Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-10-07
Uncomfortable
Proof
IoriginaLl

/ IOriginaLl
| The Turner murder case was before
the coroner. Old man Turner had been
1 found at 8 o'clock In the evening. with
a cup that had contained tea before
| him, dead In his chair. Prusslc acid
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 heiress?'
Il have"
Had any one else hope of inheriting
the property"
Yes, 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 l was
child
did you have any trouble with your
unclel"
only in one matter. He wanted me
to marry my cousin, Mark Turner. /
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
| lastg'
ION Friday-three days ago. He
| called me in to make new will. His
| property had been willed to his niece,
| Agatha Drew / drew a new will,
| which was executed in favor of Mark
| Turner"
as that will the latestT'
1.-The latest to my knowledge"
"Did any one know Of this change of
will"
Il think not Mr.. Turner strictly
| charged me not to speak of 1t. There
| fore he probably did not speak of it
| himself. He told me his niece knew
that IL she persisted in a 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"
|
pearance stepped to the witness stand.
| Are you acquainted with any rea-
son why any person should desire the
| late Edward Turner's death?'
| "No."
what were his relations with his
nephew, Mark Turner
Recently they must have been very
| intimate, for Edward Turner listened
| to many stories Mark Turner told him
to my disadvantage"
| what motive had Mark Turner for
thisY
| ITO marry Agatha Drew, l being
| out OF the way
| This did not carry much weight
Since q 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 and her lover
looked for change Of will and in case
| of the testator's death before its was
made the property would go to the
| niece.
| "Call Mark Turner"
| The witness stepped into the box APP
| parently very much self possessed. He
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.
| "Mr. Turner, Professor Warren, a
chemist, desires to ask you few ques-
tons"
"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 houseT
about five minutes, think"
"And to return would be ten. Now,
prussic acid acts Instantly"
81 objectw interrupted a lawyer pres
ent whom Turner had retained.
Mr.. Turner, did you not as child
have an accident by which half an
inch was cut OF your thumbf"
81 did"
| adOlO IL up anu let us sec IL
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. ''is a silver
stand on which rested a silver teapot.
which was before the deceased when
he was found dead. 1t had been pol
ished during the afternoon. Now. II l
touch 1t with my finger or any moist
article. an impression u left. The i'm
preston Disappears a. It dries. but may
be revived By being dsmpened, as in
breathing upon II. I found the edge Of
the stand blurred. but, breathing upon
II and examining the part with mag
nifying glass, saw the imprint OF f,n-
eers beneath and a MANNED thumb