Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-08-03
Miss futile and Uncle David
Listening to the evidence

suppose you have your reasons for
asking even these puerile and seem
ingly unnecessary questions. The COW
er is queer one believe, partly red
and partly green, and that is oil I
know about it."
SIS this the bookY
Mr.. Jeffrey glanced at the volume
the coroner held up before him.
II believe so; 1t looks like it."
The book had flaming cover, quite
'unmistakable in its character.
IThe title shows It to be the same"
:. .nlrked the coroner. "Is this the
only book with cover of this kind in
the house?"
'The only one, I should say
The coroner laid down the book.
Enough Of this, then, for the pres
ent; only let the jury remember that
the cover of this book is peculiar and
that it was kept on shelf Mt the right
of the opening leading into the ndjoin-
ing bedroom. And now, Mr.. Jeffrey,
we must ask you to look ut these rings,
or, rather, at this one. You have seen
it before. 1t is the one you placed on
Mrs. Jeffrey's hand when you were
married to her little over fortnight
ago. You recognize itY'
81 do"
"Do you also recognize this small
mark of blood on 1t as having been
here when it was shown to you by the
detective on your return from seeing
her dead body ut the Moore housel"
II do; yes"
"How do you account for that spot
and the slight injury made to her fin
ger? Should you not say that the ring
had been dragged from her handr
II should"
"By whom was 1t dragged? BY
you"
mo, sir"
''By herself, thenT'
at would seem So"
'AIuch passion must have been in
that net. Do you think that any ordi-
nary quarrel between husband and
wife would account for the display of
such fury? Are we not right in sup
posing deeper cause for the disturb
ance between you than the slight one
you offer in way of explanationY
An inaudible answer; then sudden
Strengthening of Francis Jeffrey's fine
figure. And that was oil.
"Mr. jeffrey, in the talk you had
with your wife on Tuesday morning
was Miss Tuttle's name introducedi"
1T was mentioned; yes, SIR"
with recrimination or any display
of passion on the part of your wife3"
"You would not believe me If said
no." was the unexpected rejoinder.
The coroner, taken aback by this d.
rect attack from one who had hitherto
borne all his innuendoes with apparent
patience, lost countenance for a mo-
ment, but, remembering that in his Of
fetal capacity he was more than q
match for the elegant gentleman, who
under other circumstances would have
found it only too easy to put him to the
blush, he observed with dignity:
"Mr. Jeffrey, you IRE on oath. We
certainly have no reason for not be-
lieving you"
Mr.. Jeffrey bowed. He was prob.
ably sorry for his momentary loss of
self control, and gravely, but with eyes
bent downward, answered with the NIB.
rupt phrase:
well, then, will say no."
The coroner shifted his ground.
"Will you make the same reply when
ask If the like forbearance was
shown toward your wife's name in the
conversation you had with Miss futile
Immediately afterward?"
miss Tuttle was Mrs. Jeffrey's hall
sister. The bond between them was
strong. Would she-would I-be APT
to speak Of my young wife with bit
terness?"
"That Is not an answer to my cues
ton, Mr.. jeffrey. l must request q
more postave reply"
"There were no determinations ut.
tered. Mrs. jeffrey had displensed me
and l said 80, but did not forget that
was speaking of my wife and to her
sister,"
AS this was in the highest degree
noncommittal, the coroner could be ex.
cused for persisting.
"The conversation, then, was about