The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-03

having Hendricks point out The tsasks
in the sand and the spot whore he bad
found thersyolver the coroner and his
men went into. the house. Ralph had
decided, as 1t would DO necessary to
hear the testimony Of tho ladies Of the
household, to have the inquest held in
the library.
Dr. Lsmpkin saw Hendricks eying
the different members Of the household
oovertly as they came in and took seats
after Mr.. Meynell had announced his
readiness to proceed with the inquest
Arthur Montcastle and Mig Benton
were the last to arrive They sat on
sofa little removed from the others Of
their party.
Charles Stanwood was the first wit
ness called He testified that he was
walked about half past o'clock by Miss
Hastings, who informed him she had
heard the report of revolver in the
garden from the direction Of the north
walk. He had dressed hastily and gone
down stairs with Miss Hastings. who
objected to being left up stairs alone.
They had found Mr.. Montcastle below
with Miss Benton, and Ralph Benton
soon afterward joined them.
At this juncture Hendricks, who was
sitting beside Mr.. Meynell, looked
sharply at the pair on the sofa and
whispered something into the coroner's
ear. The officer nodded and put ques-
tion to the witness.
do you happen to know which room
is usually occupied by Miss Benton?"
ut is directly across the hall from
this one, replied Stanwood.
Miss Benton threw a startled glance
at Hondricks, and then her eyes met
Montcastle's steady, calm gaze. 1t
seemed to Lampkin that it held warn
ing, for the girl nervously balled her
handkerchief in her hand and stared at
the floor.
""And which room was occupied by
Mr.. Montcastle?" was the coroner's next
question.
Miss Benton raised her eyes in a fur
ried way, but Montcastle leaned for
ward, touched her hand and whispered
something to her.
"Mr. Montcastle's room is adjoining
Miss Bentons," answered Stanwood.
lyon were the first to approach the
dead man, think, Mr.. Stanwood, were
You not2" continued Mr.. Meynell.
II was," replied the witnesA
Again Hendricks suggested ques-
ton to the coroner.
WAS Mr.. Benton quite dead when
you discovered him in the garden?"
asked Mr.. Meynell.
"Yes, and quite cold," was the re-
ply. miss Hastings said she had heard
the report about an hour before she
walked me. She did not attach much
Importance to it at first, but as she had
heard Mr.. Jacob Benton leave his room
and he had not returned she finally be-
came uneasy about him."
MAY ask the witness some ques-
tions?" asked the detective.
Certainly, as many as you like"
answered the court.
did you touch the body?" asked
Hendricks.
II opened his shirt and laid my hand
on his heart to see if life were wholly
extinct, was the answer
when you and Miss Hastings came
down stairs, you say you found Mr..
Montcastle and Miss Benton up?"
"Yes."
where were they?" asked the detect
i've. 90
"They were in tho back yard, or
rather they were coming in from the
side veranda."
II think that will do for the present,
Mr.. Stanwood," said Hendricks. Flo,
turned to tho coroner. II believe, Mr..
Meynell. l should next call MI Mont
castle"
Montcastle did not rise, but simply
signified his readiness to testify by u
nod of the head.
"Please tell us, Mr.. Montcastle,"
said Hendricks, strange sparkle Of ex-
pectation in his eyes, If you heard the
report Of a revolver in the garden last
night
"I-I did not" said Montcast1e,
ttammering.
"Then you were not walked by itf''
"No, WAS not.
Hendricks brows came together in q
thoughtful quicker, and then he aston
lshed DIR. Lampkin by saying, "That
will do, Mr.. Montcastle, and then to
the coroner, "Please call Miss Benton
next"
The young woman started to rise, but
Montcastle whispered something to her,
and she sank back on the sofa, looking
pale, fatigued and excited.
odd you hear the report Of revolver
in the garden last night" asked the de-
tective.
81 don't think-no, I did not" was
the reply.
"You could not have been awake
when it was fired, then?" said Hen
bricks interrogatively.
II don't know, sir. I presume
The girls eyes met Montoastle's. and
she did not finish. Hendricks bit his
lip and pulled his beard. Then he sur
prised Lampkin by asking a question
in an Indifferent tone, which seemed
quite irrelevant to the subject.
"Do you know, Miss Benton, who
informed the police Of the murder?"
my brother, l think" replied the
young lady.
"Thank you. That will do, said the
detective. He leaned back in his chair
and seemed to have his mind on some
thing thousand miles away.
The coroner next called for the testi-
mony of Miss Hastings.
"You were walked by the report I
believe, Miss Hastiugs?" he began.
II was not. was already awake"
said Miss Hastings.
Hendricks seemed to pull himself to.
gether suddenly. He bent forward and
whispered to Mr.. Meynell.
"Were you walked by something else.
or had you not gone to sleepl" ques-
toned Mr.. Meynell
A look of hesitation crossed the face
of the witness. She glanced hurriedly