Catoctin clarion., 1897-11-04
CHAPTER K.
VIRGINIA LEWIS TESTIFTEB.

VIRGINIA LEWIS TESTIFTEB
When Alice made the statement that
she had shot Mr.. Lewis, all present for
. moment sat dumb with amazement.
When they saw that she had tainted,
all were immediately possessed by the
desire to minister to her wants, the re-
suit being, as is usual in such cases,
that the PROSTATE form Of the young
woman was surrounded, and she was
deprived OF all chance Of fresh air. For:
tunately DR.. Snow was present, and,
calling upon Lucas to assist him, to-
gether they bore her from the room,
permitting only couple of women to
follow them.
The squire, utterly confounded at the
unexpected turn of events, scarcely
knew what to do next, and in order to
gain time declared recess of ten min
utes. The jurymen started to leave their
seats, but the squire requested that
they would not do SO and that they
would not converse about the case with
the other persons present. The crowd
fell to discussing the situation and a
hum Of voices filled the room. Mr..
Barnes and Mr.. Upper arose and went
IN the stand with the squire.
well, gentlemen" said the squire,
this Is a surprising affair. What shall
We do nowY"
"Mr. Barnes" said the lawyer. "you
are more conversant with the case.
What is your opinion Of Miss Marvel's
statement"
"Gontlemen," said Mr.. Barnes, ut
is evident that Miss Marvel really be-
lieves that she killed Mr.. Lewis. It is
plain to my mind. however, that We
should be most careful in accepting such
a theory. In the first place would call
attention to the evidence offered - DR..
Snow. He tells us that he found two
wounds, one having passed through the
niRhtdress, and the other not. This sim:
pie fact proves beyond doubt that the de-
ceased changed his clothing after re-
oeiving the first wound. Therefore 1t Is
manifestly clear that the shot which
Miss Marvel admits she fred at him
could not have proved fatal, for If SO
we would be obliged to believe that the
other wound was made by the bullet
from the pistol Of Lucas in order to ac-
count for their being two wounds, but
these shots followed in such close sue
cession that there was not time for him
to have effected the change Of clothing.
''There Is, however, bare possibil.
ity that he had already received the first
wound and was in bed, when, attracted
by the dog, he arose and went to the
window. In that case he might have
been killed by the ball from Miss Mar
vel's weapon. Thus far, however, we
have no evidence that would substan-
tiate suspicion Of this kind. Miss Car:
penter and Mr.. Everly would have
heard the repoI If shot had been fred
earlier. Miss Carpenter heard shots at
9o'clock, tho time when Miss Marvel
discharged her weapon. There is. how.
ever, more convincing evidence which
I can adduoe to oorroborate me In the
stand which ! take. [ am in doubt
whether the wound which did not prove
fatal was made by Miss Marvel or not,
or whether by Lucas, either accidental;
Iy, as he claims to have fred, or with
design. But l am positive that neither
Of the shots fred at that hour was the
one which destroyed the life Of the de-
ceased"
"You allude to the scrap Of paper Of
which you told me, do you not?" asked
Mr.. Tupper. a.,
lido" replied Mr.. Barnes. "But
let me explain to tho coroner, 30 that he
may be convinced Of the necessity OF
continuing. I found upon the table in
the pnrlor a sheet Of paper upon which
was written, II am dead in the morn
ing, my murderer !s'-the sentence be-
ing unfinished. This seems to prove
that Mr.. Lewis recognized his first as
sailant at least, and that, fearing death,
he meant to warn us as to the identity
Of the person. True, the name does not
appear, but the words are sufficiently
significant. presume there Is no doubt
as to the writing7' Mr.. Barnes handed
the paper to the squire, who examined
1t closely and with great interest. After
q moment he replied:
II recognize this as the handwriting
Of Mr.. Lewis. / am perfectly familiar
with it. and there can be no doubt
1.-THE deduction then is self evident. "
continued Mr.. Barnes. ''Dr. Snow has
testified that death was instantaneous.
Consequently this writing refers to the
first assailant. Therefore, unless it can
be shown that be received wound
prior to o'clock Miss Marvel did not
inflict the fatal wound, If her shot
reached him at all. There is break in
the plastered ceiling Of the parlor,
showing the furrow of bullet. That
was probably made by Miss Marvel or
by Lucas. We cannot determine which"
"Mr. Barnes, said the squire, your
reasoning convinces me that whatever
may have been the girls intent when
she fred her bullet did not kill Mr..
Lewis The worst that can be claimed
Is that she is responsible for the lesser
wound, and, as you say. even that
would be difficult to prove. II you
take the same view, Mr.. Upper, we
will continue.
II certainly agree with Mr.. Barnes