Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-11-03
CHAPTER XVI.
Tho Assistant District Attorney.

"0
While Britt was struggling with tho
tangled threads OF contradictory CIT
cumstances that constituted the fab
r1c of the diamond mystery, the dis
trict attorneys office was not inactive.
With the slow stealthiness OF a a
approaching its prey it combined tho
disconnected fragments or evidence
gathered by the police into he SEM
blance of a perfect case, and prepared
to present 1T to a jury. The grand
jury had indicted Elinor Holcomb, ana
again she was dragged into the glare
of a courtroom, this time to plead to
the indictment. There remained only
the verdict of a petit jury to open the
gates of states prison for her. Her
lawyer was served with the Hateful
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. It 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
lard to conceive Miss Holcomb as the
thief. Mott knew that the same IN
.an4aInt, - @h1 ,,t,I, ~ tho iurnro
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
a verdict favorable to h prisoner.
Were it an ordinary larceny case be
would be content to offer the testi-
mony at hand and leave the verdict
to the conscience Of the jurors. But
his 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 a conviction In SO ia
nous a case. To lose, be feared,
would reflect on his own competence.
The entrance Of Britt brought the
prosecutor out Of his absorption.
Just the man l wanted to see," he
greeted.
And I'm equally glad to find o
in," the detective returned.
1--WE got the evidence down pat"
Mott responded. 1T seems complete;
and yet, somehow, l feel that 1t is
not entirely convincing. I want to get
something to clinch 1t. It's a pretty
tough proposition at best to get a con-
viction on circumstantial evidence
when the defendant is a woman Of
good appearance, and I DON want to
slip up on his 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 Britz. 81 want to
get you to adjourn the trial a month"
New facts?" anxiously inquired the
prosecutor.
YES"
'Who do you think did the trick?"
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 a despairing gesture.
rs that as far as you've arrived7
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. In the mex few
days I'll know who committed the
robbery, how 1t was committed, and
where the jewels were taken. But l
lave got to lave the necessary time"
All right" agreed the prosecutor.
He called a clerk n directed him
to inform Miss Holcomb's lawyer that
the case had bee 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 C~ONTINUED)