Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-30
A LUCKY THEFT.

ney, being rich. But Charles was to In
herit from Edward in case Edward died
without issue.
Old Mr.. Courtney being one Of the
| halest of bachelors, when it was announced
hot only that he was dead, but that foul
| play was suspected, when a post norton
examination demonstrated that he had
| fallen u victim to poison and when it was
| given out that the hand that had admins
tered it was that of his favorite 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
this:
A physician had been called to see Mr..
| Courtney ON occasion of some apparently
trilling illness, requiring some simple
| remedy, for which prescription was writ
ten and handed to the prisoner to have
\ made up. This the latter had carried to u
well known, competent druggist, who had
| put it up in his presence. The medicine
consisted of three white powders, each
\ folded in o scrap of paper and the whole
/ inclosed in q single wrapper. They were
! to be given at intervals Of an hour and
| 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, sec
| end powder MS administered the symptoms
became so alarming that n messenger was
| dispatched for the physician, who on his
arrival declared that the patient was suf
\ fering from the effect Of poison. An exam
! ination Of tho remaining powder disclosed
| the fact that it was pure arsenic 1t was
| too late for any antidote to be available,
( and in less than an hour death had re-
! lieved 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 a 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 unClo's apartment or had
| handled the medicine from the time 1t was
| compounded by the druggist till the COM
| ing of the physician after tho 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, it transpired
that the amicable relations between tho
unclo 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-
spectcd.
"Who was in company with you from
the time you received the medicine till
your return to your uncle house?" asked
the prisoner, desperately cropping after
something to afford ray of hope.
"No one, he answered, "but my cousin
! Charles, whom l met near the druggists.
and who accompanied me in"
1 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
childless Charles would inherit the whole
estate.
HE did it'll He did itl'' the young man
cried in a paroxysm Of excitement too
earnest to be counterfeit. HE went out
to get the poison when he left me waiting.
| He put it up to resemble the druggists
parcel, for which he substituted it as we
went along. l know it now! 1 carried the
parcel in the right pocket Of my overcoat,
and it was on that side he walked!'
l was seated in my private office on the
day preceding that fixed for the trial. in
dulging in anything but sanguino expec-
tations when a tap at the door announced
visitor. 1t was the detective had EN-
ployed.
"What is ftp" I inquired after closing
the door.
II made an arrest today" he answered,
land in the prisoners possession found
this overcoat," undoing package he had
bought.
"Well?"
"In one of the pockets found this"
and he handed me q small parcel, which 1
opened. Inside were three papers, folded
as druggists put up their prescriptions.
"The person with whom found this
coat" the detective continued, "confesses
that he stole it from billiard saloon, the
owner having laid it aside while playing,
and the date he fixes corresponds with Mr..
Courtney's murder. But what is more
important, have ascertained that Charles
Courtney is the owner of the coat"
LET us go ut once to the drugglst'sP' 1
exclaimed, springing from my chair and
snatching up my hat. We were soon there.
"Please examine that parcel, " said,
putting it 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,
land for which others seem to have been
afterward SO mysteriously substituted|
"They do not correspond at all, he an
swered; "they are the same"
1.-THE same! How do you know that?"
"By these figures" he replied, pointing
to the inside of one of the papers. ~ 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
it is, and you see how this piece and the
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