Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-27
"Why did you do that?"

you left Lee before any steps had been
inaugurated?'
IA friend warned me by letter."
"Who was this obliging friend, and
how did he know where letter would
reach you?":
Before I left I told him where I
meant to 60 1t is immaterial who he
ia"
"I presume this was Mr.. Everly, was
it not?''
Marvel remained silent and Mr..
Tupper did not press the point, but con-
tinued:
"Where were you ON the night upon
which Mr.. Lewis was murdered?
81 was at the farm"
The lawyer was pleased at this
straightforward reply.
"What we're you doing there"
"Is it essential to go into that?"
lit is very essential"
"Well, then, went there to meet
Miss Lewis, having asked her for an in
terview."
"Did you see her? If 80, where?"
"She met me across the river"
elbow long did this interview last?"
"Of course I cannot be accurate, but
I should say about an hour. The sub
iect which we discussed was one Of vi
tai Importance to me, and was not
anxious to bring the meeting to a close
before exhausting all the arguments at
my command.
Mr.. Barnes reflected q moment and
calculated that if Miss Lewis left the
summer house at 8 O'Clock, granting
her 15 minutes to Cross the river and as
many more in returning, this statement
of Marvel's, that she talked with him
an hour, would just fit the one which
she had made to the effect that she
reached the house at half past 10. This,
therefore, satisfied him that he had the
matter of time correct
"Now, then, Mr.. Marvel" said the
lawyer, please tell Us what you did
after Miss Lewis left you.
"Istarted to walk to the Epping road,
but before reached it I retraced my
steps,"
Exactly. You crossed the river, did
you not?'
"Yes. How did you know?'
Never mind. Tell US how you
crossed"
II meant to wade the stream and
looked for shallow place, but stepped
into hole and was obliged to swim. /"
Every good. Now tell us why you
were 80 anxious to Cross the river so
late at night. "
"It is delicate matter, but as this
seems to be Of Importance l will be
frank and tell you the whole story. My
first object in visiting the farm was to
persuade Miss Lewis to marry me with.
out her uncle's consent since he had re-.
fused to grant it At the meeting be-
tween Us she would not do more than
promise to send me definite reply the
next day by letter. After she had left
me could not help thinking that she
meant to refuse and was only delaying
the i'll tidings, especially as she insisted
that / should 60 on to Portsmouth to
wait for her letter. I thought Of some
arguments which had not used and re-
turned, hoping to find her still up and
so make one more attempt to win her.
That, sir, is the full truth"
''Did You see her when you reached
the house?"
"No, sir"
did you enter the house?"
II did. went into the dining room
and as far as the door of Miss Lewis
room, but as there was no light in her
apartment / concluded that she had re-
tired, and left the house as I had en-
tered it"
"While in the house did you see Mr..
Lewis?"
Before answer that may I ask you
a question:"
proceed"
"When you ask me if I saw Mr.. Lew
is, are you not trying to get me to
make some admission which might con.
meet me with this murder?"
Mr.. Tupper was a little confused at
this direct question and hesitated mo-
ment before he replied:
"Mr. Lewis has been murdered, and
there are suspicious circumstances
which seem to implicate you. I am on
ly giving you an opportunity to vindi-
cate yourself. ;"
"You are very kind" said Marvel,
with smile, "but it seems to me that
it is the other way, and that you are
simply hunting for the criminal. Now,
if l admit that + saw Mr.. Lewis that
night, whether 1 killed him or not, /
might be acknowledging myself to be
the last person who saw him alive, and
that might be construed into an evil
dence of guilt. I believe I have the
privilege of refusing to criminate my
self, and I will not reply to the ques-
tion."
"You are virtually admitting what
you seem to wish to deny, since if you
had not met him there would be nc
reason for your hesitating to proclaim
that fact"
"You are wrong. If say that ! did
not see him, that will be giving you q
positive point. If l did not meet him,
it would be proof presumptive that
did not fire the fatal shot This might