Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-08
ghosts Besides had my brother with


tionship existing between Rose and
Strent They were, 1t appeared, brother
and sister saw oil kinds Of possibili-
ties now that such tie was made clear
| Meanwhile Rose proceeded with her
evidence.
MIR Felix Brairfield came to the
inn, she said, after his brother had
gone to rest | saw and spoke with him
and afterward went TO bed myself
understood that he was going to stay
all night and see his brother in the
morning.
WAS he alone in the room when You
left himi"
mo He was with Strcnt An hour
or so after retired Strent came TO my
door and asked ne TO go down stairs !
did so and found Felix lying dead on the
floor My brother had left the room,
and on going out at the back of the
/ house found him mounting the horse
| of Mr.. Francis Briarfeld asked him
what had happened, and he just said
| Felix was dead and advised me to fly
lest should be accused Of the murder
That. suppose. was also the reason
Of his flight
so he told me when | saw him In
London. but he then declared himself
innocent of the crime. was afraid !
would be accused Of the crime. so took
the horse aud gig in which We had
come to the Fen inn and drove To
Marshminster From there ] returned
to London.
why did you not give the alarm
Il was afraid Of being accused Of the
murder "
Here the inspector whispered some
thing in the ear of the coroner Ho
nodded and again spoke to Rose Gernon
Why did you not tell Mr.. Denham
where to find Strent when he was APP
parently guilty."
''Strent is my brother, said Rose
quietly, land ~ he told mo he was in
nocont did not wish him to be arrest
ed for the crime. But that he visited
me yesterday and was seen by the men
set To watch me he would never have
been caught.
Her examination lasted some consid.
erable time, but tho coroner did not
succeed in elciting anything new from
her. She pcrsistently held to the same
story, so in despair the examiner de
sisted and she was told TO stand down
In her place Edward Strent was called,
and then for mo began the most inter
esting part Of the case. | knew all that
had been said hitherto, but did not
know how the crime had been commit
ted and waited to hear what Strent had
to say Iquite believed him 10 he guilty.
yet hardly thought he would accuse
himself of the crime
He first corroborated the story Of Rose
as To going TO the inn and narrated all
that had occurred up 10 the time when
he was left alone in the room with Fee
lix.
When ! found myself alone with
Briarfeld, he proceeded. II had
quarrel with him.
About what?"
About my sister He had promised
to marry her. yet, rs well knew, was
paying attentions to Miss Bellin.
But Miss Bellin was engaged to his
brother. remarked "a luryman
Il know that IL was about Miss Bel
lin he wished to see his brother / IN
sisted that he should marry my sister,
and he refused We had hot words He
was OH one side Of the table, on the
other. Between us lay the arrowhead
which he had brought in his pocket
"Why had he brought the arrowhead
there:"
IL don't know" replied Strent, ly'
ing with the utmost promptitude HE
took the arrowhead out Of his pocket,
said it was poisoned and laid it down
OH the table. "
do you think he intended TO kill his
brother because he stood in his way
with Miss Bellin?" asked an inquisitive
juryman of romantic turn OF mind.
Il really don't know, sir, replied
Strent. looking the juryman straight IN
the face. "He said nothing to me- We
were quarreling over the shabby way in
which he had treated my sister, and
the arrowhead was on the table between
What was the position Of the arrow
head?" asked the coroner prompted by
Nerrick.
1T was leaning against book which
was on the table, and the point was up
permost. | said to Mr.. Briartield, Will
Won marry my sister, and he said: No
I'm - if will While saying this
he brought down the open palm of his
hand on the arrowhead and gave q cry
of pain. When he lifted his hand, it
had ragged wound across it from the
thumb to the little finger Wished tc
bird il up, but he pushed me away,
CRYING ont he was dead man. In three
minutes he was lying dead on the floor.
| threw the arrowhead into the fire.
place and tried to revive him. but it
was Of no use lie was dead.
"And youy"
ii was afraid would be accused OF
the death, as Mr. Denham or Mr. Fran
els might have heard Us quarreling to-
gether. lost my head altogether and
only thought Of flight. | ran up to my
sisters room and told her Felix was
dead. Then saddled the horse. When
he came to the door, was mounting
| told her to take the gig and fly to
Marshrlinster, aud that would explain
oil in London.
oVop fed like n coward E"
II suppose did" said the man sui
hnly, but was beside myself with
terror. | rode to STARRY and gave the
horse back to the livery stable keeper
| Then went to London and saw my
sister. She agreed with me that 1t was
best to keep quiet, so ! did not come
forward to give evidence Had it not
been for that detective who watched
my sister, should not be here now.
This evidence practically ended the
inquest Merrick was called to prove
that the wound in the hand was such
one as Light have been made by the
| downward stroke of the hand Oh sharI'
point. This evidence was substantiatcd
by the local practitioner, who had OK
amined the body with Dr. Merrick-
There was no doubt that the affair hal
happened as Strent said Felix Briar
field had slapped his open hand on the
table to emphasize his refusal to marry
Rose Gernon Unfortunately it came III
contact with the poisoned arrowhead
The flint had an edge like razor, and
being stepped in virulent poison acted