Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-07-31

coroner unlSned# selecting his jury.
Near the coroner, too, I observed the
man whom the clerk had called Cook.
I thought he gave a quick glance in
my direction, but l could not be sure
The first witness was called, Mahlon
Williams, the proprietor of the hotel
"Mr. Williams" said the coroner,
"do you know this woman?"
st can't say as I do"
what was her name?"
"She was registered here in the ho-
tel. The names on the book. YoE
can see for yourself. 1 don't know if
it twas her real name or not"
''Mary Jane Teller, Bridgeport,
Conn" was the entry in the hotel
register which was produced and sub
mitted for the jurors inspection.
'Tell us, Mr.. Williams, what you
know about the deceased"
Mighty little; nothing at all, il
fact. She come here night before last.
Got in on the seven-two train from
New York, I calculate, from the time
of her arrival. She had no baggage,
only that little black bag yonder, and
she asked for a room for the night-a
cheap room. She seemed so feeble I
gave her this room on the ground
floor, No. 4, and only charged her sew
enty five cents for it, though it's dol
lar room, or a dollar and half for
bridal couples. She paid for it for one
night and right after supper she went
into it and stayed there. Yesterday
morning after breakfast she went out
somewhere and was gone maybe an
hour or an hour and a half. didn't
see her when she come in but I
heard"
"Mahlon Williams" said the coroner
severely, ''you ought to know enough
about the law to understand that what
you heard amt evidence. Tell only
them things you know of your own
knowledge"
"All know" said Williams, percept-
IDLY miffed, lis that she come out
along about three in the afternoon and
paid another seventy-five cents, say
ing she wanted the room another
night. That's all / seen Of her"
Can I ask a question:" said one of
the jurors, all Of whom were towns
men of the class usually to be found
around the h Ell bar-room.
IF it is proper question:" said
the coroner judiciously.
Where did she go when she went
out?"
"TLe question is proper one, if the
witness can answer it Of his own
knowledge" the coroner ruled.
eff I knowed I'd a told already"
said the hotel keeper.
One or two of the other jurors asked
questions, prompted plainly more by
curiosity than by intelligent effort to
ascertain the facts; but it was plain
that Mr.. Williams had revealed all
that he knew, and he was dismissed.
Doctor Allen, who had been sent for
as soon as the suicide was discovered,
gave it as his opinion that the woman
had hung herself early the evening
before, as nearly as he could judge
about five o'clock.
"Who was it found the body?" the
coroner asked.
''Mary Evans, the chambermaid,"
the constable volunteered. Here she
is, right here"
The coroner proceeded to examine
her.
Much embarrassed by the promi-
nence into which she found herself
thrust, but manifestly enjoying the I'M
usual situation, the girl told how, early
in the morning, as soon as she began
her work, she had gone to the room.
Il didn't know there was anyone in
No. A." she explained. 81 knew the
woman had taken it for just one night
and hadn't bothered making it up the
day before. None of the other room
ers was up yet and thought I might
just as well get No. off my mind. l
knocked like l always do and getting
no answer / opened the door right
wide all Of sudden. Such a shock
as it gave me I never expect to have
again to my dying day. There was
the poor creature a-hanging there I
let a yell out Of me that must have
walked the dead, and then l ran and
called Mr.. Williams"