The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-10-04
THE DOCTORS EVIDENCE.

inhabitants OF the quiet little village
of Elmdale had been shocked by the
discovery Of great crime in their
midst.
Seth Driscoll, we'll known citizen
was found at early dawn, lying dead
In his own garden. A CHASTITY bullet
i'm the back Of his head left no room
to question the cause of his death and
any suspicion of suicide was rebuted
as we'll by the position of the wound
as by the discovery of foot prints lead.
ing back and forth from the garden
wall, at point where the latter bore
evident marks of having been scaled.
But the browning discovery was
that Of a pistol, recently discharged,
lying near the base of the wall where
the murderer had clamored over. 1t
WAS picked up by Jonas Wenlock, DR..
Driscoll's nephew, who gave start of
surprise at the sight II know who
owns this weapon" he exclaimed.
"Who? who ?" questioned a. dozen
eager voices.
"Nolney Kendall he answered.
Had thunderclap 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 such
an atrocious crime. a; the first in
stance the very thought WAS repealed
oh ht,f .f 10 MI
came strange revolution. 1t was
remarked that Nolnev Kendall had
been an earnest sutton for the hand of
Kate Dunseth, Mr.. DriscolPs ward.
and had received from the proud
guardian supercillious rebuff, which
he had bitterly resented. There was
a motive for the deed which, coupled
with the circumstance of the pistol,
awakened conviction in every mind
whence moment before the slightest
shade of suspicion had been indignant
ly secuted.
Within an hour young Kendall,
pale and agitated, was dragged as a
prisoner to the scene of the tragedy,
where fresh evidence was speedily
added to that already accumulated.
His shoes were found to exactly fit
the tracks in the garden, even to the
print of the nails.
He acknowledged to the ownership
of the pistol, but declined ali explana-
ton of its presence at the place where
it had been found, or his presence Oh
the previous evening.
None longer doubted the prisoners
guilt. and he was placed in close con-
finement to await the coroner's inquest,
Next day | was retained for the ac-
c,rsed; but from an interview with
him. permitted by the jailor, [ came
away without the shadow Of hope
for, although he asserted his innocence,
he persisted i'm maintaining silence on
points the clearing up of which were
vital to his defence.
The inquest was held at the house
of the deceased The facts already
stated were laid before the jury; but
when the prisoner was questioned,
save acknowledging the ownership of
the pistol, and denying ali knowledge
Of the murder, he declined to answer.
Once he looked appealingly to Kate
Dunseth, who was present, summoned
as witness with the rest of the house
hold. She met his look with fearful
bewildered gaze, and he turned away
and bowed his head in silence.
| drew from Jonas Wenlock, whom
/ was permi' ted to cross examine, that
he had a heavy insurance on his
uncle's life. and from another witness,
who had undertaken the duty Of in
vestigating the condition of Mr.. Drls-
coils affairs and they were in a very
embarrassed state. But the coroner
cut me short.
at is hardly proper, Mr.. Wilson,
In the face of evidence, to insinuate
either that Mr. Driscoll committed
suicide or that his nephew murdered
him
All the witnesses had been examin-
ed but the gray-headed doctor who
made the autopsy, and who took the
stand. He was one of your grave,
taciturn men. who kept their own
counsel till the fitting time comes to
speak.
Tell us DOCTOR" continued the
coroner, after a few preliminary
questions, "what, if any, wounds You
discovered on the person Of the de-
ccased?'
With minute decision the witness
described the bullet-wound in the head,
giving the diameter and depth TO
fraction.
"In your opinion, was the wound
the cause Of DEATH"