Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1899 — AUNT HANNAH'S SECRET. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AUNT HANNAH'S SECRET.

CHAPTER VIII. At ten o'clock a carriage drew up before tbe residence of the late banker, and from It descended Sheriff Cobb, Deputies Banning and Spears and their prisoner. The coroner and his jury of six chosen men were already convened in the library, and to that room the officers at once repaired with their prisoner. A number of persons were already present in the spacious rooms, among them being Attorney Dobbs and his son Arthur, a rising young lawyer of near Robert’s age. Dr. Norcum was present, and Detective Sellars sat near one of the library windows, gazing apparently out on the lawn. The prisoner’s sister and a number of other ladies were on the floor above with the bereaved daughter of the murdered man. Sheriff Cobb stationed Lanning at the front door of the residence, with orders to admit no one else to the house without his approval. “Why,’’ he observed, “curiosity will bring so many that they will overrun the house." Attorney Dobbs hod visited Robert in jail and assured him that he had faith in his innocence. He also bore a message from his son to the effect that he would undertake his defense. When ail was in readiness the sheriff threw open the door lending to the chamber of the murdered man and the jury viewed the remains. Dr. Norcum was duly sworn and deposed that the banker’s death was caused by the blade of a knife or sharp instrument, which had been thrust in his breast with Buck force that the heart was unquestionably pierced. “Would his death have necessarily been instantaneous?’’ asked Arthur Dobbs. “Nearly so,” was the reply; “there might have been a groan, perhaps a cry of help, but nothing more.” “There was, for I heard distinctly the last words he uttered. They were these: ‘Help! Murder!’" The one who made this assertion was Herman Craven, who had entered the room unobserved and stood motionless near the door. “You will be examined later, Mr. Craven,” said the coroner. Then turning to the jury, he said: “Gentlemen of the jury, are you satisfied as to the cause of death?” All expressed themselves as thoroughly so, and after viewing the orifice left by the keen blade of the knife, the party repaired to the library. “Now, Herman Craven, if you will be tworn, we will hear your testimony.” The coroner administered the oath, and as Herman's statement was merely a repetition of the words he used on the night of the murder, in the presence of xhe-“ktiiff. Dr. Norcum nud Detective Sellars, it is useless to chronicle it fully here. “Are you certain, Mr. Craven,” asked Arthur Dobbs, “that the cries you heard emanated from the lips of your uncle?” “Absolutely certain,” was the reply. “It is impossible that I could be mistaken there. And those two words I supposed indicated that he had been seized with a sudden attack of acute pain from which he sometimes suffered. His rheumatism was of the inflammatory order. When my cousin and I entered the room he was gasping his last. Ilis murderer stood before us with that bloody sheath knife that Coroner Field has, clutched in his hand.” “Did you not know before you descended the stairs, Mr. Craven, that Robert Campbell was below?" “I did not, sir.” “Had not your uncle informed you that he was expecting him, and with money with which to take up a certain note?” “He had not?” “What do you know of a bag of coin that the prisoner has informed me he brought with him to redeem this note?” “Nothing, sir; nothing whatever. I know that after the murder he had possession of that note, and that the note bore the indorsement, ‘Paid this eighteenth of August, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven,’ to which my uncle’s signature was attached. I know not how he obtained it.” “Do you know of any reason why the prisoner should have sought the life of your uncle?” “I know, sir, that he has possession of that note of ten thousand dollars, and that there was no bag of coin here when my cousin und I entered this room. I know also that he sought Miss Deßosette’s hand in marriage. I know further that he sought it in vain, for the reason that my uncle hud often stated to me that his ardent wish was to see his daughter and myself united.” Here a sharp, quick cry drew all eyes in the directiou of the door. Miss Hattie had entered the room, leaning on the arm of the prisoner’s sister, and the cry emanated from her white lips. Robert Campbell was on the point of denouncing Herman's statement as false when he caught a swift, meaning glance from the eyes of the detective, who had not left his seat near the window, and he said nothing. “Did you not hear the door bell sounded twice during the evening, ouoe not five minutes before you descended the stairs?” “The door bell was not sounded after I retired, or I should have heard it. I had not long retired and am a light sleeper.” “You found the front door locked when you ran from the library and down the street, ss you have described, crying ‘murder Y ” “I did.” “The windows of this room and of your ancle's chamber, you say, were raised?” “They were. My uncle, presumably, had left them so to admit the breeze.” “Might not some other hand have thrust that Wad ie to you# uncle’s heart, and the prisoner here bat have drawn it forth?” “'Hurt is for the jury to determine. I have no wish that any other than the muraftfrer of my uncle should suffer for his taking off. Mr. Sellars and my•eif made a thorough search of the premines. as he will inform you. There was

one else. I doubt not that if Miss DeRosette and myself hnu not hastened down stairs Robert Campbell would in a moment more have fled, probably bearing his bloody weapon with him. As I have stated, he would have attacked me. I accused him of committing the crime. Who else could I have accused? There he stood, his countenance the picture of an enraged fiend, and still bent over my uncle’s body, the dripping blade just withdrawn from his heart, blood covering his hands and clothing. It was the life blood of my dear old uncle. Gentlemen, I know no more.” “You kuow you have lied—lied like a— —” “I submit, coroner,” spoke up the loud voice of the detective, “that the prisoner should not be allowed to denounce a witness in that manner. It is outrageous. You should protect your witnesses!” Sellars had arisen to his feet, and he strode forward as be uttered the words, with his eyes fixed on Robert, who, with a moan, sank into a chair. “I should have admonished him in a moment more, Mr. Sellars, I assure you. I am conducting this investigation. The prisoner must not again presume to interrupt the proceedings, much less denounce as false the testimony of a witness. You seem to be questioning the witness in the interest of the prisoner, Mr. Dobbs. Are there any further questions you desire to ask?” “No, no! I think not. I merely considered it my duty to see that Robert Campbell should not be held to court unless there wns probable cause to believe that he committed this fearful crime.” “That is all, Mr. Craven,” said the coroner. Miss Hattie was next sworn, but she was so agitated that hardly could she speak a word. Robert longed to take her in his arms and whisper words of consolation in her ears, but the keen eyes of the detective were on him und they held him in his chair. * The testimony of Miss Deßosette corroborated that of Herman Craven in so far as she stated that she also was aroused by what she supposed her father’s cries, and that Herman knocked on her door, and that with him she descended the stairs. Of the fearful scene that met her eyes when she entered the library she could hardly speak. “My poor father was gasping his last,” she moaned, “and Robert stood beside him with a bloody knife in his hand. My father slid from his chair to the floor. I believe I knelt beside him. I remember hearing Herman charge Robert with having killed him, and then I fainted. I know no more.” “Do you know, Miss Deßosette, in what esteem your father held Robert Campbell ?” „ “I know,” was the reply, “that he esteemed him highly, for 1 have often heard him pronounce him a young man of integrity, worth and a high sense of honor.” “Excuse me, Miss Deßosette,” said the attorney, “but in what relation did you stand to the prisoner?” “We were engaged, and with my father's consent I should have become his wife.” A murmur of surprise followed these words. “Had that sanction been obtained?” asked the coroner. “I think not, unless Robert had asked his consent last night.” “Had your father ever said aught to you about a desire on his part to see you the wife of Herman Craven?” asked the attorney. “Never, sir! Never!” “I could have informed the jury of that fact,” said Herman, “but I did not deem it material.” “Has your cousin ever asked your hand in marriage?” “lie never has.” “You looked upon the prisoner as your future husband?” j “I did. and do now if—if ” “I understand, Miss Deßosette. Had your father full confidence in Herman Craven ?’’ “Why, his being cashier of his bank should answer that question,” calmly observed the detective. “My question was directed to Miss DeRosette,” said the attorney. Hattie was by this time completely overcome, and it was evident that she could stand no further questioning, so when she replied faiutly: “As Mr. Sellars has stated, he is cashier of my father’s bank," the attorney stated that there was uothing more. Next Sheriff Cobb was examined, and the reader knows what his testimony must have been. Angel, the express agent, testified as to Robert’s having left the express office with the bag of coin the night before, shortly after ten o’clock. The detective was next examined. “I can only say,” he said, “that in company with Mr. Craven I made a thorough examination Of these premises after Sheriff Cobb had left the house with his prisoner last night. We searched all rooms above, as well as these below, Mr. Craven’s included. Indeed, every room in the house save Miss Deßosette’s, which, under the circumstances, would have been useless. We were unable to nnearth a bag of coin. There was certainly no one secreted in the house, nor wns there any evidence discovered by me while in the house tending to incriminate any other than the prisoner. If the blow was stricken by other than Robert Campbell, the criminal made his escape from the house. I had the ground examined beneath the windows by one who has a keen and experienced eye. No one leaped from either of the windows.” “Calban, I suppose?” remarked the coroner. “Yes,” was the reply. “Hannah states that no one could have passed oat the rear door without attracting her attention. Mr. Craven has testified that he round the front door locked. Of course, something farther may develop before court couI vencs. I can state no more."

“Did not tk# prisoner himself call |N Into this case, Mr. Sellars?" “Yes. Unde Dake brought me a note from him requesting my presence here and stating that the murder had been committed.” “I believe Ward Taylor, or Lennox, called yon Into the Mulberry case, Mr. Sellars?” remarked the sheriff. “True,” said Sellars, “he did, and in the end I fastened the crime on him.” A low wail burst from the lips ot the two girls, who sat side by side near the door.' The prisoner was next allowed to make a statement, which did not Tary from that he bad made the night before, in the presence of Sheriff Cobb, the doctor and the detective. “That concludes the testimony as far as I know, gentlemen,” said the coroner, “unless you desire to question the servants.” “Of what use?” said Sellars; “their statements would not be evidence. Here is Uncle Duke. He had been in bed two hours or more and knows nothing about the matter that has not already been told. Adam sleeps in the bam. Millie was sleeping on the floor above. Hannah did not even know Robert Campbell wns in the house.” * “No use questioning them,” said one of the jurors. “I take it,” said the foreman’, “that we have heard enough to justify our*holding the prisoner to court.” “Well, take the case, gentlemen,” said the coroner. The six men withdrew to one side, and there was a whispered consultation of perhaps five minutes’ duration, at the end of which time the foreman announced that they had arrived at a decision. “What say you?” asked the coroner. “That we have reason to believe, and do believe, that Alvin Deßosette came to his death at the hands of Robert Campbell, now in custody, and we direct that he be held for trial for said offense at the September term of the criminal court, and without bail.” * The banker’s daughter had arisen to her feet. Her face was ghastly white, and only the casing of the door kept her from sinking to the floor, for Jennie had left her side and her arms were twined about the form of her brother. drew up in legal form the finding of the jury of inquest, each member of the jury signed the same, and Sheriff Cobb conveyed back to the county jail his prisoner, who had imprinted a kiss on the pale cheek of his sister, and raised the hand of the banker’s daughter to his lips, while he whispered in her ear the one word—“ Hope.” (To be continued.)