The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-04-29
SOUGHT saas a~ssERa


true spirit of F." a minister of reconciliation. "
H. NJ f.
SOU&sM SAT MIs aNsaEsga rANCE.
1t was an unpopular case to defend.
The case charged against my client was
one of shocking alrocity, the murder of
his own child Arthur Berkeley, the pris-
oner, had married Filth Granger, a
wealthy hciress, whose father had died,
leaving her his whole fortune, to the ex-
clusion of priligate son whom he had
dsinherited and rivcn from his home.
Mrs. Berkely died within Il year after
her marriage, leaving an iufant a few
weeks old, a feeble little creature, requir-
ing constant and assiduous care. Indeed,
DR.. Baldwin almost 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 the doctor, as he
at.erward stated in his evidence, after re-
firing to bed, feeling solicitious about, his
little charge, got up and stole softly to
the nursery to see if everything was all
right.
lie found the door a ar and dim light
burning within. AS he advanced he dis,
tinctly saw Arthur Berkeley standing 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 little surprised at these move
ments the doctor approached and laid his
hand 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 it
beyond 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
dready poison
On this evidence Berkeley was arrested
An indicted for murder. An incentive to
the crime was found in the fact that as
heir to his child he would inherit the for
tune which had descended to the latter
through the death of its mother.
Berkeley's previous character had been
good. lie lad always appeared gentle
ana kind had been a devoted husband,
and during the brief period of its life had
shown the tenderest attachment to his
child.
In nv conferences with him he seemed
overwhelmed with grief, but strennously
denied all imputa;ions 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
witness. He told his story clearly and
methodically, and it was easy to see it
carried conviction to the jury. My rigid
cross-examination only served to bring
out the evidence with more distinctness
of detail. elicited the fact, for instance,
that the child's nurse lay in the same
room; that she was asleep when the doc
tor entered, and it was to her he first
communicated the racJ Of the chi'd'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 won the confidence of
the prisoner, as may be seen from the facts
already stated. interrogatcd him as to
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 attorney rested"
81 have brought the nurse here" he
said, but as she was asleep when the
prisoner entered her evidence is unimpor-
tant. | thought it my duty to have her
here. however, to afford the other side an
opportunity to call her if they desire"
Nothing could render the prisoners
case more hopeless than it was already,
while something might come out to his
advantage.
al will call the Witness" | said.
She was a middlc-aged woman of not
unprepossessing appearance. Her agl-
ta:ion 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" said, calling attention to the
omission.
The Judge so ordered, and the witness
hand shook violently as she reluctantly
obeyed the direction, and the oath was
readministered.
asked few preliminary questions as
to the hour of her retiring, her falling
asleep, etc.
"What is the next thing you remem-
ber p | then asked.
The witness then htsitated.
Answer the question" said his honor.
"I-I heard noise ~ if some one
coming into the roOm," she faltered
"Did You see any one enter?'
Another pause
| repeat the inquiry.
81 did," was the answer.
"What did the person do?"
The woman's face grew pale, and it
was With difficulty she found utterance.
He came to the side of the CRADLE y
she said, Z" with the bottle of milk in his
hand, and put it to baby's mouth"
The judge and states attorney bent
forward in eager attention. The latter
it was evident, had not expected this tes
timony.
felt that my question thus far had
only served to draw the halter closer
about my clients neck. But had gone
too far to retreat. My voice trembled
| almost as much as that of the witness az
proceeded.
"Did you recognize the person p
"I did, was the answer, scarcely aud
ible.
NV clients life hung on the answer tc
the next question. The silence in the
court room was death-like. dreaded te
break it. The sound of my own voice
startled me when spoke.
| UVho uos II -, askod