The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-01-06

always Implying W tucm AOI mOuS.
and threatening his brother-in-law 1
he didn't get 1t. One night this broth
er came for money. His sister defend
ed him against the anger Of her hus
band Fergus. losing his patience. tol(
her that If she preferred her brother
to him he Fergus, would go ava.
from her. Then he had left them and
gone to the home Of an old friend whl
lived alone some distance from the
MacGregor home. Fergus declared
that was all he knew of the tragedy.
but how do you account for the
murder of your wife? Surely her
brother would not have killed her."
II can't account for 1t any more than
you can"
"Her brother must be living. Can't
you suggest some way Of finding him
His testimony. If you are innocent.
would save YOU"
HE has never had any fixed abode
that l have heard of. would not
know where or how to look for him.
Besides, If he were not implicated In
the murder he would show himself Of
his own accord"
HE might keep away to prevent his
being called on to testify against you"
''No fear Of that; he had no love for
me-"
The lawyer pondered for awhile. then
said. "The only defense can make Is
to prove an alibi, and that could be
done only by fraudulent means"
"Put me on the stand and I'll tell
my story"
Its doubtless the best" said the
lawyer. that can be made out of the
matter. but II will have no effect what
ever on jury"
The trial Of Fergus MacGregor was
looked upon as a mere formality, and
there was no doubt whatever that he
would be convicted. His lawyer made
the most out Of his story. and proof
was furnished that his client had been
where he claimed to have been since
he had left his home. The fact that
the face Of the body found In the
thicket could not be recognized was
dwelt upon by the prisoners counsel:
but, since the garment on the corpse
was one Of Mrs. MacGregor's dresses,
the hypothetical methods to show that |
the body was not that Of Mrs. Mac |
GregOr fell fat. Besides, there was |
the strand of red hair that several |
witnesses who knew the lady .swore
was the exact shade Of Mrs. MacGreg-
,r's.
The judge. the jury and the specta-
tors were bored by the counsels de-
'ense Of MacGregor, the jury listening
20 1t perfunct0rily and the others talk
ng together while 1t was being spok-
N. When the lawyer sat down the
public prosecutor arose and said:
There seems. your honor. no occa-
ion for me to sum up this case at
ength, and will do SO very briefly.
sounds Of quarrel were heard in the
home. The prisoner dis
ppeared. doubtless taking the family
aluables with him. though they have
Ot been found. His wife's body is
oncealed in thicket near the house,
by dress belonging to Mrs.
and by strands OF hair
ound in the house which she lost dur
lg struggle for her life. Counsel
Or the defense has claimed that the
ase is one Of circumstantial evidence.
1t should not convict the prisoner,
len no circumstantial evidence should
onvict any criminal"
The words were no sooner spoken {
ian woman came running into the [
)urtrOOm.
Fergus" she cried. they tell me
ley're going to hang We for kill 6
g meT c
The live body of the murdered wom- q
! pushed its way to the prisoner, s
rev her arms around his neck and
tilted him lovingly. q
Your honor" cried counsel for the 8
Tense, 1T has been stated that II o
e circumstantial evidence in this q
Sc should not convict the prisoner c
EN- no person should be convicted by
Oh testimony. Therefore 1t follows e
at no person should be convicted on u
evidence" s
every one present was dumfounded. II
hen the prisoner could find his voice o.
asked his wife to tell where she had 8
en-. In
With Walter. I've been tryin' to
him out Of scrape he got into in 10
nnon." p:
The mystery Of the MacGregor case h'
NAMED mystery for ten years. 20
en- a man was convicted Of murder
Australia who before he died on the n
lows made the following confess
n:
'en years before he and two pals. a ad
n and woman. in Edinburgh. all US
worse for liquor, left the town to uI
de the police. Passing the Mac. To-
'gor home and finding it unoccupied. ST.
broke a pane Of glass. opened a on
ldow and went In. They appropri. pa
certain articles OF value. espe-
ly clothes. the men DOMINIC Mac ca
'gor's garments. the woman a dress so'
Mrs. MacGregor. They were about thu
depart when the men discovered tot