Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 129: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. qualified to represent the organization at a public arraignment in the East and they bore their honors with fitting aplomb. The State had already produced all but one of its witnesses and the tense atmos- phere in the court room had crystallized slowly but inevitably into a cloud of ani- mosity and condemnation of the prisoner al- most tangible enough to be visible. Even the magistrate felt it and his ruling holding the defendant for the grand jury was so un- doubted a foregone conclusion that the re- porters began to lose interest in the pro- ceedings as witness succeeded witness on the stand and told with more or less reluctance of the feud between Richard and his father, and the former’s desperate need of the money which only that frail, aged life had kept from his possession. Beginning with the police and detectives who had answered Richard’s summons to the town house in the early hours of the previous Friday morning, the prosecution passed to Mrs. Miller, who testified to the prolonged differences between father and son culminating in the quarrel during which the latter was turned out of the house, and to the former’s subsequent refusal to per- mit Richard’s name to be uttered in his presence. The butler, Peter Downes, corroborated her, aseclid the sworn affidavit of old Jim Ricks from his hospital bed. This attitude of the loyal elderly servants created as pro- found an impression as the district attorney had counted upon. They were followed on the stand by vari- ous social and financial acquaintances of both the senior and junior Monckton to add details to the account of the breach and the crucial state of Richard Monckton’s af- fairs, together with sidelights on his ied ous, often violent disposition. The proceedings were constantly inter- rupted by a storm of objections from the counsel for the defense, but even those made personally by the celebrated associate coun- sel were seldom sustained. As the wholly circumstantial but damning evidence against their client mounted higher and higher they seemed to sense the futility of further interference. When the name of Chester Norcross was 919 called Hood leaped to his feet, however, in an instant protest, but being again silenced he seated himself once more with an almost despairing glance at his associate. The latter was watching the door and a anticipatory smile settled about his lips. Chester Norcross gave evidence of his early acquaintance with the prisoner before the bar and after reiterated protestations that he bore no personal enmity against him, testified with unconsciously revealed malicious joy of the latter’s unprovoked and unwarranted interference in his personal af- fairs culminating in what he characterized as an attempt to take his life in a moment of murderous rage. Cross-examination failed to shake him, and it appeared to the spectators that the defense’s counsel had become merely per- functory in their efforts to save him, for their attempt was so obviously half hearted as to become almost farcical. The State rested its case triumphantly, waiting with amused tolerance to see what the defense would try to offer in rebuttal. During that moment of keenest anticipa- tion two men pushed their way into the room together and unobtrusively seated themselves on a bench that by some strange chance had been vacated by two other spec- tators but a moment before. The elder of these was distinguished in appearance, with broad rimmed glasses and a small, dark mustache. He was pale, though, and his drawn face twitched occasionally as if he were in pain while he held himself stiffly as though shielding some unseen wound from contact. His companion was pale also, but with a sallowness that to the initiated was unmistakable and his contracted eyes darted nervously about the court room. None heeded him, however, for the collec- tive gaze of the multitude was fastened upon Lazenby, who had risen and was ad- dressing the court in his turn. “Your honor, the defense has only two Witnesses to offer. We shall make no at- tempt to refute the testimony of the several witnesses who have appeared on behalf of the people. We shall merely, by your leave, bring forward a fact which has not yet been touched upon. I should like to examine Mr. Clifford Nichols if he is present.” COMIGD OO! (©