The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-01-27

same question that Godfrey had asked.
While you were having the alter
cation with Mr.. Vaughan. did you
grasp hold Of him?"
No, sir; l did not touch him."
You are quite sure?"
Yes, sir"
You didn't touch him at any time,
then or afterwards"
No, sir; 1 didn't see him after
wards"
What were your feelings when he
took his daughter away"
Il was profoundly grieved."
And angry?'
was most unjust to me-"
He had used very violent language
to you, had he not?"
Yes"
HE had threatened your life If you
tried to see his daughter again?"
| Yes"
"NO7v. Mr.. Swain, as you stood there,
angry and Inundated, didn't you make
up your mind to follow him to the
house and have 1t out with him?"
Swain smiled.
I'm lawyer enough to know" he
said, that a question like that isn't
permissible. But I'll answer 1t. may
have had such an impulse don't
know; but the sight of the cobra there
in the arbor put it effectually out Of
my head"
You still think there was a cobra ?"
II am sure Of it."
| And you ran out Of the arbor so
fast you bumped your head?"'
Il suppose that's what happened.
put his hand to it ruefully.
| Mr.. SWAIN" went on the coroner,
slowly. ARE you prepared to swear
that, after you hurt your head, you
might not, in a confused and half
dazed condition, have followed your
previous impulse to go to the house
and see Mr.. Vaughan"
YES" answered Swain, emphatic
ally. Il am. Although l was some
what dazed, have distinct recollec-
ton of going straight to the wall and
climbing back over it,"
You cut your wrist as you were
crossing the wall the first time?
Yes" and Swain held up his hand
and showed the strip OF plaster across
the wound.
Your right wrist?"
| Yes"
1T bled freely. did it not?"
Very freely"
What became Of the clothes you
took off when you changed into those
brought by Mr.. Godfrey"
Il don't know. Mr.. Lester told me
they were left here. intended to in
quire for them"
At a sign from Goldberger, Sim
monds opened a suitcase and placed
bundle on the table. Goldberger I'M
rolled it and handed it to Swain.
| Are these the clothes? he asked
Yes" said Swain, after a moments
examination.
will you hold the shirt up so the
! jury can see it?"
Swain held the garment up and
everybOdy's eyes were fixed upon the
blood soaked sleeve.
| There seems to have been a good
deal Of blood" remarked Goldberger.
1T must have run down your hand ?'
1T did. 1t was all over my fingers"
80 that 1t would probably stain
anything you touched?"
Yes, very probably"
Did you think OF that when you
were in the arbor with Miss Vaug-
ham,"
SWANS face suddenly crimsoned and
he hung his head.
I'm afraid not" he said.
How was she dressed?"
In a white robe OF some silk like
material"
"A robe that would show a blood
stain?"
Undoubtedly"
Goldberger paused for an instant,
and then produced a pad, such as one
uses for linking rubber stamps. opened
it and placed 1t on the table before
him.
Have you any objection to giving
me a set Of your finger prints?" he
asked
| None whatever" anG Swain
stepped toward the table ID placed
the tips Of his fingers on the pad Then
the pSd Of paper which the coroner
placed before him. Goldberger watched
him curiously. until all 10 impressions
| had been made.
You did that as though you had
done it before" he remarked.
81 made a set once for Mr.. Vaug-
ham" said Swain, sitting down again.
HE had a most interesting collection"
| Goldberger passed the prints over
to the head OF the bureau OF identiflca-
ton, then he turned back to the wit
ness.
"Mr. Swain" he said. have you ever
seen this cord before" and he handed
him the knotted cord.
Swain took II and examined 1t Gu
riously, without hesitation or repug-
nance.
NO" he answered finally. Il never
saw 1t before"
do you know what it is?" and
Goldberger watched him closely.
Il infer that 1t is the cord with which
| Mr.. Vaughan was strangled."
"That is so. You did not see it
around his neck?"
II have no recollection of having
done So"
please look at the cord again. Mr..
SWAIN" said Goldberger. still watch
ing him. You will see that 1t is
knotted. Can you describe those knots
for me?"
Swain looked at the knots and was
glad to see that his hands were abso-
lutely steady and his face free from
fear. No murderer could handle so
unconcernedly the instrument Of his
crime. Surely the Jury would see
| that.
THE knots" said Swain, at last
seem to be an ordinary square knot
with which the cord was made into
moose and then a double bowline
to secure it."
"A double bowIine? Can you tie
/ such a knott"
Certainly. Any one who has ever
owned a boat can do so. 1t is the
| best knot for this purr rse."
The coroner reached out for the cord
and replaced 1t in the envelope, Then
he produced the handkerchief.
Can you identify that?" he asked
and handed 1t to the witness.
he