Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-01-02

A~OS vi III AlAlgG III even
of all wrong; and you do not know
1t; you only suspect it, and in that
suspicion you wrong one OF the most
excellent young creatures that eve
lived"
Mr.. M%ontrose. you are blinded by
Partially; but the veil will soon be
torn from your eyes
1T Is you who are blinded by some
prejudice when you accuse a young
and lovely girl of a tissue of crimes
that would make the blood Of a B0rsia
run cold with horror!" said the young
man, with n shudder.
shall see; a few hours will de-
tide between u.s. replied the doctor,
grimly.
Where is the unhappy girl now?'
inquired Malcolm MontroSe.
Where she must remain for the
present; In the death-chamber of Lady
Leaton. which is now in the charge
or the police. And now, MI. Montrose:
the coroner awaits us in the crimson
drawing-room,'' said the physician.
leading the way thither.
1t was broad daylight, the sun was
high IN h heavens, though the dis
mayed servants seemed only now TO
ANAAAGIAbVL W tAkll-uASu tine lEHNS dlA1
open the windows.
Breakfast was prepared in the break
fast-paFlor, but no family circle gath
cred around it.
The doctor, the Princess Pezzilini.
and finally Malcolm MontroSe, strayed
separately and at intervals into the
room, quaffed each a cup OF coffee.
and withdrew.
Meantime tho on-ona- e,,r,o1 ~, -
quest. The investigation required some
time and much caution. therefore the
whole house was placed in charge of
the police while the examination was
in progress.
Physicians and chemists were sum-
moned TO assist in the autopsy of the
dead bodies and the analysis of the
water OF which they had both drank
Immediately before death.
The autopsy and the analysis both
proved successful. Traces of a viru-
lent poison were found in the bodies
or the deceased, and the presence of
the same fatal agent was detected in
the beverage of which they had par
taken. 1t was so far clearly proved
that Lady Leaton and her daughter
had died by poison!
Put by whom had il been prepared
ard administered? That was the next
point of inquiry.
Alas, the question seemed but too
easily answered. Nevertheless, the
coroner went coolly, formally, and sys-
tematically TO work.
The witnesses. that has been kept
jealousy apart during the progress of
the inquest, We're called and examined
separately, and their testimony care
fully taken down and compared to-
gether. The coroner's jury then de
liberated long and carefully upon the
evidence before them.
TIE inquest lasted through the whole
of Two long summer days. and the
sun was setting on the second when
they made up their verdict.
"The deceased. Matilda, Baroness
Leaton, of Allworth, and her daughter,
the Honorable Agatha Leaton, came to
their deaths by the poison of Ignatia.
administered in tamarind-water by the
hands OF Erdora Leaton."
A warrant was made out for the ar
rest of Eudora Leatc1. and put in the
/ hands or an officer for immediate exc
! cution.
There. what do you think of that?
Has my charge been proved? Is my
statement confirmed by the coroner's
| inquest? What Is your opinion now?'
| inquired the doctor of Malcolm Mon
trose, who had been a pale and agon-
lied spectator of the scene.