St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1880-11-13
THE DOCTCR'S EVIDENCE

the inhabitants OF the quiet little VII
lage of Elpdale had BEEN shocked
by the discovery of a great crime in
their midst.
Seth Driscoll, n well known citi
zen, was found at early dawn, living
dead in his own garden. A ghastl,
bullet wound in the back of hi.
head left no room to question til,
cause of his death; and any suspi.
cion of suicide rebntted, as well by
the position of the wound, as by
the discovery of footprints leadin
back and forth from near the BODY
to the garden wall, at u point where
it bore evident marks having been
scaled.
But the .ercwning discovery was
that of Il pistol recently discharge, :,
lying near the base of the wal.
where the murderers had clam bered
over. 1t was picked up by Jonas
Wenlock, prisco!l's nephew, who
gave st;rr- of surprise at the sig t..
Il know who OWLS this weapon!'
he exclaimed.
"Who? who?" questioned a
dozen eager voices.
"Eolney Kendall" he answered.
"Had thunder clap fallen upon
the listeners the effect could not
have been more startling. The
young man whose name had Just
been uttered was the last person to
be suspected of an atroeiuus crime
At the FIRST instant the very thought
was repeled with abLogrence; Gut
ut the second came a strange
revolution. 1t WAS remarked that
NGlney Kendall had been an earaest
suitor for the hand nf Kate Dunseth.
Mr.. priscolls ward, aud had re-
ceived from the naughty guardian
Il superciliops rebuff, which he Lad
bitterly resented. Here was a mo-
tive for the deed. which, compiled
with the circumstances of the pistol.
awakened conviction in the very
minds whence, Il moment before the
slightest shade of suspicion had
been indignant: secuted.
Within an hour Young Kendall,
pale and agitattd, WIS dragged a
prisoner to the scene of the tragedy.
where fresh evidence was speedily
added to that already Accumulated.
His shoes were found to tit the tracks
in the garden, even TO the print on
the nails.
He acknowledged to the owner
ship of the pistol, but declined ali |
explanation of lis presence at the
place where it had been found. or |
Df his whereabouts ON the previous
4vening.
None longer doubted the prison
sr's guilt, and he was placed in close
to wait the coroner's
uqne t.
Next day / was retained for the
lcoused; but from IN interview with
lim, permitted by the jailer, came
way without shadow of hope:
or, although he asserted his inno
ence, he persisted in maintaining
llence on points the clearing up
# which were vital to his defence.
The Inquest was held AT the house
f the deceased. The facts already
'ated were laid before the Jury:
mt when the prisoner WIS cues
loned, save acknowledging the
of the pistol, and deny
lg ali knowledge of the murder. he
eclined to answer.
Once he looked appealingly @
-ate Dunseth, who was present.
lmmoned as witness with the d
st cf the household. She met his i,
'ok with a fearful bewillered Gaze.
nd he turned away and bowed his
cad III silence.
L drew from Jonas Wenlock
hom was permitted {! g cross n
iamlne, that lie had q heavy in h
france on his uncls's life, and from K
lofher witness, who had underta "
en- the duty Of investigating the e
,ndition of Mr.. Drisco!lls atfnrs a
lat they were Ill yefv eunbarras, n
state. But the coroner cut me .
lort: .
1T is hardly proper, Mr. Wilson. Al
tue face of the evidence, to insinu- e,
e either that Mr.. Driscol! commit l.
suicide. or that his nephew "
ordered him" =,
All the witnesses had teen ex. P
hined bnt the gray-hea,lrd doctor o.
10 had m"de the au:1 psy, ). & j
no now took the stand. He wis u