Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-08

L Will not trouble Miss Holt further, and
trust she will pardon me if in the per-
Torrance of a public duty / have caused
her any pain.
Edith bowed and returned to her seat
by Mrs. Angler. In one sense the ordeal
had done her good, for the scornful in
dignation excited by the Coroner's
masked battery of innuendo was far
healthier emotion than the chilling fear
which had possessed her before Her
indignation was nothing, however, to
that of Lester, who had more than once
endeavored to estimate what would be
the penalty of throwing his majesty's
representative out of the window
The remaining evidence was of little
Importance. After Mrs Warren and
Angler had Endorsed the statements of
previous witnesses, the Coroner pro-
ceeded to sum up.
''You will have judged from the evil
dence, gentlemen" he said, that this
is either very simple or very mys-
ferrous case. The most extraordinary
feature is undoubtedly Lord Arncliffe's
assertion that he was being poisoned; and
you will no doubt give that point full
consideration. If his mental condition
was normal when he made that statement,
then it is clear that he has been the
victim of foul play; but on the other
hand if his mind was impaired by his
long illness, we should be justified in
assuming that he knew he was being
poisoned, for the very good reason that
the poison was self-administered In this
connection | should like to remind you
that two of the highest authorities are
unable to say what form of arsenic was
used; SO it seems evident the poisoner
was no ordinary person. Here again,
one cannot but recall Lord Arncliffe's
intimate knowledge of poisons. How
ever, | do not think there is sufficient
evidence to justify us in assuming the
deceased to have been insane, and with
out that assumption we cannot entertain
the idea of suicide.
Z" If we consider the possibility that
murder has been committed, the ques-
ton of motive naturally suggests itself
The members of the household seem to
have been devoted to their master, as,
indeed, they had every reason to be. Mrs
Warren, Miss Holt"
Another note had found it's way
mysterious1y to the Coroner's desk, and
he paused to read it. Then he looked
up at the jury.
There is an entirely unexpected
development, gentlemen" he said. "A
fresh witness has just arrived from New
York, and l am informed that his evil
dence is of the highest Importance"
To be continued nest Sunday
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters
DR. GEORGE LESTER, an eminent young |
English toXicologist, was trespassing on the |
fishing preserves of a British peer, when he |
rendered a slight service to Miss Edith Holt |
secretary to the Earl of Arncliffe, owner of the
estate. He also encountered Harry Warren, a |
domineering individual, who was Arncliffe's |
agent
Lester subsequently called to the castle |
the regular physician being absent, and found |
Arncffe dead. He announced that the Earl |
had been poisoned with arsenic.
Lester learned from Edith that Arncliffe had |
been his (Lestersl former patron, and made a |
hobby of collecting and studying posons
Angler, Arnclifes solicitor, arrived at the Hail.
and announced that the Earl had feared he was |
being poisoned and left ten thousand pounds to
the person chiefly resDonsible for the con-