The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-09-06
Whispering
Pines

fore she was carried OUT.
Had you seen the casket prior to
this moment of which you speak? Had
you been near Jt9 Had you handled It
in any wayT s.as~-ns~-r
"No. sir. ,,--ss~.as .s....s y,s1sasss--
mfr. Cumberland. you have heard
mention made Of ring worn by your
sister In life. but missing from her
finger after death. You remember this
ring"
IL do"
"ls this itT
ut is. so far as can Judge at this
distance"
Hand the ring to the witness" or
dered the judge.
The ring was so handed.
He glanced at it and said bitterly:
IL recognize it. 1t was her engage
ment ring"
WAS this ring on her finger that
night at the dinner tabler
IL cannot say positively. but I be-
lieve so. | should have noticed its
absence"
why. may | ask"
For the first time the prisoner flush
ed. and the look be darted at his coun-
sci had the sting of a reproach in it.
Yet he answered: 1T was the token of
an engagement | didn't believe in or
like. should have hailed any proof
that this engagement was off"
Mr. Moffat smiled systematically.
"Mr. Cumberland. If you are not sure
of having seen this ring then. when
did you see 1t aud whereP
A rustic from end to end of that
crowded courtroom This was an
audacious move What was coming2
What would be the answer of the man
who was believed not only to have
made himself the possessor of this
ring, but to have taken most strange
and uncanny method of disposing of
it afterward?
Il saw it when the police showed 1t
to me and asked me if l could identify
it,"
"Was that the only time you have
seen it up to the present moment"
"It is"
The universal silence gave way to a
universal sigh of excitement and re-
lief. Without waiting for the present
sentiment TO cool. Mr. Moffat proceed
ed Immediately with his examination:
"You swear that you have seen this
ring but once since the night of your
sisters death. and that was when 1t
was shown you In the coroner's Officer
! II do"
Docs this mean that IT was not in
your possession at any time during
that interim"
1T certainly does"
"Mr. Cumberland. more than one
witness has testified to the fact of
your having been seen to place your
hand in the casket of your sister, be-
fore the eyes of the minister and of
others attending her funeral Is this
true?"
at is"
"Was not this a most unusual thing
to do?'
Perhaps. | was not thinking about
that. had duty TO perform, and |
performed it."
"A duty? VIII you explain to the
jury what duty?"
The witness head rose. then sank.
He. as well as every one else. seemed
to be impressed by the solemnity Of
the moment | even thought | could
detect a tremor In his muscles as well
as In his voice:
81 had rebelled against my sisters
wishes; had grieved and deceived her
up TO the very night OF her foul and
unnatural death and all through
drink Here his eye flashed. and for
that heeting moment he looked a man.
II wished to take an oath-an oath |
would remember. Ii was for this
purpose | ordered the casket opened
and thrust my fingers through the
flowers | found there When my fin
gers touched my sisters brow | in
wardly swore never TO taste liquor
again. have kept that oath"
II was an unexpected explanation
and calculated 10 cause decided and
favorable reaction In the minds OF
those who had looked upon this espe-
cial act OF his as an irrefutable proof
Of guilt. MIR. Moffat's voice was heard
rising again In his strange but telling
examination:
when you thrust your hand In TO
take this oath. did you drop anything
Into your sisters casketY'
II did not. My hand was empty.
held no ring and dropped none in.
simply touched her forehead"
This added 10 the feeling. and In ap-
other instant the excitement might
have risen into hubbub had not the
emotions OF one little woman found