man for whom that half-written letter full of reproach and threats was meant, and it was such threats as those that drove him on to his terrible deed. "He came there that night after I and the others had left; he came probably to expostulate, or to plead, but he found the victim in a sleep, heavy from drink, and the weapon was at hand and it was the easier and the shorter and the sure way, and he killed him. "Then he put on the cap and ulster to disguise himself and he stuffed the money that was on the table in the pocket to mislead simple people and as he hurried away from the scene one bill dropped in the vestibule, where Winters, as he said, found it. "The ulster and the other bills he left at the house of Belle Stanton, the place most likely again to confound the simple-minded, because the place where White was most apt to go at all hours. "Now that I have told how and why the crime was done, let the police go and find their man and bring him to you, and not ask you to make good their shortcomings by convicting this innocent prisoner. "Acquit him! Let him go free! He is only his own enemy! No such weakling ever did that deed! He is incapable of it! I tell you he is innocent! I know it!" His voice, which had been growing more and more impassioned till each note vibrated through the room, suddenly ceased and absolute stillness followed, till the voice of the Judge was heard addressing him in a low tone. "Mr. Littell," he was saying, "I cannot allow you to give your own opinions to the jury; it is contrary to the practice; you must confine yourself to the evidence." Littell stood erect, listening to the remonstrating words, and when they were concluded, replied gravely: