The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-03

/ W. Sill
The coroner called Michael,
then, and considering that ne,
having been with Miss Lissey at
her death, was one of the princi-
pal witnesses, it was perhaps
strange that his evidence was
taken so swiftly. The coroner
asked him few questions as to
the exact time Of Miss Lissey's
death. as to the telephone call,
and as to the calling Of the doc
tor. And then he began to cues.
ton him on what was in reality
Miss LiSsey'S dying statement.
"She was evidently preparing
to tell us something that seemed
to her of very grave importance, /"
Michael said slowly. an reality,
she said very little. She gave US
nothing but the barest inkling of
what she might tell us.
How did she begin, Mr.. For
reSter?"
Michael hesitated. "By speak
ing of her dislike for Mrs. Muir
Gibson" he said gravely, land of
Mrs. Murchison's dislike for her."
did she give any reason for
that mutual dislike?"
MichaePs manner was apollo
getic. "This information that she
gave us is probably not correct"
he said.
you are not called upon to de-
eide that. What did she say?"
"She said that Mrs. Murchison
WaS-shall We say-fiying under
false colors."
Marie Murchison jumped to her
feet. "She lied!" she cried franti-
cally.
Hysterical Creature
old Mrs. Devoe startled them
~ all, then. She spoke harshly
to Mrs. Murchison. "Sit down, you
hysterical creature!" she COM
manded. How do you know what
she Saidw
The woman sank slowly into
her chair. her eyes still on Mi
I'm what way, Mr.. Forrester?"
"She said" Michael went on
unhappily, "she said that Mrs.
Murchison had been-a lady's
maid before she was married"
The black eyes closed suddenly.
why should that make any
difference?" DR.. Mayhem asked
kindly.
TT doesn't, of course. But Miss
Lissey resented it for some reason
of her own. Possibly because she
hadn't been in Mrs. Murchison's
confidence"
did she make any further
statement which might point to
enmity between herself and Mrs.
Murchison?"
"She said something that sound
ed rather ridiculous. She said that
Mrs. Murchison and-and the De-
woes were not related"
Jared Devoe smiled unbeliev-
ingly, and shook his head. He had
regained some of his composure.
'That is all?"
"That is all she insinuated
against Mrs. Murchison."
Someone else, then. came I'M
der the lash?"
Michael hesitated. "She said
that Duncan Murchison was a
very fine boy" he said quietly.
She said that what she had TO
tell would spoil his life for him;
and then she went on and repeat
ed the story that Higgins Just now
told, from her point of view of
course. She said that she had
heard Duncan say to his sister-in-
law, Marie, Marie, this can't go
on. can't stand it. We've got to
end it somehow. I'll kill him.
That's one way out"
There was a terrible little ST.
lence.
"She didn't suggest that she
knew to whom Mr.. Murchison was
abiding? Whom he threatened to
kill?"
"She died, then" Michael said
gently.
The coroner let him 90, and
called Jared Devoe.
MIR. Devoe, you have heard the
evidence. Have you any light to
throw on Miss LiSSey's death, or
on any of this mass of detail that
seems to be accumulating?"
very little, ! am afraid" De-
voc said stiff1y. His shoulders were
held very straight.
'Mr., Devoe, did you overhear
Miss LiSsey's remark to Mrs. Nc
Balm on Sunday"
81 did"
did you understand what she
meant?"
II did not. l put it down to
pique. Miss Lissey did not care to
have any gentleman pay any at
tention to any woman except her.
self"
"You put it rather plainly. Mr..
Devoe."
II am rather tired of the in
volved nature of the evidence, Mr..
Coroner"
You are willing then to state
exactly what is and is not SOP"
so long as it has any bearing
on the case"
''You, too" the coroner MUIR
INJURED beneath his breath. Devoe
flushed angrily but said nothing.
Some reserve strength of charac-
ter had manifested itself, within
the last few minutes. Something
had angered him, perhaps.
Then, as I see it, you must have
had a certain understanding of
Miss LiSsey'S mental makeup"
the coroner said. 1--WE have heard
that Miss LiSsey was disturbed in
her mind that afternoon. Can you
tell us, can you vouchsafe any in
deportation of that inner disturb
ANGER"
Continued tomorrow