Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-12-04
CHAPTER XVIII.

There was no doubt the Sprouts poison
ing case was the sensation of the day in
Melbourne. The papers were full of it,
and some even went so far as to give a
plan of the house, with dotted lines there
on, to show how the crime was commit
ted
Rumors were started that the govern
ment analyst and DIR. Goitpeck had found
poison in the stomach, and that, moreover,
the real criminal would be soon discov-
cred Public opinion was much divided
as to who the criminal was-some, hav-
ing heard the story of Madame's marriage,
said it was her husband; others insisted
Kitty Marchurst was the culprit, and was
trying to shield herself behind this wild
story of the hand coming from behind the
curtains; while others were in favor of
suicide. At all events, on the morning
when the inquest was resumed the court
was crowded, and deep silence pervaded
the place when the government analyst
stood up to give his evidence. Madame
Midas was present. with Kitty seated be-
side her, the latter looking pale and i'll :;
and Kilsip, with a grati6ed smile on his
face which seemed as though he had got
a clue to the whole mystery, was seated
next to Cation. Vandeloup, faultlessly
dressed, and as cool mad calm as posi-
bic, was also in court and DR.. Gollipeck.
as he awaited his turn to give evidence.
could not help admiring the marvellous
nerve and courage of the young man.
The government analyst deposed that
the stomach of the deceased had been sent
to him TO be analysed. He had used the
usual tests, and found the presence of the
alkaloid of hemlock, known under the
name of COMA. In his opinion the death
of the deceased was caused by the admin
istration Of an extract of hemlock.
There was great excitement when this
evidence was concluded, as it gave quite
as TO the cause of death was now set at
rest-the deceased had been murdered.
DIR. Gollipeck stood up to give his evil
dence.
He deposed that he was a medical prac-
titioner, practicing at Ballarst; he had
seen the report of the case in the papers,
and had come down to Melbourne as he
thought he could throw a certain light
on the afair-for instance, where the
poison was procured. About three years
ago crime had been committed in Paris.
which caused great sensation ar the
time. The case being a peculiar one. was
reported in medical work, by Messiel,rs.
PreYol and Lebrun, which he had obtain
ed from France. some two years back.
The facts Of the case were shortly these /.
One Adele Blondet died from the effects
Of poison, administered to her by Octave
Rra safo II h 49, - \
had also another lover, called Kestrike,
who was supposed to be implicated in the
crime, but he had escaped; the woman
in this case had been poisoned BY an ex-
tract of hemlock. the same poison as in
the case Of Selma Sprotts, and il was
the similarity Of the symptoms that made
him suspicious of the sudden death. Bran
lard was sent cut to New Caledonia for
the murder. While in Paris he had been
medical student with two other gcnsie-
men. one CT whom was Monsieur Prevol.
who had reported the case, and the other
was at present in court and was called
NJ. CASTOR Vsndeloup. NJ. Vandeloup
had manufactured the poison used in this
case. but with regard 10 how il was ad-
ministered 10 the deceased he would leave
that evidence 70 NJ Vandeloup himself
When Gollipeek left the witness box
there was a dead silence. as every one
was too much excited at his strange
story TO make any comment thereon. Mad
anne Midas looked with some astonishment
on Tandeloap as his name was called
out. and he moved gracefully TO the wit
ness box. while kitty's face grew paler
even than il was before. She did not
know what yandeloup was going to say,
but great dread seized her. and she sat
staring AZ him as if psralyEed- kilsip