Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-23
ooh, YES. air"

"Oh, yes, sir"
The coroner nodded. "Now, Mr..
Rogers. how long a time elapsed after
the departure of the woman before
you went back into the inner ofiice"
mot more than three or four min
utes. thought perhaps Mr.. Holiday
was getting ready to accompany his
daughter, and didn't wish to detain
him.
And you found him. as you say,
lying forward across his desk with a
Knife In his throat and the blood squirt
ing out. Did you recognize the knife!'
Eyes, sir. 1t was his knife-a knife
he kept lying on his desk to sharpen
pencils with and erase sod so on"
SHARP. was IT."
ut had one long blade. very sharp,
SIR"
The coroner picked up a knife that
was lying on the desk before him.
us this the knife?" he asked.
Rogers looked at 1t carefully.
THAT'S the knife. sir" lie said. and
1t was passed to the jury. When they
had finished with 1t. Mr.. Royce and I
examined 1t. 1t was an ordinary one
bladed erasing knife with ivory han
die. 1t was open, the blade being
about two inches and half In length,
and. MS soon convinced myself, very
sharp indeed.
"Wlll you describe MIR. Holidays
postion:' continued the coroner.
I,,t e.. a H.
with his arms outstretched and his
head to one side"
"And there was great deal Of
blood?'
"Oh. great deal! Some one appar-
emily had attempted to check 1t, for a
little distance away there WINS a hand
kerchief soaked in blood"
The coroner picked up handkcr-
chief and handed it to the witness.
us that the handkerchief: ne asked.
Eyes, sir" said Rogers. after mo-
ment.
as it mans or woman's handker-
chicf?"
"Oh, woman's. undoubtedlyw
The jury examined it. and SO did we.
1t was a small square Of fine cnmbric,
with no mark that could see. soaked
through and through with bloOd-un-
questonnbly woman's handkerchief.
Then Rogers told the rest Of the story
how he had summoned aid and in
formed the police.
Now Mr.. Rogers" said the coroner,
when he had finished, there is one
point more. Has there been anything
in your knowledge OF Mr.. Holiday or
his business to suggest the idea Of sui
cide:'
The witness shook his head decid-
eddy.
Nothing whatever. SIR" he said pos
itively. His business was prospecting.
he was happy and contented-why, he
was planning for trip abroad with
his daughter"
LET us suppose for moment" con-
tinued Goldberg. that he did actually
stab himself in his daughters pres
cncc. What would you naturally cx-
poet her to do?'
~ should expect her to give the
aIarm-to summon aid" replied Rog-
ers.
"Certainly - unquestonably." And
Goldberg nodded to my chief II turn
the witness over to you, Mr. Royce"
he said
"Now, Mr. Rogers" began our junior
impressively, you know. Of course
that this whole case hinges at present
on your Identification Of the woman
who, presumably. was in Mr.. Holla.
days office when he was stabbed. l
want to be very sure of that identified
ton. Will you tell me how she was
dreSsti:"
The witness paused for moments
thought.
''She wore a dress of very dark red
he said at last. with some sort of mar
row dark trimming - black. possibly
That's all I can tell you about it."
"And the hat:"
81 didn't notice the hat, sir. I only
glanced at her"
But in that glance. Mr.. Rogers. did
you see nothing unusual, nothing which
suggested to your mind that possibly II
might not he Miss Holladay:'
Nothing, sir"
'Some change Of demcanor, perhaps
Of expression?'
The witness hcsitated.
II thought she was looking not quite
30 we'll as usual" he said slowly "She
seemed little pale and worried"
"Ah! 1t was dark in the Office, was
1t not. Mt 8 o'clock yesterday after.
nOOn:'
1--WE had turned on the lights half an
hour before. sir"
as your Office we'll lighted?"
IL have light over my desk. sir
and there's another on the wall"
$50 YOU could not see your visitors
face with absolute clearness?"
mo. sir. but quite clearly enough to
recognize her" he added dogged.y.
yet YOU thought her looking pale
and wOrried"'
Eyes. sir; that was my impression"
"And when she asked for Mr.. Holla
HQv did ohio Voo tho v,yords s,,cv 90