Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-08-17

before his wife's death. He admits that lie was
death. that he was jealous and had words With
her. X[--Loretta says that Seffrey and his wife
quarreled the day before her death. Miss Tut.
the tradegy. The dead woman's wedding ring
lay on her level N case at home It showed blood
news Of the tradegy and JEFFREY was very calm.
No bitterness in this statement, only
an infinite sadness. The coroner con-
tinued to question her. He asked for
an account of her childhood and forced
her to lay bare the nature of her rela-
tons with her sister. But little was
gained by this, for their relations SEEM
ed to have been of Il sympathetic char
acter up to the time of Veronica'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
ed more by this refusal than by any
admission she might have made, did
not press this subject, but passed on
to what interested us more-the vari-
Gus unexplained actions on her part
which pointed toward crime.
His first inquiry was in reference to
the conversation held between her and
Mr.. Jeffrey at the time he visited her
room. We had listened to his account
of 1t, and now we wished to hear hers.
But the cue which had been given her
by this very account had been invAlua-
BILE to her, and her testimony naturally
conceded with his. We found our
selves not IN 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
t.efie had with your sister prloy
to her going out on the night of her
death?"
Every little except that 1t 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"
Ibid she know that Mr.. jeffrey had
visited you earlier in the day? Did she
make any allusion to it, mean?'
"None at oil. She shrugged her Shout
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 ut that moment. Would
to God that 1t had been different!
Would to God that she had shown her.
self to be suffering woman! Then l
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.
lis that all you have to say concern
ing this important visit, the last you
held with your sister before he,
deathY
mo. 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 white rib
bon-that is, she held the two ends OF
a long satin ribbon which seemed to
come from her pocket. Handing those
two ends to me, she asked me to tic
them about her wrist "A knot under
and bow on top she said, so thut 1,
cannot slip off, AS this was some
thing had often been called on to dc
for her, showed no hesitation in com
plying with her request. Indeed fell
none. thought 1t was her fan or hel
bouquet she held concealed in the
folds of her dress. but 1t proved to be-
gentlemen, you know what l pray
that you will not oblige me to mention
it,"
1t was such q stroke as no lawye,
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 1t was with a noble air and 9
certain dignitied serenity, it had grea
effect upon those about her and turned
in moment the wavering tide of favol
In her direction.
The coroner, who doubtless was per
: fectly acquainted with the explanation
with which she had provided herself
but who perhaps did not look for 1t t.
Ckloe