The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-08-04
CHAPTER XIV.
sTATrMENT or BERNARD v1cE

HiAitdtNt OF BERNARD NiCkEkN.
The whole court was electrified by
Vickery's words The man could only
mean other that be was q witness Of
the actual murder or that he was about
TO confess that he himself was the mur-
dorcr
Inspector Briggs wore a puzzled look
on his face. Constable Mctcalf, who
was still in the court, looked as puzzled
as his chief. Constable Young's fat face
beamod with delight He, and hu only,
had from tho bcginning-to use his own
expression-"sp spotted the murderer 1t
was then the cove with the ci. nuicals"
Bernard James Vickery-who had
done the trick
All eyes were turned upon tho wit
ness, who, now that he had succeeded
III screwing his courage 60 the sticking
point, seemed the most unconcerned
man in the court
Il have stated that my occupation is
that of an inventor. | have for some
years past been concerned mainly with
an invention which has caused me an
immense amount of anxiety.
Il hope said the coroner, lifting his
eyes from his notes, THAT we are not
going 10 have long rambling state
ment concerning yourself Recollect,
my business here '-he was Obliged to
punctuate his sentence with "a yaNIl--
my business here is to preside over an
inquiry into the manner in which the
deceased-Mmtha Davorn-came by her
death
Il viii only occupy your time, sir,
and the jury IS with what think does
concern the object Of the present in
quiry Ny position is too terrible for
me TO contemplate any other course
Very well, said the coroner, rub
bing his eyes with his lmuckles and
then stretching his elbows ont, 81 VIII
not interrupt you again unless | find
you wandering altogether from the
point
Il feel, said Vickery, "that must
explain my own conduct and my own
condition before get TO the worst part
of my statement, but / will be as brief
as | possibly can. | was, as have said,
engrossed in my discovery, and / knew
If l could carry out my experiments /
could mt once be rich mana very
rich man. The only difficulty in my
way was the want Of money. / calcu-
lated it would take at least 81 900 TO
pull me through / racked my brain for
some means Of discovering how the nee
essary money was to be obtained, but |
could find no one to help me
AT the time-I mean during the
past month"; learned from Mrs. Da-
worm that she had n considerable sum Of
money in the Funded bank She did not
state what the amount was She had
some idea that / could advise her as 20
the investing Of her money. My first
impulse was to put my plans before her,
to tell her about my incompleted inyon-
ton, and 20 ask her for help, but l felt
ON consideration that il would be hope
less TO suggest 10 the lady anything that
would strike her rs being so hazardous
a way of investing her money. She had
morbid dread Of losing everything she
POSSESSED, and She was also eager that
10 shculd not escape from me that she
had consulted me about her savings or
referred in any way 20 them Ny own
position at this period was becoming
desperate. Everything, or nearly every
thing, l possessed was sunk in my in
yention, and without money 10 complete
my experiments l saw ruin staring me
in the face
Il must now inform you, he CON
tinued, after brief pause, "that have
been for many years in the habit Of in
haling chluroform began the practice
for the purpose Of relieving an asthmatic
attack, and by degrees l have grown
somewhat reckless in the use Of the
drug. Ii always produces intense and
pleasurable excitement at the beginning,
and has often, / fancy, provided me
with ideas Imention this only 10 show
that as l was in the habit Of using chlo-
reform freely myself it was not unrea-
sonable Of me 20 think / might employ
il with a stranger and not anticipate
fatal results
"On the night Of the 9Th Of October
/ went to my room about 10 O'Clock l
had no intention Of going to bed. l was
greatly agitated and greatly distressed
as l reviewed the condition Of my illan-
the money was IN the deceased's room?"
asked the coroner, ihtcrrupting the wit
ness
a TO be Continued