The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-12-07
THE VALUE OF An OATH.
DY JUDGE CLARK.


condemned him. and there was but little
doubt but that Of the jury would 20 The
same way.
Arthur Berkeley, the prisoner, had mar
rcd Edith Granger. u wealthy hei-ess.
whose father had died, leaving her his
whole fortune, To the exclusion !.
proilignte sor whom he lad disinhrri!cd
and driven from hi, home
Mrs. Berkley died within year after
the marriage, leaving an infant :. few
weeks old, feeble iittlc creature, re-
9uiring constant sud as=iduous care.
Indeed, DIR. Baldwin almost took up his
quarters III the house, often passing the
night there, that he uIisht be at hand in
case of need.
One at these nights, the doctor, AK he
afterwards stated in hio evidence, after
retiring to bed, feeling solictous about
his charge, got up and utole softly to tile
nursery 10 see that everything VA, right.
lie found tho door Vi ar aud dini light
burning within.
A. he advanced, he distinctly SAW Ar
thur Berkeley standing by the table, nuld-
ing u the chiid'n mouth the bultlc from
which II MAJ accustomed to receive IL,
food. Al tie suunJ OF the doctor fuol.
STEPS. ne quickly put dnwu tie bottle,
ant! stcaithily left The apartment By
-idc entrance.
Not little surprised ut these move.
incnts the doctor approached aud laid
his hand on the cliiid's face, which be
found III violent convulsiUns, which were
followed in few seconds by the Stiffness
of death.
a post nt0rfcm examination, aud analv-
ais Of the contents Of the stomach. placed
IT beyond dunbt that prussic n id had
been administered. Aud nm cxu,niuu.
tion 1f the bu:tlc that Berkeley had left
by it proved that the milk in it. contained
IL large quantity Of the same deadly poi.
son.
On this evidence Berkeley WAS arrested
| aud indicted for murder; and there WAS
| not dissenting voice Ii. To his guilt.
An Incentive to the crime was found in
| the fact that as heir To his child, he would
inherit the fortune which had descended
to the latter through the death of its
mother. No wonder ecd 80 mon.
slrous, actuated by motives 80 mcrccnary,
should excite the deepest Indignation.
Derkley's previous character had been
good. He had always appeared gentle
and kind; hud been devoted husband /:
and, during the brief period Of it's life,
had shown tho tendcrest attachment TO
his child.
In my conference with him, he seemed
overwhelmed with grief but strenuously
denied all imputations Of guilt, asserting
that lie had not gone to the nursery that
night until called by the alarm Of the
cliid's death.
or course, his stu .cmcnt in the face of
the proofs so damaging, weighed but lit
tie. | had no confidence in them myself.
Still, it was professional duty to see
that man on trial for his life, who had
entrusted me with his cause, had every
right the law accorded him. This duty
performed, my conscience would be clear,
whatever the result.
| 1t would be tedious to dwell on the
steps preceding the trial. l intcrposed
no obstacles i'll it's c0ming on speedily.
Aiy aim WAS not 10 thwart the cad. of
justice, but to see it fairly meted ont.
DIR. Baldwin WAS the first and chief
witness. He told his story clearly and
methodically; and it was easy to SEQ it
carried conviction to the jury, My rigid
cross examination only served to bring
out his evidence with more distinctnesS
OF detail. ELECTED the fact, for ;;.sta,.ce,
that the child's nurse lny in The same
room that she was asleep when the doc.
tor entered, aud that il wns To her he frst
announced the child's death. also ex-
nnlined fully AZ 10 the prisoners acts mt
the time The alarm was given, en-
| dcavOring to show that he came from
the direction of his own chamber. an
pearing to have been Just aroused from
sleep. But | mnde nothing of this, til.
witness stating that his agitation had dis.
tracted his attention from these points.
The doctor had only recently settled
among III, but his conduct had been no
exemplary that ho had made man,
friends. He had especially won the con-
tidence of the prisoner. I interrogated
him rs to his past career, but brought out
nothing to his discrea:t.
Elia evidence ce the chem.s. *ho made
the analysis was next put in, and the
States attorney "rcsted."
II have brought the nurse here" he
said but rs she was asleep when the
prlson' entered, her evidence is unim-
portant. l thought it my duty to have
her here, however, to afford the other
aide an opportunity to call her if they
DESIRE"
Nothing could render the prisoners
case more hopeless than it was already,
while something might como out to his
advantage.
II will call the Witness" said.
She was middle-aged woman, of not
unprepossessing appearance. Her agita-
tion was visible; and l noticed thai, in
taking the oath, she laid her hand beside
the book and not upon It.
II ask that the witness be sworn with
her nand on the bouk," said, calling at
tention to the omission.
The judge 30 ordered; anu the witness
hand shook violently as she reluctantly
obeyed the d. ,ction, and the oath WAS
re-administc. !.
After. few preliminary questions us
70 the hour of her retiring, her falling
asleep. &c.
What is the mex. Thing you remem-
ber 2" asked
The witness hesitatcd
"Answer the question:" said his
Honor.
I'll heard noise. aa Of some one
coming into tho roon," she faltered.
did you see any one onter?"
Another pause.
repeated the inquiry.
~ did," was the answer.
What did the person do?'
The waman's fnce grew paler, and it
was with difficulty she found utierance.
He ~...ne to the side of the cradle"
she said, with the bottle Of milk in his
hand, and put 1t to tho babys mouth"
The judge and States attorney both
bent forward in eager attention. The
latter, il was evident, had not expected
this testimony
felt TINT Tuv u,,oat;an, ,i,,,, 70. -,,i,,