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


to name the real murderer.
"Are you going to tell us who the
murderer wasT asked the president
somewhat convinced. though still skep-
teal
Il have come for that purpose, NJ
President replied Rouletabille
An attempt at applause was silenceu
by the usher.
4 "Joseph Rouletabille" said Mature
/ Henri Robert, has not been regularly
/ subpoenaed as a witness. but | hope
M. President, you will examine him ID
virtue Of your discretionary powers
A pin drop could have been heard
Rouletabille stood silent, looking SYM
pathetically at Darzac who for the
first time since the opening of the ira
showed himself agitated.
I "Well" cried the president, Eve wait
for the name of the murderer"
Rouletabille. feeling in his waistcoat
pocket. drew his watch and, looking at
it. said
IN. President, l cannot name the
murderer before half past 6 o'clock!'
Loud murmurs of disappointment
filed the room Some of the lawyers
were heard to say. He's making fun
Of usw
The president in stern voice said:
This joke has gone far enough. You
may retire, monsieur, into the wit
nesses' room. hold you at our dis
position
Rouletabille protested.
II assure you. NJ. President" he
cried in his sharp, clear voice chat
when do name the murderer you win
understand why l could not speak be
fore half past 6. l assert this on my
honor. | can, however, give you now
some explanation Of the murder of the
keeper NJ. Frederic Larsan. who has
seen me at work at the Chandler, can
tell you with what care l studied this
case. / found myself compelled to diff
fer with him in arresting NJ. Robert
Darzac, who is innocent. NJ Larsan
knows of my good faith and knows
that some Importance may be attached
to my discoveries, which have often
corroborated his own"
Frederic Larsan said:
IN. President, 1t will be interesting
to hear NJ. Joseph Rouletabille, espe-
cially as he differs from me. We agree
that the murderer Of the keeper was
the assailant Of Mile. Stangerson, but
as we are not agreed as to how the
murderer escaped am curious to hear
M. Rouetabille's explanation"
II have no doubt you are" said my
friend.
General laughter followed this re
mark. The president angrily declared
that if it was repeated he would have
the court cleared.
"Now, young man." said the presi-
dent, you have heard NJ Frederic
Larsan. How did the murderer get
away from the court?"
Rouletabille looked at Nine. Matthew,
who smiled back at him sadly
"Since Nine. Matthew" he said, "has
freely admitted her affair with the
keeper
"Why it's the boy| exclaimed Dad
dy Matthew.
Remove that manP' ordered the
president
Matthew was removed from the
court Rouletabille went on:
"Since she has made this confession
am free to tell you that she often
met the keeper at night on the first
floor of the donjon in the room which
was once an oratory. Nine. Matthew
came to the chateau that night en-
veloped in a large black shawl. which
served also as a disguise. This was
the phantom that disturbed Daddy
Jacques. She knew how to initiate
the mewing Of Mother Angenoux's cat,
and she would make the cries to adj
wise the keeper Of her presence.
Previous to the tragedy in the court
Nine Matthew and the keeper left the
donjon together. l learned these facts
from my examination of the footmarks
in the court the next morning. Ber-
nier, the concierge, whom ! had sta
toned behind the donjon-as he will
explain himself-could not see what
passed in the court He did not reach
the court until he heard the revolver
shots, and then he fired When the
woman parted from the man she went
toward the open gate Of the court,
while he returned to his room.
"He had almost reached the door
when the revolvers rang out. He had
just reached the corner when a shad-
ow bounded by Meanwhile Mime.
Matthew, surprised by the revolver
shots and by the entrance of people
into the court, crouched in the dark
ness. The court is a large one, and,
being near the gate, she might easily
have passed out unseen. But she re-
manned and saw the body being car
ried away. In great agony Of mind
she neared the vestibule and saw the
dead body of her lover on the stairs Iit
up by Daddy Jacques lantern. She
then fed and Daddy Jacques joined
her
THAT same night before the muir
der Daddy Jacques had been awak
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