Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-10-07

y man OF extraordinary caut1on and
Thoroughly skilled in his profession,
was ready to swear that by no posi-
bility could any mistake have occurred
in compounding the medicine.
To make matters worse, it transpired
that the amicable relations which had
existed between the uncle and his
! nephew had been somewhat disturbed
! of late, by reason of an attachment of
the latter, which was disapproved OF by
the former, who had gone SO far as to
threaten to change his will unless his
wishes were respected.
"Who was in company with You
from the time you received the medi-
cine until You reached your uncle's
house 2" asked the prisoner, desper-
ately cropping after something to afford
ray of hope. ti..;;s
"No one," he, answered, "but my
cousin Charles, whom met near the
druggists, and who accompanied me
into the house."
drew from Edward the fact that
CHARLES saw the medicine put up,
walked with him little way, then went
back for something-Edward awaiting
his return-then walked arm in-arm
nearly home, where Charles left. I
also reminded Edward that, his uncle
being dead, if he also died childless,
Charles would inherit the whole of the
estate.
"He did it The did it'll" the young
man cried, in paroxysm of excitement
too earnest to be counterfeit. "He
went to get the poison when he left me
waiting. He put it up to resemble the
druggists parcel, for which he substi.
tuted it as we went along. Villain IL
know it now. carried the parcel in
pocket on the right side of my coat,
ard it was on that side he walked with
mel"
was seated in my office on the day
preceding that fixed for the trial, in
dulging in anything but eanguine ex-
pectations, when a tap at the door an
nounced visitor. It was q detective
whom I had employed.
Well, what is it ?" inqnirAd. after
closing the door.
"I made an arrest today" he said,
and in the prisoners possession 1 found
this overcoat."
"Well?."
"In one of the pockets I found
this
And he handed me small parcel,
which opened.
Inside were three papers, folded as
druggists usually put up their prescrip-
tions.
"The person with whom 1 found this
coat" the detective continued, ''con-
fesses that he stole it from a billiard
saloon, the owner having laid it aside
while playing, and the date he fixes COR
responds with Mr.. Courtney's murder.
But Whit is more important, I have
ascertained that Charles Courtney is the
owner of the cost"
''Let us proceed at once to the drug
gist's I" exclaimed, springing to my
feet and snatching my hat.
We were soon there.
''Pleaee examine the parcel" said,
putting it into the druggists hands.
He did so, carefully opening the
papers and inspecting their contents.
They contained three white powders.
SLOW do they correspond with those
you put up for Mr.. Courtney, and for
which others seem to have been so
mysteriously substituted p inquired.
"They do not correspond at ALL" he
answered, 'they are the same."
"The same How do you know that ?"
"By these figures" he answered point
ing to one of the papers. 81 had made
calculations that day on the sheet Of
paper, part of which used in putting
mp the subscriptions bought by Mr..
Edward Horton. The remainder have
preserved, by some accident. Here it
is, and you see how this piece and the
figures fit it.
They did exactly, the chain Of evidence
was complete.
need hardly tell how the trial ended.
Charles Courtney was called by the
prosecution TO prove some unimportant
points. The counsel whom / had retain
ed fer the defense asked him but three
questions ON cross examination:
''Had he accompanied the prisoner
from the druggist'sS u
"Had he lost an overcoat that day ?"
s'Was that it?"
The questions were very simple, but
the effect upon the witness was most
remarkable. He trembled and turned
pale. He answered all these questions
in the affirmative, but in voice scarcely
audible. Before the next witness was
called he slipped nom the court and
was never heard Of afterward.
With the testimony of the detective
and the druggist, not forgetting that
Of the thief who stole the overcoat. We
made short work Of what promised to
be q beautiful case Of circumstaDtial