St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-07


must consider that That is a new ideaw
CHAPTER V.
"Are you engaged to marry the ac-
cused?"
This was not the first question put to
the witness, but it was the first that prom
lSed to afford the spectators, who Occu-
pied 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 Wis
| ible. 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 diabolical, and that
the young man would certainly be COM
mitted for trial to-day. Among the per-
sons pointed at, and scanned and sketched
| by the crowd in that close green painted
court, with the one window and the sky
| light, was Mr.. Parkman; and close observ-
ers 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
tile question bravely. 81 am"
.''And he was in the habit of commune
eating with you by cipher advertisements
similar to the one l producer
''He was" ........
''Did he communicate with your by an
advertisement appearing in the Standard
ON the Friday before the msrder?"
"He did not"
''Were you," said the counsel, smiling,
under the impression last Saturday that
the advertisement emanated from him?"
81 was. But let me explain" And
| with great steadiness she stated her reasons
| for so thinking, and what she had under
stood the message to mean, and why she
did not now think Ernest the author of it.
This caused great sensation. The strange
| cipher advertisement was fact quite new
to the general public.
do / understand you to think, then,
Miss Maunder, that the person, whoever he
was, who inserted this advertisement was
also the murderer"
81 don't know she faltered. Then
with courage. Eyes, do think So"
He smiled calmly as he looked around.
1t was evident that he thought nothing of
the girls theory, but believed Crisp to 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 yul
gar phrase.
She was taken then through the Saturday
afternoon, and examined particularly as to
the prisoners statements about the de-
ceased. Afterward the solicitor for the de-
Tense, well known to 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 wis
dom of the law.
Two or three unimportant witnesses fol-
lowed, the medical evidence succeeded 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! What loss to
be deprived 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. Sylves-
ira 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 clerk in the
employment of your firm for nearly four
teen years, MI. Parkman?" That was the
first question of any interest.
"He has. He has been most faithful,
steady and upright man in all his dealings
with U.S. 4
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 difference between Critchlow
and the prisoner, and the unfriendly men
ton 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 IA
vor and asked with smile: ''And do you
think that the same person inserted the adj
vertisement 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, 81 do"
''And so do L." said the counsel dryly,
and was about to sit down with that quip
in his mouth when there was a hustle at
the door. Some glanced that way impa-
tiently, and some expectantly; what was
the expression of Mr.. PaRkman's face it
was hard to say. 1t was almost baffied,
hunted look that came into his light blue
eyes, and the hand whichhe raised to stroke
his mustache scarcely hid an odd contrac-
ton of the mouth. The noise ceased as
burly man pushed his way 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 will
ing ear to his whisper. Then hurried
and seemingly exciting conference went on
between these two and the solicitor for the
defense and one OF two others 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 witness, Mr.. Banck
worth?"
Thus recalled to himself, Mr.. Banckworth
rose from his STOPPING position and seemed
to hesitate. Finally he said with an air of
reluctance, eyes, my lord, L fear l have.
Mr.. Parkman, did understand you to give it
as your opinion that whoever inserted that
advertisement committed this murder?"
A strange pause, then, in an equally
strange, hoarse tone, eyes"
SIS that" holding up Russia-leather
plotting case filled with green blotting pa
per- 1.-THE blotting case you use in your Ii
brary at Richmond"
1t sounded, apart from the sudden pro-
duction of the case, a harmless question
enough And yet how was it that through
all that crowded court everyone felt the ter
rible nature of the silence which followed?
Was that ordinary looking case gorgon's
head, that at sight of it the perspiration
should spring in great beads to the witness
forehead and his mouth should writhe in
vain attempt to speak. He couldn't. He
couldn't. In the end he only nodded.
'9Then can you explain" the lawyer
asked solemnly, chow 1t happens that upon
a page of this blotting paper there appears
in printed characters reverse impression
of the latter part of this advertisements
The crisis had come, the worst had hap
pened, and yet. even now some cool plaus
ible reason might avail him. Now was the
time for ready brain and steady pulse;