The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-05

our duty is a painful one, but you are
aware that the newspapers tomorrow
will print all the information which the
ingenuity OF their reporters can ac-
quire. 1 believe it will be to your ad-
vantage to give me your story and let
our paper, at least, put you before the
public In the very best light. Dogged
silence on your part will. believe. tend
to change the popular verdict upon your
admission of technically guilty from
involuntary manslaughter to that of
willful murder
II care little for the verdict Of the
public. Let them call it 'willful muir
der if they WISH
Then that is the inference which
you wish me to give your silence In my
story of the case?"
Give it whatever inference you will
This is a matter solely between me and
| the law, and l cannot see that either
the public or the newspapers have any
rights to my confidence"
During this conversation l could see
the eyes of the doctor constantly re-
Iverting to those of Clarke as IL he
found there some irresistible fascina-
ton. Then Clarke suddenly broke in
Whom are you shielding?" he cried.
mo one," fairly shouted the doctor
Who are you that you should come
here to catechise me?"
Clarke ignored the question.
Are you going to carry this farce to
the end, even though it be an igno-
minious death?" he asked, quietly.
At first the doctor seemed to lose
control of himself, and then he gath
cred himself together and cried:
Leave this room instantly, both of
you. l have answered all the imperti-
nent and frivolous questions ! am go
ing to-
I'VE have all the information that
We shall get here said Clarke as he
took my arm and beckoned to the chief
who had watched the interview through
the small glass covered aperature in
the door.
/ did not know whether TO be angry
with Clarke or with myself, but / felt
that one of US had blundered. Clarke,
on his part, was taciturn.
I'VE had better see the drug clerk
who mixed the fake powder before we
interview the widow" was all he would
vouchsafe.
The drug clerk. Wilbur Paget corrobo-
rated all the chief had said regarding the
fake powder. but by far the most import
ant piece of information which he was
able to give us was that on the afternoon
he gave the package to DIR. Smith he had
also handed the doctor a small purcha sc
which Mrs. Williams had ordered by teIe-
T.
liams' home. which he must pass on the
way to his own.
When Ne evidently had all the informa-
ton VIC wanted from Paget we turned into
the shady residence street in which was
situated the coy home of the late DIR.
Williams. In our efforts to gain an au-
dience with the widow, however, we met
our first serious obstacle. After sending
messages in repeatedly, We at last got
the doubtful assurance that Mrs. Williams
might possibly see us for few minutes
, about o'clock the next morning
1t was getting along toward o'clock
and / decided that | must go to the ho-
tel and get my story on the wires.
| Just as ! was turning off the last pages
of copy with the messenger at my elbow
to rush il to the wire Clarke entered with
a steaming cup of coffee and generous
plate of toast
II knew you'd missed your supper" he
| explained.
While / was munching the toast and SIP
, ping the coffee Clarke sat on the edge OF
the bed idly blowing rings If smoke from
his cigarette
) s'WeI Mr. Clarke, what do you think
by this timer" I ventured-
{ 'I think that if I had told you what
think before you wrote your story you
might have written a better. but no one
slider is enigmatical if not grammatical.
Read me the riddle them | said Il
confess my brain is too blank to solve it.
What is your theory?"
IF what I have to tell you was merely
theory | would offer no apology for It,
but as | claim it Is fact I only ask you
to reserve your judgment and trust Il
the future to corroborate me.
Here is the case. DR.. Smith did not
commit that murder. There was no more
| surprised person in the lodge room wher
the pistol went off He gave himself uf
man he loves and whom he believes to be
guilty Second he feels that he is tech
nically guilty because his hand did the
act and his mind has exulted over II
r This latter motive would not. however
: have been sufficient to cause him to place
his neck in jeopardy were 1t not coupled
, with the stronger one OF love, This Is Dr
Smiths entire connection with the case
morally. Circumstantially. he is more
closely connected. as l will show later.
/ 'aWilbur Paget. the drug clerk. might
: have committed the murder, He mas 1oi
, several years been desperately and hope
lessly in love with Mrs Williams. and has
cherished a secret hatred for her hus
: band Thus the motive was there. The
only reason he is not guilty is that thf
2 idea did not occur to him. This eliminates
= the drug clerk
And now for the woman / interpo
lated.
r strong points against her at the start
motive and opportunity
! motive perhaps. but the evidence has
; not shown opportunity" / objected
do not interrupt, my dear Sexton.
will show YOU the opportunity later. He
motive was a double one. She suffered IL
2 silence the constant abuse of drunken
husband She loved another. Thus sh'
had the strongest motive which can actu
: ate a woman to murder. the desire to Ri
herself of man who was running her III.
and to be free to marry man she loved
Now for the opportunity which yoi
doubt When DIR. Smith stopped at tn
2 williams home to deliver the package
s from the drug store Dr. Williams wa
, out. Common courtesy demanded that III
: wife ask DIR. Smith into the house. ever
!. had her heart not prompted her 10 snatch
every moment with him that she could
e When he entered the house he handed
e the one package to Mrs. Williams: II wa
n his excuse fos calling. The other, tn
powder. he laid down with his hat on TN
hall tree.
II cannot conjecture the nature OF thei
a conversation That is point on which
n I will be able to tell you more tomorrow
n But here is one of the vital points OF tn
r chain. Mrs Williams knew the na&ur
: of rhe ordeal which her husband was {
: go through that night. ] would stake N.
Reputation that DIR. Smith told her. 70
he is ;ust the type Of man who is unaDi
: to keep anything from woman SO W
1 will set it down as reasonable that MIS-