Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-15

testify that they had seen the weapon
several times lying on the bureau in
Mr.. Velasquez's room.
Other witnesses followed, who spoke
in glowing terms of Anton's character,
and then the Judge commenced to
charge the jury. He told them that the
guilt could not be justly transferred
from the shoulders OF the prisoner to
those of Velasquez on the evidence given
and made prolonged reference to An
tons angry talk with Delaro and the
fact that he followed the murdered
man out of the cellars.
The Judge was just suggesting the
reasonableness and probability of Rey-
man having committed the foul deed,
when Percy Lovel, who had been care
fully scrutinizing the stiletto. inter-
rupted.
The young fellow had noticed that
the point of the weapon was broken.
Only an extremely small fragment of
the point was missing, but it was large
enough to be noticed. He handed the
dagger to the lawyer for the defense and
drew his attention to the fact. The
lawyer understood it's purport IN a mo-
ment.
IN rather rude and hasty manner,
called upon the Judge to desist in his
| summing up, and asked that further
| evidence be taken.
The Judge, who was strictly impair
| tial, remarked that in such q case it was
hardly possible that so blunt = point
| could have penetrated the dead mans
body as deeply as Delaro's wound, but
| that this was a matter worthy the ut
most consideration Of the jury.
| Eyes, indeed it is, your honor" said
the lawyer for the defense; but per-
| NIT me to suggest that measures be at
once taken to find the point of this
| weapon before this man Reyman is I'M
justly convicted. The most likely place
to find it would be in Delaro's body, and
if it is, then there will not be much
doubt as to the identity of the actual
murderer"
1T seems hardly credible that it could
have broken off inside of the body"
suggested the Judge; 1--WE can consult
some professional advice on the mat
ter"
Then the best man to get that ad-
vice from is Joel Wilcox" was the law
yer's reply.
Let Joel Wilcox be called to the
stand" said the judge to the usher.
Upon being sworn Wilcox gave his
| opinion, as an old blacksmith and as
man who had worked all kinds Of both
iron and steel, hot or cold. Said he:
1T the point of the stiletto had not
been properly tempered. it is highly
probable that in striking against bone
in a mans body it would break off,
''Then the body shall be exhumed
and the piece of steel sought for" said
the Judge. Whereupon the court adj
journed until the following day.
That same afternoon che body of
Delaro was exhumed and sure enough.
the piece of steel was found sticking
to the bottom Of the left shoulder blade.
The doctor produced the fragment
| next day in court and it was found to
fit exactly to the stiletto.
Then the judge completed his charge.
but on vastly different lines. the conse-
| quence being that Anton was discharged
without the jury once having to leave
their seats.
out and one of the first men who met
him was Joel Wilcox.
Anton" he said, lit was / that
bought the Posada vineyards, and /
hope, my boy, you will go back to your
|
It was light-hearted and yet sad
| party that went back to San Paola that
night for few of them had yet forgot
ten the memory OF their lost friend
And Wilcox, kind old fellow that he
was, went that night to try and console
the desolate widoN. and informed her
that he had arranged to render all pos
sible assistance to the detectives in
| capturing the murderer
At the conclusion Of the interview, at
| which Percy Lowell was present, they
all decided to leave San Paola at once
Mrs. Delaro to go to her friends and
Wilcox and his young aide to follow in
the wake of the guilty man.
| CHAPTER VI
ST Mr.. Wilcox and Percy are not back
here in week we might as well return
to New York. 1t is getting late In the
A oxA nao1I1 rAn 80