San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-08-11
CHAPTER XIV.
FURTHER EVIDENCE.

Leclerc made neither very good nor
very bad witness. He had been buoy
ed up by the promise given to him by
his good friend Percival, but he expert
enced a sudden collapse when he heard
the coroner read Dr. Percival's letter.
mo doubt" reflected the highly
strung young man, ''Percival had good
grounds for promising to get me out of
the trouble in some mysterious way of
his own The post mortem had proba-
bly, disclosed to him something unknown
and unsupported by the public, but his
failing to turn up is bad omen. he
may have thought he was ON the track
of something when he spoke so reassur-
ingly to me and have afterward found
at the last moment that he was astray."
There was little or no doubt in Lee
clerc's mind as to the views which the
police held concerning him They re-
garded him as the guilty man. Every
footstep of his was logged. Even in the
coroner's court could he not see the eye
Of that detective who stood behind one
of the pillars fixed on him? He had
planned out no line Of defense, nor had
he any idea what sort of examination he
would be put through. The one dream
of comfort was the tender, trustful
glance which Ethel had given him as
she passed out of the court.
"Your name?" said the coroner, look
ing at the young man.
Maurice Leclerc. "
You are, l see, described as doc
tor.
Eyes; am a fully qualified physi-
clan, answered Leclerc, nervously. He
was disconnected by the coroner's man
ner
viii you tell the jury, DR.. Leclerc,
about your movements on the night of
the 9th of October, so far as they con-
Germ the present INQUIRY"
Certainly. sir, said Leclerc, in an
alert manner. About half past 10 ON
Monday night I called at Is Felspar
road had some important matters to
discuss with the deceased and Miss Rod
ney, and the interview took place in
Mrs. Davorn's bedroom, which she also
used as kind Of sitting room We had
somewhat stormy scene, and left the
house about quarter past IL, being let
out by Miss Rodney. / did not go
straight home. Twas in a violently agi-
tated condition-feyerishly excited I
have had good deal to trouble me re.
Gently, and the interview with Mrs. Da-
worm upset me completely, wandered
about the streets for several hours,
scarcely knowing where ! was going,
but have a recollection of going
through Felspar road about 1 O'Clock in
the morning. Shortly before 2 o'clock I
let myself into my own house with my
latchkey, and went straight to bed. The
next time l visited 10 Felspar road was
about s O'Clock on the morning of the
10th, when I heard that Mrs. Davorn
was dead. That is all have to say, sir. "
There was a short pause after Leclerc
finished his statement, and then the
coroner lifted his head, knuckled his
eyes and asked if any one desired to
question the witness.
The foreman of the jury felt it was
his bounden duty to assert himself. He
had conquered the yawning attack, and
felt equal now to any emergency.
might ask the Witness" said he, eff
he for any reason-let us say even for a
joke-locked these two dodgers into their
rooms?"
mo, did not, answered Leclerc,
with an indignant shake of his head.
Now, DR.. Leclerc," said the sole.
itor for the treasury, rising, 1--WE under
stand you are engaged to Miss Rodney,
the niece of the deceased
is this necessary" asked the coro-
ner
Eyes, sir. think you will see it is. "
81 have no objection to answer the
question. I am engaged to Miss Rod
uey."
"You had arranged to marry her on
Thursday last and to leave the country
with her immediately"
"Such was my intention.
"You knew this sum of 81, 800 was
in the bedroom of Mrs Davorn?"
''The witness is not bound to answer
these questions unless he likes" said
the coroner, checking yawn with his
taper fingers.
81 have no objection, SIR" said Le-
clerc. 81 was aware the money was in
Tie room.
"You say your interview with the
deceased was stormy one. Did she re-
fuse to give her consent to her niece's
with your"
Eyes"
"Were you in pressing need of mon
~ ON the night of the 9th of October?"
81 have been in pressing need of
money for some time. F"
II wish the gentleman who is exam
ming the witnesses on behalf of the
treasury" said the coroner, would
,onfine himself more closely to the OBJ
iect of the present inquiry, which is to
how Martha Davorn came 20