The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-09-21

gent request of Edna. Was there 4
will?"
"Yes."
And how is ity'
There was an eager light in the
young doctors. eyes as he put the
qucstion.
"Everything goes to the widow"
"Jnfamousr' exclaimed DR.. Good.
ling. II tell You, sir, there's some.
thing wrong in this. That woman
| is a ficnd, solemnly believe. Can
you call her aside for few minutes
l was to investigate"
said thai l could. l was deeply
impressed with the revelations of The
young doctor.
l went at once and summoned
Mrs. Emerson. She was in deep dis,
tress and seemed to lean upon me;
had no trouble with her.
The doctor passed in and was at
the bedside half an hour alone.
1t was daybrcak when l met the
physician again.outsidc of the build
ing. His face was pale and he seem
ed deeply moved.
ut is as l suspected and feared
there has been foul play" said DR.
Gooding solcmnly.
"Foul playg'
"Yes; the old Squire was murder
ed"
l stared at the speaker in blank
astonishment.
"Say nothing to that woman Dr.
Gooding proceeded, "or she may take
the alarm. The poor old Squire
trusted her to his doom; he has sure
! ly been Systematically poisoned.
have found arsenic in his medicines
sufficient for a wicked purpose.
now have painful duty to perform
Ito search this house for the drug
1t must be concealed somewhere il
not all used"
.Ccrtainly," / asscnted in maze
of horror at the doctors revelation
We found ample opportunity to
search the house, and in the end w
found what was sought fora pack
age of arsenic in a closet. of Mrs
Emcrson's room.
The evidence was increasing. and
soon the truth burst upon me in al
its horror.
Immediately after the funeral, be
fore the will was read, Mrs. Emerson
was arrested for the murder of hel
husband. / was present at the time
.'Oh. my God!' was the wicked
woman's comment, the only ont
made. and then she went quietly Will
the officer.
| Ivisited her in jail soon after.
lam innocent, Mr.. Redwing: tha
is all l can tell you," was her sol'
reply to my anxious questioning.
! If You are innocent, who then il
guilty. l said quickly.
/ Il cannot tell you, sir. l know
nothing, only that l believe it is DR.
Gooding's work. The Squire dit
not like him, and it was at John
request that sent him away
Ardelia Emerson did not look lik
hardened criminal when she sait
that, but the evidence was accumu
lating to her ruin. l could thinl
only that she was guilty woman
and so l left her.
Of course there was post NOR
TEN. and it revealed enough arseni
in the dead mans stomach to xii
several.
No detective was needed in a cas-
of this kind; it was all plain sail
! ing, else / might have sent for m
old friend Steele Craft. of Chicago
who was and is one OF the kcenes
detectives in the professionalism
wards l regretted not doing so.
The trial came on.
The most important witness wa
DIR. Gooding. After him / va
sworn, and then Edna. The Squire
daughter had grown to be mos
beautiful woman of 20,and the stor
| of her iIl-treatment at the hands {
her step-mother brought tears to m
eyes.
1t will do no good to dwell upo
the trial. Everything went to bran
t Ardelia Emerson n murderess, an
: the Jury rendered vordict in acco
dance with the evidence.
c The sentence of the Court was
4 life term to the State prison. TT
4 prisoner did not faint, but she ";
I ghastly pale, and tottered a little
she was led from the room. sa
d her brief ten minutes before Il
prison walls shut her from the wor
: forever.
IL at is hard" she said. "to cndu
G living death for the sin of anot
er."
What could l say, believing as
d did that she was a guilty woman?
"Why not admit your guilt no
Mrs. Emerson"
g II am not guilty, SIR and the
D was look of reproof in her eyes
she made the assertion. At th
IS moment a doubt entered my mir
le but after leaving the presence of t
prisoner it soon vanished.
One year went by.
is Once more / stood under the bro
roof of the late Squire's home-"T