The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-05-27
CHAPTER VII
(Continued)

Parker. after another day of in
vestigation and developments,
seemed to have arrived at some
theory satisfactory to himself. He
then decided to call upon Judge
Pickering and Troop as they sat
talking in the judges room and go
over all the evidence briefly.
1--WE have been working together
on this case long enough" he said,
land have secured sufficient infor-
nation to render a conference be-
tween us advisable. One important
fact has been established with GER
tainty; the murder was not done
with the dagger, for the man was
already dead when he was stabbed.
Yet, according to Miss Malley's
story, there was struggle and she
saw the blow descended while
Montgomery was still standing. She
says that she saw an arm and hand,
and that the murierer's back was
to the door which she opened and
then shut. Her story, gentlemen,
stands corroborated in one essen
tial, inasmuch as there are foot
marks of heel upon the door
about one foot from the floor. The
murderer was tight pressed, and
braced one foot upon the door, the
instant that she closed it probably"
Troop nodded, Yes, found that
mark, and so did others. But" he
added reluctantly-for this was the
doubt which had lain in the minds
of himself and the judge, you say
corroborated, Cakes. Why do you
use that word of Miss Malleys
story"
Cakes looked steadily at the law
yer before replying; it seemed al
most that he was choosing his
words. Because | think that Miss
Malley's story needs confederation.
Mr.. Troop" he said at last.
1t was only too plain, as the coun-
sci for the defense glanced at each
other, what their own fears had
been; then the judge came to the
rescue. But, Mr.. Oakes." he re-
monstrated, this is monstrous.
That you should entertain such
suspicion Of her is"
confident voice of Quintus Cakes.
81 do not entertain such a suspicion
of Miss Malley, Judge. Miss NAL
ley's story needs confederation be-
cause, so far as l am aware, the
prosecution is in possession of no
facts which bear it out, and unless
we can procure some, we may short
ly be called upon to defend her
also.
LET me show you some things in
Miss Malley's favor" Cakes went
on. THE dagger pierced the right
breast of Montgomery Stone, enter
ing high up under the outer edge
of the collarbOne, passing down
ward and backward, just cutting the
aorta, and grazing the spinal col
umn behind. and coming out at it's
gentlemen, the blade protrudei one
inch behind and was buried to the
hilt in front 1t was a tremendously
powerful blow. Montgomery Stone
was thin, but deep chested and mus
cular, remember; it was a blow
such as Jane Malley could not have
given.
"She could not in either case
have given the blow the direction
which it took. The direction of the
wound is downward Now, Mont
gomery was tall, and such a blow
must have been inflicted from
above, or by someone as tall as
himself. No woman could have de-
livered it. Unless, indeed, the man
was kneeling. But there are no
marks upon his trousers such as
would have been on them had he
knelt or fallen on his knees.
Now, one point remains. The
| wound is in the dead mans right
breast, and Miss Malley's story is
that the murderer stood with his
back to the door, and she saw only
| his arm as he struck. No part of
his body was visible to her, except
that. Now, if you think for mo-
ment, you will recall that the door
in question opens on the left, and
| consequently. if the assailant stood
with his back to it, the arm which
she saw must have been his left.
Hallen and l have rehearsed the
action several times, and find that
it would be difficult indeed to strike
a right-handed blow from behind
the door at a person in Montgom-
ery's position-that is, facing the
door and visible to Miss Malley-
without exposing much more than
the arm and hand in SO doing.
From these things, / deduct that
the blow was delivered by the left
hand, and further-since it went
home with certainty AMI force
that the assailant was habitually
left-handed, or at least, ambi-
dextrous."
Cakes paused for a moment, then
resumed. Il am going to put my
theory to the test. On my way
over here, sent messenger to
Miss Malley, asking her to join us.
and l expect her to arrive at any
moment. Unfortunately, she seems
to have been the only witness of
the blow, and she has never fully
explained how it was delivered.
am going to ask her to demonstrate
it to us today.
IF she does so, using the right
hand, my theory fails, and it will
be difficult to reconcile her state
ment with the other points of her
story and with the facts in the