New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-02
The Witness in Wax

cviinier There q short. sharp crack. Ike a
revolver shot. and the voice Of the deceased
killed me.
FOR a moment there was silence Then the
prosecutor rose to ms feet and announced
that with the reading OF the letters the STATE
closed its case Then Wells. OF counsel Tor the
prisoner Ieaped to his feet. his ewes shining Il
was only d chance, but he seized It.
Your Honor. he said with YOUR per
mission, / shall dispense with my formal pre-
entation OF the de-rnse.S case. and call MIS-
Madge CIerford as my 1IrSt witness Miss Cler-
ford, viii YOU please take the stand
Miss Clertori, having been duly sworn de-
posed that on the morning after the crime She
had been forced by Detective Hayden 20 read
through all the letters on the cylinders
Miss Clerford, do YOU know this Stephen
Clerford, whose name the deceased cried out III
what was apparently MS death ag1ny- asked
Wells
He Is my brother"
Her brother, Even the District Attorney
gave little gasp OF pity TINS trail young girl
knew that she must sacrifice either her lover
or her brother-she held the lives Of both IN
battle she had fought out alone. knowing that
whether she spoke or kept silence one OF those
dear to her must paw the penalty
Did your brother have any reason for wish
ing 10 put an end to Mr.. Rance. any grudg-
against him asked Wells.
He thought he had a grudge. answered the
girl family. Mr.. Rance had discharged HIM
and he thought It unjust. He told me very lit
tie Of It; he seemed very unlike himself He
said that Mr.. Rance had stolen some papers
about an invention of his that was 70 make hIm
rich and famous. and that when he objected
and tried TO get Mr. Rance to give them up Mr..
Rance discharged hum and had HIM thrown out
OF the Office
Do YOU know where he Is now
No. I have not seen hIm since the night he
came home and told me he had lost his position.
He went out after supper. and have not seen
hum nor heard from him
That was when
About two days before Mr.. Rance was
shot"
What was this invention Of which YOU
speak"
pole from slipping from the overhead wire {
believe Stephen wished O. have II patented.
but we had no money, So he went 20 Mr. Rance
and asked his advice knowing he was interested
IN such things Mr. Rance told hun 20 WIS
worth little. but that he would see what could
be done Then Stephen found a letter IN winch
Mr. Rance represented the Patent o. Dee his
own and then when he accused Mr. Rance of
stealing his invention he was threatened with
arrest for attempted bldckmIiL
Wells paused a moment tu let the Jury get
the full effect OF the girls words Every man
OF them knew John Rance 90 bee fully clpahl- 1t
such deed as she described
THERE was little hustle at the back OF the
courtroom. a man pushed hi, way through
the crowd His face was drawn and CHASTITY
pale. one arm rested M an Impr1vi~cl Sing.
and at every step he took his white lips tyyItchei
with the PAIN that racSei ms wasted body
Straight 20 the Judge he went. and none M
terfered- There was something about the lean.
Shrunkcu figure with SIS Sunken pam filled ewes
that held back the hands that otherwise would
have been outStrctched 10 bar hrs progress.
The little buzz Of Istoni~hmcut that filed the
room died away the man began to speak a
weak quaver1ng voice.
want u tell You gentlemen before ] ~
over the divide Only a few minutes lctt-I-'
object. your Honor shouted the Distract
Attorney This Is very irregular
But the Judge was a man. as well an inter-
prefer of the law q" IL may be irregular Mr.
RaddIn, he returned. but I take II that YOU
are not DESTROYS of increasing YOUR number ot
convictions by adding t. II that of an innocent
man ' Proceed" he added turning 20 the new
conner.
I'm Clertord.' the latter resumed Steve
Clerford"
Your Honor. interrupted Wells, If Mr..