The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-11-13

OF the beauteous Marie Devereux, was
arrested on charge Of murder, upon the
sworn information of the butler of Forest
Hall, who deposed that, on the previous
evening, Merrilees had had stormy inter
view with Miss Devereux, in which
Solenski's name was mentioned several
times, and that Merrilees had suddenly
dashed out of the house, muttering:
"I'll kill him! I'll kill himw Upon
this evidence, and that of the knife found
in the dead mans breast, Merrilees was
committed for trial at the forthcoming
asszes about to be held at the guildhall,
Winchester.
Doubtless the reader remembers the
account of the trial, which was published
so fully in the daily papers Of the time,
but in case he may not recall it to mind
might here briefly give Merrilees' defence.
In spite of the strong proofs of his guilt, he
persstently declared himself innocent and
pleaded not guilty. He fully admitted the
Forest Hall, and his counsel explained that
he had that evening proposed for the hand
of Miss Devereux, but had been rejected,
upon which he had accused her of favoring
the suit of Solenski, and when she admit
ted that she bad that day accepted Solenski
his jealousy and rage overpowered him
being very hot tempered fellow-causing
him to rush from the house. muttering the
terribly discriminating threats now used as
evidence against him. After leaving Forest
Hall-his counsel continued-reason grad
ually prevailed, and he proceeded to go
home, his path lying across the common in
front of my house.
Being anxious to arrive there before the
threatening storm broke and partly to cool
his fiery temper, he ran, but his foot catch
him to fall heavily to the ground, aud
with such force as to render him uncon.
scious.
He declared that his pockets must have
been rtled by some malicious passerby
while he lay in that state, for whereas ht
fell on his face when he recovered con
sciousness he was lying on his back. He
reached home too weak and dazed TO thinR
or observe, but great was his surprise tht
next morning to find his pockets empty
| Watch, chain, purse, loose cash hunting
knife which he always carried-aud every
ching, ali gone.
Counsel dwelt strongly upon this fact
end maintained that the accused was moi
the cuIprit, but that when lying uncon
sciOus the real murderer robbed him, tax
/ ing, among other thing, the knife uscC
with such fatal effect upon Solcnski-whosC
pockets he also rled--leaving the muir
derous weapon in the dead mans breast, II
divert susp cion frou himself to il, limo
cent owner.
For futher details, | must refer thu
reader to the very full reports of the tria
which appeared in the local papers at til,
lill't, IltifiN CpIlfullllS NHtiI WIN Sltll'
ing that the jury smiled, in that superb.
| li0us, superior sort Of way common to the
British juror, at the palpable weakness OF
the defense, and, having satisfied them
selves as to the prisoners guilt, after 4
| short consideration they returned their
awful verdict Of guilty! Gerald Merrilees
| was sentenced to death.
Seine time after the foregoing events !
was sitting up awaiting the arrival Of my
wife and son, who were returning iron,
London by midnight train-or, rather.
an early morning one-reaching Dean
Station at 3 a. m, after which they had to
drive the intcrying five miles home.
1t was weary work waiting. | had fin
ished reading my novel and was looking
about for something to do, when | sud
denly thought Of the plates VIC had exposed
on the night OF the thunderstorm and had
lain undeveloped and forgotten till now
''The very thing" | exclaimed. I'll set
to work and develop them at once 1t will
pass the time nicely
The first plate developed was failure.
Why, don't know, for | Immediately
threw it away and commenced another.
All! thought, this one is something like
II photograph. Truly, it was most won
derful photo of lightning, the wavy lines
of tre-there were four, springing from
one stem-streaming down from the dark
aud angry heavens right on to the earth,
where the trees OF the New forest in the
background were sharply slhouetted
against the tongues of fire, from which
little side streams spread out in all direc-
tions. | felt, and still proud Of that photo
graph, for it caused no little excitement in
the scientific world. The next was a bit Il
a mystery to me, for it was a negative Of
the landscape in front of our house and
wondered when it was taken, until
remembered that Donald had asked me t,
take it as a nashlight landscape view witt
the last plate on that memorable evening.
Constipation
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