The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-06
CHAPTER vi.

end.
CHAPTER vi.
SURPRISE OR A CLEw?
left Superintendent Jewell with
sinking heart, for knew only too we'll
what would happen at De We're Gar
dens. Once, indeed, turned back to
follow him there; but, after all. what
good could do? could not ward off
even for an hour the storm of trouble
that was about to break over that I'M
happy household.
Some time afterward, when the edge
of the agony had been dulled, Mabel
told me of what occurred. OF course
George was not at home, nor could his
whereabouts be given. A Venetian glass
dagger was admitted to have hung until
recently on the wall of his room. The
superintendent asked to see Georges
photograph and this Tailed with the
descriptions of him given by the bus
conductor and by those Of the pursuing
crowd who had given information. It
was further admitted that George had
left the house the previous evening in
dress clothes. His friendship with the
unhappy woman was not denied.
The chain of circumstantial evidence
seemed complete, and warrant was is
sued that same night for the arrest Of
George Fenton for the murder Of Har-
riet Staples. Earlier in the day ver-..
dict Of willful murder had been brought
in by the coroner's jury.
The suspense and agony of the next
few days for Mabel and her parents
were simply awful. The father and
mother were bowed down in terrible
grief. Mr. Fenton entertained no doubt
of his sons guilt, his connection with
the murdered woman having fully pre-
pared him for believing the worst, and
it was pitiable to see the old man
crushed by the awful blow. Mrs. Fen
ton was utterly Frustrated, but her anx-
iety was all for her hoy. She never
spoke of the murder, but sat all day in
her room piteously asking each new
conner whether there was any news of
George. Mabel alone in that house pre-
served an appearance of calm. Her pale
drawn cheeks, her anxious eyes, told of
her inward suffering, but she moved
about seemingly unconscious of the
blow that had fallen, busy with her
household duties.
At last there arrived the news of
Georges capture, and it came almost as
relief to us. Better this than the
dreadful uncertainty which had hung
over us like an awful nightmare. The
moment Mabel heard of his illness she
announced her determination of going
to nurse him, and, accompanied by
maid, she set off for Yorkshire to the
wilds of Craven. She would not hear Of
my going with her on her journey. ]
must stay in town to look after her ia
Their and mother and arrange for the de-
Tense.
In a weeks time George was fit to be
moved. He was brought up to London
and formally charged before the police
magistrate with the murder of Harriet
Staples. Chiefly on the strength Of my
reluctant evidence he was committed
for trial at the Old Bailey.
All the while the unhappy lad stout
~ maintained his innocence, but his
solicitor and counsel were in despair.
| Against his own improbable account Of
what actually had taken place there
was arrayed mass of overwhelming
evidence, from the conclusions of which
it seemed impossible to escape 1t could
be proved that lie had been in the habit
of waiting for Harriet Staples, and that
they had often been seen together,
There was evidence that on the night
| in question they had been out for q
walk, and that in Back Sayille street,
on their return, high words had passed
between them, while the very presence
of the dagger pointed to premedita-
tion. A clearer case there could not be
made, and it seemed certain that unless
other important evidence was forthcom-
ing the prisoners life hung by very
slender thread. At the earliest moment
/, possible l obtained an interview with
him.
He had indeed altered in the last few
weeks, and it was scarcely possible to
recognize In this broken down wreck,
with worn face and haggard eyes, the
strong, bright, active man of few
short weeks ago. For one moment a
trace of his old look crossed his face
when he saw who was his visitor.