The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-19
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copyright, 1884. by Tllotson & Son.
CHAPTER Nj.
THE %CORONER'S COURT.

TIL CORONEE'S OUR
Fifteen good men and true were duly
sworn at the Vestry hall in Clayfields on
Saturday, the 18th of October, to inquire
into the manner in which Martha Da-
worm came by her death.
The coroner court was crowded, Ow-
ing to the unusual interest taken in the
case by the jewellers in Clayfields-a
local murder and robbery being a 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 subp1naed to give
evidence in the case included Miss Rod
ney, DR.. Leclerc, DIR. Percival, the two
dodgers at 13 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 Ga handsome man
on the sunny side of 40, with a pallid
face and dark hair plastered to his head
with pOmatum) informed the jury i'll
the intervals between a quick succession
of yawns-he seemed to suffer from en-
hui almost unSupportable-that DIR. Per-
cival, who had. with the assistance of
the house surgeon at the Claytelds hos
pital, 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 n portion Of the sentence,
promises to be of a somewhat lengthy
character, 10 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
es, 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 IA white
headed old gentleman arose and declared
he represented II Of the witnesses in
the inquiry and wished to ask Constable
Metcaf 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
a person in either Of the two apartments
ON the first floor to lock himself into
his room? The constable 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 a
desire to examine a door and a lock
which could not possibly be locked from
tho inside, and the coroner, with a
mighty yawn, informed the foreman that
no had taken q note Of the point and
would decide later on if it would DO
well that the jury should examine the
door in question for themselves.
Constable Young was then called. AS
be took the oath the handsome coroner
seemed fascinated by the head of the
witness. He eve forgot to yawn or to
rub his eyes as he gazed at the witness.
4Oung's evidence was principally q
confederation Of certain portions Of Met
calls evidence. He also gave it as his
opinion that the doors on the first Nu0r
could not be unlocked from the inside.
He was about to offer some other oplo-
ions concerning tn" manner in which
Vickcry, with the aid Of an acc0mplice,
might effect his fell purpose. when h"
was promptly roared at by the white
headed solicitor, and the coroner ordered
Young TO stand aside.
Inspector Briggs was then called.
The audience IL the court were On tie
tiptoe of expectation as the inspector
took the oath, but they We're doomed to
experience a woeful disappointment,
for Briggs could throw no new light
upon the natter, 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
expected the police had got hold of SOM
very important clew.
As Inspector Briggs retired, Detectiv,
Goringe quietly slipped into the cour
and took "a seat at the back, in a place
where he was sheltered from observation
behind n Of the narrow pillars which
supported the roof Of the Vestry hall.
Albert Steinworth was then called.
He stood and faced the coroner Will
an air of perfect self possession. Afte'
stating who and what he was, Stein
worth was asked to state what he knew
OF the interior arrangements of the hous'
13 Felspar road, and to give whateve
other evidence he could give the cour
and the jury a to what occurred in tn
house within his view on the night @
the 9th Of October and the morning @
the 10th.
Steinworth rapidly threw his evidenc
into narrative form. He bad retired t