Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-10-01
DAILY SHORT STORY
IncontestabIe Proof.
IOriginal.l

II,
had been found in the dregs. Agatha
Drew, his niece, was being examined.
Have you been brought up to con-
slider yourself your uncle's heiressF
81 have"
Had any one else hope of inheriting
the property
Eyes, my cousin. Mark Turner. He
would have been the heir, but my
uncle had seen very little of him, while
he had adopted me when 1 was
child
did you have any trouble with your
uncle?'
"Only in one matter. He wanted me
to marry my cousin, Mark Turner. l
refused, whereupOn my uncle threat
ened to disinherit me and leave his
property to Mark"
Every one In the court room scrutiniZ
ed the witness. She might have had
every reason to commit the murder.
Yet her appearance was so Innocent
and her words were so frank that few
believed she was the guilty one. The
next witness was Edward Turner's
(the deceased's) lawyer.
when did you see Edward Turner
last?"
"On Friday-three days ago. He
called me in to make a new will. His
property had been wiIled to his niece,
Agatha Drew. 1 drew a new WILL
which was executed in favor of Mark
Turner
us that will the latestT
1.-THE latest to my knowledge"
"Did any one know of this change of
WIZ"
81 think not. Mr.. Turner strictly
charged me not to speak of it. There
fore he probably did not speak of it
himself He told me his niece knew
that If she persisted In certain mar
rage and refused to marry her cousin
she would be disinherited, but she did
not know the will had been changed"
Call Elliot Stanford"
A young man of prepossessing APP
pearance stepped to the witness stand.
Are you acquainted with any rea-
son why any person should desire the
late Edward Turner's deathT'
"No"
what were his relations with his
nephew, Mark Turner"
Recently they must have been very
to many stories Mark Turner told him
to my disadvantage"
what motive had Mark Turner for
this?'
ITO marry Agatha Drew, 1 being
out of the way"
This did not carry much weight.
Since a will had been made leaving the
property to Mark Turner he could have
no motive for the old mans death,
while before this will was made the
property would have gone to Agatha
Drew, whereas Agatha aud her lover
looked for change of will and in case
of the testator's death before it was
made the property would go to the
niece.
Call Mark Turner"
The witness stepped into the box APP
parently very much self possessed. lie
had been examined as to his location
at the time of the murder and had
proved that within a few minutes be-
fore and after the murder he was in
his club, a short distance from his
uncle's house.
"NIr Turner, Professor Warren, a
chemist, desires to ask you a few ques-
tions.'
"Mr. Turner" said the professor,
looking the witness in the eye, have
you any knowledge of the properties of
pruSsic acidT'
None whatever"
How long would it take you to go
from your club to your uncle's house?"
about five minutes, think"
"And to return would be ten. Now,
prussic acid acts Instantly"
81 objectw interrupted lawyer pres
ent whom Turner had retained.
"Mr., Turner, did you not as a child
have an accident by which half an
inch was cut off your thumbY
81 did"
Hold it up and let us see It,"
The witness, who was now getting
nervous, did as required. The first
Joint of the thumb on his right hand
was missing.
Here" said the chemist, "ls silver
stand on which rested a silver teapot.
which was before the deceased when
he was found dead. 1t had been pol
fshed during the afternoon. Now, if /
touch 1t with my finger or any moist
article, an impression is left. The i'm
preston disappears as it dries, but may
be revived by being dampened, as in
breathing upon it. l found the edge of
the stand blurred, but, breathing upon
it and examining the part with a mag
nifying glass, saw the imprint of fin
gers beneath and a MANNED thumb
above"
AS the speaker approached the climax
the witness began to show signs of a
terrible strain and at the last word fell
over in n heap.
This ended the investigation. 1t came
out that Edward Turner, after making
new will. had informed his nephew
of the fact, telling him at the same
time that he thought he should destroy
the new one and leave the old one in
force. Turner called on him, found
him taking a cup of tea with no one
in the house. put the poison in the cup
when the old mans back was turned