The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-08-02

nau cotnpieteiy unnerved her. and ahe
scarcely knew what she was doing
Two hours later the police came: they
u little difficulty in tracing her. and
arrested my child on the charge of
having murdered Miss Jane Stuart of
neat Cottage. Westchester. During
the trial everything went against
susanna. had the very best legal
advice that money could procure. NV
hwyer asked her about her curious
dream. but she had nothing new to
tell him.
IL was a queer and vivid dream
sne would repeat. 4 have certainly
seen the mans features before. ]
Know his face quite well, and 1t was
ne who laid my knife on the chair
Were you asleep or awake when
you saw himr Mr.. Minchin asked her.
II was asleep she said. 1t was
only a dream
Mr.. Minchin had to admit that
there was nothing In this dream, and
although It was Just mentioned at
the trial. no stress was laid upon II.
And my child was declared guilty.
She 10 to be el~ectrocuted on the 9Th
or December. in less than three
weeks time. Do you believe In
dreams. Doctor Halifax"
There are occasions when dreams
seem to prophesy coming events" I
replied.
u am glad to hear you admit as
much. You will be then merciful to
my dream. My daughter has dreamed,
and so have /. ] have dreamed that
the murderer is a man, and that he
Is TO be found in the west. / have
dreamed that his accusing conscience
Is driving him mad, and that he will
confess II given time. The governor
OF the state has already refused to
grant a reprieve. but he must be ap.
pealed to again"
What! on the plea that you have
| dreamed q dream, and that your
daughter has done the same?" l ex-
claimed.
"You speak like the Others" she
said slowly. my lawyer refuses TO
interfere. VII you do this thing for
me? I have heard of your goodness
of heart, doctor: surely you will not
condemn me 10 despair"
Il would most readily help you to
appeal II there was the slightest
chance Of success. Mrs. Tankervllle,"
| responded. But II would be wrong
| to deceive you-there Is none Dreams
are not tangible evidence. Have you
nothing further TO go upon? What
other relations had the murdered
woman besides your daughter"
Some nephews and nieces In Cali
fornla; no one else"
Now. Mrs. Tankerville. / wish you
would give me an outline of the evil
dence for and against your daughter"
There were witnesses to prove
that Susanna disliked Miss Stuart
from the start" she answered. THE
old servant, Peggy by name. gave
graphic accounts OF her mistress's ter
rible temper, and the many ways In
which she tried to curb and annoy
| Susanna. who was a high-spirited
| girl. Her final taunt Was that Susanna
had come 10 visit her In the hope OF
inheriting n portion OF her money. On
one occasion, a few days before the
murder, old Peggy happened to be
passing through the and she
heard Miss Stuart say to Susanna that
Il had been her intention to leave her
100000 In her will. but that she
meant to alter Il and had written 10
her lawyer for that purpose. Susan
mas reply to this was a mocking
laugh. and she ran out OF the room.
slamming the door behind her. Miss
| Stuart turned 10 the old servant and
I said:
"sTbat girl thinks I am not In earn
est. but I will prove my words. she
| shall never have a cent OF my money
at the same time Miss Stuart
smoke TO old Peggy OF her relations
In California and said that they would
not he forgotten In her will. But the
mart OF the evidence which most
| strongly pointed to my child's quit
was the following:
Peggy had q daughter in a distant
mart of the state. who was III, al
| though not dangerously so. She want
| cd TO go and see her. and Susanna
begged that she might be allowed 10
remain away for the night. MISS
Stuart refused. but Susanna PLEADED
offering to undertake Peggy's duties
IN her absence. Finally Miss Stuart
| Welded. It was on the morning
nreyious to the murder that the ola
woman went away. Thus Susanna
and Miss Stuart were alone. Thc
man James Hitchin by name. VINO
lived half a mile away, came to the
| cottage night and morning to chop
u,ood' carry coal. and do other DO
nestle matters. He affirmed that OH
the night of the murder he saw .
jirh. IN Miss Stuart's window pc
tween twelve and one o'clock. sne
wss known always to retire at nine'
ord never 10 keep q light burning
rI,t.hiu said he watched the light In
some establishment. wondering II the
| old lady were III. As 1t was exun'
ruished. however. In about nve MN,
rites. ne went on home, and U
no more about Il. In the mornlns n'
s-a aar,v "a the cottage and wal at