The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-26

enr. lie aureT T1aJ no news or I7ITs CON
signment had since then been heard of:
but that, as the foreign correspondent
was in Paris, it was thought that the
/ hostilties now existing between France
and Germany had caused the plan of
sending the jewels to be abandoned.
I Mr.. Trent, after dinner, had left the
club, saying that he thought of going
up town. He was then looking well and
/ cheerful.
John Simpson, an ex-soldier, testified
that he had long been acquainted with
Mr.. Trent, and had latterly been serving,
in conjunction with his wife, as care
taker of the new house. Mr.. Trent had
frequently come to the house alone, but
never to spend the night until February
twenty-five He had come in that night
about nine o'clock, and gone up to the
/ library. He was alone, and seemed not
to expect callers.
| We will for a moment interrupt Mr..
Simpsons testimony at this point to give
that of Peter Ferguson, porter of the
Federal club, to the effect that, at about
ten o'clock on the night of February
twenty-five, gentleman giving his
name rs Keppel Darke had called at the
| club to ask for Mr.. Harry Trent. Fer
/ guson had told him that he was not in,
but, being further questioned by Mr..
/ Darke, had said that, for all he knew,
Mr.. Trent might have gone up town to
! look at his new house. Mr.. Darke Pad
thereupon taken his departure. Fergu-
son had noticed that he carried some
thing wrapped up in paper in his hand.
To return to Mr.. Simpson. He said
that at about haf-past ten o'clock he
/ had heard Il ring at the door of the new
/ house, and on opening the door had seen
! the prisoner, Keppel Darke, who asked
| to see Mr. Trent on important business.
He had in his hand u long paper bundle.
Witness admitted him, and he went up
stairs. How long he remained witness
! did not know, as he had not heard him
go out. Witness then described how he
had found Mr.. Trent dead on the floor
of his study the next morning with
dagger in his back. Witness had admit
ted no one but Darke into the house that
| night.
The dagger was produced in court and
identified by Simpson. 1t was of Japa-
nese manufacture, very sharp, with
curious Y carved hilt
Mrs. Simpson, called by the defense,
testified that between eleven and twelve
! o'clock on the night of February twenty
five, she and her husband being then in
bed. and her husband asleep, she had re-
membered having left candle burning
i'll an upper room Of the house. She had
feared possible fire. and had therefore
put on her dressing gown and gone up
stairs to put out the candle. AS she
passed the library door she looked
through, it being ajar, and saw Harry
Trent and another gentleman talking
together. The other gentleman was
short-shorter by good deal than Mr..
Trent-and had dark beard or whis-
kers. she had only a glimpse of him in
passing; he stood rather sidewise toward
her She did not think he was seated,
but could not swear that he was not.
She was sure she saw hair on his face.
He did not at all resemble the prisoner.
'J4AS was ''bl1 w SolfC lIO "a III
his being in the house. Mrs SIMPSONS
evidence was the only thing of any
weight brought out in favor of Darke,
but the old lady weakened little under
the district attorneys severe cross-ex-
animation.
Daniel Parker, a policeman on duty
near the house on the morning of Feb
rUary twenty-six testified that he was
summoned by the witness Simpson at
fifteen minutes past six a. M, and de-
scribed the position in which he found
the body. After making brief survey
of the premises he got assistance and
communicated with the captain of his
precinct.
Frank Munroe, a detective, said that
the case had been put in the hands of the
detective bureau at eight o'clock on the
morning of February twenty-six, and
that he had been detailed to investi-
gate it. There was safe in the study
at the new house; it was open, and
it contained papers; by whom it had
been opened, and whether or not any
papers or valuables had been alb
stracted from it, there was nothing to
show. The windows of the rooms were
close and fastened there was no sign
anywhere of forcible entry. From in
formation he obtained, he believed that
the prisoner, Keppel Darke, was the last
person with Mr.. Trent before the lat
ter's death. He obtained warrant for
his arrest, and served it on him at his
studio in West Twenty-third street, at
ten minutes before eleven o'clock a. IN.
February twenty-six. The prisoner, just
before his arrest, was overheard to say
something about killing the deceased. On
being arrested he asserted his innocence
Olympia Raven gave her evidenccHery
quietly and clearly. She had known the
prisoner for year She had commits
stoned him to paint her portrait for pre-
sentation to the deceased. The twenty
fifth of February was the day appointed
for the last sitting. She had arrived
with her mother at the studio at half
past ten. The prisoner had informed
her that Mr. Trent had told him the
night before that he was contemplating
marriage with her. She had denied the
truth of this, and her denial had brought
out the avowal of the prisoners love for
L I