The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-25

When at home he employed himself In eX-
amining all Mabel's drawers, her dresses,
desks and papers, to see if haply some clue
to the woful mystery might be discovered.
But he found nothing at all-not q single
line of compromising character othing
to shake the melancholy belief at which he
had arrived, that his wife's disappearance
could only be accounted for by her death.
As last resource, Just week after his loss,
Henry BennIon caused this advertisement to
be inserted in the papers:
NTYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED FROM
WI her house In Russell square, on the 9Th
inst, married lady aged 81. Slight in figure,
wavy chestnut hair, blue eyes, small mouth
with very pretty teeth. Was dressed when last
sealskin Jacket and hat with a red feather
Linen marked M. B. A reward OF One Hundred
Pounds will be paid for information which
shall disclose this ladyS whereabouts If living,
or lead to the recovery of her remains If she be
dead. Apply to Scotland Yard.
By this time Mrs. Bennion's disappearance
had been reported editorially IN all the
papers and had become the talk Of the king
dom. 1t had been converted into sensa-
ton affair, insomuch that some of the daily
journals printed two or three columns full
ofeletters everymornlng from correspond
ents who had explanations to suggest
most of them opining that the missing lady
must have been decoyed into some thieves
den and there murdered. Henry Bennion
himself received heaps of communications
from persons who had seen ladies answering
to the description of his wife and he was sum-
moned dozen times to identify dead bodies
that had been found in the river. At the
end of month he put on mourning feeling
convinced that he Was widower. Among
all his acquaintance there was but one
person who did not believe Mabel to be
dead and that was her sister, Julia Kur
thew.
Lying on the sofa in her Ianguid way,
with novels in her lap, this girl who would
how hnor Int fnr bor hop 1nnt ov,d
trick of sneering, took no part in the dis
cussions that were held in her presence as to
Mabel's probable fate, but she occasionally
shook her head and smiled as if lucredu-
lousy. When Henry Bennion had seen her
do this several times, he one day lost pa
tience and turned on her abruptly: "Julla,
you don't seem to agree with US about your
sisters DEATH" he said, looking hard at her.
Can you say anything to enlighten us?"
mo, don't believe she is dead" an
swered julia color1ng.
Then do you imagine she has left me
purposely? What could make her wish to
bring this sorrow on me?"
Il don't believe Mabel was happy with
you'll" replied Julia, coldly.
Time assuages grief, for men must work,
and no tribulation falling upon man who
is not of weak nature will PROSTATE him for
long. Henry Bennlou left his home in Rus
sell square because its memories were too
bitter; but he went to live in his chambers
and rallied to his work at the bar. His prac
tice lay in the criminal courts, and the habit
he acquired of working very hard to drive
sorrow away began to earn him exceptional
renown in his profession. He had always
been a successful pleader; but his trouble
seemed to have had a refining effect upon
him, so that instead of being jocular, often
clustering advocate who made no scruple to
or To hullyy utnoecqq he hpcamn
Inarkable for his gravity and quiet persua
siveness. He was one of those lawyers who
are said to have the ear" of juries and
judges, and it was predicted that he would
himself in due time be elevated to the bench.
So it came to pass that about four Years
after his bereavement Henry Bennion, going
on the home circuit, was retained to defend
a man accused OF accidental manslaughter
There was nothing peculiar in the case at
Its outset, but in the course of the trial
the prosecution procured information tend
ing to show that the prisoner was desperate
criminal who had been convicted of uttering
forged notes two years previously, but had
escaped from prison, and these facts had q
direct bearing on the charge of manslaughter,
for If proved they would demonstrate that
the prisoner had long known the man whom
he had killed, and that, far from Staying him
by accident, he had executed a deeply
planned murder. Henry Bennion, whose
client had been out on bail before the trial,
had reckoned on an easy acquittal, and of
course he did his utmost to rebut the theory
which the prosecution had suddenly started,
but after the trial had been dragging on for
several hours the counsel for the CROWN
young barrister of no high status--rose and
said: MY lord we contend that the prisoner
wiIfully disigurea himself by soaring his
features with vitriol. will now call two
witnesses as to his identity-the laadlady of
| the lodging house where he was arrested
fOur whon cbqrOpd with f0rUoru
and the woman who was sentenced as his
accomplish and who is still undergoing a
sentence of five years penal servitude at
Working"
1t was q hot summer afternoon and the
court was densely crowded. The blinds had
been pulled down to shut out the hot sun,
and there was but dim light, which made
the red robes of the judge and the scarlet
uniform of the sheriff stand out in bright re-
lief. The atmosphere was sitting.
The first witnessed who appeared-the
| landlady-had not much to say. She could
| not identify the prisoner because of his
scars, and would like, said she, to hear his
voice. Henry Bennion objected, and the
| judge agreed with HIM that the prisoner
ought not to be made to speak.
| well" said the crown counsel, excItedly,
''this witness has broken down, but l dom
think the next will. The prisoner was her
| husband or her paramount; at all events, she
was convicted under his name. Call Maria
| Burt"
Two policemen cleared the way through
| the court for a woman in a blue check dress
| and an ugly poke bonnet of brown straw,
| who was attended by wardress from Wok-
| ing. The convict was ushered into the wit
ness box, and the clerk OF arraigns was about
| to administer the oath to her when Henry
Bennion, who had caught sight of her fea-
] lures started up with torrent of blood suf-
| fusing his face, and leaned right across the
solicitors table to get closer view of her.
Great Heavens" he was heard to falter.
who is that woman? Mabel -
The prisoner stood perfectly collected. 1t
| may have been that her lips twitched for q
moment, and that in the glance which she
bent for an instant on the counsel for the
defense there was hash-just fash and nc
more. Then she righted herself and took
the oath. my name Is Maria Burt" she
said calmly.
Now, tell me whether you know thai
/ said tho prococu 10 oonneol vointino