The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-15


At the request of Mr.. Morton post
mortem examination was made, aud
q terrible discovery ensued. The
physicians unanimously agreed that
Walter Leroy had not disd from the ef-
fects of tho wound, but from the result
of slow poison, which had been intro
duced into his food and medicine sur
reptitiously.
A season Of intense excitement fol-
lowed. A detective was sent for, who
arrived soon after the funeral, and set to
work in earnest. The servants were
questioned together and separately;
but they knew nothing. Inez told what
she knew Of the case, concealing nothing,
and Mr.. Morton gave his version with
equal caudor. The detective then went
away.
One week later, Mr.. Morton became
suddenly ill. The disease baffled the
skill of the most profound physicians,
and in spite of medicinal care he died.
The day his remains We're consigned
to the dust, and the day that witnessed
the fulflment of Inez Opher's hopes, for
he bequeathed the bulk of his fortune
to her, also saw her direst distress and
humiliation. For she was arrested and
held for trial on the charge of poison
ing her uncle and Walter Leroy. Amid
intense excitement the girl was con-
veyed from her sumptuous home to the
dismal jail in the neighboring town.
Her mother was permitted to accompany
her. The country rang with the story
of the double crime, and public senti-
ment ran strong against the wretched
girl.
In due time the trial occurred. The
prosecution occupied two days in exam
ming witnesses. The testimony, though
purely circumstantial, was most damag-
ing. The housemaid testified that she
had heard Mr.. Morton tell Inez that after
A0 Nuo uctu Sue COuIu lOllOW uei own
inclination; and on this point the prose
: cuti0n laid great stress; vial had also
| been found hidden in 1nez's 5 room, which
it was claimed had contained the poison
In short, everything looked dark for the
! prisoner.
But just as the prosecution was pre-.
pairing to open the case, a man pushed
his way through the crowd that packed
!, the court room, and made his way t.
! the judges seat.
Il want to testify in this case" ht
said, in loud voice.
After some discussion he wa sworn
He said his name was Guy Barton.
, "That woman" said he, pointing tc
| Inez, SIS my wife. We We're secretly
married more than a year ago, and il
has been fatal union. She is guiItles>
of this crime. She has no conception
of sin"
He paused. A death-like silence
, reigned throughout the room. He raised
vial to his lips, drank its contents, anc
said,-
{ II committed that crime. | had in
tended that she should suffer for it; bu
at the last moment | repented and cam
/ here to confess all. | need not detail
. how / crept into the house and made sur
| of my victims; how | sought and sue
! ceeded in casting suspicion on an limo
i cent woman. 1t is enough to know tha
t | am the murderer! Gentlemen,
g haven't long to live. l have swallowe
d deadly poison, and am now beyon
human power. I"
|. He staggered as bespoke, and droppe
s into, seat. He had played for revenge
). had won; and yet had aided justice 1
g triumph.
A wild scene followed "a scene whic
our pen is too feeble to depict, so We wi
draw veil over it. Within an hou
p Guy Barton was dead, ard Inez was FREE
II But the memory of the dreadful per
:. into which her first false step led he
was never banished from her mind.