The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-12-09

we WILL keep 20 the point. When
you were in Van Cortlandt park.
yesterday, did you see your
uncle, Mr.. Trowbridge theref"
81 did not"
The answer was given in a
careless, unconcerned way that
exasperated the coroner.
Can you prove that?'' he
snapped out.
Landon looked at him in mild
amazement, almost amusement.
Certainly not" he replied;
NOR do I need to. The burden
of proof rests with you. If you
suspect me offhaving killed my
uncle, it is for you to produce
proof"
Coroner Berg looked cha
grined. He had never met lust
this sort of a witness before, and
did not know quite how to treat
him.
And yet Landon was respect
full, serious and polite. Indeed,
one might have found it hard
to say what was amiss in his at
titude, but none could deny there
was something. 1t was after all,
an aloofness, a separateness, that
seemed to disconnect this man
with the proceedings now going
on; and which was SO, only be-
aa,,sa the man himself willed it.
Coroner Berg restlessly ana
only half-consciously sensed this
state Of things, and gropingly
strove to fasten on some facts.
Nor were these hard to find.
The facts were clear and start
ling enough, and were to a legal
mind conclusive. There was, so
far as known, no eyewitness to
the murder, but murderers do
not usually play to an audience.
eve have learned, Mr.. Lam
don," the coroner said, "that
you had an unsatisfactory inter
view with your uncle; that you
did not get from him the money
you desired. That, later, he was
killed in a locality where you
admit you were yourself. That
his dying words are reported to
>be, Kane killed me! wilful muir
der | ask you what you have
to say in refutation of the con-
clusions we naturally draw from
these ~facts?"
There was a hush over the
whole room, as the answer to this
arraignment was breathlessly
awaited.
At last it came. Landon looked
the coroner squarely in the eye,
and said: II have this to say.
That my Ynele's words,-if, in
deed, those were really his words,
might as well refer, as you as
sumed at first, to any one Else.
as to myself. The name Cain,
would, Of course, mean in gen
eral way, any one Of murderous
intent. The fact that my own
name chances to be Kane is a
mere coincidence, and in no sense
a proof Of my guilt"
The speaker grew more en-
phatic in voice and gesture as
he proceeded, and this did not
initiate in his favor. Rather. his
irritation and vehement manner
prejudiced many against him.
Had he been cool and collected.
his declarations would have met
better belief, but his agitated
tone sounded like the last effort
in a lost cause.
With narrowing pertinacity,
the coroner quizzed and pumped
the witness as to his every move
of the day before. Landon was
forced to admit that he had
%quarreled with his uncle, and
left him in a fit Of temper, and
with a threat to get the money
elsewhere.
And did you get it," quericd
She coroner at this point.
II did not"
Where did you hope to get
Il refuse to tell you
MIR. Iandon, your manner is
not in your favor. But that is
not an essential point. The
charges | have enumerated are as
yet unanswered; and, moreover,
/ am informed by one of my as
sistants that there is further evi-
dence against you. Sandstrom,
come Forward
Tho stoii1Jnol5inm SwaIn no,,o