The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-08-09
The Child
Witness
By CHARLES E. BAXTER
GO. 1923. western Newspaper Union.)

GO. 1923. Western Newspaper Union.)
"ELsIE RAYMOND"
The child of seven stepped
into the witness box, and an involun
tary sigh went up from the packed
court For upon the testimony of this
child depended whether Harold Ray
mond, accused of the murder of his
wife, should go free IT go to the cleo
trio chair.
The case had occupied the public at
tention for weeks past. Raymond was
accused of having murdered his wife
with arsenic. Arsenic in large quaint
ties had been found in her body at
the post norton. Raymond had been
an amateur gardener; he had a jar OF
''weed-killer," heavily charged with
arsenic. The prosecution claimed that
he had administered the eliminating
dose in a bottle of wine.
It's weakness lay in the fact that
the remainder Of the wine had gone
sour and had been thrown away. 1t
was a home-brewed wine; Raymond
had concocted it-that was a point for
the prosecution. Also, the maid, a
Polish girl, testified that she had seen
Raymond put something into it" be-
fore it came on the table. And only
Mrs. Raymond had drunk of 1t.
The defense proved hat the maid
was under notice to leave, and bore a
grudge.
That was the case. II looked rather
bad for the prisoner. He had called
his witnesses-all but his little daugh-
ter; they had not done him much good.
Raymond and his wife had not lived
happily together. Also, there had been
another woman in the case. Yes, 1t
looked bad for Raymond.
"He oughtn't to let that child go into
the box. 1t won't help him with the
jury"
"She's too young to understand the
nature of an OATH"
'Elsie," said the judge, leaning for
ward, "do you understand what an
oath means?
ooh, yes, sir" answered the little
girl, quite composed, and fully 0 n
scious that she was the center Of in
terest in the crowded court.
what will happen to you If you
tell a lie?"
"Pll go to hell when I die, sir, and
be burned up by fire forever and ever"
A stir in the court. "SiIence!" The
gayel raped. LET the little girl be
sworn the judge directed.
Elsie was sworn. The counsel for
the prosecution took up his cross
examination.
"Do you often drink wine at your
house?"
"Only when father makes it, sir"
do you ever drink wine?'
Father won't let me-"
did you see the wine come onto
the table?"
Eyes, sir; 1 was In the kitchen, and l
saw father take it out Of the cupboard
and put it on the table,"
did you see him uncork it and put
anything in it,"
mo, sir; he put it straight on the
table. Then he called m to din
ner. l was in the dining room the
whole time, and 1 know he didn't put
anything in it,"
Sensation in court. "Silence!" The
gavel thudded. did your father drink
any of this wine at dinnerY'
HE filled his glass, but he didn't
drink very much-just a few sips"
"And your mother did she drink
any of it?"
"She drank a glassful."
did she say the taste vas u
usualy
mo, sir; she said, This is excellent
wine, Harold"
The child hesitated. swell, tell me-"
"I'm afraid father will be angry with
answered the child in a timid
tone.
Nobody will be angry with you"
said the judge. "We are here to get
che truth. Come, Elsie, you must tell
us everything you know"
"Come, did anyone else drink any of
that wine?" demanded the prosecuting
attorney.
eyes, sir, l did" faltered the child.
whats that? When? How?"
"When daddy said the wine was to
be thrown away, II drank nearly all
the rest of the bottle and filled it up
with water. 1t made my head feel
After an interval of twenty minutes
the jury brought in a verdict Of mot
Raymond and his daughter
eft the court amid the plaudits Of the
mob.
"Well. what d'you know about thatT'
demanded the prosecuting attorney of
confrere."
Daddy" piped a childish voice, "do
people really get burned up in hell
if they tell stories?"
"And what do you think about that?"
the other.