Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-01-11

this moment of which you speak? Had
you been ear it? Had you handled it
in any way?"
mo. SIR"
Mr.. Cumberland. you have heard
mention made of a ring worn by your
sister In life. but missing from her
finger after death. You remember this
ring?
IL do"
sis this it?"
ut is. so far as I 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:
II recognize it. It was her engage
ment ring"
"Was this ring on her finger that
night at the dinner tablet"
II cannot say positively, but I be-
lieve so. l should have noticed it's
absence"
"Why. may 1 ask?"
For the first time the prisoner flush
ed, and the look he darted at his coun-
sci had the sting Of a reproach in it.
Yet be answered.: ''It was the token Of
an engagement I didn't believe in or
like. l 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 it and where?"
A rustic from end to end of that
crowded courtroom. This was an
audacious move. What was coming?
What would be the answer Of the man
who was believed not only to have
made himself the possessor of this
and uncanny method Of disposing of
it afterward?
Il saw it when the police showed it
to me and asked me if I could identify
it,"
WAS that the only time you have
seen it up to the present moment?"
1T isl
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 it
was shown you in the c%orOner'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
ltrue?"
"It is"
"Was not this a most unusual thing
to do"
Perhaps. I was not thinking about
that. had a duty to perform, and I
performed it."
"A duty? Will you explain to the
Jury what duty?"
The witness head rose, then sank.
He, as we'll as every one else, seemed
to be impressed by the solemnity of
the moment. I even thought I could
detect a tremor in his muscles as we'll
as in his voice:
Il had rebelled against my sisters
wishes; I 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 fleeing moment he looked a man.
I"I wished to take an oath-an oath l
would remember. It was for this
purpose 1 ordered the casket opened
and thrust my fingers through the
flowers I found there. When my fin
gers touched my sisters brow I in
wardly swore never to taste liquor
again. have kept that OATH"
1t was an unexpected explanation
and calculated to cause a decided and
favorable reaction in the minds of
those who had looked upon this espe-
cial act Of his as an i%rrefutable proof
of guilt. Mr.. 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 casket?
Il did not. My hand was emDty. 1
held no ring and dropped none in. I
simply touched her forehead"
This added to the feeling, and in an
other instant the excitement might
have risen into hubbub had not the
emotions of one little woman found
vent in a low and sobbing cry. which
relieved the tension and gave just the
relief needed to hold in check the over
strained feelings Of the crowd. I knew
the voice and cast one quick glance
that way, IL time to see Ella sinking
affrightedly out Of sight under the dis.
mayed looks Of father and mother. Mr.
Mofat continued his examination by
demanding why. when the ring was
discovered in Adelaide's casket and be
say what differences would be drawn
from the fact, he had not made an i'm.
roSiofo r,h1io ovrlorot;op ~ bic oop