The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-18

over HencefOrth L was re-
garded as Il decided factor In
this case--l case which from
this time on assumed another aspect
both at headquarters and in the minds
of people at large. The reporters.
whom we had hitherto managed to
hold in check. now overflowed both the
coroncr's office and police headquar-
ters. and articles appeared in all the
daily papers with just enough sugges-
tion in them 10 fire the public mind and
make me. for one. anticipate an imme-
diatc word from Mr.. Jeffrey calculated
TO establish the albi he had failed to
make out on the day we talked with
him. But no such word came. His
memory still played him false, and 10
alternative was left but TO pursue the
official inquiry in the line suggested by
the interview just recounted.
No proceeding in which | had ever
been engaged interested me as did this
tatOrs were Of II very different charac-
ter from tine ordinary. As | wormcd
myself along TO the seat accorded to
such witnesses as myself brushed by
men of the very highest station and a
few OF the lowest and bent my head
more than once in response TO the in
q,iiring gaze of some fashionable lady
who never before. | warrant, had found
herself in such Il scene. BY the time
reached my place all the others were
seated, and the coroner raped for or
der.
| was first 10 take the stand. What
said has already been fully amplitied
in the foregoing pages. OF course, my
evidence was confined 10 facts, but
some of these facts were new to most
OF the persons there Ii was evident
that considerable effect was pro.
duced by them, not only on the specta'
tors, but upon the witnesses them.
selves. For instance, 1t was the first
| time that the marks on the mantelshelf
had been heard of outside the majors
office or the story SO told as to make II
evident that Mrs. Jeffrey could not
| have been alone in the house at the
time of her death.
A photograph had been taken of those
marks, and my identification of this
photograph closed my testimony.
As | returned TO my seat ! stole q
look toward certain corner where
with face bent down upon his hand
Francis Jeffrey sat between Uncle Da
vid and the heavily veiled figure OF
Miss Tuttle.
| al oh hu hn M hAr Lot
tives who had been present at the
! time and who cOrroborated my state
ment as TO the appearance of this uh
happy woman and the way the pisto
had been tied TO her arm. Then the
doctor who had acted under the coro
ner was called. After long and M
doubt learned description of the bulle
wound which had ended the life of this
unhappy lady--a wound which he in
sisted, with marked display OF learn
ing, must have made that end instan
taneous or at least too immediate fol
her to move foot or hand after it-h'
was asked If the body showed any
other mark OF violence.
To this he replied:
| mere WIS minute WOunu at tn'
base of one of her fingers, the on'
which is popularity called the weddins
finger"
This statement made all the wOmeI
present stare with renewed interest
nor was It altogether without point TO
the men, especially when the dOcto
went on to say:
"The hands We're entirely withou
rings. As Mrs. Jeffrey had been mar
ried with ring. noticed their alb
sence."
"Was this wound which you charac
terlze as minute recent oneY
1T had bled little. 1t was an abra
sion such as would be made IL the Uni
she usually wore there had been draw
off with Jerk. That was the impres
sion received from its appearance.
do not state that II was SO made"
A little thrill which went over tn
audience at the picture this evoke,
communicated itself to Miss Tuttle
who trembled violently. 1t even pro
duced slight display Of emotion Il
Mr., Jeffrey, whose hand shook wher
lie pressed II against his forehead. Blu
neither uttered sound nor looked u
when the next witness was summoned
This witness proved to be Loretts