Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-03-29

I ~ pretty COuCluotNC iuOub"O"
tIon,r said Mr.. Britley, ESPECIALLY
in the absence of evidence 10 show
that he was somewhere else. Now
Just answer me one or two ques
/ tons as to the nature OF those love
letters. Did they contain any
promise of marriagei7
"Oh, yes; over and over again.
answered Mr.. BellOe. "Taey are
very ferveut, aud they continually
repeat promises to marry as soou
as the obstruction is removed"
"ObstruetlOn removed" said Mr.
Brltely retlectively. "Was there
any other woman with claims on
OliveIT
"NOt as far as 1 know. Tue
prosecution SAID this referred to his
pecunlary difficulties
"He was in pecuoiIrY dIti 'ul'
tiesr"
'Oh, YET; be admitted that"
"Well, let me see" said Mr.
Britely. "Was the revolver traced
TO hlm1"
"ND, not exactly traced" an
swered Mr.. Belize; "but the police
found in his lodging several re-
volvers, and the bullet hole in the
girls skull night have been m ide
by The bullett used for any of them
ii see," said Mr.. Britely, and be
reflected in silence tor a moment
Then turning to Mr.. Hooker, lie
asked: "What does Oliver say
about all thlsf'
"Well, sir, at first be would say
nothing, except that the whOle
thing was rot and be couldn't be
convicted, for he wasn't guilty. lie
then. maintained this attitude un
til after Lady Roland bad given bel
evidence, when he seemed to lose
his temper. He then, after DAY
or two of hesitation, told me a mos
iucredable story. He said that
as a matter of fact, he was at Rol
and Ia X on the night of The mur
der aud the witness who swor'
they saw him there were right. lie
went there, he said, at the request
OF Lidy Roland and spent tb'
whole evening with her in the parl
when she was supposed to be IL
bed. He parted with her at late
hour after a bitter quarrel. H'
had a love affair with her lady
ship and the corr espOndence wal
conducted through MISS Despard
TO prevent discovery. Miss Des
pard was Lady R)land's conf lant'
All the letters found in Miss
Despard's box we're written by
him to Lady Roland, he said, and
the obstacle referred to in then
was old Sir Robert. He furthe
SAID that the letters we're eithe
put into Miss Despard's box b,
Lady Roland or else they wer
Kept by Lady Roland there TO
safety. He asserts that the whOl
thing is a plot of Lady Z jland's T.
get revenge for his throwing be
over Tor her sister,
The solicitor paused to watch Nj
BntelN's surprise at these state
ments. Mr.. Britely showed none.
Every clever" he said, quietl,
every clever, indeed. Does b
say why he did not tell you thi
at 6rstW
Eyes; he SAID he didu't want t
raise a scandal about Lady Rol
and-especlally since he is engage
to her sister,"
eyes; sufficient reason" wa
Mr.. BritlS's comment. Then, afte
pause: did he say anything
to how Miss Despard came to be
endi"
"Yes, sir, he said he thongt
she had committed suicide. Sh
, was always a fidgeiy, excitab
character, he said; aud ne hinte
that she was pnt out, too, by hi
q engagement"
"Oll there was a little ata
b.. W th her also, was theref' said NJ
t Britely. Then, turning to VI
), BrllOe, he added: "Nice defens
). that Will appeal to the higher fet
ings of the jury, ehi"
"He seems TO be a bad lot
,. answered Mr.. Belize.
[ eyes; but If he hasn't murder'
the girl be shouldn't be hanged
4 replied M. Britely. "HIs stat
D ment SO ,ares remarkably with tn
t proved facts. If IFS all lie, ipS
- clever one. You know nOthiI
s about this when he was before Il
q magistrates
e "NO, nothing"
e $50 much the better, IN a wa
a The prosecution aud tue wltnei