Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-23
The coroner leaned back In his chair.

The coroner leaned back In his chair.
There was one point settled.
wow. Mr.. Rogers" he said, will
you kindly tell us. IN your own way
and with AZ much detail as possible,
exactly what happened ut your Office
shortly before B o'clock yesterday aft.
crnoon?"
l could see that Rogers was deeply
moved. His face was very white. he
moistcned his lips nervously from time
to time. and his hands grasped con.
vulsively the arms Of his chair. Plain.
" the task before him was far from
an agreeable one.
"Well. sir" he began. 1--WE had a
very busy dny yesterday and were at
the office considerably later than usual
but by 3 o'clock we had closed mp
work for the day. and all the other
clerks, with the exception Of the Office
boy. had gone home. had made some
notes from MIR. Holladay's dictation
and had returned TO my desk TO ar
range them when the outer door open
ed, and Mr.. Holladay's daughter came
in. She asked me whether her father
was engaged. and upon my saying nc
opened the inner door and entered his
office. She remained. I should think,
about ten minutes. then she came out
again. walked rapidly past without
looking ut me and. suppose, left the
building I finished arranging my
notes and then entered Mr.. Holiday $
Office to ask If he had any further in
structions for me, and ! found him
lying forward on his desk with n knife
sticking in his neck and the blood
squirting out. | summoned aid. but he
died without rcgainng consciousness
] should say he was practically dead
when | found him"
felt rather than heard the little
stir which ran through the room. There
was an indefnable horror in the story
and in the conclusion TO which ii in
evitably led
Now, let us 60 back a moment" said
the coroner as Rogers stopped and
mopped his forehead feverishly. II
want the jury to understand your story
thoroughly. Mr.. Holiday had been
OlctatInE 10 your!
Eyes"
"And was quite well"
Eyes: as we'll as usual. He'd been
suffering with indigestion for some
time past"
"Stil he was able 10 attend to bust
ness?''
''Oh. yes, sir There was nothing at
all serious in his illness"
"You then left his Office and returned
to your own. How long had You been
there before the outer door opened?"
mot over five minutes
"And who was 1t cnteredT
Miss Frances Holiday. the daugh-
ter Of my employer"
You're quite sure? You know her
well:"
Every we'll. I've known her for many
years. She often drove TO the office in
the evening 70 take her father home
/ supposed that was what she came
for yesterday"
You looked at her attentively:
Rogers hitchcd impaticntly in his
chair.
II glanced at her as always do"
he said II didn't stare"
But you're quite sure 1t was Miss
Holiday"
Absolutely sure. sir. DO you sup
pose ia make an assertion like that II
! wasn't absolutely sure"
NO" said the coroner soothingly.
mo, don't suppose any such thing,
not for moment. Mr. Rogers, only
want the jury to see how certain the
Identification is. Shall | proceed?"
Go ahead, sir" said Rogers. I'm
try to hold myself together a little
better. sir"
II can see what strain this Is for
you" said the coroner kindly. land I'll
spare you as much as ] can. Now,
after Miss Holiday entered the inner
Office, how long did she remain there"
about ten minutes, should say.
Not longer than that. certainly"
did you hear any sound of CONVEX
satiOn or any unusual noise OF any
kind"
mo, sir 1t would have been Il very
unusual noise to be audible Mr.. Hol.
laday's office has heavy walls and a
double door which completely shut of
all sounds from wthin'
Miss Holiday then came out?"
Eyes, sir"
And walked past you:'
eyes, sir; walked past me rapidly"
did you not think that pecular:"
"Why. sir. she didn't often stop to
speak to me. ! was busy, and SO
thought nothing particularly about it,"
did you notice her face? Did she
seem perturDed:"
mo. sir; didn't notice. Just
glanced up and bowed In fact, l
didn't see her face at all, for she had
lowered her VEIL
"Her veil." repeated the coroner.
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