Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-01-03
CHAPTER v.-(Continued.)
A II S t y n


lence, gazing Indignantly around him in
the universal manner Of court function
aries, as If a sacrilege had been com
mitted.
"HaSe you any statement which you
wish to maker" resumed the magistrate.
"Yes, have. l was not in the room
at the time of the commission of the
murder. l was not even the first to
enter the room. ! entered the room al
most simultaneously with another person.
Monsieur Jules Chabot."
Take this diagram in your hands.
There is Madame Roupelrs chamber.
This Is her sitting room. Where were
you at the time the shot was fred"
"I was just about to enter the sitting
room from the room beyond, which had
been my own apartment during my for
mer visits to the chateau. 1t still con-
tained some things of mine which l had
not sent for. l recollect case Of pis-
tolls, particularly, which was lying on
the toilette table,
Look at the pistol shown you, and say
II 1t is your pistol?"
'It is. 1t Is one brought from Amer
lea. used this pistol for gallery prac-
tice, Of which I am fond"
when did you last see it2"
about six weeks ago. 1t was then in
the pistol case already referred to-"
Monsieur Jules Chabot, you say, was
already In Madame Roupelrs apartment
when you entered. Where was he stand
ingT
I'VE entered simultaneously. He was
over by the other door,"
would 1t have been possible for Mon
sieur Chabot to have taken that pistol
from your case without your knowledgeT
II cannot tell. 1t depends. He may
have done so, but he would have had to
enter the apartment by way Of Madame
Roupell's sitting room, because the other
door was locked"
who locked it?"
Van Lith hesitated for barely per-
ceptible instant OF time ere he replied:
II locked it myself, SO as to be secure
from interruption"
why did you wish to be secure from
Interruption"
Because did not wish 1t known that
was in the chateau"
why did you not wish it known%
THAT is one Of the questions I must
decline to answer"
The prefect and the judge exchanged
significant glances The latter had no.
ticed the prisoners hesitation when stat
ing that 1t was he himself who had locked
the door. THAT Is the first lie he has
told" thought NJ. Bertrand, "and it is
told to shield someone. He has an ac-
complice, evidently" Then he said out
loud:
II have no more questions to ask. The
examination Of the prisoner is concluded
You will retain him in the closest Gus
tody, and allow no one but his counsel or
physician to see him under any prete1t
whatsoever"
Jules Chabot was the next witness to
be examined. His testimony was substan-
TALLY the same as contained in the pre-
fects report. He swore positively enough
to finding Van Lith in Nine. Roupell's
chamber Immediately after hearing the re-
pert of the pistol He also swore that
Nine Roupell and Van Lith were on bad
terms, and gave, though with a we'll
assumed show of reluctance, a pretty full
brought about the final quarrel between
them.
At this stage of the examination, the
prefect was seen to whisper something to
the judge, and the latter then asked:
"You testify that nearly an hour
elapsed between the time when you were
shown to your room and the firing of the
pistol. The condition of your bed proves
that you had not slept in it, and when
you reached Madame Roupell's chamber
you were fully dressed. Why did you
not retire to rest"
Simply because l was not sleepy" re-
piled NJ. Chabot, coloring somewhat, and
lingering his long mustache nervously. II
was busy writing"
"What were you writing"
NJ. Chabot hesitated and stammered.
"If you do not Immediately answer
my question. | shall have no alternative
but to commit you, monsieur" said the
judge, in a stern voice.
Jules Chabot hesitated no longer. Draw
Ing letter from his pocket, he handed it
up to the bench.
1T is confidential communication ad
1reSSed TO lauy, ne saiu, anu trust
you will respect it."
M. Bertrand could but with difficulty
repress smile as he ran his eyes rap
Idly over the letter, which was nothing
less than the draft of written PROPOSE
ton of marriage to Miss Harriet Weldon.
1t had evidently been the subject of much
care as the frequent erasures and inter-
lneations showed. 1t was couched in
fowery and high-hown language, and full
of the most extravagant expressions of
alteration. The most peculiar thing about
1t was the writer had evidently been un-
certain as to which Of the two young
ladies he should ask for as the words
'Mlle. Harriet Weldon" had been first
written and then scratched out, as II he
thought there was no hope for him in
that direction, and Mile Emily Weldon"
put in their stead. Victor Lablanche
n L.. r.