The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-03-24

walked me. She ala 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 l 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.
Il 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
'They were in the back yard, or
rather they were coming in from the
side veranda.
II think that will do for the present,
Mr. Stanwood," said Hendricks He
turned to the coroner Il believe, Mr.
Meynell, | should next call Mr. Mont
castle. -
Montcastle did not rise, but simply
signifed his readiness to testify by a
nod of the head.
.'Please tell US, Mr.. Montcastle,
said Hendricks, a strange sparkle of ex-
pectation in his eyes, IF you heard the
report of a revolver in the garden last
night"
I'll did not" said Montcastle,
stammering.
"Then you were not walked by it?'
"No, was not. y
Hendricks brows came together in a
thoughtful quicker, and then he aston
lshed DR.. 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 Oh the sofa, looking
pale, fatigued and excited.
"Did you hear the report of a revolver
in the garden last mig ht?" asked the de-
tective.
II don't thinking, did not" was
the reply.
"You could not have been awake
when it was fred, then?" said Hen
bricks interrogatively.
Il 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 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 Oh some
thing thousand miles away.
The coroner next called for the testi-
mony of Miss Hastings
"You were walked by the report,
believe, Miss Hastings?" he began.
Il was not. l was already awake, y
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 sleep?" ques-
toned Mr.. Meynell
A look of hesitation crossed the face
of the witness. She glanced hurriedly
at Ralph Benton, who stood leaning
against the mantelpiece, and started to
speak, but seemed unable to formulate
reply
The coroner repeated his question,
glancing at Hendricks as if for approval.
II was walked by voices in Mr.. Ben
tons room, said Miss Hastings.
"When was that?' asked. Mr. Mey-
nell
'.'About 20 minutes before l heard
Mr.. Benton-Mr. Joseph Benton-go
down stairs ...-
Did yon recognize the voices?" put
in Hendricks, with an apologize nod
to Mr.. Meynell. ..-.
Again Miss Hastings eyes crossed
over to Ralph Benton, but he was not
looking at her. s.
"Only Mr.. Jacob Benton's, said the
witness ~. -.
could you hear what he was say
ing?''
''Only few words here and there. Z"
what were some of the words?"
went on Hendricks firmly.
81 think l heard him say once-it
seemed to be when the door was opened