Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06

reputation. Their ev.6erce tailed with
Morrison's exactly. The two who had
walked to Brent road with him were per-
fectly clear as to the facts, and their sto-
ries varied not a hairs breadth.
They remembered the sudden bursting
forth cf tie moon, and they knew just
where they were when it occurred. Their
position was just what 1t should have been
in order to correspond with Morrison
story. No enc doubted that they were tell
ing the truth; their EianL er was thorough
ly convincing.
1t seemed to me that Morrison had ac-
ccurted for every second of his time. and
that his alibi was totally unassailaole.
Yet it was clear to me that neither the
coroner nor any other representative Of
the law there present was moved by it In
the least. Something omnous was in the
air. 1 found myself regarding Morrison
with ghoulish interest as a man caught
in a snare which he could not see. No
effort had been made to contradict his
story. They were playing with him
II can't make this story out" 1 whis-
pered to Preble. DO you suspect Miss
Morrison of testifying falsely?'
Heaven forbidw returned the detective.
NO, she has told the truth absolutely.
But wait DIR. Bishop Is going to tes-
tify."
felt instinctively that the blow was going
TO fall. The coroner's face took on a look
of DOOM The representative OF the dis
trict attorney became suddenly and deeply
Interested in the proceedings.
DR.. Bishop was a tall. hatchet-faced
man. all of an iron-gray color. His gray
eyes were very shrewd, and his voice as
cold and hard as iron. He described the
Morrison house, without at first disclosing
anything new. He told Of the wounds
upon the dead mans face, describing them
as Preble had done.
WAS there Indication of any other in
jury" asked the coroner.
"There was" replied Bishop. and in
stantly the room was astir.
PART IL
THE STAR WITNESS.
The coroner raped for order; and then
commanded the physician to describe what
he had sean.
There were marks upon the throat of
the corpse" he said. They clearly indi-
Gated that an attempt had been made to
strangle Douglass Morrison by means of q
moose drawn about his neck
Entirely new" whispered Preble with
enthusiasm. mot discovered in post NOR
TEN. Wait a minute and you'll see what
that means.
Death was not due in any degree 10
strangulation. however" continued the doc
tor. "It was caused, as stated already, by
a fracture of the skull"
when, in your opinion" asked the coro-
ner was the strangulation attempted?"
within ten minutes Of the time when
first saw the body replied DR.. Bishop,
firmly Il judge Of the time by the fact
that the marks were faint, and were rapid
ly disappearing"
How long did 1t take you to reach the
Morrison house after you were called?'
vas the next question.
Somewhat more than ten minutes" an
swered the witness.
1 looked at the prisoner. His head had
fallen forward upon his breast.
In the pocket Of the prisoner" con-
tinued DR.. Bishop. was a handkerchief
slightly stained with blood. and twisted as
If 1t had been used in an attempt at
strangulation, which / have described.
secretly removed 1t from the prisoner 9
pocket. and afterward substituted a hand
kerchief which / found In the clothing Of
the deceased. The latter twisted In my
hand SO as to make it resemble the other.
The prisoners coat in which ] found the
handkerchief lay over a chair In the library
at the time / gave the handkerchief to the
police"
The sensation which these words pro-
duced was 30 great that order was with
difficulty preserved in the room. The pris-