The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-09-15

tirely owing to disinterested mo-
tives that I now took the secret
stand did in Miss Tuttle's favor.
| clung to my convictions with an al
most insensnte persistence inwardly de-
claring her the victim of circumstances
and hoping against hope that some
clew would offer itself by means Of
which might yet prove her so.
Had Mr.. Jeifrey's alibi been less com.
plete he could not have stood up
against the suspicious which now ran
riot. But there was no possibility of
shifting the actual crime back to him
after the testimony of so frank and
trustworthy man as Tallman. II the
stopping of Mrs. Jeffrey watch fixed
the moment of her death us accurate
ly as was supposed-and | never heard
gard-he could not by any means of
transit then known in Washington have
reached Waverley avenue in time to
fire that shot. The gates of the ceme-
terry were closed at sundown. Sun
down took place that night at one min
ute past {, and the distance into town
is considerable. His alibi could not be
gainsaid. So his name failed to be
publicly broachod In connection with
the shooting. though his influence over
Miss Tuttle could not he forgotten,
suggesting TO some that she had acted
as his hand in the deed which robbed
him of an undesirable wife. But this
I NrnIilI h.linrn \ fpnfn,.pn1 TO
cept the statement that she had stop
ped short of the library door in her
suspicious visit there and that the rib
bon tying, which went for so much,
had been done at home.
Finding myself, with every new con
liberation of the tantalizing subject,
deeper and deeper in the quagmire of
doubt and uncertainty, | sought en-.
lightenment by making mcmoran.
dun of the special points which must
have influenced the jury in their yer.
dict, as witness:
First.-The relief shown by Mr.. JEFF.
frey at finding an apparent communi.
cation from his wife limiting at suicide.
Second.-The possibility. disclosed by
the similarity between the sisters
handwriting, of this same communicc-
tion being II forgery substituted for
the one really written by Mrs. Jeffrey.
Thrd.-1he fact that, previous to
Mr.. Jcffrey's handling of the book in
which this communication was said to
have been hidden. it had been seen In
Miss Tuttles hands.
Fourth.-That Immediately after this
she had passed TO the drawer where
Mr.. Jeffrey's pistol was kept.
t'ifth.-That while this pistol had not
been observed in her hand. there was
as yet no evidence to prove that it had
been previously taken from the draw
er, save such as was afforded by her
own acknowledgment that she had
tied some unknown object, presumably
the pistol. TO her sisters wrist before
that sister left the house.
SiXth.-That II this was so, the pis-
tol and the ribbon connecting it with
Mrs. Jelfrcy's wrist had been handled
again before the former was discharg-
ed, and by fingers which had first
touched dust, OF which there was
plenty in the old library.
Seventh.-That Miss Tuttle had ad-
mitted, though not till after much pre-
varication and apparent subterfuge,
that she had extended her walk on
that fatal night not only as far as the
Moore house, but that she bad enter
ed it and penetrated as far as he IL
brary door at the very moment the
shot was fired within.
Eighth.-That in acknowledging this
she had emphatically denied having as
sociated the firing Of this shot with
any idea of harm to her sister; yet
was known to have gone from this
house In condition of mind so serious
that she failed to recollect the places
she visited or the streets she passed
through till she found herself again
in her sisters house face to face with
an officer
Nine.-That her first greeting of this
officer was shrek, betraying Il knowl-
edge of his errand before he had given
utterance to word.
Ten.-That the candles found in the
Moore house were similar to those
bought by Mr.. Jeffrey and afterward
delivered at his kitchen door
Eleyen.-That she was the only men,
ber Of the household besides the cook
who was In the kitchen at the time,
and that 1t was immediately after her
departure from the room that the pack
age containing the candles had been
missed.
Twelve.-That opportunities of COM
ing to an understanding with Mr.. JEFF
frey after his wifes death had not
been lacking, and 1t was not until after
such opportunities had occurred that
any serious inquiry into this matter
had been begun by the police. To
which must be added, not In way Of
proof, but as an important factor In
the case, that her manner. never open,
was such throughout her whole pub
lie examination az to make 1t evident
to all that only half Of what had oc.