The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-07
(New York SUM

l.
Early passerSby glancing through the
palngs OF the pretty grounds discovered
the dead body of Aaron Nevns lyine
under great oak tree. The aged man
IN his smoking jacket and without .
nat, had evidently rushed out of the
house, attracted by some noise, and
had been struck down in the dark.
The ASA sSin's weapon lay near; 9
bamboo cane with a heavy silver head
On the stick We're bloody smears and
imprinted in these was the thumb mark
of the hand that had dealt the blow.
This cane was identified as one which
had stood for years in the hall rack.
Under the care of Judge Marcellus
the ladies Of the house attended the in
quest and told the little they knew of
the occurrences of the night. The wild
ow, frail and shaken. testified that she
had retired early, leaving her husband
among his books in the library Their
daughter, Enid, tall and fair, with a
dignified sorrow that was touching, also
testified that her last sight of her father
had been when she stopped in the libra
~ to say goodnight to him.
Was he. as you would naturally
expect to find him at that hour, COM
posed, studious?" asked the coroner.
The girl colored little, yet answered
bravely
ne was nervous anu lEItJdDlts SHS
said, because his private secretary,
Mr.. Herbert Howell, had not returned
at the hour he said he would"
Howell himself presently COTTObOrated
this statement. He had promised to be
back from an engagement, he said, at
10 o'clock, but had been unexpectedly
detained until nearly Il. Therefore he
had gone directly TO his room without
stopping into the library.
ttWhaf x-aS this aDeya erprT7aT7f Sis slxaJ
the coroner.
Il must respectfully decline 10 an
swer that question" returned the young
man firmly, raising hts clean-cut face
as If in defiance of the growing interest
of the court room.
Miss Talbot, governess of the Grand
field children, told a different tale.
Il was awake at 2 o'clock in the
morning" she said. Il heard the man
tel clock strike that hour. Just then 1
also heard steps up the sairs and along
the upper floor to Mr.. Howeft's room"
But Mr.. Grandfield also has a front
room on the upper floor" interposed the
coroner.
THAT is true" Miss Talbot replied
composedly. but the steps heard were
not his. He came to my door at 10
O'Clock to ask if the children were all
right. He was I'm his slippers. I gave
him medicine for a headache"
James Grandfield. who followed the
spinster, explained that except for this
call he had kept his room during the
evening, being i'll with headache, and
had gone TO bed early
You are a cousin of Mrs. Nevins and
live at the house, understand" asked
the coroner.
Yes" the witness replied readily.
when my dear wife died year ago, |
leaving me with two small children, |
these good friends and kinsfolk brought |
US to their home You see my father |
was q partner with Mr.. Nevins and |
succeeded to his interest in the business |
of which 1 am the manager
After the servants had given testi- |
mony of a purely negative value the |
coroner hemmed and hawed impor- !
family.
Il suggest" he began. 'for I do not |
think il right for me to require sug- 1
gest that the male witnesses pass into /
the next room and let my physician, /
DIT. ThOms. take their thumb marks on /
q sensitive plate he has prepared
Mr.. Grandfeld, for all the indolent |
saunter so characteristic of him, was
the first to comply with this request.
Binns, the butler, and the two serving
men, plainly frightened, followed. Her
bert Howell turned in his chair as if he
was going to stick there.
Then he rose to his feet. with a half
gesture as if about to address the
court Then, still irresolute, he joined
the others in the next room. Again
curious interest, not friendly, chung to
him.
Silence in the court hoom-heavy, al
most intoleTable. Finally the witnesses
Indifferent, scared, uneasy,
even as they had gone.
A dark, slight man, with professional
beard and spectacles, took the stand.
Are you ready to report, DIR.
ThOms?" asked the coroner.
Il have taken the thumb marks of the
several witnesses sent me-" replied the
impassive physician. Il have diligently
examined the marks under the glass
and compared them with the thumb
mark found in the blood on the cane
They are unlike, except in one instance
In that instance they are exactly alike"
Name the instance" ordered the
and deep breath resounded
through the room.
The thumb mark of Herbert Howell
Is an exact counterpart of the thumb
mark on the cane" announced the /
physician.