The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-02-27

ceiving no signs of him, she concluded
that he had either been detained or
had gone to her house by another route.
Upon that she returned to her home,
hoping to find that her intended had
reached the cottage before her. As a
matter of fact, she did not find him
there on her arrival.
'Now, half an hour from this a gypsy
named Benjamin Lee, in searching for
goat which had strayed from his en-
canipment not far off, was startled to
see the dead body of a man lying on the
rocky beach below the cliffs edge. The
body turned out to be that of John Con-
roy. And of this mans murder Arthur
vereker, the prisoner In the dock,
stands accused"
Here the judge touches more minute
ly on portion of the evidence; then,
taking up the thread of his charge, he
proceeds:
"What caused the sudden disappear
ance and death of John Conroy? BY
youi verdict you will have to answer
for or against the prisoner. 1t is con-
tended by the prosecution that the de-
ceased was pushed over the cliffs by his
nephew. What evidence is adduced in
favor of this contention?
ut is pointed out that bfore Conroy's
death Vereker was in needy circum-
stances, and that he earnestly desired
money; that climax was at last
reached when it became known to him
that his uncle contemplated making in
vestments which he, the nephew, con-
sidered unsound. Vereker tried to dis
suade his uncle from these specula-
tons, and had frequent disputes with
him in consequence. Without avail.
For on the very morning of his death
Conroy prepared the draft of letter to
his stockbroker, instructing him to
buy the shares the purchase of which
Vereker deemed so detrimental to his
interests. Vexed, annoyed, harried, it
is contended, he sets out on his walk
with his uncle. When last seen together
they are in hot dispute. One word
leads to another, till at last a sudden
impulse, it is supposed, seizes the young
man. One push will put him in posses
sion of the money he so badly needs,
and, yielding to the tempter at his ell
bow, the dreadful crime is committed.
Directly after the murder he starts off
by the short route inland to Miss Man.
ners' house, and reaches it about 1888.
"For the defense, on the other hand,
i, is urged that Mr.. Conroy's death was
the result of pure accident. When
Vereker left his uncle-the prisoners
counsel says-the old man walked on
till he reached a point on the cliff where
some clumps of somewhat rare herb,
indigenous to that part of the coast,
were known to grow. STOPPING to pluck
one of these, which his known love of
botany would lead him to prize, and
some of the very leaves of which were
indeed found in the pockets of the dead
man, it is urged that he lost his balance,
became giddy, or that sudden gust-it
has been given in evidence that the
wind was high on the Sd of March
drove him over the edge. When Miss
Manners from her eminence therefore
scanned the line of cliff and saw neither
uncle nor nephew Mr.. Conroy had but
moment before disappeared from view
over the PERCEPTIONS wall of rock"
The Judge here enters at great length
into a critical analysis of the entire
evidence. After which he resumes:
Gentlemen, / have placed the facts
before you SO far as we have been able
to ascertain them. have also recalled
to your mind the hypothesis adduced
but from the point of view
of the prosecution and that of the de- |
tense; and / have endeavored to guide |
you SO far as justly may to a right |
finding. The evidence in this case is |
in the main circumstantial; but let me |
warn you that it is no whit the less
on that account If the links |
it be but durable and per-
feet. Having heard the dispositions of |
the various witnesses for the crown, |
does that evidence in your mind clear
" establish the guilt of the accused? |
Ii you have no reasonable doubt that |
the prisoner at the bar is the man who |
the murder of which he |
stands charged it is your duty, irrespec-
tive of the feelings of others, to find |
verdict of guilty. If, on the con-
trary, in your opinion, the circumstan-
lial chain should in any one particular
be faulty, should the hand of guilt not
point with sufficiently convincing di-
rectness towards the prisoner, then it
Is equally duty you owe to him to re-
turn a verdict of acquittal. In word, |
should any doubt - any reasonable
1oubt-assail your minds, bear in mind
that the accused is entitled to the bene.
1t of that doubt.
Gentlemen, / leave the ultimate find
ing in your hands, well knowing that
vou will act in this grave, this mo-
nentous question as good citizens, as
iod-fearing men, and that you will re-
Iurn only such verdict as will commend
Itself to your one true guide--your con-