National Republican., 1885-10-31
SOUGHT HIS 1xuER1rANcE.

case charged against my client was one OF
shocking atrocity, the murder OF his own
child. Arthur berkeley, the prisoner, hui
married Edith Granger, wealthy heiress,
whose father had died, leaving his whole
fortune, to the exclusion of a proilgate son
whom he had disinhcrited and driven from
his home
Mrs. Berkeley died within yeorattor her
marriage, leaving an infant few weeks
old, feeble little creature, requiring con
staht and assiduous care. Indeed, DR..
Baldwin almost took up his quarters in the
house, often passing the night there that
lie might be at hand in case OF need.
One of these nights the doctor, as he after
ward stated in his evidence, after retiring
to his bed feeling solcitous about his lit
tie charge, got up and stole softly TO the
nursery to see II everything was all right
He found the door ajar aud q dim light
turning within. As he advanced he dis
tinctly saw Arthur Berkeley standing by
the cradle, holding TO the chlld's mouth the
bottle from which IL was accustomed TO re-
ceive its food. At the sound of the doctor's
footsteps he put down the bottle and stealth
lily left the apartment.
Not a little surprised at these movements,
the doctor approached and laid his hlud
upon the child's face, which he found IN
violent commissions, which were followed In
few seconds by the stiffness of death.
A post.mortem examination placed II be-
yond doubt that prussic acid had been adj
ministcred. ana an examination OF the bot
tie proved that the milk In II contained IL
large quantity of the same deadly poison.
On this evidence Berkeley 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.
Berkeloy's previous character had been
good. lie had always appeared gentle and
kind; had been devoted husband, and
during the brief period of its life had shown
the tenderost attachment to his child.
In my conferences with him he seemed
overwhelmed with grief, but strcnuously
denied all imputations 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.
DIR. Baldwin was the first and chief wit
ness. lie told his story clearly and method
| ically, and II was easy TO see IL carried
conviction to the jury. My rigid cross-ex-
| animation only served to bring out the evil
dence with more distinctness of detail.
elected the fact, for instance, that the
| child's nurse lay I'm the same room; that she
was asleep when the doctor entered, and 1t
was to her he first communicated the fact
Of the child's death.
The doctor had only recently settled
| among us, DuJ Ills COUuuCb Huu DbcH 80 cN-
| emplary that he had made many friends.
| lie had especially won the confidence of
the prisoner, as may be seen from the facts
| already stated. / interrogated him as 10 his
| past career, but brought out nothing to his
| credit.
The evidence of the chemist who made the
/ analysis was next put in, and the states at
torney ''restcd.n
81 have brought the nurse here,n he said
| lpt cIO tyhnr
entered, her evidence is unimportant.
thought 1t my duty to have her here, how
ever, to afford the other side an oppor
tunity to call her If they desire.'
Nothing could render the prisoners case
more hopeless than IL was already, while
something might come out to his advantage
81 will call the witness,n said.
She was q middle-aged woman of not un'
prepossessing appearance. Her agitation
was visible, and / noticed that In taking the
oath she laid her hand beside the book and
not upon IT, 81 ask that the witness be
sworn with her hand on the book,n said
calling attention to the omission.
The judge SO ordered, and the witness's
hand shook violently as she reluctantly
obeyed the direction, and the oath was re
administered.
asked few preliminary questions as tC
the hour Of her retiring, her falling asleep
&c.
"What is the next thing you remember H''
then asked.
The witness then hesitatcd.
"Answer the question: said his honor.
ell heard a noise rs II some one coming
into the room," she faltered.
"Did you see any one entcr?n
Another pause.
repeated the inquiry.
81 did, was the answer.
"What did the person doY"
The woman's face grew paler, and 1t was
with difficulty she found utterance.
"Iie came to the side Of the cradle" sht
said, ''with the bottle Of milk in his hand
and put 1t to baby's mouth"
The judge and state's attorney both ben
forward In eager attention. The latter, 1
was evident, had not expected this testl
moDy.
felt that my questions thus far had onl,
served to draw the halter closer about m.
clients neck. But had gone too far 4
retreat Ny voice trembled almost u
much as that of the witness as / pro
ceeded.
"Did you recognize the pcrsonS'
~ did," was the answer, scarcely audi
| BILE.
My clients life hung on the answer to tn
next question. The silence in the cour
room was deathlike. / dreaded to break II
The sound of my own voice startled m
NHtn epOht'
"Who was 1t ?" / asked.
Her lips moved, but no sound came.
"By the solemn oath you have taken o
that sacred book, and by your hopes Of sal
vation hereafter, adjure you to speak th
truth ~ said earnestly.
Her agitation was fearful to witness.
deadly pallor overspread her face. Slowl
raising her trembling hand and pointing t
DIR. Baldwin:
"That is the man !" she almost shrielled
Then, In quick, wild accents, she went o
to tell that, on finding himself discovered b
reason of her waking, the culprit who wa
none other than George Granger, Mr.
Berkeley's proaigate brother, had disclose
to her that his purpose was to regain III
lost inheritance by putting out of the wa
those who stood between him and 1t, prom
Using the witness to provide for her hant
somely II she kept his secret, but when pu
, to the test she had found herself unable t
violate her solemn oath.
, George Granger, alias DIR. Baldwin, woul
, have left the court room, but an officer wa
ordered TO detain him, and when his dl
guise was removed, though he had been al
, sent many years, there were many preser
, who could testify TO his identity.
, My client was acquitted on the spot, an
his cell in prison was that night occupie
by his false accuser.
In Cage.