Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-09-28

Tor was cdue0 uW0y W give 6ome Oh
rectons and heard nothing more Of Il
l took charge Of working up a case
for Clara. l went to the penitentiay
where the burglar had been confined
and learned that he had been dis
charged ten days before the murder.
I employed detectives to hunt him up.
but they found no trace Of him
gave the police authorities the infor-
nation about him that Clara had given
me, but they said there was nothing
In it" Men are sent to state prison
every day, but they don't murder per.
sons instrumental In sending them
there.
After the funeral Mr.. Davidson's
lawyer produced the deceased's last
will and testament leaving Clara all
his property. As soon as this fact was
determined the suspicion she and
feared began to loom up against her.
We expected an arrest and were pre-
pared for 1t. 1t came two weeks after
the murder, and bail was forthcoming.
And now singular thing came to
pass between Clara and me. I was
more worried than She Perceivtng my
anxiety, she threw her arms about me
and said:
Don't you worry. Frank; 1t will
come out oil right"
"Why are you confidentT l asked
"Oh, don't want to tell you. In
the first place, something may happen
that don't count on, and, In the sec
ond, when two persons have a secret
It is no longer secret. II certain
persons interested In my conviction
knew what know they would spoil 1t
all"
begged her to explain. but she
would not, contenung herself with the
words, Don't worry; It will come out
all right"
The trial naturally attracted a good
deal Of attention. Many believed Clara
guilty, but few believed that she would
be convicted because Of lack OF EVIL
dence, for there was nothing but cir
cumstantia evidence against her and
very little Of that. But II she were
not yindicated felt that her life would
be ruined and mine would be ruined
with It.
When the case came before the
court not even Clara's attorney knew
her secret. He expected to secure her
acQuittal without any difficulty, but he
had no idea that she would be consid-
cred guiltless by the world. The prose
cutting attorney made the principal
part OF his attack that the accused was
the first person to go into her uncle's
room after the murder and 1t was she
| who had taken away the cup from
which he had drunk. OF course the
motive for the murder was that Mr..
Davidson was about to marry, which
would eventually give his wife prop
erty that had been intended for bis
niece.
Clara came into court with wooden
box IN her hand, which she carried as
though there was something In II Of
very frail texture. She sat holding this
box in one position till the prosecutor.
having given an account OF the de-
ceased's having drunk beer the night
of the murder and told Of the disap-
pearance cf the cup from which he had
drunk It, cried out dramatically:
where is the cupT
Here" replied Clara in contrast
ingly soft voice.
Drawing sliding cover from the
box, she withdrew a silver cup which
presented smooth surface. 1t had
been placed In the box 80 that this sur
face would not be touched by the
wood. Taking a magnifytng glass
from little bag she carried on her
urn, she handed the glass to her at
torney. He saw on the cups surface
| the imprint Of q thumb and three I'm
gers, the first two bones OF the fore
| finger being missing.
Turning to the jury, he told what he
had seen. and every Juryman was per-
mitted to see 1t for himself.
Clara, suspecting that the cup might
bear a clew, had removed and hidden II.
AS soon rs she was In position to ex-
anime It she saw the imprint, which,
being perishable, she had guarded to
the best Of her ability, not even reveal
Ing its existence.
Clara was not only acquitted, but
yindicated. have sometimes thought
that she might have let me into her
secret; but. considering the frailty OF
the evidence on which hung so much
| for her, I have concluded that her pre-
caution was q wise one.
Her counsel, however. never forgave
her for not telling him what she had
concealed. have never borne him ont
IN this, for I think that II she had re-
vealed 1t to any one should have been
| that person. I should have doubtless
advised her to tell 1t to her counsel.
He would have insisted on examining
the imprint. Who can say that In the
examinations which would likely have
followed the imprint Of manned IN
ger would not have Disappeared