Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-04-10
OHAPrER Y.-(Continued.l

pen. seized his gavel and raped for ST.
Ieuce. gazing Indignantly around him in
the universal manner of court function
aries. as If a sacrilege had been com
mitted.
.Haye you any statement which you
wish to makeT resumed the magistrate
"Yes. I have was not In the room
ut the time of the commission OF the
murder. / was not even the first to
enter the room. / entered the room al
most simultaneously with another person.
Monsieur Jules Chabot."
rTake this diagram in your hands.
Tvhere Ia Madame Roupelps chamber.
This il her sitting room. Where were
YOU at the time the shot was ired2"
81 was Just about to enter the sitting
room from the room beyond, which had
been my own apartment during my for
mer visits to the chateau. 1t still con-
tanned some things Of mine which nad
not sent for. recollect q case OF pis-
tolls, particularly, which was lying on
the toilette table,
Look at the pistol shown you, and say
If it is your pistolT
ut is. 1t is one brought from Amer
lea. / used this pistol for gallery prac-
tice, of which l am fond"
when did you last see itF
"About six weeks ago. 1t was then IN
the pistol case already referred to-"
Monsieur Jules Chabot, you say, was
already In Madame RoupelPs apartment
when you entered. Where was he stand
ing"
1--WE entered simultaneously. BE was
over by the other door"
'Would it have been possible Tor MON
sieur Chabot to have taken that plstol
from your case without your knowledge 4
IT cannot tell 1t depends. He may
have done so, but he would have haa 10
enter the apartment by way OF Madame
Roupell's sitting room, because the other
door was locked"
who locked it2'
Van Lith hesitated for a barely per-
ceptible instant of time ere he replied:
II locked 1t myself, so as to be secure
from interruption"
"Why did you wish to be secure from
Interruption
Because / did not wish 1t known that
j was in the chateau"
"Why did you not wish 1t knownF
"That is one Of the questions l must
decline to answer"
The project and the judge exchanged
significant glances. The latter mad mo-
ticed the prisoners hesitation when stat
ing that 1t was he himself who had locked
the door. THAT is the first lie ne has
told" thought NJ. Bertrand, and 1t Is
told to shield someone He has an ac-
complete, evidently" Then he SAID Out
loud: -
81 have no more questions to ask. The
examination Of the prisoner Is concluded
You will retain him In the closest Gus
tody, and allow no one but his counsel OF
physician to see him under any pretex'
whatsoever"
Jules Chabot was the next witness t'
be examined. His testimony was substan
TALLY the same as contained In the pre-
fect's report. He swore positively enough
to finding Van Lith In Mime. Roupelri
chamber Immediately after hearing the re
port Of the pistol. He also swore ina
Nine. Roupell and Van Lith were ON bat
terms, and gave, though with well
assumed show of reluctance, pretty tul
reconciliation Of the facts which hat
brought about the final quarrel betweei
them.
At this stage of the examination, tn
project was seen to whisper something t
the Judge and the latter then asked
"You testify that nearly an hou
elapsed between the time when you wer
shown to your room and the firing OF tn
pistol. The condition of your bed prove
that you had not slept In 1t, and whe
YOU reached Madame RoupelPs chambe
YOU were fully dressed. Why did 20
not retire to restf"
''Simply because l was not sleepy" IT
piled NJ. Chabot, coloring somewhat, an
rha parvnt1alv q
vas busy writing"
What were you writingT
M. Chabot hesitated and stammered.
"If you do not Immediately answ'
nv question, l shall have no aftermath
but to commit you, monsieur" said Il
Judge, in a stern voice.
Jules Chabot hesitated no longer DraN
ing a letter from his pocket, he handed
up to the bench.
sit is a confidential communication a
dressed to a lady" he said, "and l tru
YOU will respect it"
NJ. Bertrand could but with Difficult
renress a smile as he ran his eyes ra
idlv over the letter. which was nothil
less than the draft of a written propo
t;or of marriage to Miss Harriet Weldo
II had evidently been the subject of mu
care. as the frequent erasures and int
IIneations showed. 1t was couched
Aowery and high-fown language, and f
Of the most extravagaut expressions
alteration. The most peculiar thing abe
n was the writer had evidently been I
certain as to which of the two you
Isdies he should ask for, as the wor
"Mlle. Harriet Weldon" had been fl
written and then scratched out, as If
Thought there was no hope for him
that direction, and "Mlle, Emily Weldo
nut il, their stead. Victor LablanC
here again whispered in the ear of
i,,dqe Of instruction and the latter sal
II would ask you if you were oc
niad during all the interval which clap,
between the time of your retiring g
hearing the report of the pistol, in vi
ing this letterF
IT was not so engaged during the
tire time; the point of my pencil bro
and / had no penknife with which to
sharpen it.
"You we're right, monsieur le prefe'
exclaimed the judge, with a mean
glance at the official. How long a t
sIansed between the breaking Of y
...,.rvA a. ha nfGtni 2's