As the trial of Brown dragged its “slimy length along,” the scenes in the court room at times beggared description.  Harrington, badgered by the attorneys for the defense, raved like a madman, and generally ended by sending one or more of the attorneys for Brown to jail.  He refused to permit any evidence to be introduced for the purpose of impeachment.  Disinterested men were brought from Tule Lake to prove that the boy Hutton was on his way to Lookout from that place when the lynching took place.  Another witness was placed on the stand and testified that he stood on the ground, back of Leventon’s shop and saw certain of the accused, among them Brown, and heard them plotting.  Harrington refused to permit any evidence to be introduced tending to impeach the witness.

When Harrington would rule against the admission of this evidence, Harris, Raker or Spencer would argue the point and manage to get the evidence before the jury and end by going to jail.  The attorneys took turns going to jail, but managed for one to remain outside to conduct the case.  Thus wore away the weary months until the jury brought in a verdict of “not guilty.”  In conversation with one of the jurymen that morning he stated that the character of the witnesses for the prosecution was enough.  They were Indians, half-breeds, and disreputable characters of every shade and degree.

The morning after the verdict was rendered not one of these creatures could be found.  During the night they had fled and scattered like a covey of quail.  They feared arrest for perjury, of which they were guilty.  All that remained the next morning was General Post and his gun man, Danny Miller.  They took the stage after breakfast and were seen no more.  The prisoners were discharged one and two and three at a time and quietly returned to their homes.

Thus ended the dreary farce of the prosecution of the Lookout lynchers.  It had cost the county about $40,000 and had accomplished nothing, save to blacken the character of our citizens and cause the outside world to look upon us as outlaws and desperadoes.

Conclusion.

The events here recorded were seen with my own eyes, or were received from the lips of the actors therein.  Hundreds of men and boys passed through equal or greater dangers and privations than I, and are entitled to equal or greater credit.  Reared in the wilderness and on the frontier of civilization, I was merely the product of environment, and lay claim to no particular distinction above those who were my companions.  And yet, as I look back over the past, I must be excused for a feeling of pride in having been a part, however insignificant, in the building here on the western rim of the continent, of the mighty Empire of the Pacific.

To have seen proud cities rear their heads from a wilderness—­from a cluster of log huts in a primeval forest—­whose everlasting stillness was alone broken by the yells of savage men, the long howl of the wolf and the scream of the panther—­is something to have lived for.