Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-19

lest should be accused Of the murder. I"
THAT. I suppose. was also the reason
of his Aight?"
80 he told me when I saw him IN
London. but he then declared himself
innocent OF the crime. I was afraid
would be accused Of the crime, SO took
the horse and gig in which we had
come to the Fen inn and drove to
Marshminster. From there I returned
TO London"
why did You not give the alarm?''
II was afraid Of being accused of the
murder
Here the inspector whispered some.
thing in the ear of the coroner. He
nodded and again spoke to Rose Gernon.
why did you not tell Mr. Denham
where to find Strent when he was ap-
parently guilty?''
''Strent is my brother. {" said Rose
quietly, land 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 men
set to watch me he would never have
been caught. -
Her examination lasted some consiG.
cradle time, but the coroner did not
succeed in eliciting anything new from
her. She persistently held to the same
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 that
had been said hitherto. but did not
know how the crime had been commit
ted and waited to hear what Strent had
to say. Iquite believed him to be guilty,
yet hardly thought he would accuse
himself of the crime.
He first corroborated the story Of Rose
as to going to the inn and narrated all
that had occurred up to the time when
he was left alone in the room with Fe.
lix.
when I found myself alone with
Briarfield," he proceeded. Il had q
quarrel with him."
About WHAT"
About my sister. He had promised
to marry her, yet, as well knew. was
paying attentions to Miss Bellin."
but Miss Bellin was engaged TO his
brother" remarked a juryman.
II know that. It was about Miss Bel
lin he wished to see his brother l in
sisted that he should marry my sister.
and he refused. We had hot words. He
was OH one side Of the table, OH the
other. Between us lay the arrowhead
which he had brought in his pocket"
why had he brought the arrowhead
there:''
Il don't know" replied Strent. ly-
ing with the utmost promptitude He
took the arrowhead out of his pocket.
said it was poisoned and laid it down
on the table"
do you think he intended to kill his
brother because he stood in his way
with Miss Bellin?" asked an inquisitive
juryman of romantic turn of mind.
II really don't know, sir, replied
Strent, looking the juryman straight in
the face He raid nothing to me. We
were quarreling over the shabby way in
which he had treated my sister. and
the arrowhead was ON the table between
u.s.
what was the position Of the arrow.
head?" asked the coroner prompted by
Merrick
ut was leaning against a book which
was on the table, and the point was up
permost. I said to Mr.. Briarfield, will
you marry my sister, and he said: No
I'm if I will While saying this
he brought down the open palm of his
hand on the arrowhead and gave cry
| of pain. When he lifted his hand, it
had a ragged wound across it from the
thumb to the little finger. wished to
bind it up, but he pushed mo away,
crying cut he was dead man. In three
minutes he was lying dead on the floor.
threw the arrowhead into the fire.
place and tried to revive him. but it
was of no use. He was dead"
"And your"
II was afraid would be accused Of
tho death, as Mr.. Denham or Mr. Fran
els might have heard US quarreling to-
gether. lost my head altogether and
only til ,7ght of flight ran up to my
sisters room and told her Felix was
dead. Then saddled the horse. When
she came to the door, I was mounting.
/ told her to take the gig and fly to
Westminster, and that would explain
all in London"
! "You fed like coward"
II suppose l did," said the man sui.
lenly. but was beside myself with
| terror. rode to STARRY and gave tho
horse back to the livery stable keeper
Then went to London and saw my
sister. She agreed with me that it was
best to keep quiet, SO I did not come
forward to give evidence. Had it not
been for that detective who watched
my sister, should not be here now"
This evidence practically ended the
inquest Merrick was called to prove
that the wound in the hand was such q
one rs might have been made by the
downward stroke Of the hand on a sharp
point. This evidence was su9stantiated
BY the local practitioner. who had ex.
amined the body with DR.. AIerrick
There was no doubt that the affair had
happened ~ Strent said Felix Briar.
field had slapped his open hand ON the
table to emphasize his refusal to marry
1 pr-o (Iorp0vn ryufo~<uuc<olxx e -,