Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-03-27

in the window seat OF the library.
Five minutes after the arrival Of the
coachman at his lodgings in the Rue de
Reverdy DR.. Paul Mason was on the
road to the chateau. He had gazed for
moment on the face of his old friend.
"She must have died instantly" he re-
marked, as he turned sadly away.
NJ. lie project was now at liberty to ask
any question he chose. He did not care
to ask any questions at present. He
would go into the room where the mayor
was, and hear what he had to say.
Have you. examined the prisoner"
was the first question he propounded to
that functionary.
IL have attempted to; but he refuses
to make any statement, saying he prefers
to wait until he is brought before the
tribunal He has the right to waive the
preliminary examination before the JUS
tice of course, but he is hardly wise in
this instance. A plain explanation OF
how he came to be in the chateau at that
time of night might go far toward ac-
quitting him-that isl he added, IF 1t
is capable of explanation
NJ. Victor Lablanche allowed the wor-
thy magistrate to ramble on. When that
gentleman had quite finished, he said
You had better tell the prisoner and
the principal Witnesses to get ready to
take the early train for Paris. The pres
ence of your local physician will be nee
essary also, so that he can testify to the
nature of the wound by which Madame
Roupell met her death. In the meantime
| will make an examination of the scene
Of the murder"
"That will be unnecessary. 1 have al
ready made one"
with what result. monsieur lie MARIE"
"The finding of this pistol, with which,
doubtless, the murder was committed"
let me look at it,"
The project took the weapon, and ex-
amined it. carefully.
1T is of American manufacture" be
said. Did you find anything else?".
Nothing except SOME private papers
Of Madame Roupells scattered on the
floor of her chamber" ..i
Whereas the young man who has been
accused of, this crime"
''I1e is under strong guard at pres
emit, in the buffers pantry. Do you wish
to see him."
mo, | think not" he said. 1.-THE judge
sits at ten O'Clock. and he will hear what
he has to say. Meantime, though, as
said, l wish to make an inspection of
the premises"
The mayor at once bestirred himself,
and conducted NJ. Lablanche upstairs to
| the room where the body of Madame
/ Roupell was still lying. Nothing had been
moved. Even the blood which had soaked
into the hearth rug had not been wiped
up; an overturned chair lay where it had
fallen; some papers were scattered about
the room.
do not disturb Them" said NJ. La
blanche, pointing to the papers. while
they simply indicate how Madame Rou-
! pell was engaged at the time of the shoot
ing, and perhaps have no bearing on the
! question of who committed this crime,
still it is our rule to move nothing"
And as to who did commit it, | think
there can be no doubt" remarked the
mayor.
There is always room for doubt in
any case" replied the project. "Of
course this young man denies his guilt,
though silent on other points?"
Most decidedly he does"
Then you have got to prove it in or
der to bring the crime home to him. You
must recolect that under the revised
penal code of France, the prisoner has
no longer to prove his innocence. of a
charge. 1t is the duty of the law to
bring it home to. him."
But Monsieur Chabot assures me-,
said the mayor, that he found this young
man in Madame Roupell's chamber imme-
diately after the report of the pistol"
"Oh perhaps the young man found him.
What do you think of that?" remarked
the project. you see, my dear sir, we
must not be too hasty."
81 must confess that you put the mat
ter in a new light; but Monsieur Van
Lith's appearance in the chateau?"
How does he account for that?"
He refuses to account for that at all,
as 1 said" replied the mayor
WAS he in the habit of calling at this
house?"
AT one time, but lately had been not
only unlimited, but requested to discon-
tinue his visits His presence in the
chateau was, in fact, totally unexpected
by anyone until he was discovered in
Madame Roupell's chamber"
NJ. Lablanche now threw a searching
glance around the chamber. 1t would
seem, indeed, as if nothing could escape
his acute. observation. On the large
handsome bedstead, lay the body of the
late proprietress of the Chateau Vile
neuve. This piece of furniture was near.
ly in the center of the room, with the
head placed against the wall. To the
east two windows looked out upon the