The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-01

skull. Then with a quiet smile the
genial little Sheriff turned 10 the pre-
siding magistrate.
Il propose now. your honor" he said
TO oner you some evidence which may
assist you in Identifying the skill which
you see upon the table before you.
call John Breton"
You are a photographer? he asked.
I am
"on the 18th OF March ten years ago
you took the portraits OF two men newly
arrived. who gave their names as Alfred
York and Richard Somers?'
That IS so"
1t was by the aid OF this photo that
the body OF Richard Somers was identi-
! fed few days after the murder"
1T vas"
| DO YOU believe the skull on the table
here 10 be the skull OF Richard Somers?"
Il do not" replied Breton. amidst
much excitement.
illustrate your reasons" said the
shertS.
/ In few moments tfie ;hiek black cur
/ tains were drawn over the windows and
I the court was In darkness except for a
/ few gas burners. A white screen was
raised at the end. and stand in the CEN
ter OF the court was found TO contain t.
, lime lantern. Il few moments a disk
Ct white shining on the screen. and the
other lights were lowered. -ts
With startling rapidity an enlarged
photo Of the skull was thrown upon the
sheet. and John Bretton's voice came
clearly over the hushed court.
7 his. gentlemen. is photo have re-
Gently taken OF the skull which IS al
| eyed 20 belong 10 Richard Somers-"
Then the skull disappeared. and in
few moments in its place sprang the face
OF "A handsome man.
This gentlemen is the Dorfraff took
| OF Richard Somers on March IL"
Gradually the face changed and the
| features became so staFtiRgly correct 70
the bones that the effect was horribly
| chastity l. looked IiAe \ deaths head
surrounded BY the ghostly image OF i
living face.
Gentlemen" said John, this is the
| face or he nan 10 whom ] claim the
| skull belongs. Let ne remove the lat
ter and show lou the features OF Alfred
\ ork, or, TO give him his correct name.
Mark Balltnger, the husband OF our
/ schoolTistress. who has lately been
| branded as the VIE Of murderer. when
| she should have been pitied as the wife
| OF a murdered man
A thunderous burs. 90 applause and
cheering greeted this statement. and had
Il not been that John had a slide with
/ There is more YET written upon il the
meeting would have broken up I'm its
EnxI5ty to apologize 10 the pretty school
mistress OF Broken Ridge.
silence was quickly restored AMI
Johns voice again rang out over the
crowded room.
| he said. Il should like TO show you
again the portrait Of Richard SOmers.
whom we can now call the murderer.
Perhaps you viii recognize him"
For some moments every eye Was on
the screen. and many seemed TO recall
he h1 n 81 "A n o 81 v
enough. this was not confined TO the
older inhabitants.
Gentlemen" continued John Bret
tons clear voice, the position In which
l photographed tho skull was Identical
with the position in which Richard Som
ers' head was held I shall now project
both the photos on the screen together,
one superimposed over the other and
both visible at the same time. and |
want you 10 notice that the features
especially the teeth and eyes-do not
nj or seem to be rightly placed In the
skull"
Amid a breathless hush the face on
the screen began 20 sink away about the
eyes and mouth, and TO assume CHASTITY
appearance. Presently the skull could
be distinctly seen beneath the smiling
face. but. as John had said. the eyes
were not truly in the sunken sockets OF
the skull. neither did the teeth and jaw
truly fit the chin and mouth.
Gentlemen. said John, Il snail now
change the face for another, and beg
Of you TO mark the change"
Back came the image OF the first hand
some face and all strained their eyes
See" said Breton. Il Will superim
pose another portrait OF the same man
taken at later date. Watch how the
hair and beard alter the face. but how
little the features are changed
Slowly the hair and chin and upper liz
began to daFken. and in a few moments
wild voices rang out from the watching
crowd. Il know him row. / know him.
It's Veuner, the coroner" they yelled.
In a moment the black curtains were
torn down. but the coroner had gone. His
seat was vacant.
Among the first to step forward was
the magistrate and the chairman of the
school committee. who grasped Mrs. Dali
fingers hand.
Accept my apologies. nay dear Mrs.
DalIinger" they cried. You will. OF
course, not dream of leaving the school
now?"
Il am afraid she must" said John
Breton. quietly. because she is accept
ing a life engagement with John Bret
ton"