Louisiana capitolian., 1881-10-08
BATON ROUGE. LOUISIANA SATURDAY.. ocToBER 8. 1881

but could not distinguish their pnrport;
she was sure that iiist before the alterca-
tion was over, the father threatened to
disinherit the daughter. Shortly after,
the old man left the house, to walk 70
the Locks where he intended to take the
train to Berkton. Almost immediately
Miss Stray followed, Within twenty
minutes, q forgeman, going home, came
on her in the gap, standing over the
dead body Of the father. Her agitation
on being detected was, he says, concls-
sive evidence Of her gnilt. But this is
only opinion. The damning facts Of the
quarrel an intelligent motive Of the
deed; blood on the linen cuff Of her
right hand; and the finding Of an orien-
tal dagger, which she had long used for
paper cutter, in thicket close by, as
if flung there when she heard the forge
man coming. The dagger was still wet.
with the crimson stain, by.alld-by when
found.o
What does the daughter says"
''Oh she denies it of course. Says she
had just discovered the body. and that
she was Mortified at the sight, q horror
which the forgeman nistook for proofof
guilt. The dagger, she declares, was
last seen by her that morning of her
table. The blood on her cuff she OK
plains by saying she had stopped to SEQ
if her father was really dead, and so
stained the lnen.'
"Well, believe her."
"Thats because you know, her and
pity her. Who else could have done tho
deed' Who had any motives Really,
yon are too old man, too experienced
a lawyer, to let sentimental motives
cloud your Judgment The best that he
said Of her is that she did tim fit Of
sudden passion-they say her temper IL
high; she was godded to it perhaps.
Another Beatrice Cenci."
God forgive said the other. 'But
come, we'll say no more until we have
seen for ourselves"
The two gentlemen first visited the
scene Of the murder. There were no
signs OF q struggle such as both expect
ed to find. But Mr.. Gresham said. 'arhe
stroke was too quick and sure for that,
! suppose. The old man fell and died
like an OK, stunned by single blow
~ am not so sure of that replied Mr..
Mordaunt. "see here is where his
shoes were firmly planted in the soil;
the deep indentation is unmistakable; it
looks to Inc as If there was some little
resistance at least.
''But there is no sign of any other foot
steps,
"No. Perhaps the assailant stood Oh
this rock here. By-the-by, the moss
seems to be slightly abraded.'
II don't see it, rather think the as
sailant wore shoes that would not make
indentation: q woman's shoe in fact
"But what is thisw Cried Mr.. Nor
dannt. He stopped as he spoke, and
picked up, about two yards from where
the body had lain, curiously shaped
button, with small fragment Of green
cloth attached to it. The button lay
just at the edge Of the thicket, concealed
by the overhanging laurels "Here is
something that may give clue. 1t
looks as if the button had been torn off
in struggle
"Pshaw r' said the district attorney.
IA mere coincidence. The button has
been there for years, probably. Don't
you see it's quite uulike any you ever
saw before ~
The place next visited was the house
of the murdered man. The corpse was
lying on the bed, but with the clothes
still on, awaiting The coroner's jury. a
constable kept watch to prevent any in
terterence until the inquest should have
met. He was as garrulous as Dogberry
himself.
"Fll take my davy,' that ] will" he
said, 'that gals sweetheart put her up
to it. The shing stands to nature. But
they do say she has temper other own.
There's where the dagger went in,' he
added, lifting the sheet.
"A single blow seems to have been
sufficient" remarked the district attor-
ney.
''lt was much stronger one, in my
opinion," said Mr.. Mordaunt after q
pause, ethan q girls hand could have
dealt. s.Ha," he added after pause,
what does he mean y
.What ~ asked Mr.. Gresham. while