The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-01

and Mr.. Felix Briarfeld had sent on
fuel and provisions. AS the former pro-
prietor Lad left all the furniture, the
rooms were fairly comfortable, She
could not say why Felix did all this
unless it was that he wanted to sec his
brother privately.
Such talk was very weak, and tho
jurymen looked significantly at one an
other. They knew the Fen inn and
could not conceive that any one could be
so mad as todwell init even for night.
1t was said to be haunted, and, though
such superstition might be scoffed at,
yet not one of those present would have
passed ~ hours of darkness in that i'll
omened place.
"Were you not afraid when you saw
the lone inn," asked o juryman.
Rose shrugged her shoulders and
laughed contomptuously
81 am afraid of nothing" she said
coolly. "There are no such things as
ghosts, Besides had my brother with
me-"
"Your brother"
"Yes, Edward Strent"
The inspector gave low whistle,
and catching my eyonodded significant
ly. He remembered what l had said on
the previous night, and now agreed
with my theory that the secret of the
committal of the crime lay in the rela-
tionship existing between Rose and
Strent. They were, 1t appeared, brother
and sister. saw all kinds Of possibili-
ties now that such tie was made clear.
Meanwhile Rose proceeded with her
evidence.
"Mr. Felix Brairfeld camo to the
inn," she said, latter his brother had
gone to rest. saw and spoke with him
and afterward went to bed myself. ]
understood that he was going to stay
all night and SEQ his brother in the
morning."
"Was he alone in the room when you
left him?"
"No. He was with Strent. An hour
or so after l retired Strent came to my
door and asked mo to go down stairs.
did so and found Felix lying dead on the
floor. My brother had left the room,
and on going out at the back Of the
house found him mounting the horse
of Mr.. Francis Briarfeld. l asked him
what had happened, and he just said
Felix was dead and advised me to fly
lest l should be accused Of the murder. u
''That, l suppose, was also the reason
of his fiight?"
$50 he told me when l saw him in
London, but he then declared himself
innocent of the crime. l was afraid
would be accused of the crime so took
the horse and gig in which we hat
come to the Fen inn and drove tt
Marshminster. From there 1 returned
to London. "
"Why did you not give the alarm?"
81 was afraid of being accused of the
murder" "
Here the inspector whispered some
thing in the ear of the coroner. HI
nodded and again spoke to Rose Gernon.
"Why did you not tell Mr.. Denhan
where to find Strent when he was ap
parently guilty."
"Strent is my brother" said ROsc
quietly, ''and as he told me he was in
nocent / did not wish him to be arrest
ed for the crime. But that he visited
me yesterday and was seen by the mel
set to watch me he would never hav,
been caught. "
Her examination lasted some consid
cradle time, but the coroner did no
succeed in elloiting anything new from
her. She persistently held to the SAM
story, so in despair the examiner de
sisted, and she was told to stand down
In her place Edward Strent was called
and then for me began the most inter
esting part of the case. knew all tina
had been said hitherto but did no
know how the crime had been commit
ted and waited to hear what Strent haC
osay. Iquite believed him to be guilty
yet hardly thought he would accus
himself of the crime.
He first corroborated the story of Ros
as to going to tho inn and narrated al
that had occurred up to the time whel
he was left alone in the room with Fe
lix.
"When / found myself alone will
Briarfeld," he proceeded, II had {
quarrel with him. "
'About what?''
About my sister. He had promised
to marry her, yet, as / we'll knew, wa
paying attentions to Miss Bellin."
'But Miss Bellin was engaged to hi
brother" remarked a juryman.
81 know that 1t was about Miss Bel
lin he wished to see his brother. / in
sisted that he should marry my sister
and he refused. We had hot words. H
was on one side of the table, 1 ON tn
other. Between us lay the arrowhea,
which he had brought in his pocket. "
"Why had he brought the arrowheat
there?'
TT don't know replied Strent, ly
ing with the utmost promptitude. "H
took the arrowhead ont of his pocket
said it was poisoned and laid it dow
on tho table"
''Do you think he intended okill hi
brother because he stood in his wa,
with Miss Bellin?" asked an inquisitiv
juryman of romantic turn of mind
'I really don't know, sir, repliet
Strent, looking tho juryman straight il
the face. "He said nothing to me. w
were quarreling over tho shabby way il
which he had treated my sister, an
the arrowhead was on the table between
u.s."
''What was the position of the arrow
head?" asked the coroner prompted b
Merrick.
''It was leaning against book whic
was on the table, and the point was up
permost. said to Mr.. Briarfeld, 'Wil
you marry my sister, and he said: NC
Pm - if will While saying thi