Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-06-30
CHAPTER VIII.

y OGoCeIlueu SueTlll NODD, lDepVJlpS Lam
ming and Spears and their prisoner.
The coroner and his jury of sin chosen
men We're already convened in the library.
and to that room the officers at once rc-
paired with their prisoner.
A number of persons were already pres
ent i'll the spacious rooms, among them
being Attorney Dobls and his son Arthur,
a rising young lawyer of near Roberts
age. DIR. Norcum was present. and De
tective Scllars sat near one of the library
windows, gazing apparently out OIL the
lawn.
Inc prisoners sister and II number OF
other ladies We're on the floor above with
the hercaved daughter of the murdered
man.
Sheriff Cobb stationed tanning ut the
front door of the residence. with orders
to admit no one else to the house without
his approval. Why" he observed, "curi-
osity will bring so many that they will
overrun the house."
Attorney DobhS had visited Robert in
Jail and assured him that he had faith in
his innocence. He also bore IL message
from his son to the effect that he would
undertake his defense.
When all was in readiness the sheriff
threw open the door leading to the cham
Der of the murdered man and the Jury
viewed the remains.
DIR. Norcum was duly sworn and depos-
ed that the bankers death was caused by
the blade of IL knife Or sharp Instrument,
which had been thrust in his breast with
such force that the heart was unquestion-
ably pierced.
Would his death have necessarily been
instantaneous" asked Arthur Dobbs.
Nearly So" was the reply; there
might have been Il groan, perhaps IL cry
of help, but nothing more"
"Therc was, for l heard distinctly the
last words he uttered. They were these:
Help! MURDER"
The one who made this assertion was
Herman Craven, who had entered the
room unob>erved aud stood motionless
near the door.
You will be examined later, MIR. Cra-
ycn.' said the coroner. Then turning to
the jury, he said: 'Gcntlrmen of the Jury.
are you satisfied as to the cause of
death?'
All expressed themselves as thoroughly
so. and after viewin. the oritice left by
the keen blade of the knife, the party re-
paired to the library.
Now. Herman Craven, if you will be
sworn. we will hear your testimony"
The coroner administered the oath, and
as Hcrman's statement was merely a
repetition of the words he used on the
night OF the murder. in the presence of
the sheriff. DIR. Norcum and Detective
Sellars, it is useless to chronicle it fully
here.
Are you certain, MIR. Craven,'' asked
Arthur Dobbs, that the cries you heard
emanated from the lips of your uncle?'
absolutely certain" was the reply. ut
is impossible that l could be mistaken
there. And those two words l supposed
indicated that he had been seized with Il
sudden attack of acute pain from which
he sometimes suffered. His rheumatism
was of the inlammatory order. When my
cousin and l entered the room he was
gasping his last. His murderer stood be-
fore us with that bloody sheath knife that
Coroner Field has. clutched in his hand"
did you not know before you descend
ed the stairs, Mr.. Craven, that Robert
Campbell was below|
Il did not, SIR"
'Had not your uncle informed you that
he was expecting him, and with money
with which to take up IL certain notc?'
HE had rot?'
"Vhat do you know of n bag of coin
tocN LIZ lllSOAeI HIS illOCIIleu ule NE
brought with him to redeem this note?'
Nothing, sir; nothing whatever. 1
know that after the murder he had pos
session of that note, and that the note
bo.e the Endorsement. Paid this eight
zenith of August, eighteen hundred and
6ttS-seven.' to which my uncle's signature
was attached. l know not how he OBJ
ta!ned it,"
do you know of my reason why the
prisoner should have sought the life of
your unclcY"
II know, sir. that he has possession of
that note of ten thousand dollars, and that
there was 40 bag of coin here when my
cousin and l entered this room. I know.
also that lie sought Miss DeRosette's
hend in marriage. I know further that
he sought it in vain, for the reason that
N! uncle had often stated to me that his
ardent wish was 10 see his daughter and
myself united"
Here n sharp, quick cry drew all eyes
i'll the direction of the door.
Miss Hattie had entered the room, lean
ing OF the arm of the prisoners sister,
and the cry emanatcd from her white lips,
Robert Campbell was on the point of
dcnouncing Hcrman's statement as false
when he caught a swift, meaning glance
from the eyes of the detective. who had
not left his seat near the window, and
he said nothing.
Odd you not hear the door bell sounded
twice during the evening. once not five
minutes before YOU descended the stairs?''
"The door bell was not sounded after l
retired, or I should have heard it. had
not long retired and am II light sleeper"
"You found. the front door locked when
you ran from the library and down the
street. as you have described, crying muir
der?'"
81 did"
"Thc windows of this room and of your
uncle's chamber, you say, We're raisedY'
"They were. My uncle, presumably, had
left them 30 to admit the breeze"
might not some other hand have thrust
that blade to your uncle's heart, and the
prisoner here but nave drawn it forthy''
"That is for the jury to determine. !
have no wish that any other thar the muir
derer of my uncle should suffer for his
untimcly taking of. Mr.. Sellars and my
self made a thorough search of the prem.