The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-03-15

scandal about Lady Roland, especially
since he is engaged to her sister"
Yes, a sufficient reason" was Mr..
Britely's comment; then, after a pause,
did he say anything as to how Miss Des-
pard came to her endP'
Yes, sir. He said he thought she had
committed suicide. She was always of q
fighty, excitable character, he said, and
he limited that she was put out, too by his
engagement.
'Oh, there was little affair with her
also, was thereS" said Mr.. Briefly. Then,
turning to Mr.. Belize, he added: Nice de-
fense That will appeal to the higher feel
ings of the jury, eh?'
He seems to DO bad lot, )" answered
Mr.. Belize
Yes, but if he hasn't murdered the
girl he shouldn't be hanged, " replied Mr..
| Briefly. His statement squares remark
ably with the proved facts. If it's all a
| lie it's a clever one. You knew nothing
about this when he was before the magis-
! trates?''
No, nothing"
so much the better, in a way. The
prosecution and tho witnesses won't be
prepared for 1t. Now, let me see. Has he
any proof that this correspondence was, as
| he says, with Lady Roland?''
Nothing but his word, answered Mr..
| Hooker.
And that's nothing. Has he no letters
from hcr?'
No; she always wrote through Miss
| Despard.''
1.-The story looks bit thin, doesn't it?
1t seems incredible that two lovers should
carry on all their correspondence through
a third person"
"Oh, he says he once received letter
from Lady Roland when Miss Despard
was away on holiday"
"Where is itf''
He destroyed it at her request"
Mr.. Britcly reflected.
How long ago was it?'' he asked at
last
about two months lgo"
"Well, then, he must remember pretty
accurately it's contents. Now, listen, Mr..
| Hooker. I am rather impressed by the
prisoners statement, and l want you to
test it for me- Go to him tomorrow and
ask him to give you as nearly as he can
remember copy, word for word, of this
letter. You write 1t out again on paper
similar to that on which. he says it was
originally written and bring it to me. Be-
fore leaving him ask him again in the
| IlOSb SOleIllIl WHY NHGlLtT VI HUI Ills SOOEy
is true. Tell him from me that will act
ON his word that as the case stands now,
without his story, there is no chance Of
his escape, but if act ON his story, and it
turns out untrue, he'll be hanged as sure
as death. II, however, his story is true,
and act on it, he'll probably escape"
What arc you going to do?' asked Mr..
Belize.
| ..Vou,D son tomorrow Pm off tn he'd -
was Mr.. Britely's only answer.
Next morning just before the case was
called on Mr.. Briefly and Mr.. Belize came
| into court A minute later Mr.. Hooker
joined them.
Captain Oliver" he whispered to Mr..
Briefly, says his statement is literally
true, but he leaves it to your discretion
whether or not you shall act on it.
But for that hedging I would believe
the fellow" answered Mr.. Briefly. Now
scarcely know whether to believe him or
not Is that the copy of the letter."
Yes, sir answered Mr.. Hooker.
Let me see it,
He looked it over carefully.
Very we'll" He then said, we'll see
how things 60"
Just then the Judge entered. Immedi-
ately afterward the jury were sworn in,
and soon the counsel for the prosecution
| was opening the case. When he had con-
cluded, witnesses were called to prove the
plan of Roland park the place where the
body was found, the nature of the wound
and the time when death had probably
taken place.
| Mr. Briefly cross examined none of these
witnesses except the two surgeons who ex-
amined the body. The first one in cross
| oil tol hat n Cd M rat
regarded the case as one of suicide, and,
further, that still he considered the wound
a most peculiar one, in position and direc-
ton, to be inflicted by second person.
The second surgeon did not go SO far, but
while he contended that the wound might
easily be caused by second person he al
lowed that its direction and position were
| as consistent with suicide as with murder
The witnesses who were called to prove
the prisoners presence in Braxby were
lot cross examined at all, much to the as
punishment of the court. Horsley, the
groom who was called to prove his pres
ence in the park in company with Miss
Despard, was cross examined, but again,
to the astonishment of the court, not with
the object of showing that Oliver was not
In the park, but that the lady with him
was not Miss Despard.
"You say" Mr.. Briefly said to him,
THAT the lady you saw with the prisoner
was Miss Despard'"
80 1 thought, SIR" answered the
groom.
but were you sure?" asked Mr.. Briefly.
Eyes, am sure, sir
but were you sure at the time you saw
them?"
The groom hesitated.
Come, now. Were you sure then, oil
have you become convinced since:" per
Sisted Mr.. Briefly.
well, perhaps 1 wasn't quite sure al
the time" admitted the groom.
Just so. Now did she not look taller
than Miss Despard!"
YES, thought at first she did, &C
quiesced the groom.
did she walk more erectS"
perhaps she did-yes, I think shs
did"
I'm fact, did you not at first think II
was somebody elsep"
"Well, yes, think did, sir"
"Whom did you think it wasH"
The groom hesitated.
Come, now" urged Mr. Briefly.
"Well 1 thought for the moment it was
my lady"
| Anu you only saw ner lor ID nOHlent!
Eyes, sir, but I'm sure now it was Mis-:
Despard."
Never mind about that"
Mr.. Briefly sat down. He turned to MI
Belize.
"Oliver's not lying. We've won the
CASE"
Lady Roland was called next. She en-
tered the box very pale, but also very do
tarminad. She was strikinRly handoms