San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-08-11
CHAPTER XII.
THE coRoNER's COURT.

CHAPTER Kill
THE CORONER s COURT.
Fifteen good men and true were duly
sworn at the Vestry hall in Clayfelds on
Saturday, the 18th of October, to inquire
into the manner in which Martha Da-
worm came by her death.
The coroner's court was crowded, ow-
ing to the unusual interest taken in the
case by the jewellers in Clayfields-a
local murder and robbery being cir
cumstance which brought terror home to
every nervous householder in the sub
urbs. Besides there were the usual flying
rumors that the coroner's inquiry would
elicit some strange and exciting evil
dence
The list of those subp9naed to give
evidence in the case included Miss Rod
ney, Dr. Leclerc, DIR. Percival, the two
dodgers at 10 Felspar road (Steinworth
and Vickery), Inspector Briggs and Con-
stables Metcalf and Young.
When the jury had been sworn, and
after they had viewed the body of Mrs.
Davorn, the coroner "a handsome man
ON the sunny side Of 40, with pallid
face and dark hair plastered to his head
with pomatum) informed the jury in
the intervals between quick succession
of yawns-he seemed to suffer from en-
nui almost unsupportable-that DR.. Per-
cival, who had, with the assistance Of
the house surgeon at the Clayfields hos
lpital, made the post mortem examina-
ton Of the deceased lady, had just writ
ten to say he was unavoidably detained,
but would be present in the course of an
hour or two to give his evidence.
''As the evidence" continued the
coroner, with tremendous yawn which
swallowed up a portion Of the sentence,
"promises to be of somewhat lengthy
character, no doubt, DR.. Percival"-
here he dug the knuckles of his forefin-
gers into his tired eyes-'will be ready
to give his evidence long before we ex-
haust the other witnesses But witness
les" he added, "even professional gen.
tlemen, should endeavor not to have
business which detains them unavoida-
bly, in a case of this kind"
Yawning again vigorously the coroner
turned to his notes and Constable Met
calf was called and sworn.
The jealous policeman detailed his
Experiences with lucidity and with COM
mendable brevity.
AS he was about to retire white
headed old gentleman arose and declared
he represented one Of the witnesses in
the inquiry and wished to ask Constable
Metcalf some questions.
The coroner nodded and yawned at
the white haired solicitor.
The questions related chiefly to the
bedroom doors. Would it be feasible for
person in either of the two apartments
on the first floor to lock himself into
his room? The cor stable was emphatic
ally of opinion-he had already offered
that opinion to the court-that it would
be impossible for Steinworth or Vickery
to have locked himself in.
The foreman of the jury expressed
desire to examine a door and a lock
which could not possibly be locked from
the inside, and the coroner, with a
mighty yawn, informed the foreman that
he had taken note of the point and
would decide later ON if it would be
well that the jury should examine the
door in question for themselves.
Constable Young was then called. As
he took the oath the handsome coroner
seemed fascinated by the head of the
witness. He even forgot to yawn or tc
rub his eyes as he gazed at the witness.
Young's evidence was principally a
confederation of certain portions of Met
calf's evidence. He also gave it as his
opinion that the doors on the first floor
could not be unlocked from the inside.
He was about to offer some other opin-
ions concerning the manner in which
Vickery, with the aid of an accomplice,
might effect his fell purpose, when he
was promptly roared at by the white
headed solicitor, and the coroner ordered
Young TO stand aside
Inspector Briggs was then called.
The audience in the court were ON the
1tiptoe of expectation as the inspector
took the oath, but they were doomed to
experience a woeful disappointment,
for Briggs could throw no new light
upon the matter, and to some of the
knowing ones on the jury it was evident
the police meant to ask for an adjourn
ment of the inquiry. One facetious jury
man whispered to his neighbor that he
ssxpeA = the police had got hold Of some