Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-06-21
CHAPTER XVI.


CHAPTER XXVI.
WERE HER HANDS CROSSED THEN?
rATHEN left the courtroom
WV with the other witnesses l
" noticed d man standing near
the district attorney. After
ward l heard that he was Sweetwa-
ter, the detective from New York who
had had so much to do in unearthing
the testimony against Arthur.
left him talking to Mr.. Fox and
later received this account Of the in
terview which followed between them
and DR.. Perry.
"Is this girl telling the truth?' ask
ed District Attorney Fox as soon as
the three were clOseted and each could
speak his own mind. Doctor, what
do you thinky'
II do not question her veracity In
the least"
"You believe that she burned herself
Intentionally"
II wouldn't disbelieve it-you may
think me sentimental; I knew and
loved her father-for any fortune you
might name"
Mr.. Fox turned to Sweewater. "And
you:"
"Mr Fox. have you those tongs?"
Eyes, forgot. They were brought
to my Office with the other exhibits. l
attached no importance to them, and
you will probably find them just where
I thrust them into the box marked
'Cumb'"
They were in the district attorneys
Office, and Sweetwater at once rose
and brought forward the tongs
There il my answer" he said. point
ing significantly Mt one Of the legs.
The district attorney turned pale and
motiOned Sweetwater to carry them
back. He sat silent for a moment and
then showed that he was man.
"Miss Cumberland has my respect"
said he.
Finally Mr. Fox turned to DR.. Perry
and put the question:
you are satisfied with your autopsy?
Miss Cumberland's death was due to
strangulation and not to the poison she
took?'
THAT was what l swOre to and
what l should have to swear to again
II you placed me back on the stand.
The poison, taken with her great ex-
element, robbed her Of consciousness,
but there was too little Of 1t or 1t was
too old and weakened to cause death.
She would probably have revived in
time. possibly did revive. But the
clutch Of those fingers was fatal; she
could not survive it. 1t costs more
than you can ever understand to say
this, but questions like yours must be
answered. I should not be an honest
man otherwise"
To the relief Of oil Carmel was phys
ically stronger than we expected when
she came to retake the stand in the
afternoon. But she had lost little of
her courage.
Mr.. Fox kept nobody waiting. He
asked
Miss Cumberland. in your account
of the final interview you had with
your sister you alluded to story you
had once read together. Will you tell
US the name Of this storyY'
1T was called "A Legend Of Francis
l. 1t was not novel. but little tale
she found in some old magazine. 1t
had q great effect upon us. l have
never forgotten It,"
Can you relate this tale to us In a
few words?"
Il will try. 1t was very simple. 1t
merely told how a young girl married
her beauty to escape the attentions OF
the great king and what respect he a.
ways showed her after that. even call
ing her sister,"
while you were holding your sis.
ter's hands in what you supposed to
be her final moments. did you observe
whether or not she still wore ON her
finger the curious ring given her by
Mr.. Ranelagh and known rs her en-
gagement ring?"
Eyes. l not only saw 1t, but felt 1t.
1t was the only one she wore on her
left hand"
Mr.. Fox pressed his advantage.
And when you rose from the lounge
and crossed your sisters hands,"
1T was still there. l put that hand
uppermost"
"And left the ring on:"
"Oh, yes; oh, yes" Her whole atti-
tude and face were full Of protest.
$50 that, to the best Of your belief,
it was still on your sisters finger when
you left the room?"
Certainly, sir; certainly"
There was alarm In her tone now.
She was beginning to see that her tes-
timOny was not as entirely helpful to
Arthur as she had been led to expect.
"Can you say whether you noticed
any especial chill in the hall when
you went out to telephone?"
Il don't remember. 1 was almost in
sensible"
but you do remember having shut
the door behind your"
"Yes"
An open window in the hall-that
was what he was trying to prove
open Mt this time. From the expires.
sion Of such faces of the jury as I
could see I think he had proved it. The
next point he made was in the same
line. Had she. in all the time she was
IN the building. heard any noises she
could not account for?
Eyes; many times"
Can you describe these noisesY'
mo: they were Of all kinds. The
pines sighed continually. 1 knew it
was the pines, but had to listen.
Once I heard rushing sound-it was
when the pines stopped swaying for
an instant-but I don't know what 1t
was. 1t was all very dreadful"
WAS this rushing sound such as q
window might make on being opened?"
Possibly. didn't think Of 1t at the
time. but 1t might have been"
From what direction did 1t conner
Back Of me. for I turned my head
atQut" ---.->