The Penn's Grove record., 1885-09-12
Hsr solemn Oatn'

uAE4a ALlANASA 49,
the EXCLUSION of a profigate son, whom
he Rad disinherited and driven from his
home.
Mrs. Berkeley died withina year after
her marriage, leaving an infant rev
weeks old. a feeble little creature, re-
ouiring constant and sssidHous care.
Indeed. DR.. Baldwin almost took up ms
quarters In the house, often passing the
NIGHT there. that he might be at hand
IN cas- Of need.
One Of these nights the doctor, as he
afterward stated in his evidence, after
retiring to bed, feeling solicitous about
his little charge, got up and Q softly
TO the nursery to see If everything was
all right.
He found the door ajar and a dim
light burning within. As he advanced
he distinctly saw Arthur Berkeley stand
inc by the cradle, holding to the childas
month the bottle from which It was ac-
customed to receive its food. At the
sound of the Doctors footsteps he put
down the bottle and stealthtly left the
apartment.
Not a little surprised at these move
ments the doctor approached n lald
his hand upon the child's face, swhlch
he found in violent commissions, which
were followed In a few seconds by the
stiffness of death. -.
A post-morten examination placed 1t
beyond doubt that prusslc aclo a
been administered, and an examination
of the bottle proved that the milk Ia 1t
contained a large quantity OF the same
deadly poison.
On this evidence Berkly was arrested
and indicted for 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's previous character was
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 i%mpatations Of guilt,
asserting that he had not gone to the
nursery after retiring that night till
called by the ALA N of the child's death.
DR.. Baldwin was the first and chief
witness. He told his story clearly and
methodically; and it was easy to see 1t
carried conviction to the jury. My
rigid cross examination only served to
bring out the evidence with more dis
tinctness of detail. elected the fact,
for instance, that the child's nurse lay
In the same room; that she was asleep
when the doctor entered, and that it was
to her he first att ibuted the child's
death.
The doctor had only recently settled
among lis, but his conduct had been so
exemplary that he had made many
friends. He had especially won the
confidence OF the prisoner. as may be
seen from the facts already stated. j
Intercepted as to his past career, but
brought out nothing to his d~iscredit.
The evidence of the chemist who
made the analysis was next put IN, and
the States Attorney rested"
81 have brought the nurse here, y he
said, ''but as sue vas asleep when the
prisoner entered her evidence is unlm-
portant. l thought it my duty to have
her here, however, to afford the other
side the opportunity to call her If they
desire,n
Nothing could render the prisoners
case more hopeless than it was already,
something might come out to his
advantage.
81 will call the Witness" [ said.
She was a mlddle-aged woman of not
ln-prepossessing appearance. Her agi-
alton was visible, and l noticed that in
the oath she laid her hand beside
,he book instead of upon it. 81 ask that
he witness be sworn with her hand on
he book" | said, calling attention to
he omission.
The Judge so ordered, and the wit
less'. hand shook violently ssshe reluc-
antly obeyed the direction, and the oath
vas readministered.
l asked a few preliminary questions
rs to the hour of her retiring, her fall
asleep, etc.
What Is the next thing you remem-
oer2" ! then asked.
The witness hesitated.
"Answer the question:" said his
Honor.
ST. heard a noise as of some one
into the room - she faltered.
ibid you see any one enterp"
Another pause.
l repeated the inquiry.
"Idid," wa the answer.
"What did the person dopo
The woman's face grew paler, and ii
was with difficulty she found utterance.
'He came to the side of the cradle,'
she said, ''with 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, it was evident, had not expected
this testimony.
l felt that my questions. thus far had
served to draw the halter closer
about my clients neck. But l had gone
too far to retreat. My voice trembled
almost as much as that of the witness
as l proceeded.
ibid you recognize the personP"
81 did, was the answer, scarcely
audible.
My clients life hung on the answer
to the next question. The silence in the
court room was death-like. l dreaded
to break it. The sound of my own voice
startled me when l spoke.
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, l adiure you to
speak the truthl' | SAID earnestly.
Her agitation was fearful to witness.
A deadly pallor o%yerspread her face.
raising her trembling hand, and
pointing at DIR. Baldwin:
THAT is the mani" she almost Shrek
ed.
Then, In quick, wild accents, she
went on to tell that on finding himself
discovered by reason of her waking, the
culprit who was none other than George
Granger, Mrs. Berkeley's profiigate
brother, had disclosed to her that his
purpose vas to regain his lost inherit
by putting out of the way those
who stood between him and it, promis-
ing the witness to provide for her hand,
somely if she kept his secret, but when
put to the test she had found herself
unable to violate her solemn oath.
George Granger, alias DIR. Baldwin,
would have left the court room, but an
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