Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-27
MR.. SANDS,
CHAPTER XVI.

s........
CHAPTER XVI.
The Assistant District Attorney.
While Brltz was struggling with the
tangled threads Of contradictory cir
cumstances that constituted the fab
rio OF the diamond mystery, the dis
trict attorneys Once was not inactive.
With the slow stea1thiness OF q cat
approaching Its prey il combined the
disconnected fragments NJ evidence
gathered by the police into the SEM
b,ance of a perfect case, and prepared
TO present It to n jury. The grand
Jury had indicted Elinor Holcorub. and
again she was dragged into the glare
OF a courtroom, This time to plead to
the Indictment. There remained only
the verdict ri q petit Jury to open the
gates of states prison for her. Her
lawyer was serve with the fateful
notice Of trial, and snc 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
dcnce was conclusive. II pointed IRE.
si3ti6ly TO Miss Holcomb as the thief.
And yet. the prosecutor felt there
WIS something strangely lacking in
the structure, something that MADE IT
appear hollow and unreal. No other
reasonable explanation Of the disap-
pearance of Mrs. M~issiorcr's neck
ace offered itself, and SIN It was
hard to conceive Miss Ifo,comb as the
thief. Mott knew hat the same I'M
certainty in the minds OF the Jurors
you'd Inevitably result IN q verdict Of
1cquitt2l. The benefit Of any reason
able doubt as to her guilt must 20 to
hCr. and he realized he had yet to
eliminate that last slim possibility CT
3 verdict favorable to the u?isoner.
We're it an ordinary Larceny case he
"ould be conto~t 20 ofcr The test
pony at hand and leave he verdict
30 the conscience OF the Jurors. E8'
is trial would I'll thousands of new
aper columns. The pres OF the ell
re country was on che alert for H..
q, meant muck to q struggling assist
\ to obtain a. conviction In so ia
nous q case. To lose, Re feared,
would reflect on his own competence.
The entrance Of Britt brought the
prosecutor out OF his absorption.
Just the man | wanted to see" he
greeted.
And I'm equally glad to find YOU
H." the detective returned.
I've got the evidence down pat
lott responded. 1T seems complete ;
and yet, somehow, | feel that it is
2ot entirely convincing. | want to &c
viction on c!rcunstantial evidence
when the defendant is d woman ii
Eood appearance, and | dent want il
Sip up on this case. We haven't got
much time left, The case is on the
calendar for next Monday"
That's what | cane to see you
about" informed Pritz. Il want to
get YOU to adjourn the trial a month.
New facts?" anxioualy inquired the
prosecutor.
Yes
Who do you think did the tricl;?''
suddenly questioned Mott.
Sands, Griswold or the Indian serv.
ant came from the detectives hcai
tant lips.
The prosecutors hands went above
bis head in a 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 ia in your possession that
you don't know whom you're after
The circle is narrowing very quick
IT," Britt observed. In the mex few
Days I'll know who committed tbs
.Chtery, how it was committed. and
where the jewels were taken. But
have got to have the necessary time
An right agreed the prosecutor
He called a clerk and directed hin
to inform Miss Holcomb's lawyer that
the case had been withdrawn from tn
calendar for a month.
The detective was reaching for his
hat when Donnelly and Carson hurs'
into the room. DOnnelly's face was
lrshcd with the news of a great dis
covery. Carson was smiling approx
.ng!y on his partner.
We've got the motive for thC
crime" the two men shouted in on,
rreAth.
Britz assumed an attitude of cage
interest. The prosecutor looked sig
nincantly at him.
What have you discovered" h
asked.
Tat man Fitch is mixed up m tn,
case just as | always thought" Don
nelly informed him. She stole thos,
diamonds FOR his sake. It's anothe
case of the girl turning thief to he'll
her lover"
We've run the whole thing dow
and We have it here in black au,
white" His fingers clasped three O
four letters which he Haunted tempt
ingly before the eyes OF tho prosecu
tor. They confirm our suspicion tina
Fitch is at the bottom Of the Who'll
case. Rather. that he's the man high
or up"
Mott gathered the contents of III
missives In three or four sweepln
glances as nc handed them TO Brit
He perused them closely, as II weigt
ing their import while noting thel
D..