The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-25

hollow tooth. and which had thus escaped
the usual keen eye of the jailer.
explain the guilt? THAT was = ouesfIon
sufficiently strong TO bring together such a
crowd OF sightseers as never before gath.
women fought with eaca other and with
the guards 10 gain entrance to the court
room Elaborate fiounces OF rich silk and
great pieces or cheap material were torn
from the dresses Of the women; hats were
crushed. coats irremediably ripped. umbrel-
las. canes. parasols dragged from the hands
OF their owners TO be trampled unier
foot. smashed. trodden into ribbons and
later swept up with the rubbish.
When the hutter of expectation had been
suppressed and the warning invaders at
the door had been cowed by the drawn
swords OF the police the prosecuting attor-
ney arose slowly and with due impressive
ness in his place and announced the death
or the prisoner.
This being the first official publication OF
the tragedy, IL caused a iong-drawn ex-
clamation from the audience and a buzzfng
OF Whispers. both OF which were only sup
pressed finally by vigorous rapping for or
announcement however, was unhappily
lost, Tor the situation had been anticipated
ny rumors OF the suicide that had in some
inexpiicable manner reached the streets
and the breakfast tables almost simultane-
ously with its discovery.
THE ACCOMPLICES STORY.
Hesitating a moment. that this first dra-
matte situation might have ample time 10
develop. the prosecuting attorney played
his second card. He placed in the witness
box the diminutive. frightened Spaniard,
whose appearance at the judges private
room the previous day produced such an
effect upon the Professor. Under the skill
full but encouraging questions of the presi-
dent the little man told his story. which
ran about like this:
Il filled the position OF butler TO Profess
SOr BeaurlGarU. and for many uaar en-
pervised the dinners ne gave. and 10 my ex-
pert knowledge of the proper manner OF
serving and the most effective ARRANGEMENT
OF the table, much of the success that at
tended those entertainments was due.
While the Professor had already passed
much OF his time in his laboratory. / no.
ticed an increase in the hours so devoted
during the last twelve months. and / fire.
quently heard him talk OF his satisfactory
discoveries in disease germs-bacilli. he
called them i noticed also his introduce
ton of new instruments in his work. among
others a small water freezer. wherein lie
knew him to employ before.
Inc Professor had, previous to this. in
no way, and at no time. ever interfered
sidered II necessary TO look after any of
the dinner details, having full confidence
In my professional capacity. But now ne
my suspicion and prompted me 20 take
especial note of his actions.
AT eaeh dinner given TO parties Of three.
VINO died twenty-four hours after. the Pro-
fessor excused himself just after the coffee,
ana going to his laboratory would return
from II TO my pantry, bring with him a
dock OF Ice from his freezer, crack IL
into small pieces with his own hand and
NIL three of the glasses with IL. bidding
me pour in the creme de menthe and
serve. He never drank this syrup. but con-
tented himself with a second cognac. Thus
i had my suspicion aroused. and when the
Professor, at the last dinner, neglected to
throw away the ice left over. as had ever
been his custom, / put all that was left in
a ~ 81 an6 ruA2 10 ~
an offensive odor. and SO yesterday I
brought It TO the prosecuting attorney.
That is all l know"
The little butler left the witness box and
his place was taken bysone OF the leading
chemists of the city. His story was this:
This bottle of water, from frozen ice.
was brought me last night by Senior Sal
veter, the prosecuting attorney, for analy-
sis. l detected Its offensive odor and de-
voted the entire night to its chemical
study. / find, after thorough examination.
that 1t Is a living mass of cholera germs.
or bacilli. which were originally obtained
from active cholera and frozen. The freez-
iy or poisonous power. and at once upon
their being introduced into the human sys-
tenn, either by the individual eating the
ice or drinking the water which had melted
from II, they came again 10 life and the
party died within a few hours from vio-
lent Asiatic cholera"
AS the doctor stepped down the prose-
cutting attorney arose and said:
Mr. President, we have discovered the
source of death. The butler is blameless.
for he was an unconscious accomplIce. Ths
reason for the crime can only be that the
Professor desired TO verify his experiment.
upon his guests"