The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-20
CHAPTER x1

CHAPTER XI
"uE days Of my obscurity were
over. Henceforth was re-
garded as a decided factor In
this case--a case which from
this time on assumed another inspect
both at headquarters and In the minds
of people at large The reporters.
whom we had hitherto managed TO
hold in check. now overHowed both the
coroner's Office and police headquar-
ters. and articles appeared in all the
daily papers with just enough sugges.
tion in them 70 fire the public mind and
make me, for one. anticipate an imme-
diate word from Mr. jeffrey calculated
to establish the alibl be bad failed to
make ont on the day we talked with
him. But no such word came His
memory still played him false. and no
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
inquest In the first place. the spec
tators were OF o very different charac-
ter from the ordinary As ! wormed
myself along to the seat accorded to
such witnesses as myaelf 7 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
quiring gaze Of some fashionable lady
who never before I warrant, had found
herself in such a scene BY the time
reached my place all the others We're
seated. and the coroner raped for or
der
was first to take the stand What
said has already been fully amplifed
10 the foregoing paGes OF course. my
evidence was confined 10 facts. but
some of these facts were new TO most
OF the persons there 1t was evident
that considerable effect was pro-
duced by them. not only on the specta-
tors. but upon the witnesses them
selves. For instance. il 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 it
evident that Mrs. jeffrey could not
| have been alone 10 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 l returned to my seat ] stole a
/ look toward n 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.
was followed by the other detec-
! tives who had been present at the
time and who corroborated my state
ment as TO the appearance OF this un-
happy woman and the way the pistol
had been tied 20 her arm. Then the
doctor who had acted under the eOro-
ner was called. After a long and no
doubt learned description OF the bullet
wound which had ended the life OF this
unhappy lady-a wor ~h!ch he In
sisted, with a marked display OF learn
ing, must have made that end instan-
taEeous or nt least too immediate for
her TO move foot or hand after it-he
was asked II the body showed any
other mark OF violence.
TO this be replied:
There was a minute wound at the
base Of one OF her fingers. the one
which is popularity called the wedding
finger"
This statement made all the women
present stare with renewed interest;
nor was it altogether without point FOR
the men. especially when the doctor
went on to say:
"The hands were entirely without
rings AS Mrs. JEFFREY had been mar
ried with a ring, noticed their alb
sence"
"Was this wound which you charac
terlze as minute a recent oneT'
1T had bled a little. 1t was an abra
sion such as would be made IL the ring
she usually wore there had been drawn
of with a Jerk. That was the impress
sion I received from its appearance.
do not state that It was so made"
A little thrill which went over the
audience at the picture this evoked
communicated itself 10 Miss Tuttle
who trembled violently. II even pro
duoed a slight display Of emotion IN
MI Htuttfr MAlbnN ANAA NHNNh MhNtt
be pressed it against bis forehead Bui
neither uttered a sound nor looked ~
when the next witness was summoned
This witness proved 20 be Loretta
who, on hearing her name called
evinced great reluctance 10 come for
ward. After the coroner had ellcitet
her name and the position she held n
Mr. Jenrey's household he aske,
whether her duties took her into Mrs
Jenrey's room. Upon her replying tha
they did he further inquired II she
knew Mrs. Jenreys rings. and coul,
say whether they we're all 20 be- foun,
on that lady's toilet table after thl
police came Ia with news Of her death
The answer was decisive They weri
all there: her rings and ali the othe
ornaments she was IN the daily habi
of wearing. with the exception Of bel