Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-05-06

Q. At what time was that?
A. About half-past ten; perhaps few
minutes later.
Q. What was your object in visiting your
uncle's room at that houra
A. was in straits for money, and-(here
the accused hesitated).
| Q. And you meant to borrow from him?
| A. No did not mean that. l know that
| what am about to say must seem almost in
credible, but it is the fact. Ny uncle owed
me money 1 came here to ask it back.
| @. How did you gain access to the room?
| A. entered by the window of the cabinet,
having climbed up from the court below with
the aid of the trellis-work.
Q. Why did you adopt this means of enter
| ing your unce's rooml
| A. Because he had previously refused me
| admission and had ordered the people of tha
| house to expel me if I ever showed myself
| again.
Q. Well, and what after entering the cab
| met!
A opened the door, and, looking into this
room, saw
O. What?
A. CArJer moments hesitation on the part
Of Girard, who betrayed considerable hesita-
| tion) l saw the corpse of my uncle lying in a
pool of blood in front of his writing table.
q. What did you do then?
A. l was horror-stricken, and for some Sec
onds could not move a limb; felt as if para
lyzed. Iadvancel into the ROOM which was
Lit by one candle, then almost expiring. My
uncles body lay ri in a heap, as if he had
fallen from his clair on being struck from
behind. Blood still oozed from his mouth,
but he was quite dead; of that assured my
= l., 10 ~
blood still wet upon it.
O. Would you recognize the dagger which
you say you found lying beside your uncles
corpse, if it were shown you again?
A. Yes, could identify it with ease.
Q. Is that the daggers Here the accused
was shown the poniard found beside the body
of Meissner, and lately exhibited at the
Morgue.)
A. Yes, that is the weapon I saw.
.. Had you ever seen this weapon befores
A. had seen, if not this weapon, at all
events one so closely resembling it that it
would be difficult to distinguish between
them. My uncle on one occasion gave me
japanese dagger which was an exact coun-
terpart of the one found beside his corpse.
O. When did he give you this dagger.
A. About two years ago, as nearly as can
remember.
Q. What has become of it nows
A. l sold it shortly after it came into my
possession.
Q. The dagger which you say was given
you by your uncle had a sheath; can you de-
scribe itF'
A. The sheath was made of green silk and
dark lacquered wood, and in shape resembled
closed fam
Q. 1t was, then, like thiss (Here the ac-
cused was shown a sheath of dagger taken
from the private collection of NJ. de st.
Florent, an exact counterpart of the weapon
used in the murder of MeisSner).
A. Like that, exactly.
q. After finding, as you say, the corpse of
Melssner lying before the writing table, did
you disturb any of the articles in the room?-
did you open any of the drawers, or remove
angling fro-l the lock-fast places!
A. Assuredly not; after seeing my uncle's
body, l had but one impulse-to escape from
the room as quickly as possible; that is, as
soon as had recovered from the shock of the
dreadful spectacle.
O. How long do you suppose you We're ih
the room!
A. should imagine, for several minutes
only.
O. And you left it, howl
A BY the same way that had entered it
by the window of the cabinet; clambered
down the trellis-work and then hastened from
The court.
q You see this ivory wrist-stud which has