Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27

went into his library Immediately after dinner.
AT half-paSt 9, Lewis Cope came to the
house. He was in dinner clothes, and he
seemed to be in high state of excitement,
Reeves who let him in, says. He pushed past
Reeves, and went into the library. Reeves
heard the sound of angry voices as If Oakley
and Cope were having a violent row. Reeves
went down to look at the furnace fire, and was
there possibly eight or nine minutes.
when he came upstairs, sounds could
be heard In the library. Somewhat alarmed,
Reeves tapped at the door and getting no an
swer, went in. Oakley was sprawling in a chair,
apparently In a drunken stupor, for there was
a half bottle of rye and a glass on the table.
Cope had gone. Reeves helped Oakley upstairs
and put him to bed. 1t seems that Reeves was
rather used to that sort of thing"
SOLITARY drinker, eh?"
ayes"
Bad" said Matthew Kelton. bad"
"At twenty minutes past H." continued
Turner, "Oakley's chauffeur and his wife, and
the gardener and his wife returned from town.
They'd been in to see movie. As they came
up the main drive, the cars headlights picked
up something white by the roadside the
lawn about IS yards from the house. It was
Cope's shirt front. He had been shot through
the heart Slight powder marks were on the
shirt as if he had been shot from distance
of two or three feet.
without stopping to make any sort 9
examination, the chauffeur and the others dr. 3;
down Dark River road about a quarter of a
mile to where a state trooper is stationed. regu-
lating trafhc. Sergt Lester, keen young ON
Ger, came back with them, and with his fash
light made thorough examination Of the body
and the ground around 1t. He found no weapon.
He phoned for Capt. Lamotte, who arrived
shortly with Police Surgeon usher.
"DR. USHER said Cope had been dead
about an hour. They went into the
house, and woke up Oakley. He appeared to
be groggy from the drink, but the shock Of see
ing Cope's body sobered him completely He
kept tight grip on himself, however. Said
nothing. Merely stared at Cope.
capt. Lamotte, who was watching him
closely, says that he read in Oakleys face a
fierce hate for Cope even in death. Capt.
Lamotte is man of action. He said to Oakley,
Did you do this?' :. =. I didn't said Oakley.
4 wish hadv
persuaded Capt. Lamotte not to arrest him
formally until you had chance to look things
over. Bankers can't afford to be arrested, even
II they are entirely innocent"
"And it's even worse If they're guilty, sup
pose," said Matthew Kelton. Evan, I don't
see much hope for Oakley. grant that Lewis
Cope was no ornament to society-a vicious,
ill-natured fellow, I've always heard. Even so,
it was mad of Oakley to kill him, especially like
this"
"Drtnk-craZed," muttered Turner, more 70
himself than to Matthew Kelton.
Beginning to work out your line of defense,
eh?"
Looks as If I'll need to-"
what about self-defense?"
The lawyer shook his head.
mot much chance There was no sign Of
a struggle as Sergt. Lester will testify. Oakley
denies emphatically that he had any sort Of
physical fight with Cope"
Suppose you ask Mr. Oakley to step in here
a moment. I'm not the sort of man who can
tell guilty person from an innocent one by
feeling his pulse, but I'd like to ask few
questions"
The lawyer went into the other room and
returned with Guy Oakley. The banker was
a big man, SO, perhaps, with the lined and
scanned face Of a man who has known much
worry and sorrow in his life.
Have cigar Mr.. Oakley" Matthew Kelton
greeted him. He offered Oakley his case. The
banker took a cigar, lit it. His fingers, Kelton
noted, were steady.
Nov, Mr.. Oakley, please tell me, briefly,
what happened tonight" Matthew Kelton said,
as casually as If he were asking for descrip-
ton of card game.
ct didn't kill Cope" said Oakley. He sank
into a chair, as If he were very tired.
That's what Turner and I will have to
prove" said Matthew Kelton. Help us by
telling us exactly what occurred"
I've been on the ragged edge, late" the
banker said. Nerves all tangled. Business
worries-and Cope. I think he hated me on
sight. know I took strong dislike to him
when first met him, some seven years ago.
That happens sometimes, you know.
"Then-four years ago-we got into that
mess. We both behaved pretty badly, guess.
1t was nasty snarl Of treachery, deceit, lies
all round. It's all over now. She-she's dead.
But our hate lived. Cope I knew to be vim
dictive-and subtle. I've seen him watching
me with the eyes of a snake, waiting to strike.
I waited. It was narrowing"
Naturally" said Matthew Kelton. Them"