Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-02-20
God grant that it may prove So"

said the magistrate sternly.
And the investigation Immediately
l commenced. First. the minutes OF the
~coraner's inquest were read: and then
the witnesses were examined In turn.
The housekeeper. Mrs. Nose, was
called, and with many tears u much
reluctance. gave I'm her testimony:
THAT Miss Endora Leaton was the
niece OF Lord Leaton. and after Miss
Agatha. the next heiress 10 the estate.
Miss EudoTa had nursed Lord Leaton
through his fatal Illness. prep&ring all
his delicate food and drink with her
own hands. She prepared the sleeping
draught OF which he drank ten min
utes before his sudden death. Miss
/ Eudora also nursed Miss Agatha
through her last illness, which CORE
sponded in all It's symptoms 10 that
Of the late Lord Leaton. Miss Eudpra
watched beside Miss Agatha on the
last night Of her life, and prepared the
taU-arind-Water Of which she drank
just before her death. Lady Leaton
drank some OF the same beverage just
before her sudden demise
Squire Upton inquired:
WAS the jug containing this bower
age left out Of the prisoners keeping
from the time of her preparing il TO
the time of Miss Agatha Leaton's
deatds'
Il think not. Miss Eudora prepared
the drink in the housekeeper's
and took il up 10 Miss Agatha's cham
Der, where she Aliss EudoTa1 watched
through the night" replied Mrs YoSe.
Several others among the domestic
servants were examined and each one.
in a greater or less degree, corrobor-
ated the testimony Of the housekeeper.
The next witness examined was the
family physician. DIR. Watkins. who
testified that the symptoms OF the sud
den accessions of illness. which sue
cessiyely terminated in the death Of
LORD Leaton. Lady Leaton and Miss
Leaton. were those produced by the
poison of 81. Ignatius' Bean; that
traces Of this poison were discovered
in the autopsy of the dead bodies and
in the analysis Of the beverage pre-
pared by Miss Eudorl Leaton. and Of
which they drank just previous To
their deaths: and that a quantity OF
the same fatal drug was found in Miss
Eudora Leaton's box.
The testimony Of the doctor was cor
By two physicians who had
assisted in the autopsy Of the bodies
and the analysis of the beverage. and
by the policeman who had executed
the warrant and discovered the poison
Eudora's possession.
The last witness examined was the
Princess Pezzilini. who. with the ex-
of the scientific evidence Of
fered by the physicians, corroborated
whole Of the foregoing testimony.
The evidence being all collected the
prisoner was asked if she had any ex-
PLANTATION 10 give before the magis-
trates should decide upon her case.
Slowly rising. and in a very faint
voice, she answered:
None that win do any good. | fear.
did, indeed, nurse my uncle and my
'orsin through their last illnesses"
Prisoner. you are seriously compro-
yourself by making these adj
missions. You nus be careful no 10
commit yourself again." said Squire
Upton.
"Sir, If / speak at all | can only
speak the truth, and | cannot believe
hat the truth can hurt me. | rereat.
hen, your worships, that | did nurse
ny uncle and cousin throught their
illness. l did prepare with my
WI hands all the food and drink of
they ~partook-"
Prisoner, prisoner said Squire Up
on in a tone Of great sympathy. for.
the conclusive evidence againsr
IL was impossible TO look into her
innocent eyes without n doubt OF her
imposed guilt, and wishing 10 give
Ter the benefit of that doubt, .'prison-
r, 1 must again earnestly warn Won
hat You are fatally eliminating Your
elf. a thing thai the law does not re-
uire You 10 do. Justice affords even
0 h most guilty the opportunity of
cquittal. which the criminal is NOT
ound TO destroy
Sir. l am nc. q criminal: and ~
peaking the truth is 10 destroy me il
aust do so. | did prepare their food
nj drink, as did everything els. !
Or their relief and comfort. because :
them so much that | would have F,
e my life, IL its sacrifice could have I.
ived theirs. i put no injurious ingre.
lent In anything that ! made for them.
as for that deadly poison of ST
snatlus bean. OF which il is said they .
lei. and which was found i'm my box !
do not know how il came there. :
ever. certainly, had il in my posses :
on. never knew anything Of it, prom .
rites, never even heard OF its exist /,
before. And as / have spoken /,
MY. so may the Lord deliver my life !
ON this great peril.' '
she concluded In a very low voice I
nd at the close OF her little specch L
trembling into her chair again. !.