San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-08

permitting only a couple Of women to
follow them.
The squire, utterly COMPOUNDED 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
on the stand with the squire.
"well, gentlemen, said the squire,
"this is q surprising affair. What shall
we do now?"
"Mr. Barnes" said the lawyer, you
are more conversant with the case.
What is your opinion of Miss Maryel's
statement"
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Barnes, cit
is evident that Miss Marvel really be-
lieyes that she killed Mr.. Lewis. It is
plain to my mind. however, that we
should be most careful in accepting such
q theory. In the first place would call
attention to the evidence offered by DR..
Snow. He tells us that he found two
wounds, one having passed through the
nightdress. and the other not This sim
pie fact proves beyond doubt that the de-
ceased changed his clothing after re-
ceiving 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 possible
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
wells 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 report if a shot had been fired
earlier. Miss Carpenter heard shots at
8 o'clock, the time when Miss Marvel
her weapon. There is, how
ever, more convincing evidence which
l can adduce to corroborate 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
ly, as he claims to have fired, 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.. Upper.
81 do" replied Mr.. Barnes. "But
let me explain to the coroner, so that he
may be convinced Of the necessity of
continuing. found upon the table in
the parlor a sheet of paper upon which
was written, If / 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 writing?" Mr.. Barnes handed
the paper to the squire, who examined
it closely and with great interest. After
a moment he replied:
81 recognize this as the handwriting
of Mr.. Lewis. am perfectly familiar
with 1t, and there can be no doubt. I"
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 he received a wound
prior to o o'clock Miss Marvel did not
infict 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 fired 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. If you
take the same view, Mr. Upper, we
will continue"
81 certainly agree with Mr.. Barnes
in all his deductions" said Mr.. Tup-
per. II am confident that we do not
yet know who fred the last shot 1t
would help us if we could discover what
name was meant to complete that SEN
tence, and if you will now call Miss
Lewis, acting upon a suggestion from
Mr.. Barnes, hope to learn it.
The squire then announced that the
inquest would be continued, and imme-
diately all resumed their seats and
ceased talking.