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

mOSpnpre reeKed with unpleaS-
ant dampness. Only behind the
little railing before the coroner's desk
was there breathing space. and we sank
into our seats at the table there with
a sigh Of relief
One never realizes how many news
papers there are in New York until
one attends an important criminal case
that brings their people out in droves
and swarIns The reporters took up
most Of the space in this small ROOM
Paper and pencils were everywhere in
evidence. and in one corner there was
q man with camera stationed. de-
termined. suppose. TO get a photo
to the stand. since none could he OBJ
tanned In any other way.
I saw Singleton the district attor.
ney, come in and sit down near the
coroner. and then the jury filed in from
their room and took their seats
examined them. man by man. with
some little anxiety. but they all seemed
intelligent and fairly we'll to do. Mr..
Royce was looking over their names.
and he checked them off carefully as
the clerk called the roll. Then he hand
ed the list up to the coroner with a
little nod
go ahead" he said. "Thoy're all
right guess--thcy look all right"
ITS Il good jury" replied the cor
oner as he took the paper. Better
than usual. Are You ready Mr.. Sim
gleton!"
Eyes" said the district attorney
"Oh, wait a minute" he added. and he
got up and came down to our table
You're going to put Miss Holiday
on the stand. suppose
And expose her to all this:" And
mot If can help it,
II don't see how you can help it. An
alibi's the only thing that can save her
from being bound over"
We'll cross that bridge when we
come to it," retorted Mr. Royce. II
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 thouRhtfully He had
made something Of a reputation, since
his election a year before. as a solver
Of abstruse criminal problems and
had secured conviction in two or
three capital cases which had threat
ened for time to bafYie the police. He
evidently scented something Of the
same kind here or he would have In
trusted the case to one of his as.
sistants. 1t might he added that, while
his successes had made him immensely
popular with the multitude, there had
been about one or two Of them a 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 nrst witness summoned.
1t was Rogers, the confidential clerk.
! knew Rogers, Of course: had talked
with him often In q business way and
had the highest respect for him. He
had been with Mr.. Holiday much lon
ger than l had been with Graham 4
AoyCc ouo uau, an MI HIuuub0 udu
pointed out. an unimpeachable reputa.
ton.
There were the usual prelmnaries--
name, age. residence. and so on. Coro-
ner Goldberg asking the questions. He
was a really good cross examiner and
soon came to the core OF the matter.
What Is the position OF your desk
In Mr.. Holidays 0fhceY' he asked.
There is an outer Office for the
clerks; opening from that 4 smaller
room. where my desk 10 placed. Open
Ing from my room was Mr.. Holidays
private Office"
Had Mr.. Holidays ONCE any other
door,"
mo. SIR"
could entrance be had by the win.
dowsf
1.-THE windows open on the street
side OF the building. We occupy Q
part Of the eighth door"
THE fire escapes"-
Are at tho back of the building
there are none on the street side
nothing but sheer wall"
$50 that any ons entering or leaving
tho private once must necessarily pass
by your desk?"
Necessarily; yes. SIR"
"Ceuld any one pass without yepr
seeing him."
mo. sir; that would be quite impos.