Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-07-22
A BRITISH VERDICT.

Tom Selby laid down the last batch Of
English papers which bad reached US st
Ea1nherhafn with n sudden cry Of sur
prise. Charlie, he cried, turning round
TO me, "just look over these reports and
tell me what you make Of this Greybamp-
ton mystery"
We were two young doctors who, anx-
ious 10 earn name for ourselves In sci
enoe, had come 20 Norway on purpose to
study that strange disease the gobaok,
said 70 be induced among Norwegian fish
erInen during the anchoyy season by ex-
cessive consumption of raw salt fish. 1t Is
q rapid disease, acting from the outset
with extraordinary violence. No satisfac-
tory cure, no mode of treatment even, has
yet been devised for it.
took up the papers and read. This
was curious case Yet at lrst my inter
est was but languidly aroused. The Incl
dents seemed all of a sterootyped pattern.
II was variety No. - Of the drame pas
sionDel. according 10 Lonbroso's luni-
nous classification. You remember the cir
cumstances: Old Mr.. Pargiter vas a rich
but clarky merchant at Greyhamqton en-
ga god in tho Norway trade. HIS WIFE 70
wears his junior, fell ,iseporately in love
gyrsh a c}lra,e MANS. IlLIIg.J, ard Vrh!le
those two we're conducting "a clandesline
,cggcsnondarcc IT PurgiJer died, with
grave suspicious IF poisoning
II was alleged ~ tie crown that Gil
bright had given hiln arsenic. and indeed
evidence was brought forward 20 show
that Gnbricht had bought that poison In
cor =idera bic quantities at local chemists.
though bis counsel contended he used i5
only tor preserving birds skins, "a lie was
an enthusiastic and learned ornithoiogis;.
However, 1t was clear chat both iilhrighU
and Mrs. Purgiter were onxiousiy waiting
till the rich Old husband was safely out Of
the way, when they proposed 20 marry and
live happily and yirtuously ever after
You Will observe at once that in the
story so far there YVES nothing moro than
LON broso's familiar Case No. 2: Wife
has a lover and rich husband Lover
poisons husband. Wife remains In tgno-
rance Of the circumstance.
But as I read on and on came TO the
part 10 which Tom had SO urgently called
my attention. 1t was themedical evidence
as to the dead mans symptoms, together
with the analysis of the contents Of his
stomach.
Then my interest deepened. Tom
watched me narrowly. well, what do
you make of It allf" he inquired at last
eagerly
looked up from tho paper. why, the
90 back, - answered, without moments
hesitation.
$50 I think" he assented. "And as for
arsenio-fudgel How could a man like
Forbes -Ellerby put down such symptoms
as those to an irritantf"
I read to the end of the medical evi-
denoc "Oh, It's as clear as mudP' l
cried. Here are the small black spots,
and the temperature below normal, and
the rigidity Of the hands, and the final
sense of total happiness"
Besides which, - Tom put in, 1.-The pa
tient had been over at Lofoden just ten
days previously.
"What did the jury doS" ] cried.
Found the parson guilty of course, "
Tom answered.
1 jumped up in horror. when is the
man to be hangedf" exclaimed.
Not decided when the papers left, -
Tom replied. "But, then, that was Inore
than week ago."
made up my mind at once. "Tom," L
cried, we must save this poor fellows
life The case Is clear. There was no muir
der at all We know every symptom. Tho
man died of go back"
"What can we do?' Tom inquired.
"Take the first chance Of n coaster down
to Bergen" / answered, land telegraph at
once TO the home secretary.
Oh, tho long, dreary delays of that end
less saiI In small fishing smack down the
sound to Bergen How we tackled and
luffed Would we ever reach our port and,
II we did, would 1t be in time to save the
innocent victimf
The moment wo landed telegraphed in
all haste: ave have been studying an OBJ
scure disease In Norway and can lay before
you evidence which will clearly show no
murder at all took place at Greyhamptcn,
thus exculpating Cilhright. We iinploro
you to delay execution till we can produce
our proofs Tho disease was ut LOfuden
when Pnrgiter called there. We signed IL
with cur names and medical credentials. .
4 few hours later reply came back
Home secretary regrets execution Of Con
yict Gilbrieht took place at Newgate yes
terday morning. Cholmondely Jevons, pri-
vate secretary"
I was boside myself with indignation. I
took the first steamer and laid the case at
once before the home office.
Mr. CholmOndely Jeyons received me
dis chief was too busy He listened polite
~ DuJ lnCicuuluuSly W NY HdtIhbifO' 1
showed him beyond doubt that Pargiter
had died Of the Norwegian disease &c
quired at Lofoden, but never till our tl1ne
Investigated with care by any medical man,
either Morse or English. He gazed at me
through his cyeglass, smiled and shrugged
his shoulders "Most regretful, If true, e"
be remarked at last, with official callous-
ness.
"If only l could have been present at the
trial." exclaimed, II might have saved
that mans life. l might have convinced
the iuryl"
The private secretary smiled again, an
inscrutable smile. My dear SIR" he said,
you misunderstood the British iuryman,
and you forget Mrs. Maybrick. Twelve
good men and true found Gilbright guilty
Of murder, not because 1t was proved he
had poisoned the man, but because it was
proved he had intrigued with the lady. -
Grant Allen In Sketch.