Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1901 — Circumstantial Evidence [ARTICLE]

Circumstantial Evidence

Lawyers Wife Who Pell Under Its Baneful Power

“My whole heart goes out to anybody who is convicted on circumstantial evidence,” said the lawyer’s wife. “A fortnight ago I dined out, and I happened to sit beside the guest of the evening, who is a famous author rather newly come to town. I suppose I have read every line he has ever published, and I am one of his most ardent admirers. I ventured to let him see this, and we had a most delightful talk about his newest book. I read it at the seashore this summer, and the copy I read belonged to my cousin. I told the man how much I had enjoyed it, how many times I had read and reread it, and how I felt that no book in my library was more true and valuable to me than it I didn’t lay all this on with a trowel of course, and I meant it—-every word of it. The author suggested that he’d like to write some-

thing in the book for me, and asked If he— <no, come to think of it, I asked him to call, and he seemed pleased with the idea as if I, and not he, had been the famous one. “Well, I bought a copy of the book, as my other one was quite badly worn, and laid it on the library table all ready for him. I was dressing one day whbn his card came up. I hurried down as fast as I could. Monsieur wasn’t a bit as he had been at the dinner. He was as cool as a November twilight, and stayed not a minute longer than civility demanded. I didn't dare suggest an autograph in the book. He didn’t mention it. When he went away I picked the book up. His card was in it, and he had, with meaning, laid the card between two folds of unin the book, and never, never shall I cut leaves. I’d forgotten to cut a leat be able to explain matters.”