The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-09-12

we discussed the case, TeCOTueu III
asizring headlines, over our morning
anezl
Its incomprehensibIe," he said, as
ne read the third time the damning
"details. His whole life, his success,
sats approaching marriage, everything
cries out against this crime
$50 they did in the case Of Eugene
Aram." I replied, "and yet Aram pro-
tested his innocence. If Edgerton is
mot guilty, It should be simple mat
ter for him to account for his where
abouts from 1880 to 10 last night, but
this he refuses to do. i am Of the
opinion that for once the police have
shown commendable energy and
nabbed the right man. Can you imag-
sne a more convincing chain of cir
>cnmstantial evidence?"
81 don't have to imagine. The his
tory of circumstantial evidence con-
t&ins many more perfect chain which
was only broken after an innocent
naAn had been hanged"
Then, again." he continued, what
do you make of the robbery? II
a&rough jealousy Edgerton killed Gar
mcr, why should he rifle his pockets.
Dear out a diamond-stud, and wrench
Che ring off his finger like a common
zreebooter?"
That might have been the work OF
someone else who arrived on the scene
after the murderer had fed" l sug-
.Uested.
"A stronger argument on your side
would be that 1t was done to throw
die police on the track. But we argue
10 no purpose. and /, for one. propose
to await the sequel"
It was the old, old story, the fatal
triangle. in the demonstration of which
tragedy has been the corollary since
the world began-two men and one
woman.
Arthur Edgerton possessed the three
almost priceless talismen to the gates
of modern society: youth, good looks,
and wealth. and these had won for
him the master-key: social position.
.despite the handicap of antecedents
unknown, some said, even doubtful.
Harrison Garner put into the bal
sAnce against these; wealth. family
NAME honored for generations, and an
mnblemished character. Edgerton's
ssriIliancy he Offset by unfailing good
humor and wholesomeness.
Maize Morrison, secure in her own
Vzftle social realm and with no lack of
ssuitors for the hand of its queen, had
played one against the other She had
finally silenced the gossips by accept
sng Edgerton, and then set their
fsnngues wagging faster than ever by
receiving both on equal terms, despite
r1he cards and the ring and all the de-
nightful, bothersome preliminaries to
suatrimony.
And then the sequel: Garner found
shot through the heart in Edgerton's
automobile on a lonely spot on the
Lake Shore drive; Edgerton, blood be-
,spattered. behind prison bars, and
Maize Morrison. weeping. inconsolable,
s1istraught, in her pretty boudoir,
stunned at the havoc her little hands
faad wrought In three lives.
A visitor came heavily yelled, and
as Clarke stepped forward to offer her
N chair, was able to Judge nothing of
her personality beyond that she was
young and owned a figure, svelte, but
suggesting through her dark costume,
znimal-like lines and curves. Or was
III the art OF the dressmaker exempli.
fed in a perfectly gowned woman?
Yes, Miss Morrison, am glad you
have called on me. 1t Is about the
Edgerton case, i suppose" replied
Clarke, while I discreetly retired be
hind the portiere of my bedroom door.
20. yes. Mr.. Clarke. You have seen
the papers. You know the terrible
trouble am in"
Now then" continued Clarke, 1.-The
papers say that Mr.. Edgerton called at
your apartment building, the Patio. at
1880 O'Clock last night That he found
Garner there and stayed only about
ten minutes. That he and Garner left
together, entered Edgerton's automo-
bile, and started north. Now what oc-
Cured during those ten minutes?"
"Oh, Mr.. Clarke. 1t happened Just as
the papers say, only they have added
so many horrible things that are not
so. They say Arthur was insanely
Jealous of Harrison and that he left
me In rage. He wasn't a bit jeal
GUS"
Had Mr.. Edgerton any business
,troubles?"
sNone that know OF. Papa said
Just the other evening that his factory
had orders enough ahead to run it a
year."
Nov. Miss Morrison. did you notice
anything else strange in his actions?'
well. tbe-e was one thing, but Il