The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-03-19


bleeding through r.. Morris
ministrations, I preferred not to
be inconvenience with an aWk-
ward bandage. It would also
have necessitated my answering
friendly questions about the ac-
cident and I am rather sensitive
about these things. DR.. Morris
told me to be carful of the finger,
since a twist or bump would re-
open the wound and it would
bleed again. I redressed with
some difficulty and went to the
Club restaurant with my friend
Franklin Ahearn, with whom I
had made a dinner appointment
We spent the evening in the Club
with other business acquaintance
of mine. I was asked to join in a
game of bridge but was forced to
refuse because of my hand. At
1910 I left the Club and took a
cab to the ferry :"
Bruno was on his feet, protest
ing to the testimony as ''irrel-
evant and immaterial," and de-
handing that it be stricken off
the record.
Lyman said: "Your Honor, the
defendants testimony is impor-
tant in building up a defense
which will prove his innocence"
Judge Grimm. overruled the
District Attorneys objection,
motioning Lyman to continue.
But Lyman turned to Bruno and
said: "Your witness"
Bruno scowled, then rose and
for fifteen minutes badgered De-
Witt, attempting to shake his
story and bring out facts relating
to Longstreet. To these Lyman
inexorably objected and was sus-
tanned. Finally, after a dry rep
rimand from Judge Grimm, the
District Attorney sat down, mop
ping his forehead, and Dewitt
stepped from the stand.
ST call as second witness for
the Defense" announced Lyman,
"Franklyn Ahearn."
DeWitt's friend, wearing a look
of complete stupefaction, was
sworn in. .-
did you notice Mr.. DeWitt's
hurt finger during your dinner
together at the Club?" asked
Lyman.
eyes. It was raw and ugly
looking, but the cut had formed
a rudimentary scab of dried
blood"
did anything occur at the din
Ener-table or afterward which
bears upon this point, Mr.. All
earn?"
| Ahearn sat thought fully strok-
ing his jaw. eyes. Dewitt held
his right hand rather rigidly and
used only his left hand for eat
ing purposes. It was necessary
for the waiter to cut his chop"
"Your witness, Mr.. Bruno"
did you know where the de-
PENDANT was going after he left
you at 1910 that EVENING""
"No."
"How is it that you did not leave
with him."
"Mr. Dewitt said he had an ap-
pointment."
with whom?"
''He didn't say, and of course
I didn't ask"
"What did you do after the de-
PENDANT left the Club?"
Lyman was on his feet again,
smiling another objection. Again
Judge Grimm sustained, and
Bruno released the witness.
"For my third Witness" Lyman
said in a deliberate drawl, "1n-
spector Thumm!"
Thumm started, like a boy
caught stealing apples, thudded
into the witness-chair.
"You were in charge of the
police investigation on the ferry
boat when Wood was. discovered
murdered?"
81 was!"
"Where were you standing just
before the body was fished from
the river?"
"On the upper passenger deck
at the railing"
"Who was with your"
"The defendant and Mr.. Drury
Lane"
did you notice Mr.. DeWitts
finger was cut?"
eyes"
"Please describe the appearance
of the wound as you saw it al
that moment"
"Well, it looked sort of raw
There was a dried-blood scat
formed over the cut"
"Over the entire length of the
rut, inspector? The scab was II
one piece?"