The prosecutor took up the now historic bag of gold-pieces and held it up before the witness.
“When did you first see this bag of money?” he asked, solemn and severe of voice and bearing.
“When Isom was lying on the floor, after he was shot.” 282
“You didn’t see it when he was trying to get the gun, and when you say you were struggling with him, doing the best you could to hold him back?”
Joe turned to the judge when he answered.
“It might have been that Isom had it in his arm, sir, when he made for the place where the gun was hanging. I don’t know. But he tried to keep me off, and he hugged one arm to his side like he was trying to hide something he didn’t want me to see.”
“You never saw that bag of money until the moment that Isom Chase fell, you say,” said the prosecutor, “but you have testified that the first words of Isom Chase when he stepped into the kitchen and saw you, were ‘I’ll kill you!’ Why did he make that threat?”
“Well, Isom was a man of unreasonable temper,” said Joe.
“Isn’t it a fact that Isom Chase saw you with that bag of money in your hand when he came in, and sprang for the gun to protect his property?”
Joe turned to the judge again, with an air of respectful patience.