Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-23

row Of the public seats some were
surprised that he was not asked to re-
main With the other witnesses In the
room reserved for them
The reading Of the indictment was
got through. as it always is. without
any incident ! shall not here report
the long examination to which NJ. Oar
FAC was subjected He answered all
the questions quickly and easily His
silence as to the important matters Of
which we know was dead against him
1t would seem as if this reticence
would be fatal for him. He resented
the presidents reprimands. He was
told that his silence might mean
death
every well" he said Il win submit
to It, but / am innocent"
with that splendid ability which has
made his fame Maitre Robert took adj
vantage Of the incident and tried to
show that it brought out in noble re-
lief his clients character, for only
heroic natures could remain silent for
moral reasons in face Of such dan
ger. The eminent advocate, however
only succeeded in assuring those who
were already assured of Darzac's inno-
cence. At the adjournment Rouleta-
billie had not yet arrived. Every time a
door opened all eyes there turned to-
ward it and back to the manager Of
the Epoque, who sat impassive in his
place. When he once was feeling in
his pocket loud murmur Of expecta-
ton followed The letter!
When the trial was resumed Maire
Henri Robert questioned Daddy Ma
thieu as to his completely in the death
Of the keeper His wife was also
brought in and was confronted by her
husband. She burst into tears and
confessed that she had been the keep
ers sweetheart and that her husband
had suspected it. She again, how
ever. affirmed that he had had nothing
to do with the murder of her lover.
Maitre Henri Robert thereupOn asked
the court to hear Frederic Larsan on
this point
"In a short conversation which ]
have had with Frederic Larsan dur
ing the adjournment" declared the adj
vocate, he has made me understand
that the death Of the keeper may have
been brought about otherwise than by
the hand of Matthew. 1t will be in
teresting to hear Frederic Larsan's
theory"
Frederic Larsan was brought in.
His explanation was quite clear.
81 see no necessity" he said, ''for
bringing Matthew in this. l have told
NJ. de NIarquet. that the mans threats
had biased the examining magistrate
against him To me the attempt to
murder mademoiselle and the death
Of the keeper are the work of one and
the same person. Mile. Stangerson's
assailant, flying through the court, was
fired on. 1t was thought he was
perhaps killed. AS a matter
of fact, he only stumbled at the mo-
ment of his disappearance behind the
corner Of the right wing Of the cha
teau. There he encountered the keep
er, who no doubt tried to seize him.
The murderer had in his hand the
knife with which he had stabbed Mile
Stangerson, and with this he killed
the keeper"
This very simple explanation APP
peared at once plausible and satisfying.
A mugnur Of appreciation was heard
"And the murderer? What became
of him?" asked the president.
HE was evidently hidden in an
obscure corner at the end Of the court.
After the people had left the court, |
with them the body Of the I
keeper the murderer quietly made his
The words had scarcely left Lar
sans mouth when from the back Of |
the court came youthful voice:
81 agree with Frederic Larsan as to |
the death Of the keeper but | do not |
agree with him as to the way the muir
derer escaped
Everybody turned around, astonish- |
ed. The clerks Of the court sprang to- |
ward the speaker. calling for silence, |
and the president angrily ordered the
intruder to be Immediately expelled. |
The same clear voice, however, was
again heard:
1T is l. NJ. President-Joseph Roule-
tabille!
CHAPTER XVI