Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-31


WIN courage: " Yes, do think so.
de smiled calmly as be looked
around. II was evident he thought
no'hing OF the girls theory. but be-
neved Crisp to be both author and muir
derer. Others in court also smiled and
shook their heads. Her idea was too
complex and far-fetched for them.
lhey could not swallow it, in vulgar
phrase.
She was taken then through the
events of the Saturday afternoon, and
examined particularly as to the pri-
soner's statements about the deceased.
Aiterward the solicitor for the defence,
well known to be employed by Mr..
Parkman. drew from her al that might
tell in the prisoners favor; and then.
casting one long, loving look of COM
Tort at her lover, Ethel sat down. She
had told the truth; she had perfect
trust now in the wisdom Of the law.
Two or three unimportant witnesses
followed, the medical evidence succeed
ed these, and then Mr.. Parkman was
called. As he took off his glove many
sympathizing glances were cast at his
handsome figure and grave face. What
trouble and annoyance it must have
been to him 4. What a loss to be de-
prived Of his two chief employees at
once And then how rich he was said
to be; and almost fashionable too. for
was he not going to be married to the
Hon. Sylvestra Hautban? Even the
Lord Mayor could hardly refrain from
leaning forward in his great oak chair
to look his sympathy.
1.-The prisoner has been a clerk in
the employment Of your firm for nearly
fourteen years, Mr.. Parkman?" That
was the first question Of any interest.
"He has. He has been most faith
full. steady, and upright man in all his
dealings with u.s.
THIS was gallant testimony. but what
could it avail against facts? 1t only
evoked look of warm gratitude from
the prisoner. Mr.. Parkman then went
on TO tell what he knew of the differ
ences between Critchlow and the prison.
er, and the unfriendly mention Of the
cashier which Crisp had made in their
last conversation. But he told this so
reluctantly that the examining barrister
was struck by his bias in the prisoners
favor, and asked him with smile
"And do you think that the same per-
son inserted the advertisement and
committed the MURDER"
The witness paused; it was clear that
he had no doubt that his protege was
guilty Of the one and the other, for he
faltered and passed his hand over his
brow. Then he said, % do"
"And so do l." said the counsel
dryly, and was about to sit down with
that euip in his mouth, when there was
a hustle at the door. Some glanced that
way impatiently. and some expectantly;
what was the expression Of Mr.. Park
mans face it was hard to say. 1t was
almost baiiied, hunted look that came
into bis light blue eyes. and the hand
which he raised to stroke his
moustache scarcely hid an odd con-
traction of the mouth. The noise ceased
as burly man pushed his way through
the crowd to the table. lie seemed to
be some one of importance, for the
counsel paused in the act ofsitting down
and lent a willing ear to his whisper.
Then hurried and seemingly exciting
conference went on between these two
and the solicitor for the defence and
one or two others-So exciting that
expectation was raised to a very high
pitch. and at length the Lord Mayor,
unable to bear it longer, said Have
you any more questions for this wit
ness. Mr.. Banckworth :"
Thus recalled to himself, Mr.. Banck-
worth rose from his STOPPING position
and seemed to hesitate. Finally he
said, with an air Of reluctance, - Yes.
nv Lord, fear have. Mr.. Parkman,
did l und erstand you to give it as your
opinion that whoever inserted that ad-
yertisement committed this murder ="
A strange pause, then, in an equally
strange. hoarse tone, A" Yes"
as that" holding up Russia
leather blotting-csse filled with green
blotting-paper, the blotting-case you
use in your library at Richmosd?'
If sounded, apart from the sudden
production of the case, harmless
question enough. And yet how was it
that through all that crowded court
every one felt the terrible nature of the
silence which followed. Was that or
dinary-looking case gOrgon's head,
that at sight Of it the perspiratlon
should spring in great beads to the wit
ness's forehead and his mouth should
writhe in vain attempt to speak. lie
couldn't. He couldn't. In the end he
only nodded.
Then can you explain, the lawyer
asked solemnly, how it happens that
upon a page of this blotting-paper there
appears in printed characters a reverse
impression Of the latter part of this adj
yertisement:'
The crisis had come. the worst had
happened, and yet even now some cool,
plausible reason might avail him. Now
was the time for ready brain and
steady pulse-nOw but now all these
were wanting. He glared round him
for moment on the sea of faces,
grasped wildly at his throat, and fell to
the floor Of the box in fit.
Amid a thrill of such sensation as
few in that court had ever experienced
they bore him out to an adjoining
room. But he was dead before they
could bring a doctor to him. That
moment-and Heaven knows what of
bitter antjcipation-had been his pun
ishment in this world.
Peters. it appeared, had gone down
to see him at Richmond, and while
waiting in the library had, in the IN
stinctiNe pursuit of his profession,
turned over the leaves Of the blottlng-
book. The cipher caught his eye, but,
the merchant entering at that moment,
il was not until he left for town that
Peters could get into the house again,
confirm his impression, and with his
strange piece Of evidence follow to Lon
don by later train.
For a few hours after The merchants
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