The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-25

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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 1t was kept on shelf at the right
Of the opening leading into the adjoin-
ing bedroom And now. Mr.. jeffrey,
we must ask you to look at these rings,
or, rather, at this one. You have seen
II before 1t is the one you placed on
Mrs. Jefrrey's hand when you were
married to her little over fortnight
ago. You recognize itT'
"I do
"DO you also recognize this small
mark Of blood on 1t as having been
here when 1t was shown to you by the
detective on your return from seeing
her dead body at the Moore houseT
81 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 handT
IL should.f
"By whom was It dragged2 BY
your"
mo. sir"
'By herself. thenf"
1T would seem So"
"Much passion must have been in
that act 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 Il deeper cause for the disturb
Hnce between you than the slight one
you offer in way of explanation?"
An inaudible answer: then sudden
STRENGTHENING of Francis Jeffrey's fine
figure. And that was all.
"Mr. jeffrey, in the talk you had
with your wife on Tuesday morning
was Miss Tuttle's name introducedY'
1T was mentioned; yes. sir"
with recr.imihation or any display
Of passion on the part Of your wife?'
You would not believe me II l said
no." was the unexpected rejoinder.
The coroner, taken aback by this di-
rect attack from one who had hitherto
borne all his innuendoes with apparent
patience. lost countenance for mo-
ment, but, remembering that In his Of
fetal capacity he was more than a
match for the elegant gentleman, who
under other circumstances would have
found 1t only too easy to put him to the
blush. he observed with dignity:
"AIr. Jeffrey, you are on oath. We
certainly have no reason for not be-
lieving you"
! Mr.. Jeffrey bowed. He was prob.
ably sorry for his monetary loss Of
self control, and gravely. but with eyes
bent downward, answered with the alb
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 Tuttle
Immediately afterwardy"
"Miss Tuttle was Mrs. Jeffrey's half
sister. The bond between them was
strong. Would shc-wOuld I-be apt
to speak Of my young wife with bit
terness"
"That is not an answer to my ques-
tion, Mr.. Jeffrey. / must request a
more positive reply"
"There were no recriminatiOns ut.
tered. Mrs. Jeffrey had displeased me,
and said SO, but did not forget that
was speaking of my wife and to her
sister,"
AS this was in the highest degree
noncomnittal, the coroner could be ex.
cused for persisting.
THE conversation, then, was about
your wifeY
1T was"
4 sIn criticism of her conductY
eyes"
"At the ambassadors ball?"
"Yes"
Mr.. jeffrey was poor hand at lying
That last yes" came with great effort
The coroner waited, possibly for the
echo of this last yes" to cease; then
he remarked with a cOldness which
lifted at once the veil from his hitherto
well disguised antagonism to this wit
ness:
IF you will recount to us anything
which your wife said or did on that
evening which, in your mind, was
worthy Of all this coil, it might help us
to understand the situation"
But the witness made no attempt to
do SO, and while many Of us were
ready to pardon him this show Of del
icacy others felt that under the circum
stances it would have been better had
he been more open.
Among the latter was the coroner
himself, who from this moment threw
aside all hesitation and urged forward
his inquiries In a way to press the wit
ness closer and closer toward the net
he was secretly holding out for him
First, ne obliged him to say that his
conversation with Miss Tuttle had moi
tended to smooth matters, that no rec
onciliation with his wife had followed
1t and that In the thirty-six hours
which elapsed before he returned home
again he had made no attempt tt
s0Othe the feelings Of one who, accord
ing to his own story. he considered
hardly responsible, for any extrava
gances In which she might have In
dulged.
TO be COntinued.l