Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-10
CHAPTER Sv.-(Continued).


He took us ovcr in mis- car, and we
found the jury, under the guidance Of
Slnlmonds. just coming out of the
mousse, each member smoking a fat
black cigar at the expense of the state.
Ihcy had been viewing the body n
the scene of the crime, but Is they
Hled back into their seats, | noted that
they eemed anything but depressed.
The lunch had evidently been a good
one.
Sylvester was recalled 10 finish his
testimony. He explained the system
OF curves and angles by which finger
prints are grouped and classified, and
the various points of resemblance by
winch two prints could be proved to
have been made by the same finger.
There was. first of all, the general con-
Nolution, whether a f~lexure, a stria, g
sinus, a spiral, Il circle, or a Whorl;
there was, secondly, the number of
ridge in the con~volution: and there
was, thirdly, the angles which these
ridges made. Ii two prints agreed in
all these details, their identity was
certain. He then proceeded to show
that the prints made that morning by
Swain did so agree with the photo
graphs Of the prints on the garments.
Finally the witness was turned over to
me for cross examination.
Mr.. Sylvester" | began. are you
willing to assert that those finger
prints could have been made by no
man in the world except Mr.. Swain ?"
Sylvester h~esitated. just as ] hoped
he would do.
No" he answered.. al last. II can't
assert that, MIR. Lester. There may be
three OF tour other men in the world
with finger prints like these. But the
probabilities against any of these men
having made these prints are very
great. BESIDES, it is a thing easily
l~
might nave committed the crime is
limited. and it is an easy thing 10 Sc
cure prints Of their fingers"
That is what / was about to pro-
pose" agreed. Il should like the
finger prints taken of every one who
was in the house Thursday night"
DO | understand that your case
stands or falls upon this point?' asked
the coroner
Your Honor" [ answered. my
client canno explain how the prints of
his fingers. il they are his, came to De
upon that robe. The one thing he is
certain Of is that they were not placed
entire evening: was my client near
enough to Mr.. Vaughan to touch him;
not once did he so far lose conscious
ness as to be unable to remember what
occurred. We have racked our brains
for an explanation. and the only pos
SlOiS oIie StSi'lS lh Dc lsidl Ile DTlIIS
of the real murderer resemble those of
my client. And when 1 say the real
murderer" !. added, Il do not neces-
sarily mean one of the persons whom
we know to have been in the house.
Outside of these finger prints, there
has been absolutely no evidence in
troduced here to p-Ove that the crime
might not have been committed by
some person unknown to u.s."
You can scarcely expect the jury
to believe. however," Goldberger point
ed out, that this supposititious person
had finger tips like your clients
No, agreed, II make no such as
sertion; my hope is that we shall soon
have the prints OF the real murderer:
and when / say .he real murderer
| added, looking at the jury. Il believe
every one present understands vino |
mean
The coroner raped sharply, but ]
had sald what ! wished to say. and
sat down. Tho witnesses of the morn
ing were ordered 10 be brought ont,
Sylvester arranged his ink pad ana
sheets of paper.
1t seems To me- remarked the
coroner, with II smile, that you and
Mr., Godfrey would better register, too
You We're within striking distance"
That is right | agreed, and was
the first to register. but Sylvester. afte,
a glance at my prints, shook his
head.
Your thumb is a left SINUS" he said
You're cleared. Mr. Lester"
Godfrey came forward and registered
too, and after him tho three servants
In each case a shake OF Sylvester's
head told the result.
Then Simmonds came from the
house II Silva and Mabbub after
him, and the coroner explained tc
Silva what was Wanted. | fancied thai
the yogi's brow contracted u little.
The registration of the fingers he
saiG, "of the foot or of the palm. is
with us a religious not tc
be lightly performed. Ely some, it is
also held that the touch of ink, unless
compounded by a priest of the temple
according to a certain formula, is de-
; filing, and. above all. it is impossible,
for a believer to permit such relics o.
himself to remain IN the hand of ar
infidei."
The relics. as you call them" Cold.
berger explained. won't need to re.
! main in our hands. My expert here
can tell in a minute whether youl
prints resemble those of his photo.
graphs. II they dc not. they will b.
returned to you
And if they do?"
Goldberger laughed.
We'll, you can have them hack, II
'%S >''N SoSsoo VIZ Val IJti
suadc you, later ~. to make anothe,
set"
The yogi flushed angrily, but con.
trolled himself.
Il rely upon your promise, sir" h,
said. and laid his fingers first upo,
the pad and then upon the paper.
He stood with closed eyes and NOV.
ing lips. his linked fingers held care
fully away from him, during tn,
GREATNESS momen that Sylvester ben
above the prints. Then the exper
looked up and shook his head.
No resemblance at ALL" he said
"and held out the sheet Of paper OF
which the prints We're.
Silva accepted it silently, and role,
it INTO d ball in the palm of his hand
Now for the other fellow sale
Goldberger.
Silva glanced at his follower doubt
fully.
Il am not sure that ] can make hin
understand" he said. and for som,
moments talked energetically to Nah
bub in a language which 1 suppos
was Hindu. Mahbub listened, scowl
ing fiercely. speaking a brief sentenc
now and then. He would know" Silv;