The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-02-01
- q l q G t II al q :.
A Womln's Testim)ay.

was an unpopular case to do
fend. The crime charged against
my client was one Of shocking ntroo-
ity, the murder OF his own child.
The popular verdict had already. con-
demnod him. and there was bat lit
tie doubt but that tho ilry would
60 the same way.
Arthur ,crkley, tho prisoner, Ira l
married E1ith Granger, u wealthy
heiress whose father had died, lsav
ing her his whole fortune to the OK
ciusion Of prohig.e son whom he
had disinherited AMI driven from
his home.
Mrs Berkeley died within year
after marriage, leaving an infaut
q few weeks old. feeble little crea
ture, requiring constant aui sssidh-
ous care. In Iced. Dr. BlllSin al.
IN ,st took up his quarters in the
house, often passing the night there,
that he might be ut hand III case Of
need.
One OF these nights, the doctor,
as ho afterwards stated iu his evi~
dence, after retiring to bed, feeling
solicitious about his little Charge,
got up and stole softly to the nurse
ry to SEQ that everything was right.
He found the door ajar and dim
light burnin. within. As he alvanc.
ed, he distinctly saw Arthur Berkeley
standing by the table, holding to the
childs mouth the bottle from which
it was accustomed to receive It's
food. At tho sound Of the. doctor 8
footsteps, be quickly put down the
bottle, aud stsalthily left the apart
meut by side entrance.
Not o little surprised at these
movements, the doctor approached
and laid his hand upon the childs
face, which he found in violent con-.
Sulsions, which were followed, in o
few seconds, by the Stiffness Of
death.
Il post mortem examination, and
analysis of the contents Of the stom-
ach, placed it beyond doubt that
prussic acid had been administered.
And an examination OF the bottle,
found where Berkley had left it
proved that the milk in it contained
. large quantity OF tho same deadly
poison.
On this evidence Berkeley was ar-
rested and indicted for murder I;
and thore was not dissenting voice
TO bis guilt. An incentive to tho
crime was found in the fact that, AZ
heir to his child, he would inherit
the fortune which had descended to
the latter through the death of its
mother. No wonder deed 80 mon-
strous, actuated by motives so mer.
cenary, should excite tho deepest in.
dignation'
Berkley's previous character had
boen good. He had appeared gen
tie aud kind had been devoted
husband /; aud, duriDg the brief
period OF its life, had shown the ten.
derest attachment to his child.
In my conference with him, be
seemed overwhelmed with grief, but
s.renuously denied all imputations
OF guilt, asserting that he had not
gone to the nursery after retiring
that night, till called by the alarm
OF the child's death.
Of course, his statements, in the
face Of proofs 30 damaging, weighed
but little, had no confidence in
them myself Still it was my pro.
fessional duty to see that man on
trial for bis life, who had entrusted
me With his cause, had every right
the law accorded him. The duty
performed. my conscience would be
.clsar Whatever the result.
u would bs tedious to dwell ON
The steps proceeding tho trial. I
interposed no obstacles in its com.
Ing on speedily. Ny aim was not to
thwArt tho ends Of justice, but to
~ u fairly msted out.