The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-19
a LUCKY THEFT.

Horton, his other nephew, Charles Court
ney, being rich. But Charles was to In
herit from Edward In case Edward died
without issue.
Old Mr.. Courtney being ono of the
halest OF bachelors when it was announced
not only that he was dead, but that foul
play was suspected when post mortem
examination demonstrated that he had
fallen a Victim to poison and when IL was
given out that the hand that had admins
tered II was that Of his fnvorite nephew,
the public mind was both surprised and
shocked.
1t was not until Edward Horton had
been fully committed for trial for his I'M
cle's murder That was retained for the
defense.
his own statement was, In substance,
A physician had been called to SEQ Mr..
Courtney on occasion Of some apparently
triaing Illness, requiring Sonic simple
remedy, for which prescription was writ
ten and handed to the prisoner to have
made up. This the latter had carried to a
well known, competent druggist, who had
put 1t up in. his presence. Tho medicine
consisted OF three white powders, each
folded in scrap Of paper and the whole
inolosed in single wrapper. They were
W 10 kiNtu az lultfNulH VI an hOuf anu
had remained continuously In the prison
er's possession till the first was admins
tered, which was done by himself imme-
diately on his return from the druggists
Mr.. Courtney grew rapidly worse, and
when, at the expiration Of an hour, a Sec
end powder as administered, the symptoms
became so alarming that o messenger was
dispatched for the physician, who on his
arrival declared that the patient was suf-
fering from the effect Of poison. An exam.
nation Of the remaining powder disclosed
the fact that 1t was pure arsenic. 1t was
too late for any antidote to be available,
and in less than an hour death had re-
lieyed the sufferer. An autopsy Of the
body and an analysis of the contents Of
the stomach left no doubt as to the cause
of death. The presence Of arsenic in nee
essarily fatal quantity was indicated by
every known chemical test. 1t was fur
Their admitted by the prisoner that he alone
had access to his uncle's apartment or had
handled the medicine from the time It was
compounded by the druggist till the com.
ing Of the physician after the second pow
der had been taken.
The druggist, who was known to be q
man Of extraordinary caution and thor
oughly skilled In his business, was ready
to swear that by no possibility could any
mistake have occurred in putting up the
medicine.
To make matters worse 1t transpired
that the alnicable relations between the
uncle and nephew had been somewhat dis
turbed Of late, by reason Of an attachment
of the latter disapproved by the former,
who had gone so far as to threaten to
change his will unless his wishes were re-
spected.
"who was in company with you from
the time yoS received the medicine till
your return to your uncle's housed" asked
the prisoner, desperately cropping after
something to afford ray of hope.
No one, ho answered, "but my cousin
Charles, whom met near the druggists,
and who accompanied me in.
drew from Edward that Charles saw
the medicine put up; walked with him
little way, then went back for something,
Edward awaiting his return; then walked
arm in arm nearly home, when Charles
left. / also reminded Edward that, his
uncle being dead, If he also should die
ohildless Charles would inherit the whole
| estate.
HE did it He did itr' the young man
cried in paroxysm of excitement too
earnest to be counterfeit He went out
TO get the poison when he left me waiting.
AAp phb Az UP " ftbtLlDiO bIG
| parcel for which DO substituted it as we
went along know 1t now I carried the
| parcel in the right pocket of my overcoat,
and it was on that side he walked"
| was seated IN my private Office on tho
day preceding that fixed for the trial, in
dulging in anything but sanguino oxpec-
tations, when q tap at the door announced
visitor. 1t was the detective had en-
| plOyed
what is it?" inquired after closing
the door.
~ made an arrest today, he answered,
land in the prisoners possession found
this ovorcoat, undoing package he had
| bought
| "Well?"
"In one of the pockets found this, I"
and he handed me small parcel, which 1
opened Inside were three papers, folded
as druggists put up their prescriptions.
The person with whom l found this
coat, " the detective continued, "confesses
that he stole it from billiard saloon, tho
owner having laid it aside while playing,
and tho date he fixes corresponds with Mr..
Courtney's murder. But what is more
important, have asccrtained that Charles
Courtney is the owner Of the coat!'
Let us go at once to the druggist'sl'
exclaimed springing from my chair and
snatchlng up my hat. We were soon there.
please examine that parcel, ;" said,
putting 1t into the druggists hands.
He did So carefully opening the papers
and inspecting their contents. They con.
tanned three white powders.
How do they correspond with those
You put up for Mr. Courtney" inquired,
and for which others seem to have been
afterward SO nysteriously substituted9'
They do not correspond at all, ~ he an.
swered; they are the same"
Tho samel How do you know thatP"
By these figures, " he replied pointing
to the inside Of one of the papers. II had
made calculation that day on the sheet
of paper, part of which used In putting
up the prescription bought by Mr.. Horton
The remainder have preserved, not know
ing but it might become important Here
1t is, md you sec how this piece and thu
figures fit it,"
They did exactly. The chain of evidence
was complete!
need hardly tell how the trial ended
Charles Courtney was put on the stand by
the prosecution To provo some unimpor
tant point. ! asked him but three ques
tions on cross examination:
Had he accompanied the prisoner from
the druggist sFii
Had he lost an overcoat that dayf
Was that itl'
The questions We're very simple, but tn
effect ON thc witness was most remarkable
lie trcmbied and turned pale. He knew
his secret WIS out, and that lying was use
less. He answered all three questions il
the Affirmative, but in voice scarcely au
dtble, Before the next witness was Gale,
he slipped from the courtroom and wa
never heard of afterward.
With the testimony Of tho detective an,
the druggist. cot forgetting that of tn
"penitent thief, we made short work q
what had promised to be a beautiful cas-
Of cirrumstautial evidence Exchanges
- lAkNlAG won't cure Dys.
- pep5ia. Yor need nourish,
ment, and to get il you must make tho
| sfnt1lach and knnNi.ls ditrlrt ,.L.,,r f.,...l