The Penn's Grove record., 1885-10-31
Her solemn oafn.

JUG VI ohUChiuO dlIOCily, Tie muIutI Ol
his W child. Arthur Berkeley, the
prisoner, had married Edith Granger, a
wealthy heiress, whose father had died,
leaving her his whole fortune, to the
exclusion OF a proaigate son, whom he
had disinheritsG and driven from his
home.
Mrs. Berkeley died within a year after
her marriage, leaving an infant a few
weeks old, a feeble little creature, re-
quiring constant and assiduous care.
Indeed, DIR. Baldwin almosl took up his
quarters in the house, often passing the
night there, that he might be at hand
in case Of need.
One of these nights as he afterward
stated in his evidence, after retiring to
bed, feeling ~solicitous about his little
charge, got up and stole softly to the
nursery to see If everything "a all
right.
He found the door ajar and a dim
light burning within. AS he advanced
he distinctly saw Arthur Berkeley stand
ing by the cradle, holding to the child's
mouth the bottle from which it was
accustomed to receive its food. At the
sound of the doctors footsteps he put
down the bottle and stealthily left the
apartment.
Not a little surprised at these move
ments the doctor approached and laid
his hand upon the child's fee, which
he found in violent commissions, which
were followed in a few seconds by the
stiffness of death
A post-mortem examination placed 1t
beyond a doubt that prussic acid had
been administered, and an examination
of the bottle proved that the milk In it
contained a large quantity of the same
deadly poison.
On this evidence Berkeley was arrested
and indicted of murder. An incentive
to the crime was found in the fact that
as heir to his child he would inherit the
fortune which had descended to the
latter through the death Of its mother.
Berkeley previous character had been
good. He had always appeared gentle
and kind; had been a devoted husband,
and during the brief period OF his life
had shown the tenderest attachment to
his child.
In my conferences with him he SEEM
ed overwhelmed with grief, but strenu-
ously denied all lmputations Of guilt,
asserting that he had not gone to the
nursery after retiring that night till
called by the alarm of the child'S death.
DR.. Baldwin was the first and chief
witness. He told his story clearly and
methodically; and 1T was easy to see it
carried conviction to the jury. My
rigid cross-examination only served to
bring out the evidence with more DIS
tinctness of detail. l ELECTED the fact,
Pos srreo..o0 Alok thu nht1I5o nrroo lou
in the same room; that she was asleep
when the doctor entered. and that 1t
was to her he first attributed the chlld's
death.
The doctor had only recently settled
among us, but his conduct had been SO
exemplary that he had made many
friends. He had especially o the
confidence of the prisoner, as may be
seen from the facts already stated. |
Intercepted as to his past career, but
brought out nothing to his discredit.
The evidence of the chemist who
made the analysis was next put in, and
the states attorney crested"
II have brought the nurse here" he
said, s.but as she was asleep when the
prisoner entered her evidence is unim-
portant. I thought it my duty to have
her here, however, TO afford the other
side the opportunity to call her if they
DESIRE"
Nothing could render the prisoners
case more hopeless thanit was already.
while something might come out to his
advantage.
81 will call the Witness" I said.
She was a middle-aged woman of not
= nrrannccoccinr onroornpaa HQr q nt.
tatlon was visible, and l noticed that in
taking the oath she laid her hand beside
the book and not upon 1t. 81 ask that
the witness be sworn with her hand on
the book" / said, calling attention to
the omission.
The judge SO ordered, and the wit
ness hand shook violently as she relac-
family obeyed the direction, and the
oath was readministered.
l asked a few preliminary questions
as to the hour of her retiring, her fall
ing asleep, etc.
"What is the next thing you remem-
ber?" / then asked.
The witness then hesitated.
ANSWER the question:" said his
Honor.
I'll heard a noise as of some one
coming into the room," she taltered.
ibid you see any n enterp"
Another pause.
/ repeated the inquiry.
81 did," was the answer
"What did the person dor"
The woman's face grew paler, and it
was with difficulty she found utterance.
stHe came to the side of the CRADLE"
she said, sswith the bottle Of milk in his
hand, and put it to baby's mouth"
The judge and states attorney both
bent forward in eager attention. The
latter, 1t was evident, had not expected
this testimony.
/ felt that my questions thus far had
only served to draw the halter closer
about my clients neck. But l had gone
too tar to retreat. My voice trembled
almost as much as that of the witness
as i proceeded.
aDid you recognize the ~person?"
81 did" was the answer, scarcely au-
dible.
My clients life hung on the answer
to the next question. The silence IN the
courtroom was death-like. l dreaded
to break it. The sound of my own voice
startled me when | spoke.
"Who was it?r / asked.
Her lips moved, but no sound came.
BY the solemn oath you have taken on
that sacred book, and by your hopes of
salvation hereafter, / adjure you to
speak the truthln l said, earnestly.
Her agitation was fearful to witness.
A deadly pallor o~verspread her face.
Slowly raising her trembling hand, and
pointing at DIR. Baldwin:
THAT is the manr' she almost
slHieked.
Then, in quick. wild accents, she
went on to tell that on finding himself
discovered by reason of her waking, the
culprit who was noneo other than George
Granger, Mrs. Berkley's profiigate
brother, had disclosed to her that his
purpose was to regain his lost Inherit
ance by putting out of the way those
who stood between HIM and it, promis-