The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-21
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10y EDMUND DOwNEY. -
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Copyright, 1904, by Tlllotson & Son.
CHAPTER XIII.
ETHEL'S EVIDENCE.

COIlc tbto tIlt tOllt Slloi Wy ulttI Dtttft-
i've GOringc, and as the gaze Of all the
spectators was centcred on Steinworth
her entrance had not been noticed.
Ethel felt that the court was all eyes,
and that every eye was turned upon her.
The DOCTOR wife had driven her to the
Nestry hall and had arranged that Ethel
should wait in the court until after DR..
Percival had given his evidence. and
then the doctors brougham would call
for her. She had not seen Lcclerc since
the previous morning. DR.. Pcrcival had
considered it wiser that they should not
meet until the inquest was over and the
strain upon the minds of herself and her
lover had been loosened.
Ethel's statement to the coroner's
court was mainly an account of what
had happened in the house from 10
o'clock on Wednesday night to 6 O'Clock
the following morning. The young girl
was surprised to find that notwithstand-
ing all the prying eyes which were fixed
upon her she was able to give her evil
dence III II perfectly collected manner.
She testified to the security of the fas-
Jennings. She had seen to every window
and door on the ground floor after the
dodgers had retired to their rooms. She
had let Dr.. Leclcrc into the house about
half past 10 o'clock. They had gone to-
Sether to her aunt's room, which was
situated at the top Of the first flight of
stairs.
She described the interview brief-
and declared she had let Leclerc out of
the house shortly after IL. She had then
locked and bolted the hall door and gone
up stairs to her room, passing on the
way the door of her aunt's room, which
was slightly ajar, and the doors Of the
two bedrooms on the first floor. She had
not touched the keys of the doors Of the
two bedrooms on the first floor-this in
reply to "a question from the foreman.
She had heard no sounds during the
night, but had passed AZ anxious day
and had got through a good deal OF
work and felt very tired. and no doubt
it would be q loud noise that could
awake her. She had been aroused in the
morning by the sound Of the hall door
bell and the knocking at the door. She
remembered, while hurriedly dressing,
that Mr.. Steinworth was going away
early and fancied he had forgotten ONE
thing and was returning for it. On her
way down stairs she noticed his door
was closed, and looking at her watch
she saw that it VS. about 6 O'Clock, and
hat most likely Mr.. Steinworth was
still in his room. She had not, on this
occasion. either touched the key in his
door or in that Of Mr.. Vickery. She felt
anxious about her aunt on account of
the quarrel of the previous night, and
noticing the door Of Mrs. Davorn's room
was slightly ajar she fancied her aunt
might possibly be awake. She went into
the room and found her in bed cold and
rigid. 1t was a horrible shock to her.
She was, she believed, her aunt's only
living relative. She was not aware that
h deceased had made u will.
The solicitor representing the treas
ury now took Miss Rodney in hand.
1.-The deceased Went to town on the
morning Of the Sth inst, ?"
eyes,
Were yOu aware Of her Intentions in
going to town.
Yes: she had been for some DAYS I'M
easy about money Of hers lodged in the
Funded bank"
And she Wen. to town to draw this
money out:"
Yes"
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Lumlev,"
interrupted the coroner. We are hearing
- mood lon1 rl,c,-. A. xl.o,-
and very little about herself. Is all this
necessarily
II think you will find it is, SIR"
"Oh, very we'll; pruceed," said the
coroner languidly. He had refrained
from yawning since Ethel had appeared
before him, but be now made up for lost
time by giving ven to Il yawn and fol-
lowing 1t up by a strange sound, as of
n making a final effort to prevent him
self from being choked. Most of the on
lockers in the Vestry hall were startled.
Then M coroner, STOPPING over his
notes, gave u%tterance to a sigh, which
was partly sigh Of utter WEAKNESS and
partly a He seemed rather star
tied himself, after this elaborate display
Nhio,i'hiS. ulh lnR Ills CHAIR
close to the table he buried himself in
his notes. BY this time the yawning had
infected many Of those who sat in the
vicinity Of the %coroner's chair. The Jury
to man We're struggling against the
fell influence Of the coroner. The fore
man, who took a lively interest in the
case. had determined to hold fast his
jaws at any cost, and this determination
probably prevented him from squander-
ing the time Of the court with frivolous
questions, for he was, Notwithstanding
his bump of curiosity, a dull man.
The solicitor for the treasury quickly
resumed his cross examination of Miss
Rodney.
"She told you she was going to draw
this money from the bank" he asked.
Yes"
did she tell any one else?"
mo. At least 1 am not aware that
she did"
did your aunt return with the mon
eyT'
eyes. Later III the day she came back
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