The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-07-02
asking Brood single question, a.
though he knew him to be a witness

asking Brood single question, al
though he knew him to be witness
to the shooting.
Yvonne saw the reporters and later
on an inspector of police. RanJab toid
his unhappy story. He had taken inc
weapon from a hook on the wall Tor
the purpose of cleaning it. 1t had Deeh
hanging there for years, ana all the
time there had been a single cartridge
left in the cylinder unknown to any
one. He had started to remove the
cylinder as he left the room. All these
wears the hammer had been raised;
death had been hanging over them all
the time that the pistol occupied us IN
secure position on the wall. Somehow,
he could not tell how the hammer feii
as he tugged at the cylinder. No one
could have known that the revolver
was loaded That was all that he
could say, except to declare that II MS
masters son died he would end MS
own miserable, valueless life.
His story was supported by the dec
larations of Mrs. Brood, who, while
completely generating her husbands
servant, had but little to say in expla-
nation Of the affair She kept her wits
about her. Most people would have
made the mistake of saying too much.
She professed to know nothing except
that they were discussing young Mr.
Brood's contemplated trip abroad and
that her husband had given orders to
his servant to pack a revolver in his
sons travelling bag when the time
came for his departure. She had paid
but little attention to the Hlndus
movements. All she could say was
that it was an Academia horrible,
blighting accident. For the present. 1t
, would not be possible for anyone to
see the heart.broken father. Doubt.
less, later on, he would be in the mood
to discuss the dreadful catastrophe,
but not now, etc, etc. He was crushed
with the horror of the thing that had
happened.
The house was in a state Of subdued
, excitement. Servants spoke in whis-
pers and tip-toed through the halls.
= Nurses and other doctors came. Two
- old men, shaking as with palsy, roamed
- about the place, intent only on worm
= ing their way into the presence OF
!, their friend and supporter to offer con
;; ISOLATION and encouragement to him in
- his hour Of tribulation. They shud
% dered as they looked into each others
~ faces, and they shook their heads
=, - without speaking, for their minds were
y. filled with doubt. They did not ques
:. ton the truth Of the story as told bu
= they had their own opinions. In SUP
~ port to the theory that they did no
- believe there was anything accidents
~ in the shooting of Frederic 1t Is onl
-. necessary to speak Of their extraord
)" nary attitude toward Ranjab. The
shook hands with him and told hi
'n that Allah would reward him! Late
on, after they had had time to think
wi all out for themselves-being som
eH what slow of comprehension-th'
lou sought out James Brood and offered
.ue accept all the blame for having load
a"' the revolver without consulting hi
w their object having been to destroy
a'" cat that infested the alley hard
n0o They felt that 1t was absolutely nec'
e sary to account for the presence
&c. the unexploded cartridge.
0ou Brood, coming between them, Ia
iia a. his hands on their shoulders, shakil
III his head as he spoke to them gently.
a.I Thank you, old pals. understal
w 20 what it is you are trying to do. It's
D0 use. fired the shot. 1t isn't nect
l. sary to say anything more to you, l
W VI sure, except that. as God Is my W
ness, I did not intend the bullet I