Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-06-16
CHAPTER VIIi-contlnued.
ID

detective with a grin.
P8rtlpy nodded and Black went
away 10 arrange the matter. I could
see what BARLEY was after. Only the
rolfca and ourselves knew that the
man was to be placed on the stand,
and Barley wanted to see what eff
fa.t his sudden introduction might
have on those present. There might
he someone so surprised by it that
he would give himself away.
In IA row of chairs, directly In front
of the coroners desk and about six
feet away, were seated the members
of Sykes household. Sykes step
daughter Ruth, dressed in dark blue.
was between Miss Potter and an old
man. Who. l decided was the minister
unc,e who had brought her home the
night of the murder. l could not see
Miss Potter's face. but her hands
showed great nervous strain; they
we're never still, picking necessarily
81 the folds Of her dress. On her
right were two empty chairs for the
chauffeur and Roche, and beyond
Them the butler and the other serv-
ants.
We had to wait some time for the
doctor who had been delayed by a
case. When he arrived. he pushed his
way hurriedly through the people at
Tie for end Of the room, pausing only
far q moment to speak to the district
attorney. He took his place back of
the desk and, after removing some
rapers from his bag, stood for a mo-
rent looking over the crowd. He
seemed almost too worn and nervous
20 preside
A silence fell on the room the curl
ous, expectant silence that I have so
often noticed at inquests. To most
S q the people present, the doctor had
ceaSed to be their familiar friend and
had become an lmpersonal officer of
the law, the instrument for unravel-
Ing a mysterious death. Perhaps
some were thinking of the man in
whose house they were and whose
dead body lay above awaiting burial.
The silence was suddenly broken by
heavy peal of thunder
To my surprise. the doctor called
as his first witness Sykes sister-ln-
Be- law As rule, the first person
R called al an inquest is the one VINO
discovered the body, tnt for some rea-
son tie doctor had decided to keep
he butler for a later moment.
The first questions, after Miss Pot
Ri fer had taken Che oath, were the usual
ones They related to her name and
her relationship to Slyke She said
iii her name vas Alice Potter, and that
~ fae was lie sister OF his dead wife.
N'yke had asked her TO come and run
h's house for him, and for the last
III ten Years she had doga so. In re-
81 Spouse to a question as to whether
she had been paid for her services,
IS sae flushed deeply and explained that
".He no real salary had been paid.
whenever She had needed money she
ead asked Slyke for It and he had
gwen Il to her. The sum varied,
No1@h She doubted if she had ever
s received more than thousand In any
enc year. He always had been willing
TO give her as much as she asked for.
e.l Aaa not questioned the amounts.
mere mad never been any trouble
OVER money matters between them.
This was all evidence that l knew
tll While She was giving it, l glanced
e.olt the room. then watched the doc
M w NE was finding his position a
81 a! aaHcElt one, as he was the fam
III y physician as well as the coroner,
re put Ills questions with as much
81 1s..aey as possible. The whole affair
seemed 70 be very distasteful to
am II vas particularly trying for
.-a- VINO vas still feeling the effects Of
-s' 'o4s breakdown. Miss Potter, for
"a'e.F, became more at ease as the
S-ss'4oA-hg proceeded. She kept her
Fl -a"n and gave her answers In
-, 80 ioN voice that at times It was
'4 Y hear them at all.
n q" through the early part Of Miss
s evidence there were rumbles
Instant thunder Leaning back in
-~aIr [ pushed aside the heavy
sses that hid tie window, and
s- out It was almost Ike night.
storm vas close at hand. The
was stll some miles away.
- could see distant. almost CON
s flashes Of lightning. After a
glance let the curtain fall
a -le pace.
turned my attention again
s evidence. Doctor King was
Miss Potter about the
n HE body She testified that
q, breakfast when the butler
The room, crying thai
s.. VAS wrong with Mr.. SIyke.
her brother-ln-law had IN.
e dshing that morning. and
l.. Hrsea 10 learn that he was
-. ap The butter had told her
II 40 called MIN. and receiving
,. aat entered his room and
=. - s.yke stu In bed. When
,n snswer when spoken to
g.. tths butIsrj mad come a,