The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-10-15


b FOR him il might be said that he had not the
slightest reason to suspect foul play, while
| he was aware that deceased was at.
fiicted by epilepsy Fortunately for
the ends of justice, however. suspicious
were aroused; and on the day after Mr.
Mauleverer's funeral, at which the prisoner
at the bar attended as chief mourner, his
body was exhumed, and on an analysis OF
the contents of the stomach 1t was
discovered that his death was really
dus 10 large dose of strychnia.
All the evidence that could be obtained
pointed TO the conclusion that this poison
must have been administered somewhere
about the time when the prisoner last saw
the unfortunate man. How could it have
been administered The answer TO that
question was clear. Two persons only had
access to Mr.. Mauleverer about the time
when he unquestionably took the fatal dos,.
One of these was Green, the valet, and the
other was the prisoner at the bar. Now, in
Green's favor certain facts could at once be
ale .ed. One OF these was that he had never
been in the habit of administering drugs to
the deceased, and any attempt he might
make to do so could hardly have failed to
arouse Mr.. Mauleverer's suspicious The
prisoner, on the other hand, constantly mixed
and gave him his medicine. Next all their in
quiries ro'nted to the conclusion that Green
had absolutely nothing to gain by Mr..
Mauleverers death. The prisoner, on the
contrary, as he should show them presen tly,
had everything to gain by it, provided it
took place within certain period of time.
Lastly all inquiries which had been made
led to the belief that Green had not been in
the possession of any poison at the time
when the murder was committed. The
prisoner, it would be conclusively proved,
did possess poison, and poison exactly SINH
lar to that found In the body of Mr. Maui
leverer, few days before the death of that
gentleman.
Surely in these circumstances it was clear
that, inasmuch as, according to all known
laws, either Green or the prisoner ut the bar
had given the fatal dose to the deceased, it
was the latter whom they had the best rea-
son to suspect But the law mercifully de-
manded in cases Of this kind that some mo-
tive should be shown. some reason which
was likely to have led the accused person to
resort to desperate crime. He was sorry
to say that there would be no difficulty in
meeting this requirement of the law on the
present occasion He would bring forward
evidence to show that violent quarrel had
taken place between the deceased and tho
prisoner ut the bar shortly before the date Of
the murder. The quarrel was due to love
affair between the prisoner and a gentleman
of whom Mr.. Mauleverer did not approve as
pretender to the hand of his niece. There
had been painful scenes between Mr.. Maui
leverer and the prisoner, and witnesses, who
were strongly prejudiced in favor Of the
latter, would give evidence showing that
there was in reality.a very bitter feeling
on her part with regard to the ill-usage
which she conceived she had received
from her uncle. This was not all,
however IL would be shown that Mr.
Mauleverer. having executed will by
which all his vast wealth passed unreservedly
to the prisoner, had within week or two of
his death given instructions for the prepare
ton of a second will, under which, in the
event of her marrying the gentleman re-
ferred 10, she would receive only a compare
lively small legacy, whilst the rest of his
estate would be devoted to charitable pur-
poses. This will had not been signed ut the
time of Mr.. Mauleverer's death, in conse-
quence of the temporary absence from Eng
land of his usual legal adviser, by whom it
had been prepared. But the prisoner at the
bar knew Of its existence and knew further
that il would be duly executed as soon as
the attorney returned from abroad Here
then, they had what all must feel to be a
strong motive for the commission of this
crime. He did not wish to press hardly
upon the prisoner, whose youth and good
looks were well calculated to PROPOSES most
persons in her favor. But the jury had a
duty to discharge, and he could not see how,
after hearing the evidence which he was
about to lay before them, and which would
bear out the statement he had just made to
the fullest extent, they could find any other
verdict than that the prisoner at the bar
was, in very truth, guilty of having wifully
murdered Mr., George Mauleverer on the
night Of October "a
/ had nerved myself to listen to this terri
be Indictment of my darling without show
ing by any outward sign the effect which it
might have upon me; and up to a certain
point had done SO successfully. But when
the counsel spoke Of the quarrels between
Daisy and her uncle regarding myself, had
found it impossible to retain my composure.
My agitation must have been made more
visible when heard of the unsigned will by
which she was to be punished If she married
me. No mention had been made of this doc
ument in the examination before the magls-
trate, and was quite ignorant OF its exist
ence When Hawk spoke of it l started
visibly and looked at Daisy. Her face gave
not the slightest sign of emotion, and !
knew then that the prosecuting counsel had
reason for his declaration that Daisy was
aware of the existence Of the document. But
il that were the case, how was it that the
fact had only been publicly brought forward
now? Alasl remembered that notU Drank
some and Fosdyke could no longer be reck.
oned on our side. 1t must have been by Eos
dyke that this fatal piece Of evidence had
been revealed.
/ looked eagerly to where Belmore and
Harding sat together, anxious to judge IL
could from their faces what effect Hawks
statement had made upon them. Harding
was very grave, and even gloomy. Belmore,
ON the other hand, preserved the tranquil
and confident air which had inspired me
with hope when l first saw him.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE VERDICT.