Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-15
CHAPTER XIV.
In Which Joseph RGuletabille Is
Awaited With Impatience.

" lhO anu htlA
after the tragic events | have
narrated-the Epoque printed
as the first column of the front page
the following sensational article:
The Seine-et-Oise jury is summon
ed today to give its verdict on one of
the most mysterious affairs in the an
nails OF crime. There never has been
case with 50 many obscure, incom-
prehensible and inexplicable points.
And yet the prosecution has not hest
tated to put into the prisoners dock
a man who is respected, esteemed and
loved by all who knew him-a young
savant, NJ. Robert Darzac. There is
no doubt in the mind of anybody that
could the victim speak she would
claim from the jurors of Seine-et-Oise
the man she wishes to make her hus-
band and whom the prosecution would
send to the scaffold. 1t is to be hoped
that Mile Stangerson will shortly re-
cover her reason. which has been tem-
porarily unhinged by the horrible mys-
terry at the Chandler The question
before the jury is the one we propose
to deal with this very day.
1--WE have decided not to permit
twelve worthy men to commit dis
graceful miscarriage of justice. Up
to now everything has gone against
NJ Robert Darzac IN the magisterial
inquiry. Today, however. we are GO
ing to defend him before the jury, and
we are going to bring TO the witness
stand a light that will illumine the
whole mystery of the Chandler. for we
possess the truth.
when attention was first drawn to
the Chandler case our youthful re-
porter, Joseph Rouletabille, was on
the spot and installed iD the chateau
, when every other representative of
fAe press had been. denied admission.
He worked side by side with Frederic
LarsaD. He was amazed and terrified
at the grave mistake the celebrated
detective was about to make.
France must know-the whole world
must know-that on the very evening
on which NJ Darzae was arrested
young Rouletabille entered our edito
rtal office and Informed us that he
was about to go away on a journey
How long shall be away. he said,
Il cannot say; perhaps a month. per.
5laps two, perhaps three. Perhaps
may never return. Here is a letter
II am not back on the day on which
II. Darzac is to appear before the
essize court, have this letter opened |
and read to the court after all the wit |
passes have been heard. Arrange it |
with NJ. Qarzac's counsel. NJ Darzac |
Is innocent. in this letter is written
the name of the murderer, and-that |
Is all have to say. ! am leaving to
get my proofs-for the irFefgtable evi- |
dence of the murderer's guilt Our
reporter departed. For a long time we
were without news from him But a |
week ago stranger called upon our |
manager and said Act ia accordance |
with the instructions Of Joseph Roule-
tablile If 1t becomes necessary to do |
truth The gentleman who brought
us this message would not give us his
To-day, the 18th OF January, is the
day of the trial. Joseph Rouletabille
has not returned. 1t may be we shall
never see him again. The press also
counts its heroes. its martyrs to duty.
II may be he is no longer living. We
shall know how to avsage him. Our
manager will this afternoon be at the
court of assize at Versailles with the
letter-the letter containing the name
OF the murderer
Those PariSians who aocked to the
assize court at Versailles TO bp present
at the trial Of what was known as the
mystery Of the yellow room" will
certainly remember the terrible crush
In the courtroom.
The trial itself was presided over by
N. de Rocouz. a Judge filled with the
prejudice of his class. but a man hon.
est at heart. The witnesses had been
called. ! was there, of course. as were
all who had in any way been In touch
with the mysteries of the Chandler.
was lucky enough TO be called early
in the trial, so that was then able to
Wdlcu duu De present at almost the
whole OF the proceedings.
The court was so crowded that many
lawyers were compelled to find seats
on the steps. Behind the bench of jus
tices were representatives from other
benches. NJ. Robert Darzac stood In
the prisoners dock between police
men. tall. handsome and calm. A mur-
muir of admiration rather than of com
passion greeted his appearance. He
leaned forward toward his counsel.
Maitre Henri Robert, who, assisted by
his chief secretary, Maitre Andre
Hesse. was busily turning over the
folios of his brief.
Many expected that NJ. Stangerson
after giving his evidence would have
gone over to the prisoner and shaken
hands with him. but he left the court
without another word. 1t was remark
ed that the jurors appeared to be deep
iy interested in a rapid conversation
which the manager of the Epoque was
having with Maitre Henri Robert. The