Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-01-27

\ ~ aNSSioA SA'o oAAi ion oSNSd.
While o We're 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; l didn't see him after
wards
What We're you feelings when he
took his daughter away?"
Il was profoundly ~grieved."
And angry?"
Yes, l suppose l was angry. He
was most unjust to me-"
He had used very violent language
to you, had he not? ."
Yes"
HI had threatened your life if you
tried to see his daughter again."
Yes"
Now, Mr.. Swain, as you stood there,
angry and Inundated, didn't you make
up your mind to follow him to the
house and lave it out with him."
Swain smiled.
I'm lawyer enough to know" he
said, that a question like that isn't
permissible But III answer it. may
have had such an impulse-I don't
know; but the sight of the cobra there
IN the arbor put it effectually out of
my head"
You still hin there was a cobra? %
Il am sure Of it."
And you ran out of the arbor so
fast You bumped You head?"
Il suppose that's what happened.
It's mighty sore, anyway" and Swain
put his land 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, II am. Although | was some
what dazed, have a 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 Shove the strip of plaster across
the wound.
Your right wrist?'
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. 1 intended to in
quire for them"
At a sign from Goldberger, Sim
monds opened a suitcase and placed
a bundle on the table. Goldberger un-
rolled it and handed it to Swain.
Are these the clothes 2" he asked
Yes" said Swain, after a moments
examination.
Win you hold the shirt up so the
jury can see it,"
Swain held the up and
e~verybody's eyes We're 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"
S that it would probably stain
anything you ~touched?"
Yes, very probably
Did You think of that when you
We're in the arbor with Miss Naug-
ham"
SWANS face suddenly crimsoned and
he hung his head.
Pm afraid not he said.
How vas she dressed "'
I'm 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 it on the table before
him.
Have o n objection to giving
me a set of your finger prints?" he
asked.
None whatever anc Swain
stepped toward the table id placed
the tips of his fingers on the pad. Then
he pressed each one carefully upon
the pad of paper which the coroner
placed before him. G~oldberger watched
him curiously. until all 10 impressions
had been made.
You did that as though you had
done it before he remarked.
Il made a set once for MIR. Wang
han" said Swain, sitting down again.
H had a most interesting collection"
Goldberger passed the prints over
to the head of the bureau of identifca-
ton. then he turned back to the wit
ness.
Mr.. Swain" he said. have Won ever
seen this cord b%efore?" and he handed
him the lnotted cord.
Swain took it and examined it Gu
rlously, without hesitation or repug-
nance.
No" he W finally, q never
saw it before
do you know what it is?" and
Goldberger watched him closely.
Il infer that it is the cord with which
Mr.. Vaughan was strangled."
That is so. You did not see it
around his neck?"
Il have no recollection of having
done So
please look at the cord again. Mr..
Swain" said G~oldberger. still watch
ing him. you will see that it is
knotted. Can you describe those knots
for me?'
Swain looked at the knots and I was
glad to see hat 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 mot
with which the cord was made into
a moose and then a double bowline
to ecure it,
"A double bowline? Can you tie
such a k6ot?'
Certainly. Any one who has ever
owned a boat can do so. 1t is the
best knot for this purr ose."
The coroner reached out for the cord
and replaced it in the envelope. Then
he produced the handkerchief.
Can you identify that?" he asked,
and handed 1t to the witness.
Swain changed color a little as he
took 1t.
Il cannot identify it, he said in a
1~-. q an-A SO