Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-05-25


atrocious a crime :; but must learn from yor
all the facts of the case, and if there be all!
that seem to initiate against your innocence
we must not blind ourselves to the unfavorablt
differences they suggest. We must look al
them, as your adversaries will, in the most un
favorable light, and be prepared, so far as We
may, to explain them. 1t is, I suppose, be-
yond all doubt that your husband came to his
death by some active poison. We must as
sumo that that fact will be clearly proven
Can you enable me to show how he was pois
oned, whether accidentally or by the agency
of some other person %
"Oh can tell you nothing absolutely moth
ing! This horrible affair is all a mystery tc
me and how can / explain it 20
s'Well then tell me all the attendant facts.
and possibly they may suggest clue to an
explanation"
s'I will as clearly as can !; but it all seems to
me now like horrible dream from which
may yet awake We were seated at the break
fast table. He was in haste to set out on his
way to the railroad station, and the carriage
to convey him was in waiting at the door OF
the porch. He had asked me to pour out his
coffee, and as the servant, who had not
brought in all the dishes, was absent from the
table I rose from the table and brought the
coffee pot from the hearth. Mr.. Laroche had
in his haste taken up cup and saucer, which
ne extended to me to be filed. pourd out
! cupful for him and after short interval,
illed cup for myself The coffee was stirred
up by my haste in handling the pot, and
noticed that the cup poured out for Mr.. La
:oche was turbid with some grounds floating
IN the surface. 1t had settled before pour
I'd out the cup for myself; and insisted on
exchanging cups with him but he declined,
aying, that it was well enough. Before he
lad even tasted it, the horses in the carriage,
rom some cause, became fractions and began
% rear and plunge, and Mr.. Laroche setting
lown his cup, stepped out on the adjoining
,orch to speak to the driver. In that moment
took his cup, which was not we'll settled,
md put my own in it's place. He was back at
he table in a few seconds, eat half biscuit
md hurriedly drank his cup of coffee. He
lad scarcely done so when he became deadly
ale and cried out-''The coffee-the coffee,
Ada Did you-is this the cup left at my
late ?" ''No, Mr.. Laroche," said l, lit was
Unsettled and exchanged cups with you. Is
nything wrong with it 20
s'It was terrible look he gave me. know
10 could never have feared or suspected me,
ut his face was CHASTITY and full of fear. He
ried out, Il am dead man, Ada, and sank
ack into his armchair, from which he had
artly risen, with groan of agony. 1 sum-
loned the servants to assist in removing him
his chamber, sending Immediately for a
ouple of physicians, who were at his bedside
a few minutes"
"Have YOU ever" asked I, admitted to any
ne else that you made the exchange OF the
ups?''
eyes I told everything to DIR. Houser, ex-
city as it occurred"
It was a most unfortunate admission, |
hought, but did not give her unnecessary
ain by saying SO.
''You are satisfied the poison was contained
the cup of coffee he drank ?" asked |.
"Another question:" said l, at the same
me feeling my whole nature recoil from the
ecessity of making an enquiry which must
ouch her domestic life and feminine nature IN
} tender and sensitive pOint-"was there
YER any occasion of serious disagreement or
arrangement between you and Mr. Laroche,
nee your marriage ?"
There was a long and painful silence. Mrs.
aroche's head was bowed, and her features
ere convulsed with agony, while bitter tears
owed down her cheeks. She was too much
owed to speak, but in answer to my question
le bowed terrible and chilling assent whilst
er tears flowed faster than before.
l sat astounded at the fatal web that cir
instances had woven around my unhappy
lent. even taking her own candid statement
facts From what an abyss, deepening and
lwning at her feet, was called upon to save
II! felt overwhelmed at the magnitude of
le difficulties in my path, which saw no way
slrmounting.
A sob from Mrs. Laroche awoke me from
yreverie. Her tears were still flowing fast,
1T she was making great effort to gather
lmness to add something that might qualify
I'd give favorable coloring to her painful ad-
ission, wrung from her by my last question,
at was still burning in her thoughts, and,
ter conflict with herself, she sobbed out as
addition to her admission
sBut would have given my life hundred
mes to have saved him."
81 fully believe you, madame, and all that
n do will be gladly done to save you. I shall
Dor to defend your life, far more earnestly
an would to save my own"
ssIife that is nothing to me now," said
e, in tone that. lawyer as l was, almost
arted my tears. "My truth-my innocence
all.''
''Be cheerful" answered I, in tone OF
nidence was far from feeling, for 1 con-
lered the case a desperate one. ''I think
" am sure, we can establish your innocence
fore the world.'
''Only do that''-cried she, clasping her
!nds in an impassioned way-'only save me
ON blotted name and | care nothing, less
an nothing for the weary burden that men
II life. long to lay it down and rest in the
ave.
From that interview with my client 1 went
,wn with heavy heart.
Every fact in the case, particularly those
duced by herself, knew would tell strongly
ainst her, and yet felt in my soul that she
IS innocent of the terrible crime. The
ankness of her straigh ght-forward statements,
e candor with which she disclosed damag
g facts that could have been known only
rough her voluntary admissions, was a guar
lty of that. The catastrophe was, most evi
ntly, as inexplicable to herself as others, and
e was as puzzled as myself at the mystery in
hich it was Shrouded. One who was really