The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-04-15

OF unusual ability. In addition to pos
sessing profound knowledge Of tho law,
NJ. Joseph Bertrand was deep and
all the cases which during his term of
office had come before him. none, per-
haps, had excited such widespread atten
lion as this mysterious murder of the
unfortunate Nine. Roupell. The horr
BILE nature Of the crime, the heartlessness
of the assassin, and the age and rank
Of his victim, all tended to invest the
case with unusual interest.
At ten O'Clock precisely VI. Bertrand
took his seat. The diagram which La
blanche, the project of police had pre-
pared. the notes Of the mayors examina
ton and those Of the justice Of the peace,
lay on the desk before him. There, too,
lay the pistol found on the floor of Nine.
RonpelTs chamber. In an adjoining
chamber We're gathered the witnesses who
were prepared to testify in the case
You may bring in the prisoner" said
n. Bertrand, when all was in readiness !;
and Charles Van Lith was led la.
The judge of instruction eyed him keen
" His face was of a deathly pallor;
his eyes, were hollow and sunken Alto
gether, he appeared to Disadvantage and
he was conscious that he did So Ills
youth however, and the fearless manner
in which he glanced around him, did not
fail TO impress NJ. Bertrand favorn bly,.
Notwithstanding his official habit Of stern
ness. the judge of instruction was pos
sessed of many humane qualities. 1t was
with a voice, therefore, rather mild and
encouraging than harsh, that he address
ed the young man before him.
Il wish, monsieur" he said, ito afford
you every opportunity of clearing your
self. Now state, as briefly as possible,
for there are many witnesses to be exam
ined, how you came to be in the chateau
Villeneuve last night. | see by the report
of the project that you have refused to
explain that point. Perhaps you had
good reasons for your silence then; but
you can have none now, here before me.
How did you happen to be in the chateau,
/ repeat, at the time this crime was com
mitted and even in Madame Roupell 8
chamber"
A fearful struggle was taking place in
the breast of the American. To state
the true reason of his presence in the
chamber would be to forever compromise
Harriet Weldon, and yet it was the only
course which could possibly clear him.
The same sense of honor, however, which
had bound him to silence when interro-
gated BY the project Of police, operated
to close his lips before the judge Of In
struction. So instead of fatty refusing
| to give the desired information, he sought
| to modify the bad effect of his refusal by
saying:
- cannot answer the question--as yet,
| monsieur. 1t may appear an easy one to
| which to reply; but ask you to believe
| that at present there is an insurmount-
| able obstacle to my doing So"
An expression Of vexation seemed to
| pass over the face Of the judge. He had
| been favoraby predisposed toward the
| prisoner, and would have liked to see him
| 60 free. .-
IT warn you that your persistent re-
| fusal to answer is liable to be construed
| as evidence of guilt. Would the explana-
| ton you decline to give involve the party
| guilty of the crime-perhaps some friend
| of yours whom you desire to screen?'
| Van Lith hesitated but a moment, anc
then, to the evident surprise of NJ. Der.
trand, replied:
ut would not.'
| Would the explanation you refuse tt
give clear your"
| Again, to NJ Bertrands growing as
constituent, the young American replied
II don't think 1t would"
(To be continued.)
1