Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-23

one of Col. Coventry, one of the bank
| directors The colonel had been an
officer in the civil war, and had lost his
left forearm.
Two men informed the reporter that
by the bank at $50 on the evening of
the murder. The evidence was suffi-
cient to cause his arrest, and he was
placed in Jail
| determined to defend Col Coventry
for | saw an opportunity to prove his
| innocence and make a reputation for
myself He looked at me in SURPRISE
| asd smilingly said he had older and
more experienced awyers.
Colonel" | said, they, as we'll as
all who read the papers, do believe you
guilty; but l know you are innocent,
and, what is more. can prove it.
Prove it, said the Colonel. But
how?"
IF you will promise to give me the
case if you are satisfied with my theory
l will tell it to YOU"
"Of course l will give you the case if
| you can prove me innocent.
Il then related my plan of defense,
and when ] had finished the Colonel
shook me jOyfully by the hand. and
said God bless you, my boy! You will
save me from the gallOws!'
AS you remember, the case was the
| topic of the day, and Col. Coventry waa
thought crazy, the strongest proof be-
| inc the fact that he had engaged me to
defend him.
knew that the reaction would be
powerful, and that those who now re-
viled and sneered at me would, ere
| long. be sounding my praise.
The trial came on; the government
first brought forward the two men who
swore to seeing Col. Coventry walking
by the bank at $50 o'clock on the
night of the murder. Then the evil
dence was brought to show that the
colonel although rich man, was just
at that time in need of ready money to
complete a speculation in which he waJ
engaged.
The last and strongest witness was
| Mr.. Charles Brand, the cashier, who
testified to the description of his as
sailant. which corresponded to that of
my client, and swOre in the most posi-
tivemanner that the robber had lost hia
| left arm at the elbow
The government attorney was a great
sportsman and a betting man. So
leaning over to him l said: How much
will you bet that l will not prove my
clients innocence"
20, if you are anxious to bet | will
run up $500" he answered, though |
| dislike to bet on a sure thing.
| hot - /
think you have sure thing, and so dc
l, so we are safe.
arose and addressed the court, say
| ing | had but one witness TO call; that
! might bring many witnesses to prove
| that it was Col Coventry's invariable
custom to take walk after his dinner,
and that he always came back by way
of the bank; also many to prove that
the Colonel could have borrowed on his
personal note, and did borrow in that
way all the money he needed for his
speculation: but that the one witness
Hhom | was about to call upon could
stand up and prove beyond the shadow
of a doubt that the Colonel was not tho
murderer and robber.
But when l called Mr.. Charles Brand
the murmur of surprise that rippled
out through the room was ludicrous.
Of all the surprised ones, none was
more so than the cashier, so unexpec-
tedlv called upou as an infallible wit
ness in favor of the man whom he had
only a few moments before virtually
condemned.
"You are positive that it was the
right hand in which the robber held
the pistol?"
Yes" he answered, Il am positive
Gould it not have been his left
hand?"
NO; his left arm was gone"
l spoke few words to my clerk, who
went out. returning in a few moments
with a large frame covered completely
with cloth, which placed in front OIL
the cashier.
Now, Mr.. Brand wish you to look
at that without turning your head TIL
such a time as | tell you.
| signalled TO Col. Coventry, who ad-
vanced. removed his coat, put on the
black mask, which had been brought
IN the court room, took the revolver in
his only hand, his right one, and stood
behind the cashiers chair, pointing
the muZZle at MS nedu.
At a sign from me, my clerk pulled
away the cloth, and displayed a large
plate glass mirror. When the cashier
saw the figure in the mirror. he started
from his chair in surprise, but l held
him down.
Tell me-" said, ''is this figure that
of the robber?"
THE identical likeness" he an
Look closer. Is there no differ
ence?"
In a few minutes he said "Oh, yes;
the figure is holding the revolver in hia
left hand"
rs it possible, then, that this could
have been the man who stood behind
vour chair in the bank?" questioned
mo. | am sure he cannot be the
same. now | look closer; for this man
has lost his right hand and holds the
pistol in his left. while the man at the
bank held the pistol in his right hand,
as l said before.
Turn around l said.
There stood Col Coventry, with the
mask off, holding the pistol in his
right hand. Mr.. Brand jumped to his
feet eXclaiming
q see it all now What fool must
have beenl The figures were just re-
versed in the mirror. and the man
saw at the bank really held the pistol
in his left hand"
Needless to say that my opponent
paid his bet, and soon a check from
Col. Coventry for $4,000 was present
ed to me. OF course l was the talk of
the city and my reputation was made.
Was the murderer ever apprehend-