The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-10-12
CHAPTER XVI.
The Assistant District Attorney.


While Britz was struggling with the
tangled threads of contradictory cir
cumstances that constituted the fab
ric of the diamond mystery, the dis
trict attorneys Office was not inactive.
With the slow stealthiness of a cat
approaching its prey it combined the
disconnected fragments of evidence
gathered by the police into the SEM
blance of perfect case, and prepared
to present 1t to a jury The grand
jury had indicted Elinor Holcomb, and
again she was dragged into the glare
of courtroom, this time to plead to
the indictment. There remained only
the verdict of petit jury to open the
gates of states prison for her. Her
lawyer was served with the fateful
notice of trial, and she was made to
realize the great struggle was about
to begin.
Assistant District Attorney Mott
was taking a last survey Of the depo-
sitions in the case, mentally picturing
the curtain of gilt he would weave be-
fore the jury. To his mind the evil
dence was conclusive. 1t pointed ire
sistibly to Miss Holcomb as the thief.
And yet, the prosecutor felt there
was something strangely lacking in
the structure; something that made 1t
appear hollow and unreal. No other
reasonable explanation of the disap-
pearance of Mrs. Missioner's neck
lace offered itself, and still 1t was
hard to conceive Miss Holcomb as the
thief. Mott knew that the same un-
certainty in the minds of the jurors
would inevitably result in a verdict of
acquittal. The benefit of any reason
able doubt as to her guilt must go to
her, and he realized he had yet to
eliminate that last slim possibility Of
verdict favorable to the prisoner.
Were 1t an ordinary larceny case he
would be content to offer the testi-
mony at hand and leave the verdict
to the conscience of the jurors. But
this trial would fill thousands of news
paper columns. The press Of the en-
tire country was on the alert for it.
1t meant much to a struggling assist
ant to obtain conviction In so IA
nous a case. To lose, he feared,
would reflect on his own competence.
The entrance of Britz brought the
prosecutor out Of his absorption.
Just the man l wanted to see," he
greeted.
And I'm equally glad to find you
in" the detective returned.
i've got the evidence down pat"
Mott responded. 1T seems complete;
and yet, somehow, l feel that it is
not entirely convincing. l want to get
something to clinch 1t. It's pretty
tough proposition at best to get con-
viction on circumstantial evidence
when the defendant is a woman Of
good appearance, and l don't want to
slip up on this case. We haven't got
much time left. The case Is on the
calendar for next Monday"
That's what l came to see you
about" informed Britt. II want to
get you to adjourn the trial month"
New facts?" anxiously inquired the
prosecutor.
Yes"
Who do you think did the tr1cK!
suddenly questioned Mott.
Sands, Griswold or the Indian serv.
ant" came from the detectives hest.
tant lips.
The prosecutors hands went above
his head In despairing gesture.
rs that as far as you've arrived?
Three suspects, and you've no idea
which one you want! What sort of
weak stuff is In your possession that
you don't know whom you're after?"
THE circle Is narrowing very quick
ly," Britz observed. I'm the next few
days I'll know who committed the
robbery, how 1t was committed, and
where the jewels were taken. But l
have got to have the necessary time"
"All right" agreed the prosecutor.
He called a clerk and directed him
to inform Miss Holcomb's lawyer that
the case had been withdrawn from the
calendar for a month.
The detective was reaching for his
hat when Donnelly and Carson burst
into the room. Donnelly's face was
flushed with the news of a great dis
covery. Carson was smiling approx
ingly on his partner.
(TO BE CONTINUED)