Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-01-30
Tcca1ing the poisoning and makinp

death. There seems to me no
other way to account for the CON
ditions that confront us"
a silence followed this. Its
truth was patent to everybody.
Clearly, the poisoner had deliv-
cred the blow, for no one else
would attack a victim already
dead. And a plausible reason
would be the hope that the poi
soning would pass unnoticed i'm
view OF the other apparent cause
Of death.
And it points to the work of
AN amateurs went on Scofield :
"a professional criminal would
know that the autopsy would dis
close the earlier crime
Pauline lost her nerve. 81 don't
know anything about it," she
cried, and sank back into her seat,
her face buried in her hands.
Coroner Scofield was a man of
tact. sit is entirely natural. Miss
Stuart" he SAID, THAT this
thought should overcom you.
But We must realize the fact that
the theory of a professional bur
glar is practically untenable, be-
calse nothing was stolen. "A bur
glars motive could be only rob
berry, and this did not take place.
Nor can we think that a burglar
was frightened away before he
could appropriate the jewels. For,
after giving the poison and before
the blow was given, sufficient
time elapsed for a successful get
away to be made. Nor would the
burglar have been at pains to
cover up his poisoning work; for,
having adhered his end, he
would have secured his booty and
made escape. SO, it is evident
that the motive, not being rob-
berry, is as yet unknown, and may
be obscure and complicated"
"What could it have beenf"
asked Pauline, her composure re-
gained, her voice low and even.
Scofield looked at her. SIT is
said, Miss Stuart, that the only
motives for murder are love, re-
venge or gain. Can you imagine
any one of these directed toward
your aunt?"
Pauline replied TRANQUILITY. Evil
IDENTIFY she had fully recovered
her poise. 81 can think of no
one who could have killed my
aunt for love; it is improbable
that she has ever done any one
such wrong as to call for such a
deed in revenge; as to gain, if you
mean pecuniary gain, all the lega-
tees mentioned in her will may
be said to have that motive"
Pauline's manner and tones
were so i%mpersonal, so scathingly
lronlc as to amount to a disclaimer
for all the legatees. Her way of
suggesting it made it seem so far
removed from possibility that it
was far more emphatic than any
denial could have been.
But Coroner Scofield was as
unmoved as his witness.
Quite 3d." he said coolly;
land therefore inquiries must be
made. Did you, Miss Stuart,
after leaving your aunt soon after
midnight see or hear anything
unusual or suspicious9"
What do you mean by un-
usual or suspicious?"
II mean did you see or hear
anything, anything at ALL that
you could not explain to yourself
as being in any way connected
with the tragedy we are investi-
gatingi"
Before answering Pauline looked
in turn at all the members of the
household. Haviland slowly
turned his head as ifsto look at
something across the room, and
as slowly brought 1t back to its
previous position.
II did not" said Pauline, look
ing, straight at the coroner.
"That is ALL" said Scofield
briefly, and the next witness was
called.
This was the maid, Estelle. Her
eyes were red with weeping, but
she was not hysterical now, or in
coherent. She answered tersely
questions as to Miss Darlington s