Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-25
antly, with flash of indignation at Mr..

"Yes-yes.
''When?''
''On her way upstairs.
''What did she say?'
''You know what she said, - burst out
Mary, in fit of womanly petulance, al
most crying with rage and vexation.
g want you to tell US, if you please,
said the coroner with calm kiudliness.
''She said, why did do it? - muir
INJURED poor Mary.
''Anyting else?'
''Yes-and-' Il dare not tell him. -
'sWhat time did she come in?''
GA quarter to two"
''YOu can swear to that?''
81 can.
''Do you recognize this?'' And once
more the pearl handled knife was pro-
duced
"'Yes-yes. 1t is hers"
"Whose?''
"Miss Ennis -
A shudder of surprise ran through the
spectators, for when Miss Ennis had her
self claimed it on the previous occasion
no one was aware of the circumstances of
its discovery, and its consequent impoT-
lance.
Mrs. Harrod was another witness
whom Mr.. Padger's diligence had I'M
earthed. She knew Mrs. Ennis quite
well by sight, and had occupied the ma
chine next to hers on the day of the muir
der. She was in the water about 1856
o clock, when she heard a sort of gasp
from the next machine.
Was it a cry of fear or pain?
"'No; it was, as l have said, sort OF
surprised gasp, as if some one had found
the water colder than she expected. -
FDld you hear any further sound!'
emo; nothing whatever.
"Did you see anything unusual?'
"Nothing; the hoods of the machine
prevented that. -
Miss Harrod, daughter of the above,
confirmed her mother evidence.
''Miss Gertrude Ennis, - said the coro
ner after pause.
A buzz of excitement followed, but
was instantly suppressed, and every eye
was turned upon her as she rose from her
seat. Every eye save one, for though
she seemed TO Mr.. Padger to cast doubt
ful glance in the direction of the young
doctor, he kept his eyes fixed firmly on
the ground before him. A sOundless
culver of expectation thrilled everyone
as she took her place, like the wave that
fits along a cornfeld beneath the feet Of
the wind To some her association with
the knife was sufficient proof of her guilt,
to others her beauty was confirmation of
her innocence.
For some minutes the coroner remained
absorbed apparently in studying his
notes, while Gertrude gaZed calmly
round the room. Not man in the room
doubted her innocence; scarcely woman
believed in il.
''You left the machine at half past
twelve, you say, - said the coroner, sud-
denly.
cat half past twelve. "
"'Where did you go?''
Home. -
''Straight hOme?''
Gertrude flushed, but remained silent.
81 must caution you that you are on
your oath. Did you 90 straight home? -
Still there was no answer, and Mr..
Padger was aware OF a curious tingling
sensation in his spine.
''Do you decline to answer?'
a silence perfectly terrible in its COM
p1eteness followed, while she slowly
bowed her head without speaking.
CHOW long does it take to go from the
bathing place to your fathers hOuse?'
about twenty minutes. -
''Why did you take an hour and a
quarter?''
81 cannot tell you.
''You mean that you will not -
Gertrude flushed again, but did not re-
I ply.
''where were you in the meantime?''
81 cannot tell you. -
''You refuse to give any account of
your actions between half past twelve
and quarter before twO?''
al do. -
every well. That will do. -
A deep sigh rustled through the room
as each OF the spectators drew in his
breath after the strained suspense of the
last few minutes. The coroner consulted
his notes carefully for some time and
then he began to address the jury. He
summed up dispassiOnately. Having
| counted the medical evidence, and
proved from the position in which the
knife was found that Mrs. Ennis could
not possibly have flung it away after
stabbing herself, he reminded the jury
| that though the circumstances were I'M
doubtedly suspicious there was no abso-
| lutte proof that the knife produced was
tee weapon used to perpetrate the crime,
| and having succinctly stated the rest of
! the dispositions he dismissed them to con-
| slider their verdict.
Time dragged WeaFlly along, anu SIllI
| they renamed absent. As minute after
minnie rolled away the excitement grew
more and more intense. The dinner
hour of many of the audience passed but
| not a soul moved from the place. The
tension already extreme became almost
unbearable when two policemen entered
the room. Had the jury found Miss En-
MS guilty and was she about to be ar
! rested?
Mary Carne was sobbing bitterly, the
! young doctor pale as q ghost sat with a
look of fixed mental agony, Miss Ennis
alone appeared quite unmoved. Mr..
Padger, watching her closely, could not
| perceive a sign of emotion on her calm
| face. Either she was innocent, or she
was a most accomplished hypocrite?
! Which of the two was the case, he Won
! dered.
At the end of an hour and half the
! jury sent for the coroner, and he re-
manned absent about twenty minutes
but when he returned he returned alone
At length the tramp of feet was heard
in the passage, and the jury re-entared
the room. Everyone tried to read their
decision in their faces, but in vain.
After the usual formalities the fore