Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-02-16
cHAPTER XVI.
rhe Assistant pIstrIe, Attorney.

While Britt was struggling with the
tangled threads of contradictory cir
cumstances that constituted the fab
ric of the diamond mystery. the dis
trict attorneys Office was not inactive
With the slow stealthiness Of cat
approaching its prey 1t combined ~
disconnected fragments of evidence
gathered by the police into the sem
blance OF perfect case, and prepared
to present It to a jury. The grand
jury had indicted Elinor Holcomb, and
again she was dragged into the glare
Of a courtroom, this time to plead to
the Indictment There remained only
the verdict of petit jury to open the
gates of states prison for her. Her
lawyer was served with the fateful
notice of trial, and she was made to
realize the great struggle was about
to begin.
Assistant District Attorney Mott
was taking last survey Of the depo.
sitions in the case, mentally picturins
the curtain of gilt he would weave be
fore the jury. To his mind the eyi
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 male It
appear hollow and unreal. No ether
reasonable explanation of the disap-
pearance Of Mrs. Missioner's neck,
lace offered itself, and sdll At was
hard to conceive Miss HolcoInb as tho
thief Mott knew that the same un.
certainty In the minds Of the jurors
would inevitably result In verdict OF
acquittal. The benefit Of any reason
able doubt as to her guilt must 60 to
her, and he realized he had yet to
eliminate that last slim possibility OF
a verdict favorable to the prisoner.
Were It an ordinary larceny case he
would be content to offer the test.
mony at hand and leave the verdict
to the conscience of the jurors. But
this 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 conviction In so IA
nous q case To lose, he feared.
would reflect on his own competence.
The entrance OF Britt brought the
prosecutor out of bis absorption
"Just the man ! wanted to see. re
greeted
And I'm equally glad TO find you
in" the detective returned
I've got the evidence down pat
Mott responded. 1T seems completes
and yet. somehow. feel that 1t IL
not entirely convincing. Iwant 10 get
something to clinch 1t. It's pretty
tough proposition at best to get cen
viction on circumstantial evidences
when the defendant is a woman Of
good appearance, and l don't want to
slip up on this case. We haven't got
much time left. The case is on the
calendar for next Monday"
That's what I came to see you
about" informed Britt. 81 want to
get you to adjourn the trial month
New facts?" anxiously inquired the
prosecutor.
Yes"
who do you think did the trickY-
suddenly questioned Mott.
Sands. Griswold or the Indian serv.
ant" came from the detectives hest
tant lips. M
The prosecutors hands went above
his head I'm despairing gesture.
rs that as far as you've arrived
Three suspects. and you've no idea
which one you wantl What sort Of
weak stun Is in your possession that
you don't know whom you're afterr
THE circle is narrowing very quick,
ly." Britt observed. I'm the next few
days I'll know who committed the
robbery. how It was committed, and
where the jewels were taken. But
have got to have the necessary time"
"All right" agreed the prosecutor
He called a clerk and directed hin
to inform Miss Holcomb's lawyer that
the case had been 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 great dis
covery. Carson was smiling approx
ingly on bis partner.
lCTo BIZ coNTINUED)