The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-04-02


didn' know what he wus. dom an
didn' keer."
London was then excused, very
much to his relief, and he left the
witness stand with the air of a man
who had just escaped deadly peril.
The other servants were examined in
routine, but nothing of Importance
was added to London's testimony.
There was a perceptible stiffness
In the assemblage when the next wit
ness, Herbert Wright, was called, and
all heads turned to look at him as he
made his way to the witness stand.
de was not nervous, though he was
the very picture of forlornness. He
appeared to take only vacant inter
est in the investigation, and was
either careless or oblivious of his own
danger. At the moment he took his
seat every mind there was revolving
the probability Of his having been the
guilty cause of the present tragedy.
With rather bored air he waited
the coroner's questions. After giving
his age, name and other formal in
formation, such as is required on 90
casions of this kind, he was asked the
following question:
You and your father were not on
the best of terms, were your"
mo, SIR"
What was the cause of your fall
ing out?"
MY marriage"
"Why did he object to your mar
riage?"
Il can't see," said Wright, testify,
what my fathers objection to my
marriage has to do with his murder"
1T may have great deal to do
with it." said the coroner, significant
ly.
"Oh, I see," said Wright, with cool
sarcasm. you think that perhaps
this may furnish clew to connect me
with his death. Very well. If the
troubles that have overtaken me and
mine will satisfy your curiosity and
entertain this crowd, why am ready
to narrate them. Ask me what you
will"
81 will repeat my former question:"
said the coroner. "Why did your
father oppose your marriage?"
"His objection was to my wife?"
"On account of her poverty, or any
thing of that knd?"
"Not that l know Of"
Ellis objection was personal one?"
Hardly that. For she was beauti-
full and amiable as we'll"
II don't understand then what his
objection to her could have been.
Will you explain it?"
"Well, if you must have 1t, my
father many years ago got into a
difficulty with his overseer, Jefferson
Baxter, and killed him. 1t was very
unfortunate affair in every way, and
reference to it was carefully avoided
in our family. My father was very
taciturn man naturally, and he never
told me anything about it. I was
from home great deal, having been
sent to college when 1 was IS, and I
never knew the full details of the af-
fair. Indeed, l only knew that years
ago he. had killed his overseer and
that he had been cleared by jury
To make long story short, my wife
is the daughter of jefferson Baxter
and when my father learned that
was about to marry her he moved
heaven and earth to break off the
match; but 1 would not listen to his
objections, and he accordingly disin-
herited me and forbade me to ever
come again into his presence"
"You have sometimes solicited aid
of him, have you not?"
"Yes; have been very unfortunate
in business. Ny wife's continued i'll
ness has been the cause of my losing
several good positions, as have al
ways thought that my first duty was
to her. At times we have been il
great distress, and have gone to my
father to see if he would not relent
and help us. The last time l wen1
was few days before his body was
discovered; indeed, it was the day
before he was murdered"
Ibid you quarrel with him ant
: threaten him on that day?"
), sour interview was little stormy
but / was half crazy with hunger anS
despair. 1 am certain, however, tina
/ never threatened him, and l nevel
J entertained any idea of wreaking ven
geance upon him; for, of course, i
| was his privilege to make himself
granite toward me if he so chose"
Scan you think of anyone wh'
: would have a motive for committing
this crime?"
81 suppose could; but l declin
to give my surmises for testimony.
This answer created considerable
speculation, but insist as they would
: the witness could not be made to sa,
|. whether he had any suspicious, o
: what they were. his testimony dl
g yided sentiment, some thinking tina
I he was the guilty person, others sic
: ing with him because they believe
i he was innocent or because the
could not blame him much If he ha
" | n = Ix.l.