Erwin sprang to his feet wildly protesting this hideous demonstration. "This wholly unlawful procedure . . . this illegal conduct of a court of justice . . . it was without precedent in law . . . it was a scandal, travesty and mockery and must be stricken out by the court," he yelled at the top of his voice. It was no more than McKee expected to hear when he had, in this unprecedented manner, aroused the full wrath of the legal lion of criminal practice. And while Erwin was still pouring forth his scathing criticisms, McKee handed up to view of the jury and for record in the testimony, the written order of the court together with the affidavits of the mayor, the sheriff and the doctor and said: "May it please the court, the state rests its case." Pandemonium reigned. The old frame structure rocked with the roars of applause and yells of approval. The judge's charge to the jury was short and to the point. In a few moments the foreman announced it was ready to report its findings. He said, "Our verdict is guilty, as charged." Bill Erwin had lost what was undoubtedly the most dramatic murder trial in frontier annals. Billy was sentenced to twelve years in the State Penitentiary and, while serving his time, there was revealed a romance equally unparalleled and dramatic. Subsequent events proved that Billy's sentence was severe enough. The Moore and Dodd representative went with Billy accompanied by the sheriff to the train which was to take him away. As a witness to the killing as well as to the hearing of the penalty pronounced against him, I asked Billy why he killed Pat and when he clasped my hand to say goodbye for the long stay, great tears rolled down his face as he sobbed, "I did not mean to hurt him; he was my friend." To those interested to hear, it was later revealed that May came of good family; that she and Pat McWeeney had fallen in love and were to be married in the old New England town where together they had spent their childhood days; the parents had objected and neighbors whispered disparagingly. But Kate Brennan, faithful maid in the household where May was born and reared; herself but a few years May's senior, and her constant companion in the years of maturing womanhood, understood best and approved Pat's plan for the three to go into the far west and try for peace and contentment; Kate to be May's chaperone and mentor as usual until Pat could find employment and provide a home so that he might marry his loved one. Until that fateful fire in the Lake Hotel, there had been no cloud to darken the bright future just dawning for Pat and May, but the heroic act and dominant nature of the love-and-envy-stricken Oswald determined their fate otherwise. It also settled the fate of Annie Gray who was driven from the "Palace" along with Girtie Griffith and the other three inmates following Pat's killing. It was reported that she went back to one of the twin cities, and there, so far from the local peoples' concerns, the record ends. Within the week after the trial May sold part of her belongings. With Kit for companion, she went to the capitol city and rented a room at a modest boarding house in the suburb not far from the penitentiary. On visiting days, the two women could be seen somber in dress, quiet and unostentatious, appear at the prison gate for an interview with Billy; they carried to him the limited luxuries he was permitted to have and did all they could to cheer and comfort him in his unhappy situation. Thus, month after month dragged along. Month after month they waited, waited and wondered. Once the Governor came to make his inspection of the prison. He noticed the two girls holding their periodic talk with Oswald. The Governor was interested and made close inquiry from the Warden about the visits so regularly made.