The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-25
CHAPTER

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The coroner resumed his ques'
tons. Did anyone besides you
know that Markham had these dia'
monds on him?"
Il don't think So"
l signaled f~rantically to Jerry.
It was apparent to me that ne
didn't believe the diamonds would
link him to Alfred Markham's
death. l wanted him to stop talk
ing, but 1 couldn't catch his eye.
Did you know where he carried
the diamonds?" Coroner Silver
asked him.
mo. Now that I've learned,
think he hid them c%leverly."
1 turned to Harvey Mcclure.
Look here" l expostulated.
"Jerry's talking himself into all
kinds of a mess and doesn't know
it. Can't we stop him?"
Hes doing wonders for you"
my attorney advised dryly. Let
him talk"
But he's a FRIEND
The was moving on re-
l~entlessly. And why did you want
to see him about the diamonds"
Jerry colored. We'll, you see,
sir, Muriel promised to be my wife,
and"
'Muriel?"
Miss Benson, sir. Markham
promised to fix me up a p%artlcu-
larly nice ring. Because l worked
all day and couldn't get down to
his jeWelry store, I telephoned and
asked him t. bring some diamonds
to the party and would pick one
out"
"Unmounted?"
"Oh, yes, sir. I know it was
strange, but you see I-we-had
already picked out the ring. It was
just the stone I wanted to see
But these are all much finer
stones than you could afford, Mr..
Montcalm-that is, you are a clerk
in a clothing store, aren't you?'
Yes, sir; but you see. he was a
friend" Jerry swallowed. He was
going to make it easy for me- He
looked down at the floor. And I
wanted to get the best
The coroner nodded. II under
stand. That will be al, Nj. Mont.
calm. Mr.. St. Clair, you are next"
The young stock broker and
president Of the Rio Vista club was
nattily attired in a gray suit. He
had assumed az air Of amused
boredom.
DO you know" the coroner
asked him, IF Alfred Markham
was in the habit Of drinking ;rtox,
eating Iquor?"
S.. Clair gaped. OF al the cues.
tons that might have been asked
hin, it seemed tia. this was the
most unexpected. L threw hin
completely of lis stride.
il don't : the Connection
- an conducting this inquiry
the cororer reminded him. On sec
end though. ne added, BY way O
explanation I viii say at this time
that preceding witnesses have md
Gated how Mr.. Markham va:
killed. and a. what tine. We nov
are going back to review events
leading up to the fatal moment.
Alfred Markham's conduct, espe-
ciaIly # it deviated from his usual
habits Of life, may have had i'm
portant bearing on this case. I ask
the jury to pay special attention
VIII the witness please answer"
Captain Mcdonald was biting his
cigar and glowering. An inquest,
in police opinion, should be a rath-
er perfunctory ceremony. The cor
oner, being an ambitious young
man, was out to make headlines.
"Mr. Markham" said st. Clair,
was strictly against intoxicating
liquor"
He lever drank"
mono. I never saw him drink,
until Tuesday night"
"Ah! So he drank Tuesday
night? He must have been under
unusual stress, then, to break d
lfe-abstinence?"
That is an assumption. I cant
testify as to that"
Quite right. Did you notice tina
he acted any differently than usual
aside from taking the drink-ol
was it several drinks?"
Il wasn't paying any special at
tention to him. I don't believe there
could have been anything unusual
or I would have heard someone re
mark about it. And l saw hin