The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-27
BEST IS BLAMED
FOR W|FE's DEATH
Jury Says He Was Directly or In
directly Responsible, and Young
Mans Arrest Is Ordered.

When Coroner Burgess jury after
investigating the death Of Mrs Alice
Best, returned verdict that Arthur ].
Best was responsible. either directly
or indirectly for his wife's pitiful fate.
AID recommended that the police de-
partment take further action AT once,
maeAiHesy- provided feF-iH--
vCstigating criminal or suspicious
cases, creaked the usual discord ana
reluctantly took up the work.
Prosecuting Attorney Van lille, after
a long "star chamber" session with
the two detectives. who represented
the police department at the inquest.
issued formal order for the arrest
OF Best in compliance with the recon-
nendation of the coroner's Jury Then
he announced, informally, that it was
Very unfortunate that the coroner S
jury should have stepped into the case
al this time, when the matter was
being handled by the police, with the
expectation that they might get more
evidence and make odt Il coed case.
Chief OF Detectives Mcdonnell was
peeYish over the verdict. though the
two detectives were sent TO searcn
Windsor. Harrow and Amherstburg for
Best.
Meanwhile. the police had seized
upon several letters, which were a
Tart of the evidence in Coroner Bur
CESS inquest. Coroner Burgess had
ordered that they be made public
Erngngntnr KnGninGlyf ho ri a eli m
Her order, and Prosecutor Van Zile
had acquiesced But the detectives
refused TO produce the letters and
Chief Mcdonnell CURLY announced
that they would be held in possession
of the police. Late Tuesday night,
one of the detectives produced the let
ters, with the significant statement .
II do this by order of Coroner Bur
CESS"
Coroner Burgess was rather indig-
nant over Prosecutor Van Tiles state.
ment about the unfortunate" action
of his Jury
II wasn't aware that | was working
at cross purposes with the police or
prosecutor" said Coroner Burgess
The police said they could do moth
ing in the case unless an inquest were
held. Well. | held the inquest. and the
jury returned a direct verdict, doing
its entire duty III the premises.
thought that | was working with the
police, and had consulted with Chief
Mcdonnell about the matter"
Coroner Burgess announced that he
would have q talk with Prosecutor Van
Zile.
A pitiful letter, introduced in evil
dence at the inquest, and written by
Mrs. Best TO her husband, on March 4
was taken by Attorney McHugh for
the defense. as an indication that the
young woman had taken her own life.
She had made two copies of the letter,
Mrs. Alfred Frankfurt testified. Mrs.
Frankfurt had mailed one copy TO
Best. The other was introduced at the
coroner's inquest. The letter follows
Detroit March 4. 1910
My Dear HUSBAND received
your very foolish letter and was
much surprised to hear of your
very sudden change of heart
wish you would reconsider your
action and see what a great mis-.
take yea are making II am not
trying to persuade YOU 10 live with
me- but If you want TO be a man.
| think you and | could live very
happily together, and | trust we
may You might as we'll
ask me TO give up my own life as
to ask me to give up that little
child. for If ! have nothing else
TO comfort me. | hope TO have that
child as a comfort to my life In re-
turn for the trouble and suffering
| have gone through Come and
live with me and | Will make YOU
happy Otherwise shall ask the
assistance of your father and
mother, and know they would
not see me turned out on the
streets. You say your mother
would go crazy If she knew.
Wouldn't mine? And how happy
both our mothers would be TO see
Us living happily together, and do
ing what We regard as right in the
sight Of God. Hoping to hear from
you soon % possible, ! remain
Your loving wife,
ALICE BEST
The letter Is i'm reply To one from
Best. dated Comber, March g. begin
-aHea44- Friend and announcing
that he is going west in April. Ina il
Best says his wife need not follow
him there. as she would only be an
extra expense. and he would never
live with her. anyway. Extracts from
the letter are:
don't care If never come
back We would never have been
married II | had taken second
thought. because | am dissatisfied
now ] would rather be dead than
where | am now II this ever gets
out while am here you will never
hear OF me again. unless / am
dead IL had 1t to do over again
would rather have been killed
than 20 get married would
rather have gone TO Jail than get
married, SO you can do what YOU