Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-11-06
CHAPTER v.

After taking look at the body and
having Hendricks point ont the tracks
in the sand aud the spot where he hat
found the revolver the coroner and hi
men went into the house Ralph hat
decided, as it would be necessary h
hear the testimony Of the ladies Of th.
household, to have the inquest held II
the library
DR. Lampkin saw Hendricks eyine
the different membess Of the household
covertly as they came in and took seat
after Mr.. Meynell had announced hi
readiness TO proceed with the inquest
Arthur Montcastle and Miss Bentor
were the last TO arrive They sat on 9
sofa little removed from the others oi
their party.
Charles Stanwood was the first wit
ness called He testified that be wa
walked about half past O'Clock by Mis-
Hastings, who informed him she had
heard the report Of a revolver in the
| garden from the direction of the north
walk He had dressed hastily and gone
down stairs with Miss Hastings. who
objected to being left up stairs alone.
They had found Mr.. Montcastle below
with Miss Benton, and Ralph Benton
soon atterward joined them.
At this juncture Hendricks. who wal
sitting beside Mr.. Meynell. looked
sharply at the pair ON the sofa and
whispered something into the coroner,
ear The officer nodded and put q Ques
tion 10 the witness
do you happen to know which room
IL usually occupied by Miss Benton9"
1T is directly across the hall from
this one, replied Stanwood.
Miss Benton threw a startled glance
at Hendricks, and then her eyes met
Mcntcastle's steady, calm gaze. II
seemed to Lampkin TINT il held warn
ing. for the girl peryously balled hel
handkerchief in her hand and stared al
the floor
And which room was occupied BY
Mr. Montcasile;" was the coroner's s next
question.
Miss Benton raised her eyes in fur.
ried way. but Montcastle leaned for
ward, touched her hand and Whispered
something to her.
MIR Montcastle's room Is adjoining
Miss Benton's, answered Stanwood.
You were the first to approach the
dead man. think, Mr.. Stanwood. were
you not?" continued Mr.. Meynell
II was. replied the witness
Again Hendricks suggested ques-
tion TO the coroner
WAS Mr.. Benton quite dead when
VOC discovered him In the gardeni
asked Mr.. Meynell.
"Yes. and quite cold" was the re-
ply Miss Hastings said she had heard
the report about an hour before she
walked me. She did not attach much
importance 10 IL nc first. but as she had
heard Mr.. Jacob Benton leave his room
and be had not returned she finally be-
came uneasy about him.
May 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 il 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. OF
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 II believe, Mr.
Meynell. should next call Mr.. Mont.
castle.
Montcastle did not rise, but simply
signified his readiness to testify by Z
nod Of the head.
PLEASE tell us Mr.. Montcastle, "
said Hendricks, q strange sparkle Of ex'
pectation in his eyes. If you heard the
report Of revolver in the garden last
night
I'll did not," said Montcastle
stammering.
"Then you were not walked by its"
mo, / was not.
Hendricks brows came together IN
thoughtful pucker. and then he aston
ished Dr.. Lampkin by saying, "Tha
| will do, Mr.. Montcastle, and then Il
the coroner, PLEASE call Miss Bentol
| next
The young woman started TO rise. bu
Montcastle whispered something to her
and she sank back on the sofa, looking
pale, fatigued and excited.
Ibid you hear the report Of revolve
| in the garden last night?" asked the de
tective.
"I don't think-no, I did not, wa
the reply.
"You could not have been awak
when it was fred, thenP' said Her
bricks interrogatively.
II don't know, sir. presume
The girls eyes met Montcastle's. an
she did not finish. Hendricks bit hi
lip and pulled his beard. Then he sui
prised Lampkin by asking q questio
in an Indifferent tone, which SCENE
quite irrelevant to the subject.
"Do you know, Miss Benton, wh
informed the poIice of the MURDER
my brother, ! think" replied II
young lady.
| "Thank you. That-will do, said Il
detective He leaned back in his cha
and seemed to have his mind ON som'
thing a thousand miles away.
| The coroner next called for the test
mony Of Miss Hastings
1, "You were walked by the report,
believe, Miss Hastings?" he beg an.
i II was not. / was already awake.
said Miss Hastings
| Hendricks seemed 10 pull himself :
gether suddenly. He bent forward "a
whispered to Mr.. Meynell.
Il "were you walked by something els
or had you not gone to sieepf" one
, toned Mr.. Meynell
II A look Of hesitation crossed the IN
! Of the witness She glanced hurriesi
!, at Ralph Benton. who stood leant
, against the mantelmece. and started
speak, but seemed unable to fDrmuls
reply.
II The coroner repeated his Quessio
glaucing ut Hendricks a. II forapprov,
Al ~ was walked by voices in Mr.. Be
| tons ronm - aaid Mim Haatinqa