The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-09-08


acter up to the time of Neronica's re-
turn from school. when they changed
somewhat. but how or why Miss Tut
tie was naturally averse to saying.
Indeed she Almost refused to do so,
and the coroner. feeling his point gain
ell more by this refusal than by any
admission she might have made. did
TO what interested us more--the varl-
Gus unexplained actions on her part
which pointed toward crime.
LIS first inquiry was in reference to
the conversation held between her and
Mr.. Jeffrey mt the time he visited her
room. We had listened to his account
of it. and now we wished to hear hers.
Eut the cue which had been given her
by this very account had been invalua-
BILE to her. and her testimony naturally
coincided with his. We found our
selves not an inch advanced. They
had talked of her sisters follies. and
she had advised patience. and that was
all she could say ON the subject-all
she would say. as we presently saw.
The coroner introduced fresh topic.
What can you tell us about the in
tervicw you had with your sister prior
to her going out on the night Of her
death?"
Very little except that II differed en-
tirely from what Is generally supposed.
She did not come TO my room for con-
versation. but simply to tell me that
she had an engagement. She was in
an. excited mood. but said nothing to
alarm me- she even laughed when she
left me, perhaps To put me off my
guard. perhaps because she was no
longer responsible"
Did she know that Mr.. Jeffrey had
visited YOU earlier in the day? Did she
make any allusion to ii. | mcan?'
"None at all. She shrugged her shoul.
ders when | asked If she was well and
anticipated all further questions by
running from the room. she was al
ways capricious in her ways and never
more so than at that moment Would
to God that it had been different!
Would to God that she had shown her.
self 10 be n suffering woman! Then
might have reached her heart and this
tragedy would have been averted"
The coroner favored the witness with
look of respect. perhaps because his
next question must necessarily be
cruel.
is that all you have TO say concern
ing this important visit. the last you
held with your sister before her
death?'
NO. sir; there is something else
something which should like to relate
to this jury. When she came into my
room she held in her hand a white rib
bon-that is, she held the two ends of
Il long satin ribbon which seemed to
come from her pocket. Handing those
two ends to me. she asked me to tie
them about her wrist. a knot under
and bow on top she said. so that il
cannot slip or AS this was some
thing | had often been called on to do
for her, showed no hesitation in COM
plying with her request Indeed | felt
none. l thought it was her fan or her
bouquet she held concealed in the
folds of her dress. but 1t proved TO be
gentlemen, you know what. | pray
that you will not oblige me to mention
it."
1t was such stroke as no lawyer
would have advised her to make. |
heard afterward' that she had refused
the offices of dozen lawyers who had
proffered her their services. But. ut
tered as ii was with noble air and
certain digniiied serenity, IL had great
effect upon those about her and turned
In moment the wavering tide Of favor
In her direction.
The coroner, who doubtless was per-
fcctly acquainted with the explanation
with which she had provided herself
but who perhaps did not look for it to