Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-17

Z IN, but, Oelng Iurlner QueSIlOneu ny
MIR. Darke, had said that, for all he
knew, Mr.. Trent might have gone up
town TO look at his new house. Mr.
/ Darke had thereupon taken his depar-
ture. Ferguson had noticed that he
carried something wrapped up in paper
in his hand.
To return to Mr. Simpson. He said
that at about half-past ten o'clock he
had heard a 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 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
90 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 adj
mitted 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
curiouSly 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
/ in 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, il 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 glimpse of him in
passing; he stood rather sideways 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.
She was able TO give no explanation OF
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 a little under
the district attorneys severe crosS-ex-
animation.
Daniel Parker, a policeman on duty
near the house on the morning of Febru-
airy %, testified that he was summoned
by the witness Simpson at fifteen min
utes past six q. m, and described the
position in which he found the body.
After making brief survey of the
premises he got assistance and commu-
nicated with the captain of his precinct
Frank MunrOe, detective, said that
the case had been put in the hands OF
the detective bureau at eight o'clock on
the morning of February PC, ald that
he had been detailed TO investigate it,
There was a safe in, the study at the
new house; it was open, and
il contained papers; by whom it had
been opened, and whether or not any
papers or valuabeS had been distracted
from it, there was nothing TO show.
The windows of the rooms were close
and fastened; there was no sign any
where of forcible entry. From informa-
ton he obtained, he believed that the
prisoner, Keppel Darke, was the last
person with Mr.. Trent before the lat
ter'S death. He obtained a warrant for
his arrest, and served it on him at his
studio. in West Twenty-third street, at
ten minutes before eleven o'clock Il. M,
February twenty-SiX. The prisoner, just
before his arrest, was overheard to say
something about killing the deceased.
On being arrested he asserted his limo
cence.
Olympia Raven gave her evidence very
quietly and clearly. She had known
the prisoner for year. She had COM
miSSioned him to paint her portrait for
presentation 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 in
formed her that Mr.. Trent had told
him the night before that he was con-
templating marriage with her. She
had denied the truth of this, and her
denial had brought out the avowal Of the
prisoners love for her, which she had
reciprocated At that moment the
detective had entered and made the
arrest.
Cross-examined, she deposed that she
had frequently seen japanese knife
similar to the one produced at the
prisoners studio; she had admired it
greatly. She had noticed nothing in
the prison er's manner or speech at any
time that was inconsistent with his
perfect innocence of the charge. She
believed him utterly incapable Of such
a crime.
Mrs. Raven, recalled, said that she
had thought Mr.. Darke behaved very
laueerly on the morning of February
twenty-Six. He looked dSheveled aud
haggard, and was violent in his man
ner. She had supposed him to be in
toxrated.
DIR. Taylor deposed as to the appear
lance and character of the wound that
caused deceased'S death. The blade
had penetrated the left lung and reach
ed the heart The blow must have
been delivered by person standing be-
hind the victim. There was no sign Of
a struggle Death must have been in
Simultaneous.
Various witnesses testified to the pris-
Oner'S good social standing and previous
good character.
Mr.. Bannick, in his speech for the de-
Tense, admitted that the prisoner had
been i'm Mr.. Trent'S house on the night
of the murder, but asserted that he had
left it before eleven O'clock. He had
gone to ask Mr.. Trent'S assent to his
suit to Olympia Raven. Mr.. Trent, in
refusing it, had observed that he in
tended marrying her himself. This
statement, which was confirmed by the
testimony of Mrs. Raven, witness for
the prosecution, showed that the de-
ceased must have been man of loose
morals, for it had been shown that he
was at the time already married to an
other lady.
A man of loose morals is certain to