Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-08-15
ICopYright. Robert Bonner's Sons.

,bert Bonner's Sons.
to light fire in the d1ning-room for
my fathers return home. And it was
then five and twenty minutes past
seven"
"Then you reckon that you did the
walk in a quarter of an hour?"
"Yes. 1t is about three-quarters of
a mile, by the way we came over the
fields"
There was a short pause, and the
listening crowd, now more on the alert
than ever, waited breathlessly for the
coroner's next question. 1t came in
rather surprising form.
Can you tell me. Miss Bostal.
whether you and Miss Claris remained
In each others company from the mo-
ment you returned home until your
fathers return?'
Miss Bostal reflected.
mot quite all the time" she an
swered. II tore my dress on nail as
/ came through the back-door, and I
asked Miss Claris to make the tea
while I ran up to my room and mend.
ed it,"
"And how long were you upstairs"
"About ten minutes OF quarter of
an hour, should think"
you have no way Of fixing the
time"
81 had no reason to take particular
note of the time; but think I remem'
Der seeing that it was between twenty
minutes and a quarter to eight when
1 went down into the dining-room and
lit the fire."
"Was Miss Claris thereW
"No. She came in with the tea not
long afterward."
"And what time was that?"
81 cannot tell exactly. But I think
Il. was soon after eight"
"And during that time that you were
in the dining-room by yourself, did you
hear her moving about in the kitchen?"
II don't remember noticing. l was
thinking of the fire. 1t would not
burn up"
Altogether, then, I gather from
what you have said, quite three-quart-
ers of an hour elapsed between the
time you left Miss Claris at the back
door and the time she brought in the
tea?'
about that, 1 should think"
"YOu did not see her or remember
hearing her during that timer"
81 certainly did not see her. I don't
remember hearing her,"
There was another intent pause.
"When you did see her next-when
she brought in the tea, that is to say
did she seem agitated, or was she
calm?
"She was very much agitated. She
had been crying all the time, I think
she told me-"
II must thank you for the clear way
in which you have given your evil
dence. Only one more question. Would
it be possible, do you think, for a per-
son to get, say, to the place where the
body was discovered and back again
in threequarterS Of an hour or little
more"
The crowd in the court seemed to
draw Q deep breath of unanimous con-
sternation. Only the witness seemed
to ignore the drift of the question.
ut would be absolutely impossible,
l am sure" she answered in surprise
And you are sure the time was no
more than three-Quarters Of an hour?'
GAS sure as can be, considering
that 1 took no particular note Of the
time"
THANK you. That is all 1 have to
ask you at present, though it is posi-
BILE we may have to recall you. Gen
tlemen," he went On, turning to the
jury, who were already springing up
with their questions, Il think it will
be better for you to hear the evidence
Of the doctors before you ask this
witness any further questions"
They sat down again, and again
there was buzz and hum of eX-
element in the court, and people
looked at one another and began to
ask one another whether it was true
that Nell Claris had been brought
from the station, and whether she
would be called as a witness. The
story was growing more mysterious.
The buzz subsidized as the doctor who
saw the body before it was moved took
the oath and gave. his evidence.
He had noticed nothing to give him
n clue as to the cause Of death in the
first cursory examination he was able
to make out Of doors.
"YOu afterwards, with the assistance
Of Doctor Charges made a thorough
examination of the body?"
81 did"
And were you then able to come to
some definite conclusion?"
II was. In the right side of the head
l found a small wound, and, after
probing for some time found bullet
imbedded in the cerebellum."
CIIADV.JND Wy