Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-08-15

In the meantime the doctor went
quietly on with his evidence, much Of
which was technical and uninteresting
to the majority. But the crowd was
able to fasten on to the important
facts; that the shot had been fred
from behind the man, and from the
right side Of the road, supposing the
Stroan; that the injury could not have
been self-inflicted, and the crime had
been committed within a very short
time of the discovery Of the body.
"Can you give us an opinion, doctor,
as to the length Of time which must
have elapsed between the firing Of the
shot and your inspection Of the body"
"My opinion is that death had taken
place within an hour, and probably
within a much shorter period"
"Can you give us yoar reasons for
this opinion"
1.-The body was still quite warm. As
1t was a cold night, and the body was
lying in very open situation, the cool
ing process would be very rapid"
"Can you tell us the time exactly
when you made this first examination
of the body and came to this opinion"
at was sixteen minutes past eight
when was sent for, and arrived at
the spot where the body lay at be-
tween twenty and five-and-twenty
minutes past"
"And the body had in your opinion,
been lying there about an hour?"
COR considerably less
"You would suppose, then. that
death had taken place ct about what
time? Or is it impossible to get
closer estimate than that?
at Is difficult to say exactly, OF
course. But I should be strongly in
clined to put the time Of death at eight
o'clock, or even later"
cat, in fact, a few minutes before
the body was first discovered by the
boy?"
"a very few minutes"
There was another sensation among
the listening throng.
81 should even have expected" went
on the doctor, "to hear that the boy
had heard the report of firearm."
Every one looked toward the TN.
happy boy, Charles Wallet, who, hav
ing given his evidence, was now sit
ting in court. On the suggestion OF
one of the iurymen ne was called ana
questioned again. But he maintained,
with hot bushes Of confusion at the
notice thus directed to him, that he
had noticed no noise; that he had seen
or heard nothing to attract his atten-
ton until he came upon the man lying
on his face at the side of the road.
"At least" He stopped short.
and from crimson became very pale.
Then he heard a murmur In the
court behind, and he began to Loo
scared and to tremble.
That's right, my boy" said the cor
oner, encouragingly, "think well De-
fore you answer, and then tell us
everything, even the slightest thlns
that came under your notice"
"Sir," said the boy, turning red ano
white alternately, 81 did hear some
thing. 1t was just before turned the
bend and saw the man, but l never
thought of it before this minute"
sit was what I took for Mr.. Weiis
shooting at the birds, sir. He's al
ways about there with his gum ana SO
never give it thought"
There was truth on the face OF this
statement, drawn forth so tardily and
so unwillingly. Hearing, as he said'
the firing at the birds so often, the
sound had no significance for him, ana
It had not even struck him as singular
that the farmer should have been out
shooting so late.
There was a shade Of disappoint-.
ment in the court at the idea that Jem
Stickels might have been shot by accl-
dent. after. all, in mistake for SPAR
row. But this notion was quickly put
to flight by the calling OF MIR. Wells
himself, who was in court. as a VIII
ness. He was never out shooting ar
Ter dark, and on the previous DAY ne
had been at Canterbury, and had not
returned home until past nine O'Clock.
This new link in the chain OF EVIL
dence. forming asst did an important
clue to the exact time Of Jem's death,
resulted in a little conversation be-
tween the coroner and the superintend-
emit of police, and in the calling OF Mrs
Mann as witness.
"Your husband has told Us, Mrs.
Mann, that the deceased passed you
on his way to the back door. And we
have heard that he said he was going
to have his pipe and his glass of beer.
Now did you notice in which direction
he went?"
eyes, sir, 1 did," answered Mrs.
Mann. a nervous woman, who could
not be persuaded to give her evidence
except in whisper
"And did he 60 in the direction OF
the Blue Lion?
"No, sir"
There was another murmur. quickly
suppressed. -,
(Which way did he 60, then"
"He went into the wash-house ana
had a wash, and then he went up TO
his room, which he went up by the
wooden steps as is in the wash-house:
And I watched him for fear he should
leave his candle Albumin. which ne
did. so 1 goes up and puts 1t out SO
as it shouldn't burr. to waste like"
"And how long was he there"
But to this the witness could not un-