New Britain herald., 1929-02-15
THE DEATH NOTE.

The arrest Of Trenor A. Rice on q charge of murder. dramatic as it was considering that he had been one of the intimate friends of County De- tective William E. Jackson and was one of the bearers who lifted the body to Its grave. is ovcrshadowed by the suicide of Mrs. Jackson and the note she left eXonerating Rice. saying she herself slew her husband, and that she had good reason" for doing so.
 Writers of fiction could scarcely conceive of more suspense laden plot. Rice, confronted with the neces- sity of proving his innocence. at least was faced with the possibility of be- ing executed. A mans life hung in the balance, and had there been no following developments Connecticut would have seen another spirited trial at law. with a background of much circumstantial evidence. Now all entirely new set of circumstances faces the state, a note in the bandw riting of Mrs. Jackson and bow 10 the stinss Of conscience and flee the scene forever.
 The fiction writer would place this in the last chapter and end his tale with the release of Rice. That at least seems the logical ending. The more refined and subtle writer would string it out little longer provid- ing 2 trial in which the validity of the death note were attacked and an attempt made to prove that Mrs. Jackson was not at the scene at the time of the murder: and then would be . pulse. hastening jury scene, contendins stalwarts at the bar, and then . final verdict to surprise the reader and send him off to bed con- fiient that such things could only happen between the covers of books
 Whether the drama is soon to be over or whether the more extended route is to be travelled remains in doubt as this is written. The chief result. so far as the public mind is concerned. probably will be that opinions regarding the case. formed upon a basis of newspa peg reading, will be more open to Aux and change.
 Conjecture over the known eti- dence in the case is general and the suspicion abroad is that while Mrs. Jackson might have known of the shooting. her hand did not actually speed the bullet on its way. Her note. it's contents still unknown 10 us. may, Of course. definitely clear Rice by the introduction of some evidence as to an aaibi or some proof that Mrs. Jackson murdered her husband and beyond the mere assertion that she did 50 because she had plenty Of reasons for the act. Lacking the note we continue 10 buildf'up a theory Of the case Of our own, tor no par ticular reason beyond the widespread interest in the murder.
 It seems peculiar that a woman 'iould have chosen .32 caiibre re- No'lcr 10 do the deed 10 which Mrs, Jackson is supposed 10 have con. l"-sed. Women do not asa rule, like ) handle the heavier cafibre re to'N'rs and Mrs. Jackson. when she chose to take her own life picked out .s. calibre rifle. with which she was familiar, for her use. There
 
 revolver available. but it stands 10 reason that there must have been as long as part of the Jackson arsenal me .2I-was on hand. Evidently there was no effort made by the po lice authorities to clean out inc Jackson home Of deadly wea pon..
 There is much mystery yet in the case. the actions of the police in withholding information tends to deepen instead Of lcsscnins tho curiosity. which is. possibly, the ef- fecs the authorities are trying 10 ob- tain.