The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-11-18

described the traces Of footinatlSs left
by the deceased in his passage across
the garden and into The room where
ne had been subsequently found dead.
He added that the strictest scrutiny
had failed to discover the foot marks
OF 4 second pain Of feet. Had the de-
ceased been followed through TIE gar
den, no trace of his pursucr had re-
manned behind.
These witnesses, having been cross
examined by Mrs. Dumbarton's soiicI-
tor, he proceeded to state his defence;
and he. being recognized as one of
the cleverest men In his profession. the
jury settled itself to near him with ex-
pectation and interest. ).
The case before them. George Coris
said. in Il low earnest voice, and with
plain impressive manner was one of
the most extraordinary that had ever
come before that or any other curt:
extraordinary not merely because of
the interest it had created, but be-
cause of the circumstances under which
the crime had been committed and OF
the suspicious which these same cir
cumstances cast upon an innocent
woman. lnasmuch as none of those
who gave evidence had actually seen
the blow dealt to the deceased by
which he had lost his life, their testi-
inony was therefore entirely circum-
stantial.
Now, evidence in order to carry con-
Vlction should not only be plain. direct
and clear, but it should be incapable
of any other reasonable solution than
that which it was brought forward TO
sustain and the evidence Just rendered
was not of hat description; it was,
as he would show, capable OF, and in
With, an explanation to this
mystery other than that which sug-
sested itself at present. There was no
need to dwell upo the unhappy a
RED life led by the deceased and his
Wife, save to point out the vicious ca
reer he had followed-a viciousness,
which, doubtless became the agent of
his death, though the perpetrator of his
murder was other thar the woman on
whom suspicion lay.
If a man could not only ALLEVIATE the
affections, but injnre, deceive and
abandon his wife. his best friend. the
mother of his child. how badly could he
behave toward others Of her sex He
had for years led q wandering and
misguided life among companions as
reckless as himself; and, what was
more probable thar that he had been
guilty of one of those wrongs which
the law is SLOW, if not powerless, to
punish, but which, touching men on the
tcnderest points of their affection and
of their honor, they are sure to avenge.
Here was the probable key to the
mystery surrounding the crime. Some
mar who considered himself injured
beyond endurance had sought and
found revenge for his wrongs. 1t was
lawful to presume that while approach
Ing his wife's house the deceased had
met with The avenger. when to seek
help and refuge. David Dumbarton had
rushed through the garden and into the
presence of his Wife, who on his ask
ing for aid, had drawn from his breast
The knife with which an unknown hand
had fatally stabbed him.
The whole bearing Of the case would
polnt 70 such a conclusion, and to the
innocence of the woman who was the
unhappy victim of suspicion. AS she
had stated she neither knew or sus-
pected that he would call upon her
that evening. Had he desired to have
an interview with her there was no
reason why he Shout not have come
to the hall door instead of rushing
across The grass II flower beds to
enter by an open window.
Then. as regards the knife by which
the murder had been committed. The
servants, In their cross examination.
had sworn that they had never seen il
before the night of the tragedy. 1t was
surely impossible to think the weapon
had been bought and secreted by this
lady for the p of a~Ssasinating her
husband at such a time and under such
CIRCUMSTANCES as would favor the deed.
No, the knife belonged TO the person
had struck the blow to avenge
himself for wrong perpetrated by the
deceased.
Indeed. there was not SUFFICIENT mo-
tive apparent for suspecting this in
1ured woman of committing this hor-
rible act. Nothing could have been
more easy than for her to nave OBJ