New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-07-11
In the country the case looked hope

He went to the lawyers and arranged
for copy Of the testimony, and when
that was forthcoming he shut himself
in his room to study it.
At the end of a couple of days he
locked the typewriter pages in his
desk: and gave himself over to his So
cial duties. Elder was a detective
through love Of the work, not because
it was necessary for him to earn his
living in this fashion, and on those
rare occasions when not engaged in a
pursuit he was welcomed in fashtona-
bic homes:
His temperance in society was &C
cepted as being an Acknowledgement
that there was nothing to be done for
Paul Westcott, for he was known to
have been Erfca's sutton, and it was
argued that if there was any hope he
would have disappeared in search of
the murderer:
In spite Of this Erica seemed hopeful
and the trial, through political infu-
ence, was pushed to appeal. Gordon
Westcott, her cousin, was opposed to
the haste and argued violently against
it, but he had always been hostile to
Elder, and it was natural that he
should object to any Of the latter's
suggestions:
AS in the previous trial, the evidence
hinged almost entirely upon the letter.
There was brief testimony TO the ef-
feet that Paul Westcott had been IN
danger Of being wiped out In the mar
ket to prove motive It was shown
that upon his arrest he had been IN
able to negotiate loans and had lost
heavily: Then the prosecution put In
the evidence Of handwriting expert
who had testified at the previous trial
and who discussed learnedly the tndi-
v1dual pecultartties that, even in for
gerry, will unconsctously betray them
selves,
Almost letter by letter he compared
the formation OF the characters Of the
supposed last message With Paulrs
handwriting, and with each fresh slide
there was more firmly established in,
the minds Of the Jury the fact that
Paul must have written the letter.
With the letter the prosecution rest
ed the CASE and the defense began.
Elder was the first witness, and. to
the surprise OF every person, he TOOK
his stand by the lantern which had
figured so spectacutar1y at both trials.
BE first flashed upon the screen half
q dozen examples Of Pau Westcott's
handwriting and then IN succession
showed another hand displaying many
Of the same characteristics.
"You Will perceive that the two men
whose handwritings I have shown
have many traits in common" he said,
but III his eagerness to prove guilt by
angie and curve the previous witness
has neglected his orthographs.
THE first examples were those writ
ten by the defendant prior to the com
mission Of the crime The ones last
shown were written by his cousin,
who studied under the same tutor IN
his uncle's house Twill now show haR
dozen examples Of the late james
Westcott's handwriting asking the
jury to note that in every instance
until is spelled properly, as It was in
the examples shown Of Paul West
colts hand Only in Gordon West
colts letters win the word be found to
be- persfstent1y mtsspeIled untill,' as
was the case In the forgery. a writer
unconsctously betrays himself, but In
this instance 1t was the spelling, not
the formation, which told tales
IS! also show a letter from Gordon
Westcott to money lender, written
Immediately after the murder, IN which
he calls attention to the fact that, az
Paul Westcott could not inherit, the
estate would be divided between him
self and his cousin Erica and that then
he would be able to make the deferred
payments"
The defense rested its case, and as
soon as the opposing counsel had sum
med up the jury brought In verdict
Of mot guilty." and Gordon Westcott
was placed under arrest
Erica, her arm about her brothers
neck, reached forward in the cab.
Fred" she said, II will take back
all I sid about not marrying you un-
TIL you gave up your detective work."
whats the incentive to give it up"
he laughed as he kissed her, when a
simple matter Of spelling pays me so
large q fee?"