Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-11-19
Tor Is any such attempted.

nor Is amy such attempted.
you say General Harding rockwell
another letter from Italy, from these
bandits?" asks the barrister. after some
preliminary questions have been put
ct do"
you can prove that?"
sT can"
what are your proofs?"
MY being present when he received
it,
Where"
In the Clarendon Hotel. Bond
street."
do you know anything Of the con-
tents of that letter."
81 know everything. Not strange I
should, since I have it here"
Saying which, the witness takes a
letter from out a capacious pocket-book
and hands it over to the counsel 1t is
that indited by Corvino in the old con-
vent, conveying to the father of his cap
tive a fearful threat, and with it the
captive's finger
The reading of 1t produces "sensa-
ton" in the court
This letter." says the questioning
counsel, speaks of an enclosure. Did
General Harding also receive that?''
HE did"
what has become of it?"
at is here. The General entrusted
both it and the letter to my keeping
and I've carefully preserved both, as
you may see."
Again driving into his leathern de-
pository, Mr.. Lawson draws out small
packet, its covering a piece of cotton
cloth, that shews blacklist red stains,
as of blood long ago dried.
Unfolding it, a finger is displayed to
the eyes of the spectators-now silent
as though in fear it may prove a tor
pedo, or some other internal contriv-
ance to blow up the court, judge, jury,
counsel parties to the suit, witnesses
and all.
And for those on the defendants side
it has something of this effect he and
his numerous adherents, looking as if
they were already hoisted high enough.
The strange thing is first handed up
to the judge, and, after examination by
him, passed on to the jury, who see it
is a mans finger-the little one of the
left hand, with scar running longi-
tudinally from nail to knuckle, where
it had been cut off.
MY lord says the examining
counsel, n have only one more witness
to call-Mr. Henry Harding"
''The gentleman who so styles HIM
SELF" sneeringly interposes one of the
barristers briefed for the defence
"The gentleman who will ere long prove
himself" retorts the counsel on the claim
ants side.
Call him." directs the judge.
AS the claimant himself mounts into the
witness-box, all eyes are upon him; and
his appearance makes an impression in his
favor even on the biased jury, who cannot
help contrasting his bright, manly coun-
tenance of the true English type, with the
dark, sinister features of the defendant
But he needs not their sympathy now. He
has somthing to show that will put truth
to the test, and gain him their verdict
nolens volens.
Soon as settled on the stand, his counsel
asks:
May L request you, Mr.. Harding. to take
off your gloves? The left one will be SUI
ficient."
The request is complied with, the witness
making no other answer.
Now, sir. have the goodness to hold up
your hand, so that his lordship and the
jury may. see it,
The hand is held up, showing only four
fingers, the fifth wanting!
Increased sensation in the court.
MY lord, and gentlemen Of the jury, as
you perceive, there's a finger missing.
Luckily it is not altogether lost. Let us
see how this will fit"
Saying which. the counsel, who has
meanwhile recovered the letter with its
enclosure, steps towards the wttness-box
and. taking hold Of the claimants hand.
places the detached finger In juxtaposition
with the stump from which 1t has so long
been separated.
There can be no doubt nor question as to
their correspondence. The white cartil-
aginous seam that indicates scar, com
mencing on the back of the hand, is con-
tinued without interruption to the root Of
the nail
The jury cannot avoid being convinced
that he in the box is Henry Harding.
The foreman, rising to his feet and with
out waiting for further testimony, speech