Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-24
CHAPTER v.

care you engaged to marry the ac-
cused?v
This was not the 6fst question put to
the witness, bat it was the first that prom
ised to afford the spectators, who occupied
every inch OF floor in the justice room, the
slightest return for the trouble they had
| taken. The city were talking of nothing
but the Critchlow tragedy; and even in
Cheapside the excitement WAS plainly
Visible. Every one who could win an
entrance, and was not engaged elsewhere,
was there. 1t was rumored that the
matter was now as clear as the murder
was dlabolical, AMI that the young man
would certainly be committed for trial
to-day. Among the persons pointed at,
and scanned and sketched by the crowd
in that close green-painted court, with
the one widow and the skylight, was Mr..
Parkman; and close observers noted that
his eyes would now and again turn from
wandering over the court to cast a look OF
anxiety, of expectation, almost Of dread,
toward the door.
But listen. The witness has answered
the question braFelY. 81 am" r-YrTrfs
'Ahd he was in the habit OF com hJlni-
eating with you BY cipher advertisement
similar iIs to the one PRODUCER - III a
did be communicate with you by an
advertisement appearing ia the Standard
on the Friday before the murderp
''He did not.p 8ot4 d lo4
"Were yOu,' said the counsel, smiling,
''uader the impression last Saturday
that the advertisement emanated from
| him?p anf
Il was. Butyo mustlet me explain"
And with great stead mess she stated her
reason for so thinking, aud what she had
understood The message to mean, aud why
she did not now think Ernest the author
OF It. This caused great sensation. The
strange cipher advertisement was fact
quite new 10 the general public.
"Do l understand you TO- think, then,
Miss Maunder, that the person, whoever
he was, who inserted this advertisement
was also the murderer
IL don't know" she faltered. Then
with courage: ayes, do think So"
He smiled calmly as he looked round.
1t was evident he thought nothing Of the
girls theory, but believed Crisp 10 be both
author and murderer Others in court
also smiled and shook their heads. Her
idea Was too complex and far fetched for
them. They could not swallow it, in vul-
gar phrase.
She vas taken then through the events
OF the Saturday afternoon, and examined
particularly as 10 the prisoners state
ments about the deceased. Atterward
the solicitor for the defense, we'll known
10 be employed by Mr.. Parkman, drew
from her all that might tell IN the prisoners
favor; and then, casting one long, loving
look OF comfort 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 unlmportant witnesses
followed. the medical evidence succeeded
these, and then MIR. Parkman was called.
AS he took of his glove many sympathiZ.
ing glances we're cast at his handsome
figure and grave face. What a trouble
and annoyance II must have been to him !
What loss ~ be deprived Of his two
chief employees at once And then how
rich he was said TO be; and almost FASH
iOnable too, for was he not going 10 be
married 10 the Hon. Sylvestra HautDani
Even the Lord Mayor could hardly re-
frain from leaning forward In his great
oak chair 10 look his sympathy.
"rhe prisoner has been "A clerk in the
employment " your firm for nearly four
teen years, Mr.. ParkmanY That was
the first question OF any interest.
ale has. He has been n most faithful,
steady, and upright man In all his deal
ings with u.s."
This was gallant testimony, but what
could IL avail against lactsy IL only
evoked look Of warm gratitude from the
prisoner. Mr.. Parkman then went on TO
tell what he knew OF the differences be-
tween CrtchlOw and the prisoner, and
the unfrendly mention OF the cashier,
which Crisp had made in their last con-
versatiOn. But he told this 30 reluctantly
that tho examining barr.ster vas struck
by bis bias In she prisoners favor, and
asked him with a smile; "And do you
think that the same person inserted the
advertisement and committed tie
murdorry