Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-13

what he knew Of the differences oetWeen
Critchlow and tho prisoser. and the un-
friendly mention Of the cashier wnlcn
Crisp ksd made in their last conversation.
Rut he told this 20 reluctantly that the ex-
aminino barrister was struck BY his bias
n the prisoners favor, and asked him with
. smile. .And do you, too. think that the
same person inserted the advertisement
and committed the murder?'
! The witness paused; il was clear that
he had no doubt that his protege was gull
| tv of the one and the other, tor he faltered
and passed his hand over his brow. Then
he said. 81 do.
And 50 do l." said the counsel dryly.
and was about to sit down with that qulp
| in his mouth when there was hustle at
the door. Some glanced that way i'm
patiently. and some expectantly; what
was the expression of Mr.. Parkman's face
it was hard to say. 1t was almost a
bafied. hunted look that came into his
/ light blue eyes. and the hand which ne
raised to stroke his mustache scarcely hid
the odd contraction about the mouth. The
roise ceased as burly man pushed his
wav through the crowd to the table. he
seemed to be some one of importance, for
the counsel paused in the act OF sitting
down. and lent willing ear to his whls-
per. Then hurried and seemingly ex-
citing conference went on between these
two and the solicitor for the defense and
one or two others-so exciting that expec-
tation was raised to very high pitch.
| and at length the Lord Mayor. unable to
bear it longer, said. "Have you any more
questions for this witness, Mr. Black
worth?'
Thus recalled to himself, Mar. Banck-
worth rose from his STOPPING position and
seemed to hesitate. Finally he said, with
an air of reluctance, "Yes. my lord, fear
/ have. Mr.. Parkman, did understand
you to give it as your opinion that whoev-
er inserted that advertisement committed
this murder? ''
A strange pause. then, in an equally
strange, hOarse tone. Yes"
us that" holding up Russia leather
blotting case filled with green blotting
paper. 1.-THE blotting case you use in your
library at Richmond ?"
It sounded. apart from the sudden pro-
duction 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 fol-
lowed. Was that ordinary looking head a
gorgon's head that at sight of it the per-
spiration should spring in great beads to
the witnesses forehead, and his mouth
should writhe in vain attempt to speak.
He couldn't. He couldn't. In the end he
only nodded.
"Then can YOU explain" the lawyer
asked solemnly, show it happens that
upon a page of this blotting paper there
appears in printed characters reverse
impression of the latter part of this adver-
tisement ?"
The crises had come, the worst had hap
pened; 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 mo-
ment on the sea of faces, grasped wildly
at his throat, and fell to the floor of the
box in fit.
Amid thrill of such sensations 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 anticipation-had
been his punishment IN this world.
Peters, it appeared, had gone down to
see him at Richmond, and while waiting
in the library had, in the instructive pur-
suit OF his profession, turned over the
leaves of the blotting book. The cipher
caught his eye, but the merchant entering
at that moment. it was not until after he
left for town that Peters could get into the
house again, confirm his impression. and
with his strange piece of evidence follow
to London by later train.
For few hours after the merchants
death it seemed one of those motiveess
murders that upset all calculations. But
among his papers was found the key He
had lost great sums by deep play at a
West-end club. His father was then i'll,
his needs were most pressing. He had al
ready far exceeded his right to draw upon
the firm; to get more he deposited forged
acceptances. At his fathers death the
cashier discovered this, and though the
junior partner was now able to refund the
money. Critchlow held the forgeries in
terrorem over him. Parkman secretive,
yet fierce, took his life.
OF him enough. For Earnest Crisp, he
married Ethel three weeks later, and there
are already three small Crisps in the nur-
sery, with whom this strange story of the
Mansion House justice room will some
day be household word, and be in their
mouths, as it is in those of the justice-roem
officials, "often remembered. "-London
S0ctetu.