The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-03-16


in necessarily fatal quantity, was indicated
by every known chemical test. 1t was fur
ther admitted by the prisoner that he alone
had handled the medicine from the time it
was compounded by the druggist till the COM
| ing of the physician, after the second powder
had been taken. . ....... OBJ ...i ..... .....
| The drug gist who was known to be man
Of extraordinary caution, and thoroughly
skilled in his business, was ready to swear
that by no possibility could any mistake
have occurred in putting up the medicine
To make matters verse, it transpired that
the amicable relations between the uncle
and nephew had been somewhat disturbed
of late, by reason Of an attachment of the
latter disapproyed by the former, who had
gone 50 far AS to threaten to change his will
unless his wishes were respected. ...
"Who was in company with you from the
time you received the medicine till you re.
turned to your unoles house?' | asked the
prisoner,desperateIy cropping after something
to afford ray of hope.
"No one" he answered, but my Cousin
Charles, whom met near the druggist sand
who accompanied me m
| drew from Edward the fact that Charles
saw the medicine putup; walked with. him
u littlS way; then went back. for something
Edward awaiting his return. + then walked
arm-in arm nearly home, when Charles left
l also reminded Edward that his uncle be-
ing dead, if he also should die childless,
Charles would inherit the whole estate.
"He did it he did it p the young man
cried, in paraxysm of excitement too ear
nest to be counterfeit. He went out to get
the poison when he left me waiting. He put
it up to resemble the druggists parcel, for
which he substituted it as he went along
Vilian--I k.ow it now | carried the par
eel in the right pocket of my overcoat, and
it was on that side he walked ?
/ was seated in my office on the day pre-
ceding that fixed for the trial, indulging in
anything but sanguine expectations, when a
rap at the door announced visitor. 1t was
a detective whom had employed. ..
"What is ?" l inquired, after closing
the door ...............
81 made an arrest to-day?" he answered
and in the prisoners possession found this
overcoat,' undoing package he had
brought. .... ........-
"Well9 ?" ....-. 20. ..s.-..I ....,
"In one of the pockets found this" ant
he handed me small parcel, which open.
ed. ................5 5l....
Inside were three papers, folded as drug
gists put up their prescriptions. 49,.
''The person with whom found this coat,
the detective continued, 'confesses that h,
stole it from a billiard saloon, the owner hav
ing laid it aside while playing and til,
date he fixes corresponds with Mr.. Court
ney 3 murder But what is more important
J: I have ascertained that Charles Courtney
the owner Of the coat +"
Let us at once proceed to the druggists 81
, l exclaimed, springing from my chair AM
snatching up my hat.
. We were soon there.
"Please examine that parcel" said, put
ting it into the druggists hands.
He did so, carefully opering the paper
y and inspecting their contents. They con
tanned three white powders.
Glow do they correspond with those yol
' made up for Mr. Courtney" inquired, 'ant
for which other seem to have been so mys
teriously substituted?' ' .'-
"They do not correspond at all" he an
swered they are the same
"The same How do you know that ?"
"By these figures" he replied, pontin
to the inside of one of the papers. Il ha
made calculation that day on the sheet o
paper, part of which | used in putting u
the prescription bought by Mr. Edward Hor
u ton. The remainder have preserved, nc
, knowing but it might become importan
: Here it is, and you see how this piece an
the figures fit it,
They did exactly; the chain of evidenc
was complete
need hardly tell how the trial ended
Charles Courtney was called by the prose
cution to prove some unimportant point
The counsel whom | had retained for tn
defence asked him but three questions o
q ss-examination
@ "Had he accompanied the prisoner fror
l. the druggist's?'
:. "Had he lost an overcoat that day."
"Was that it ?"
The questions were very simple, but tn
. effect on the witness was most remarkab!,
9 He trembled and turned pale. He knew h
secret was out, and that lying was useless
He answered all three questions in the a
"a firmative, but in voice scarcely audible
l. Before the next witness was called he slippe
rs from the court, and was never heard Of after
D ward
- With the testimony of tue detective an
the druggist, not forgetting that of the thie
st who stole the oyercoat, We made short wor
l. of what had promised to be "a beautiful cas-