San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-15
THE : SUNDAY : LIGHT.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 1897.

SONDAlf ASoCoA ~, ACc''
1T would help, for It would show
that the one which you found in the
dead mans hand was not the one which
Mr.. Marvel had"
"God grant it. Otherwise should
never forgive myself for furnishing that
evidence against him. But what about
the clothes which he says he threw into
the river? The squire told me that he
and my cousin, Mr.. Lewis, have had
the stream dragged, but did not ind
anything
az mean to have a try at that myself.
Now I have another point which wish
to investigate, and if you will excuse
me will be off.
"You will return and take supper
with me, will you not? The proprieties
will not be invaded, for Sarah is here
with me and will stay as long as wish
her. Therefore you can have room
here if you desire.
"Thank you very much. Don't lose
heart, Miss Lewis. If it be in the power
of man, will clear your lover from
this charge"
Virginia showed her gratitude in her
face, and the detective went away.
From the farm he went to the house Of
DR.. Snow and was fortunate enough to
find him at home, though he had but
just returned from visit to Miss Mar
vel, whom he reported as slightly i'm
proved. Mr.. Barnes proceeded to ask a
few questions of the old physician about
the people most nearly connected with
the crime and its consequences. Finally
be said:
"There is a question that would
like to ask, doctor Would mans fin
gers swell or would they shrink after
death?"
"That would depend upon the cir
cumstances of the case. If the death
were from dropsy or from some poisons.
they would swell, but ordinarily OF
course they would shrink. Again, the
time has something to do with it, for in
all cases the tissues must waste eventu-
ally"
''Since there is son,e doubt about it,
/ must give you q specific case. Take
the body of Mr.. Lewis, for example.
Would you expect any shrinking of his
fingers?'
at think I should, though they may
not have done so to any considerable ex-
tent in the few days which have
elapsed"
''They would not have swollen"
"No, am positive that they would
not"
THANK you, doctor; you have settled
an important point for me. When the
trial comes ON, please remember this in
terview, in case you should be question
ed about it ON the witness stand"
II will testify, of course, though as
yet cannot see what it is that you are
trying to prove.
Pardon me if say no more at this
time. / must think only of the interests
which am serving, and deem it wisest
to work quietly, as yet Will you oblige
me by not mentioning this to any one?"
81 will be discreet, since you seem to
think it is important"
Leaving the doctors house, Mr..
Barnes went to the bridge from which
Marvel claimed that he had thrown the
bundle of clothing. Looking over the
edge, into the water. he concluded that
on whichever side it had been thrown
the bundle must have been carried by
the current toward the dam; otherwise
il would have been found ON the banks,
which were shelving ON the south side Of
the bridge.
Next he left the bridge and went to
the side of the stream north of the dam,
and from that point studied the apparent
conditions. WELL" thought he, "if
Marvel had sought for place to lose a
thing he could not have chosen better. l"
This conclusion was most probable, for
he saw a large number of enormous
powders of jagged rock projecting from
the water, which is shallow as it passes
over the stones, and these rough projec-
tions made innumerable eddies and
smaller currents A bundle of clothing
might easily be caught and held among
these rocks and held there against all
time, or at least long enough to be of no
practical value to Walter Marvel.
The detective saw that he had almost
a hopeless task to make this river yield
up its secret, if indeed it held one.
However, he way not a man easily
daunted by obstacles, and he deter
mined to make an attempt that night.
He chose the night for his experiment.
deeming it wisest to make the condi,
tions as nearly as possible similar to
those under which the accused had act
ed. He thought that the currents among
these rocks might be different at night.
as then the mills would not be working.
He closely examined the dam and con-
ceived new idea. The dam was made
of wood, and as its construction must
be clear to you in order that you may
understand the course pursued by Mr..
Barnes it becomes necessary to describe
it.
The bridge is about 100 feet south Of
the point where the water goes over the