The Story of a Dark Plot; Or, Tyranny on the FrontierA.L.O.C.
History
The Story of a Dark Plot; Or, Tyranny on the Frontier
A.L.O.C.
Smith, William W.; Temperance
The statement of Kelly that he did not intend to kill Mr. Smith, and
was not asked to do so, has a decided look of absurdity when viewed in
the light of the various circumstances surrounding the assault. If he
simply intended to "lick" Mr. Smith, why did he attempt it in such an
unfair and cowardly way? Why did he, when the object of his assault
was asleep, attack him with a weapon which might cause death? And why,
having such an advantage over his victim, did he begin at once to
pound his head? This is a very dangerous way to administer a whipping!
Moreover, if the hotel keepers of the vicinity only wished to have Mr.
Smith pounded, it seems strange that not one of their number was
willing to undertake the task himself. Or, if not, why did they not
hire some ruffian who could be induced to give almost any man a
pounding for a smaller sum of money than that promised to Walter
Kelly, and, besides, might have supplied his own necessary outfit, and
save them the trouble and expense of providing board, team, weapon and
disguise of clothing.
Again, the liquor men should have known that such a course would not
be likely to help them very much, for any man who is sincerely in
earnest and seeks the prosperity of a good cause, will not be likely
to stop his work because of a slight pounding. There are many things
in this world not easy to understand or explain, and this affair seems
to be one of them, but, of course, it is a lawyer's business to work
for the interests of his clients, and prisoners usually consider it
their privilege, when in the witness box, to work for their own
safety.
The testimony of Mr. Smith, which had been begun on Friday, and had
given place to Kelly's evidence when he arrived from Montreal, was
resumed on Wednesday, Sept. 5th, when the case was again considered in
court. The following report of Wednesday's proceedings was published
in the Montreal _Daily Witness_:
"The preliminary enquiry into the Sutton Junction attempted
murder case was resumed this morning before Messrs. C. H. Boright
and G. F. Shufelt, J. P.'s. The court room was crowded, and much
interest was evinced in the progress of the case. Mr. W. W.
Smith, continuing his evidence, described his struggle with
Kelly. The first blow rendered him partially unconscious, and
apparently was not repeated for two or three minutes. A second
and third blow was given with the lead pipe, but, owing to his
having clinched with Kelly, they did not have the effect of the
first. During the struggle, both men got out on the station
platform, and eventually rolled from the upper to the lower one,
Smith all the time calling out 'murder,' and Kelly breaking loose
ran away. He was positive that it was Kelly's intention to kill
him, not merely to give him a beating.
"He recognized the lead pipe as the weapon Kelly used, and also
the hat was the one he left behind in the station.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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