Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 4 October 1895 — Page 11

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By EDMUND DOWSEY,

Author of "A Hotm of Tears," "Red .-Post Pork," Etc. :'i%t

£.

[Copyright, 19M, bj TUlotaoa ft San.) The foreman of the jury felt it was bis bounden duty to assert himaAif He had oonqnered the yawning attack, and felt equal now to any emergency. "Might I ask the witness," said he, "if he for any reason—let us say even for a joke—locked these two lodgers into their rooms?" "No, I did not," answered Leclero, with an indignant shake of his head. "Now, Dr. Leclero," said the solicitor for the treasury, rising, "we understand yon are engaged to Miss Rodney, the niece of the deceased." "Is this necessary?" asked the coroner. "Yes, sir. I think you will see it is." "I have no objection to answer the question. I am engaged to Miss Rodney. "Yon had arranged to marry her on Thursday last and to leave the country with her immediately?" "Such was my intention." "You knew this sum of £1,800 was in the bedroom ot Mrs. Davorn?" "The witness is not bound to answer these questions unless he likes," said the coroner, checking a yawn with his taper fingers. "I have no objection, sir," said Leclero. "I was aware the money was in the room." "You say your interview with the deceased was a stormy ona Did she refuse .to give her consent to her niece's marriage with you?" "Yea" "Were you in pressing'need at maney on the night of the 9th of October?" "I have been in pressing need of money for some time." "I wish the gentleman who is examining the witnesses on behalf of the treasury," said the coroner, "would oanflne himself more closely to the object of the present inquiry, which is to ascertain how Martha Davorn came to her death." "I am doing my best, sir, I assure you," said the solicitor. Then addressing himself again to Leolerc: "You left 18 Felspar road on the night of the 9th inst .about a quarter past 11. Did any one see you leave the house except Miss Rodney?!' "No one else that I am aware of." "Mrs. Davorn was in good health when you saw her last?" "She was greatly excited and was very flushed." "But as a medical man you would say die was in fairly good health?" "I should not like to answer as a medical man. I was myself in too exeited a condition at the time to pay much attention to Mrs. Davorn's physioal condition." "You say you wandered about the streets for some time. Did you meet any one you recognized during your. wanderings? A policeman? Any ane?'

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Inspector Briggs tnp-ped htm on the shoulder. "I have no memory of meeting any tone whom I recognized. 1 was too much wrapped up in my own thoughts to trouble about the few,peopleI did chance to meet" "You were in Felspar road about 1 o'clock. Hiowjdo you fix the time?" "I remember looking at my watch under the gas lamp which stands outside 18." "Did you remain standing under the .gas lamp long?" "Only a few moments." "Could you say if the windows were all closed in front at the time yoa stood there?" "I should say they wem I glanced at the house It would have struck me with surprise and alarm if IJhad noticed an open window. The light from the lamp throws a sftrang glare on the house. "s "You saw nobody in the neighborhood of Mrs. Davorn's hcmse at 1 o'clock in & "No. My tnemozy is thai the road was then perfectly quiet and deserted." 'What, in your opinion, Dr. Leclero, would he the effects of chloroform adjninistered to a sleeping person?" qqe^tionstartled everyone in the 0$nrt who had been following the inquiry attentively. It brought them back quickly to the most Interesting point— the discovery as to what had happened to cause Mrs. Davorn's "The effects would vaiy considerably. Much would depend on the

ooEsdition

of

the person to whom the was administered and much to his or her general temperament". "At all events a sponge saturated with chloroform administered! to a sleep* ring peqmn would: produce oomplete insensibility?" "It tpe treatment was persisted in few a sufficiently lengthy period—yes." "And m%ht cause death?" "Possibly. Either cardiaa syncope car apno&a might be produced. The first hnwimw wmM 1M iwnnUa

insensibility. "And, I repeat, death might be the result?" "Yefc'fi^f "Will yon fell the jury what, in your opinion, would be, generally speaking, the symptoms and effects of chloroform inhalation by a sleeping person?" "The first symptom, as I have said, would be complete insensibility. The person to whom the drug was being administered might struggle in his sleep or might awake and struggle. In the beginning inhalation of chloroform produces a sense of mehtal intoxication, consciousness in the case of a person awake and in his ordinary senses remaining. "But the probability is that if a sponge saturated with chloroform was employed a sleeping person would never awake?" ''The probability is quite the other way. I have frequently chloroformed patients—though perhaps not in suoh a rotygh and ready way as by meansof a saturated sponge—and I have never but one© had an accident. The exception wa» an elderly man who was chloroformed at his own request far an operation. He died of apooea." "Would von consider Mm. Davom an elderly woman?" "No." "You did not examine the deceased after death?" "No. I understood Dr. Percival had pronounced life to be extinct some time before I had reached the house." "That is all I have to ask you." "I beg your pardon," said one of the jurymen as Dr. Leclero, feeling faint and sick at heart, was about to retire. "How long would at person—the deceased lady, for instance—left to herself after she was chloroformed thoroughly —how long would she take to regain sensibility?" "It would depend largely on the condition of the person, on her general health, on her temperament It would be impossible to give any fixed rule." "Ten minutes or a quarter of an hour plight elapse?" said the juryman, feeling secretly proud of his medical knowledge. "Itmight." "Thankyon, doctor."

Am Leclero retired, with the intention nf seeking out his sweetheart, Inspector Briggs tapped him on the shoulder and indicated to hini that he would be expected to remain in the court until the inquiry was concluded or adjourned.

The jury were unable to see in Leclero's evidence anything which tended to incriminate him. There had been a certain amount of hesitancy in many of his replies, but that meant little. or fiothing. During tho timet that Leclero was giving his evidenoe Inspector Briggs had discovered Goringe and had been in earneit conversation with him toward the close of Leclerc's examination.

Bernard James Vickery was now standing in front of the coroner. His faoe was drawn and haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hands trembled violently. He made a strong effort to pull himself together as he was asked his name, and when 'he.. ha^ an^ered the question He folded aims «wvobw his chest and threw his head back. "What is your occupation?" asked the coroner. "An ihvjentor. I have invented several minor mechanical appliances and am at present engaged in endeavoring to perfect a very important motive power. I think, sir, with your permission, I can shorten the present inquiry considerably by making a statement" He had again lost opntrol of his voice to some extent, and nis body trembled as if with an agpe.

The coroner lifted his head, tapped the sidaof his pen against his ink bottle, and stared for a few moments, without yawning, at the witness. "If your statement concerns the present inquiry—an inquiry into the manner in which the deceased came by her death—make it by all means." "Very well, sir," said Vickery, with a quick and violent effort to. steady himself "My statement does concern itself with the manner in which Mrs. Davorn oame by her death."

CHAPTER XV.

STATEMENT OF BERNARD VICKERY.

The whole court was electrified by Vickery's words. The man could only mean either that he was a Witness of the actual murder or that he was about to oonfess that he himself was the murderer.

Inspector Briggs wore a puzzled loiak on his faoe. Constable Metcalf, who was still in the ceurt, looked as puzzled as his chief. Constable Young's fat face beamed with delight He, and he only, had from the beginning—to use his own expression—"spotted" the murderer. It was then ''the cove With the chethicals" —Bernard James Vickery—who had "done the trick.'• i$|| jjff.

All eyes were turned upon the Witness, who, now that he had succeeded in screwing Ms courage to the sticking pout, seemed the most unconcerned man in the court "I,have stated that my occupation is that of an[ inventor. I have for some years past been concerned mainly with an invention which har caused me an immense amount of anxiety." "I hope,"said the coroner, lifting his eyes from his notes, "that we are not going to have a long rambling state* ment concerning yourself. Recollect, my business here"—he was obliged to punctuate his sentence with a yawn— "my business here is to preside over an inquiry into the manner in which the deennand111 Martha Davom came by her death." "I will only occupy your time, sir, and the jury's with what I think does oonocro the object of the present inquiry. My position is too terrible for me to contemplate any other course. "Very well," said the coroner, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles and then stretching his elbows out, "I will not interrupt you again unless I find joa wandering altogether from the point" "I feel," said Viokery, "fiujt I must

expuuii my own contract ana my own condition before I get to the wont part' of my statement, but I will be as brief as I possibly can. I was, as I have said, engrossed in my discovery, and I knew if I could carry out my experiments. I could at once be a rich man—a very rich man. The only difficulty in my way was the want of money. I calculated it would take at least £1,000 to pull me through. I racked my brain for some means of discovering how the neoessaiy money was to be obtained, but I could find no one to help me. "At the time—I mean during the past month—I learned from Mrs. Davorn that she had a considerable sum of money in the Fnndedbank. She did not state what the amount was. She had some idea that I could advise her as to the investing of her money. My first impulse was to put my plans before her, to tell her about my incompleted invention, and to ask her for help, but {felt on consideration that it would be hope* less to suggest to the lady anything that would strike her as being so hazardous away of investing her money. She had a morbid dread of losing everything she possessed, and die was also eager thai it should not escape from me that she had consulted me about her savings cor referred in any way to them. My own position at this period was beootning desperate. Everything, or nearly everything, I possessed was sunk in my invention, and without money to complete my experiments I saw ruin stariiig nw in the face. r,. "I must now inform you," he continued, after a brief pause, "thnt have been for many years in the habit of inhaling chloroform. I began" ha-practice for the purpose of relieving an asthmatic attack, and by degrees liave gro\yn somewhat reckless in the uw of the drug. It always produces intense ahd pleasurable excitement at the beginning, and has often, I fancy, provided me with ideas. I mention thiB only to show that as I was in the habit of "aing chloroform freely myself it was not unreasonable of me to think I might employ it with a stranger and not anticipate fatal results. "On the night of the 9th of October I went to myipom about 10 o'clock. I had no intention of going to bed. I was greatly agitated And greatly distressed is I reviewed the condition of my finances and. the prospect at almost imminent ruin. As I walked up and down my bedroom I heard the sound of angry •(does, and opening my door I was Ala to hear a good deal of what wpn$ on in Mrs. Davarn's room, as her door, was slightly open, I quickly learned that die had at that moment in her' room a sum of £1,800 in bank notes. "All at once my brain was fired with a horrible desire to possess myself of thia money. I could with itB powerful aid quickly complete my invention and be quickly in a position to restore the money with ample interest"

Bernard Viokery now came to a dead stop. Taking his handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped from his brow great drops of sweat which stood out upon his forehead. There was dead silence in the court, a silence broken by the witness as he resumed his narrative. "I returned to my room and sat down to think the matter out There would, I knew, be the chance, indeed this strong probability, of discovery. Still the horrible prompting to possess myself of this money, which would endow me with great wealth, was dinning itself into my ears. In despair and still qncertain what I would do, I turned to my shloroform, and saturating a sponge I inhaled the fumes freely. ''After a time—I don't know how long, for the chloroform took from met all count at time^—I decided upon a plan. I would borrow this money at all hazards. I could easily replace it in a month or two—perhaps in a shorter time. And I would replace it with double or treble the. amount and put Mrs. Davorn at ease about her future. I would wait until the house was sound in sleep, and then oould creep down to Mrs. Davorn's room and ascertain if she was asleep.' I could then render her completely insensible while I hunted for the money in her room. THere would be no danger or risk of danger to the lady. She would never even knew anything unusual had happened. When I possessed the money, it would be time enough to think of some plan for diverting suspicion from ma. "I own this wab a fearfully weak and reckless scheme, but I have no doubt I was acting nartlv upder the se-

"That is my-whole story."

v.

ductive influence of the. chloroform. At any rate, I waitedi^tu Xguettedtbe house was soundly asleep, and then I crept down staixa to Mrs. Davom's room and drugged her into insensibility with the spqageloaaa&xl with "That is rriy whole story," fie added in a weak and faltering voice. "Iain' terribly punished, but 2 have told the truth."

He tottered aa he spoke, and would have fallen but for the protecting arms of Constable Noting, who had lega keeping his eyes fixed intently on Vickery while he was making the statement to the courts

CHAPTER XVI DR. PEBCTVAL'S OPDfXOW.

There waaabuzz of excitement in the hall after Vickery had made his startling confession. The coroner did not show any striking symptoms of ennui as he busied himself with his notes* and the jury felt their task was about to prove a much more simple one than they at first anticipated.

It was with difficulty Constable Young could restrain his feelings. He was, indeed, in his own humble opinion, the man of the hour. His oouioal head seemed to widen at the base and to stretch itself higher up at the apex as he Buoceeded in propping up the tottering witness.

Bernard Viokery recovered slowly. Looking as pale and nerveless as a ghoet he sipped some water from a glass which Constable Metcalf had obtained tor him then he stood up in his former place, facing th& oarcmer.

Inspector Briggs who had just returned from a brief interview behind the pillar with Detective Goring^ how addressedthe ooroner. "Withyour permission, sir, "said he, "I diould like to aak tin witness same questions." r' "Certainly, inspector," said the coroner, throwing himself fault on his chair, stretching his legs and giving way to a yawn which was only a feeble echo of his earlier gaping.

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1** Xou taty jrwn uKajBomtnitiiABinu," saidlhspector Briggs. "Did- you also take the money in the room—£1,800?" "The witness is not bound to answer that question," said the coroner. "I have no desire to hide anything, sir," said Viokery, in a weary tone. "I meant to oonvey that I did takethe money. At least, I believe I took it" "You believe you did," said the inspector. "What do you mean by that?" "I say I believe that I took the money, but after I got back to my bedroom I must have fallen into a fit or a trance. That ia the only suggestion I can offer. I was fearfully excited, and whatever happened I cannot tell what has become of the money. I oould find no traaea of it next morning. When I waa aroused by the police knocking at mjr bedroom door I fancied atkfirst that everything which had occurred after 1 had inhaled the chloroform the previous nigit"-^-.. "You meanafter you had learned that the money was tn the deoeaaed's rocmf asked the oarontir, interrupting mess.

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"Yes,• fancied, a^ Isi^ that everything whiih followed must have been only a fevered dream. But I aoon learned how real it wasi And what a terrible reali^!" "y

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"You mean to assert, I take it," said the ooroner, "that up to the present moment you do not know what has beoome of the money belonging to the deceased, Martha*Davorn?" "I do not, sir. 1 was more like man in a trance that night thjui one in his waking senses." "Are you aware that you were locked into your room some time during the night?" asked Inspector Briggs, returning to the attack.

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"I have heard sa I was not aware of it until I was informed of the fact by the policeman who roused ma "Howdoyohaooonnt for your getting .out of your room if the door-waft looked? Do yon mean to suggest that you were locked in after you had. returned with the money to your room?" "I suppose that must be aa," answered Viekery in bewildered way. "How oan I tell?" "You cannot aoocmnt tor a^ythitig which happened after you got baplc to your room that niriit?" "I cannot" "Are you aware thtti a sponge which had been recently saturated with chloroform was found by the bedside of tha deceased?" "w "I haveheardsa" "Are you in the habit of using a sponge When inhaling chloroform?" "Yea" "And you put chloroform on a sponge on the night of the 9th of October and inhaled the vapor shortly after you heard voices in dispute in Mrs. Davorn's room?" .. "Yes." "Would you recogniae that a^(»gl, do you think?" "I fancy I should." "li this it?' askedthe inspector, producing the sponge which Dr Percival hadpickedup. "Yea Hammered Vickery "I think, sir," said the foreman Of the jipfcr, addressing the coroner,/'that we must visit the house and carefully examine those doors and the rooms ifi which the two gentlemen and the deceased slept" "I think it willbe neoessary," said the coroner. "And it mi^it be a good time for you to visit 18 Felspar road during luncheon hour Inspector jiriggs can take yOu into jBafe cUitody. P«obabfy Dr. PeroivtU will be here after luoeheoni ffia evidence will* of course, be of importance. I will now adjourn the oonrt nntil8 o'clock," saidthe 9apner, standing up and s^petchiiig bis arms, as if he were suffering froni some form of cnutlp. "That will give yon ample time, gentlemen, to examine the premise£t iS^Jsparroad."

—every one but Constable Young. wluiM head seemed to ewell with conscious pride. Wluit had promised to be .a mystery waa a mystety tfo JUxtger. Vickesy had ro^bedand nwlendjlbt, Dayocn. The murder may have been unintentional, but it waa minder all the aama

The only dement of mystery now i»JIMMning wast j. What had byome at the. Honey—the 18 hundred pound notes? Thft ooroner's inqiiiiy could scaxoeliy be expwsted toooqeemitKilf withtiuaproblem, but no donibt die police would soon be able to make all things clear.

Maurioe Leolera was apparently the stoat astonished man in the const had liMeA9d with rapt attention to Victory's cobfefitdou—« confeatfon, he felt whieh rftliflvftrtliitafrom all further KUh

statement, Leclero, an intolerable burden lifted froih hia shoulders, tnsnod to Inspector Briggs, who was standing hard by, and inquired if Mlss Rodnqy was still in the building. The inspeotoor in a whisper directed the yotmg doctoF to the room where he wonl& find her.

Ethelhad no sttspiciott whate^or that Vickery was the guilty person. She had always regarded him as a quiet, gentle man. That he should have become a thief was hard enough to believe, but it was incredible that he should have run he is in he a

Detective Goringe was one at thft fijntt to leave the court after the coroner stood upk EBs oocntenaaoe tdforded ho index as to the impresaion made upon him by the unexpected oonfewicai of Bematd James Vidkeiy.

The jury, in chaq^ Inspeotor Briggs and the ooroner Voffl^er. proceeded toFelspar road. The foreman, who waa much perplexed, walked alongaide the inepeot« and endeavored to elicit from him his views cm the whole oase,butBriggs ^raswisdysilentand offered.no assistance to the inquisitive foreman.^ (TO OOITIUUMK)

IMIm, T»m, KxewrMMi, Oet lfttt iM. S, The Clover Leaf Route, (T. Bt, & K. C. R. R.,) will issue one fareescursion ticketa to Dallas, Texas, and- return daily, Oet. 18 to Nov. 3 incluai¥e, account following attnwtioiis:!Qeneral Christian Miasionary Conventlon "Diseiples of Oirist," Oet. 18 to 85V''v^'xas State Fair and Dallas Exposition, Oct. 19 to Nov. 4 CorbettrFitzaimmons fistie contest, Oct. 81.

For fnrther particulars call on nj est agent or address, C. G. JnVRCts,

Gen. Pass, Agt., Toledo, p.,

N. B.—Special service to the Fiatio Contest Engine sleeping oar early, Ifarth rate from Toledo $7.50. Stafons West proportionately lesaaocoitting to distance.

BVBU ROAD,

Salph Bratton is on the A. Linn has the champion milk cow. Mr. Jackson, is no better at this writing.

LinndbEdwarda shippeda Vrlcid Of hogs Monday. John Northcutt and sister have moved to Ladoga.

Bertie Remley will iti^wfth

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Smiliey this winter. .GallowayA Co, have begun work on Stone'a new honaa.

Oiaa. Lanthara will stay in a a tore at Advance this winter. Mrs. ROa* E|helman ia visiting near Kingaley'e Clnpd. _Rev. Giiihes talked

Several from here attended the k/of P. reunion at Waynetown last week. Clarence Hobson baa purchased a half interest in New.. Ron batsher

James Armstrong winhes to idfd^m the sports thatJii^ farm contains ne rtce traek.

Ed McCarty has*been appointed &a* ss tant superintendent of the gaa com^ pany at Sberidpu,s

Dan Courtney an^l sister have returned to Indianapolis after a short visit with friends here.

The Mace schools are doing nicely under the' administration at W., JB. Walkup and Mra. Biddle.

Ora Artnstrong and nephewi X. Hayseed, will talk crops and weather to thepeoplepfBoone- oWtntfeff#'

The wheat is not yet ajlJ sowed owingto the fcarcity of hands and the ttngled condition of the feorh4'M^||p

Made should have a flourishi^1f&er> ary and debating society this winter,' and it could have if thoee who' can do* bate only woul4« ,Y

M. L. Edwards has soli his driving horse „to a Crawfordsville firm. Be has not jfet decided iuitiJjQ' travel-inlthe fhtnrf*

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If things continue faVorrble Albert Armstrong will again visit Michigan about Christmass time, and this time he really and truly will not come back alone.

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Corn eutting is. now a thing of the past. During the season every man and boy '. who would work was employed, and still there was room for more. The prices paid averaged cents per: shock,: .some .paying only O cents, wbile othera paid 8 cents.

Woo. Chambers ia a veteran .of the "late unpleasantness" and can tell stories of hardship and adventure that would seem almost incredible to a stranger. We recently had a very pleasant chat with him. On' one occasion his entire company white on

Birtskg W&*'

Th* ki(c^iM(et«BtisM!M«k)l Misyl syeqw.in this.Sfty.i wfoiDt utnliiiiilwilm, MMgai^Stenbsag5nS»ti during the pant focr ysansrs

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thar'^ MmvSiZdie. Tbs locsl Dr. Glssiftr(L( days whea 1 Aanhnid. asalfc •o wtsk,s«drsgahaijr. ,, to eany ass Stai» r.'Mcrf

bedy,of thswoaA wwSuAt by Dr. Wt P«leBM9ls.M Ibrd. wmnI them, aim 1

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churah. .Sunday morning. x, Bill Morris delivered a calf at Darlington one day last week*

Wm. Mish is in charge pf smith shop at Snmrtil^ig. Maurice Wicks haa^ 'sold" !l form to Arch Martin for $1^700.

W. M. Lauthers has quite a clover and timothy hay for sale. Albert Linn and George Huntwj] go to Sockeroot for health, v?*

change. Tm and ia the aadl la six I •eetaenew.

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forced march were conipelled to fide sixteen days without,food Or drink and with very little sleep.

It^msthat in tbee»«A? ppjtofti

opportunity for good in this county was past, and he at Ooei began making preparation* "to depart thence into, another yountry." Wh»n urged to r*-,

reP,ied»

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yet whea he stretishea kiiiMalf b^umtk the ahade^of a barbed^jmire fenee to reat it will he aweet toj'lllia to know that he ja toUing for othei thia. Ana should. an amount of his w^rka ever W writSen it would doubw lasa be mont interesting than the sr^fsof Hans Egede *hd hlstoHs among thesnowsof Greenland.

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"1 cannot stay

lifefi0# Texas for thither tha WtlMiW me." Mo noufet the vtrfee that said"Go teach all national came to him in sweet and secret whisi or perhaps it waa a drsaun and proved obedient to the vision. Bia qeatimtum fc the Pan-handle of Texas and we hope for. many long yoars to come we may read of him going to and fro acroea the plains preaching the" old,' Old story. It profegMy reqnlred a wost to timnt "iuWd. of tniea Sowers, tpr one of bua alng

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