The morning call., 1892-12-21
STOLEN EVIDENCE.

was once retained by the defense in a
case where an innocent man came near for
feiting his life.
The facts were these: Mr.. Courtney.
rich old bachelor, had two nephews-Ed-
ward Horton, his sisters son, and Charles
Courtney, the son of his brother, who had
Inherited handsome fortune on the death
of his father.
Mr.. Courtney died suddenly. and IL was
discovered that it was the result of q dan
gerous prescription which Edward Horton
had received from the family physician and
had taken 10 drugstore to be filled.
The doctor, who was man Of reputation,
swoTe that another prescription had been
substituted containing dangerous poison.
OF course the nephew must have made the
substitution, and he was put In prison.
To make matters worse it transDired that
the amicabe relations between the uncle
and nephew had been somewhat disturbed
Of late, by reason of an attachment of the
latter disapproved by the former, who had
gone so far as to threaten to change his will
unless his wishes were respected.
who was in company with you from the
time you received the medicine till you re-
turned to your unele's house?" asked the
: prisoner, desperately cropping after some
mo one" be answered, but my cousin
Charles, whom | met near the druggists
and who accompanied me H."
Idrew from Edward the fact that Charles
saw the medicine put up, walked with him
q little way ana then went back for some
thing. Edward awaiting his return; then
walked arm In arm nearly home, when
Charles left
/ also reminded Edward that, his uncle
being dead, if he also should die childless
har irh hnla
''He did i'll he did i'll" the young man
cried In a paroxysm of excitement too ear
nest TO be counterfeit.
''He went out to get the poison when be
left me waiting. He put 1t up to resemble
the druggists parcel, for which he substi-
know 1t nowl l carried the parcel In the
right pocket OF my overcoat. and 1t was On
that side he walkedp'
was seated in my Office on the day pre-
ceding that fixed for trial, indulgipg in any
thing but sanguine expectations, when a
tap at the door announced visitor. Ii was
detective whom had employed
''What lie it?" l inquired after closing
the door.
81 made an arrest today" he answered.
"and IN the prisoners possession found this
overcoaf," undoing a package he had
brought.
"WelI?"
I'm one of the pockets found this
and be handed me small parcel. which
opened.
inside were three papers, folded as drug
gists put up their prescriptions.
The person with whom / found this
coat" the detective continued, "confesses
that he stole il from a bilIiard-saloon, the
owner having laid IL aside while playing,
and the date he fixes corresponds with Mr..
C0urtney's murder. But what is more i'm
portant. have ascertained that Charles
Courtney Is the owner Of the coat"
Lat n No 70 n -. 10
springing from my chair and snatching up
my hat.
We were soon there
PLEASE examine that parcel" said, put
ting 1t into the druggists hands.
He did SO. carefully opening the papers
and inspecting their contents. They con-
tanned three white powders.
How DO they correspond with those Won
made up for Mr.. Courtney?" l INQUIRED.
''and for which others seem to have been so
mysteriOusly substituted?"
They do not correspond at all" he an
swered; they are the same"
The same? How do you know that?
by these figures" he replied. pointing to
the inside OF one of the papers. II had made
calculation that day on the sheet of pa
per, part of which l used In putting up the
prescription brought by Howard Horton.
The remainder have preserved, not know
Ing but it might become important. Here
1t is, and you see how this piece and the fig
ures fit,"
They did exactly; the chain OF evidence
was complete.
/ need hardly tell how the trial ended.
Charles Courtney was called by the prose.
3ution 10 proye.some important point. The
counsel whom had retained for the defense
asked him but three questions Of cross-ex-
animation:
"Had he accompanied the prisoner from
the drusgst's?"
''Had he lost an overcoat that day?"
"Was that it ?"
The questions were very simple, but the
effect on the witness was most remarkable.
He trembled and turned pale. He knew
his secret was out and that lying was use
less.
de answered all three questions In a.