Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-11
J he Doctors Evidence.

Elmdale had been shocked by the dis
covory of great crime in their midst
Seth Driscoll, well known citizen,
was found ut curly dawn, lying dead in
his own garden. 4 ghastly bullet wonnd
in the back of his head left no room to
question the cause Of his death; and any
suspicion of suicide was rebntted, M
well by the position Of tho wound, as by
the discovery Of footprints leading hack
and forth from near the body to the
garden wall, at point where the latter
bore evident marks of having been
scaled.
But tho browning discovery was that
of II pistol recently discharged, lying
near the base of the wall where the
murderers had clamberod over. II was
picked up by Jonas Wenlock, DIR.
Driseoll's nephew, who gave q start OF
SURPRISE OF tho sight ~ know who owns
this weapon ~ he exclaimed.
"Who ~ whoG" questioned dozen
eager voices.
"Volney Kendall" he answered.
Had % thunder clap fallen upon tho
listeners the effect could not have been
more startling. The young man whose
name had just been uttered was the last
person to bc suspected Of Oh atrocions
crime. AT the first instance the very
thought was ropelled with adherence
but ut the second came strange revolu-
ton. II was remarked that V0lney
Kendall had been an earnest suitor for
tho hand of Kate Dunseth, Mr.. DriscolPs
ward, and had received from the naughty
guardian u suporciious rebuff, which he
had bitterly resented. Here was q
motive for the deed, which, coupled viii
the circumstances of the pistol,
awakened conviction in tho very minds
whence, u moment before tho slightcs
shade of suspicion had boon indignantly
secuted.
Within IN hour young Kendall, pail
and agitated, was dragged % prisoner u
tho scene of the tragedy, where fresh Svi
denco wasspecdily added to that alroad,
IA al, E,I MI 4
Git tho tracks in tho garden, even to tn
print of tho nails.
IIo acknowledged to tho ownership o
the pistol but declined all cxplana
ton of its presence ut tho plac
whore it had been found, or Of hi
whercabout Oh the previous evening.
None longer doubted the prisoner
guilt, and ,ho was placed in close conlin'
ment to await tho coroner's inquest.
Next day was retained for the NJ
cused but "'om an inter, lew with hin
permitted by the jailer, came ava
without o shadow of hope, for, althoug
he asserted his innocence, he pcrsiste
in maintaining silence on points til
clearing up of which were vital to h
defence.
The inquest was help at the house
the deceased. The facts already state
were laid before tho jury but when tn
prisoner was questioned, save acknow
edging the ownership of the pistol, m
denying all knowledge ofthe murder, b
declined to answer.
Once he looked appealingly to Kat
Dunseth, who was present, summone
as q witness with the rest of the hous
hold. She met his look with tearfi
bewildered gaze, and he turned avs
and bowed his head in silence.
drew from Jonas Wenlock, whom
was permitted to cross-examine, thu
he had heavy insurance on his uncle
life, and from another witness, who ha
undertaken the duty of investigating d
condition of Mr.. Driscoll's affairs, tn
they were in very embarrassed stat
But the coroner cut me short
ut is hardly proper, Mr. Wilson,
the face of the evidence, to insinua
either that Mr.. Driscoll commit
suicide, or that his nephew murder
him"
All the witnesses had been cxamin
but the gray-headed doctor who h
made the autopsy, and who now to
the stand. He was one of your gray
tacitum men, who kept their o,
counsel till tho fitting time comes
speak.
"Tell us, DOCTOR" continued the COZ
ner, after few preliminary question
"what, if any, wounds your discover
on the person of the deceased 7"
With minute precision the witn'
described the bullet wound in the hes
giving the diameter and depth to fra
ton.
'In your opinion, was that wound