The Delta independent., 1898-02-25

"Did you touch the bodyr' sak,d
| Hendricks.
II opened his shirt and laid my hand
on his heart to see il life were wholly
extinct" was the answer.
"When you and Miss Hastings cams
down stairs, you say you found NJ.
Montcastle and Miss Benton upr'
"Yes."
"where were theyr'' asked the dst.ot.
| i've.
"They were in the back yard, or
rather they were coming in from the
side veranda."
~ think that will do for the present
Mr.. Stanwood," said Hendricks He
turned to the coroner. II believe, Mr..
Meynell. ! should next call Mr.. Mont
,astle."
Montcastle did not rise, but dmply
hgnified his readiness to testify BY 4
iod Of the head.
'Please tell us. Mr.. Montcastle." F"
laid Hendricks. strange sparkle of ex.
,ectation in his eyes, "if you heard the
eport OF . revolver in the garden Last
cht."
IL did not" said Montcastle,
stammering.
"Then you were not walked BY it,''
"No, was not"
Hendricks brows came together in .
thoughtful pucker. and then be aston
ished Dr. Lampkin by saying, "That
will do, Mr.. Montcastle, and then to
the coroner, please call Mia Benton
next"
The young woman started to rise, but
1ontcastle whispered something to her,
and she sank back on the sofa, looking
pale, fatigued and excited.
"Did you hear the report Of revolver
in the garden last nights" asked the de.
tective.
II 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 Montcastle's, and
she did not finish. Hendricks bit his
lip and pulled his beard. Then be sur
prised Lampkin BY asking . 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, 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-
mouy of Miss Hastippa
"You were walked BY the report
believe. Miss Hastings?" he began.
II was not. I was already awaks,"
said Miss Hastinga
Hendricks seemed to pull himself 10
gether suddenly. He bent forward and
Whispered to Mr.. Meynell.
"Were you walked by something elss,
o had You not gone 10 alsepi' quss-
toned NJ. Meynell.
A look Of hesitatiou crossed ths fDoo
a The witness. Ghs glanced hsssisAly
at Ralph Benton, who stood Ieaning
against the mantelpieoe. and started 10
speak, but seemed unable 70 formulate
reply.
Tho coroner repeated his question,
glancing at Hendricks o. II for approval.
II was walked BY voices in Mr.. Ben.
tons room." said Miss Hastings.
"When was that?" asked Mr.. Xey-
nell.
about 20 minutes before I heard
Mr.. Benton-Mr. Joseph Benton-go
down stairs"
did you recognise the voioesf' put
In Hendricks, with IN spologetio nod
10 Mr.. Meynell.
Again Miss HastiDas' eyes crossed
over to Ralph Benton. but he wss not
looking at her.
"Only M. jacob Bsnton's, /" said the
witness.
"Could you hear what he was say
ins?''
"Only few words here and there. "
"What were some Of the wordsy"
went on Hepdricks firmly.
IT think heard him say opoe-is
nnAu,ad m b Uheu tha door ~ss o~,.r~d