The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-12-22

| I'm gtdG 20 see you " She cTtCd.
than usual Are you ready, Mr., Sin
gleton?"
Eyes" said the district attorney
| "Oh, wait minute" he added, and h.
got up and came down to our table
You're going to put Miss Hollada.
on the stand, l suppose
"And expose her to all this?" AnC
our junior looked around the room
Not if l can help it,
Il don't see how you can help it. AL
hlibi's the only thing that can save he
from being Round over"
"We'll Cross that bridge when we
come TO it," retorted Mr.. Royce. 81
think the case against her will soon die
of hamilton
"Oh, very we'll" And Singleton
abruptly went back to his desk, biting
his mustache thoughtfully. He had
made something of reputation, since
his election year before, as solver
Of abstruse criminal problems and
had secured n conviction in two or
three capital cases which had threat
ened for time to battle the police. He
evidently scented something of the
tame kind here or he would have in
trusted the case to one of his as
sistants. 1t might be added that, while
his successes had made him immensely
popular with the multitude, there had
been abon' one or two of them hint
of unprofessional conduct, which had
made his brethren of the bar look
rather askance at him.
He nodded to the coroner after a
moment, the room was called to order
and the first witness summoned.
1t was Rogers, the confidential clerk.
knew Rogers, of course; had talked
with him often in business way and
had the highest respect for him. He
had been with Mr.. Holiday much lon
ger than | had been with Graham x
Royce and had, rs Mr.. Graham hau
pointed out, an uninpeachable reputa
ton
There were the usual preliminaries-
name, age, reSid5 nce, and 50 on, Coro-
ner Goldberg asking the questions. He
was really good cross examiner and
soon came to the core of the matter.
What is the position Of your desk
in Mr. Holladay's Office" he asked.
There is an outer office for the
clerks; opening from that smaller
room, where my desk is placed. Open
ing from my room was Mr.. Holidays
private office"
Had Mr. Holidays office any other
door?'
mo, SIR
could entrance be had by the win
lows?"
THE windows open on the street
side of the building. We occupy
part of the eighth floor"
The fire escapes
Are at the back of the building
there are none on the street side
nothing but sheer wall"
$50 that any one entering or leaving
The private office must necessarily pass
by your desk?"
Necessarily; yes, sir"
"Could any one pass without your
seeing him?"
mo, sir; that would be quite impos-
sible."
The coroner leaned back in his chair.
There was one point settled.
Now, Mr.. Rogers" he said, will
you kindly tell us. in your own way
md with as much detail as possible,
exactly what happened at your Office
shortly before o'clock yesterday aft.
1rnOon?'
l could see that Rogers was deeply
moved. His face was very white, he
noistened his lips ncrvously from time
% time, and his hands grasped con
the arms of his chair Plain !
v the task before him was far from /,
IN agreeable one.
We'll. sir" he began. 1--WE had
'ery busy day yesterday and were at
he office considerably later than usual. !
)ut by ) o'clock we had closed up !
work for the day, and all the other !
Jerks. with the exception of the office /!
10Y, had gone home. | had made some |
lOlCS HUN WI. I1OlldIdN h!CIUllOJh
Ind had returned to my desk to ar |
ange them when the outer door open
d, and Mr.. Holladay's daughter came
n. She asked me whether her father |
vas engaged, and upon my saying No
'pened the inner door and entered his !
'fice. She remained. should think, |
bout ten minutes. then she came out |
gain. walked rapidly past without
Ooking at me and. suppose. left the !
| finished arranging my
totes and then entered Mr. Holidays
fice to ask If he had any further in
for me, and | found him
ying forward on his desk with knife
ticking in his neck and the blood
putting out | summoned aid, but he
led without regaining consciousness.
should say he was practically dead
When found him."
l felt rather than heard the little
tir which ran through the room. There
- la indefnaEhle4 hoLor in--tII.e st2-y