Was He the Man?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10224, 27 April 1911, Page 2

Was He the Man?

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L. DACRE, o Author of "A Phantom of the Past," "Tronholme's Trust," "The Doctor's Secret," "A Loveless Marriage," "Sir John's Heiress," etc.

CHAPTER XXl.—Continued

When the attorney sat down I had a chilly convinction that the crossexamination had done 110 good, and perhaps sonic harm. Then Fenton rose to re-examine his witness. In halt a dozen questions he drew out as many facts, which told heavily against the defence. He showed how a French convict has the slightest peculiarities and idiosyncrasies noted and recorded for the purpose of future identification;, how Morel had recognised half-a-dozen recorded peculiarities of Fitzgerald during that half-hour in the cafe, of which, to my surprise, I now heard for the first time; and how the coming witnesses from France would be able to swear to these peculiarities as positively a, : j Morel. When the brief examination was concluded, I felt, in spite of my conviction of his innocence, that Denver would be extradited after all.

When Morel left the box, I was called and sworn. Before my examination began I glanced at the accused, and our eyes met. Whatever doubts the Frenchman's evidence had engendered in my mind melted away like mist under th.> sun as Denver's steady ga::o met mine. Never had .1 been moi'3 thoroughly convinced that he was Denver supreme moment. There is no necessity to give my examination word for word. Mr Lruchford-Brown drew from me the who!:'- story of my friendship for Denver. He brought out minute details which I had forgotten, until he recalled them to my mind. He handed n>e letters writent by myself, and by mutual friends, that Denver had just placed in his lawyer's hands, and which I instantly recognised as genuine. He reminded me of facts he had obtamod from the accused that no one but myself and Denver could' have known. Then, referring to the last scene at | Gravesend, ho enabled me with perfect j ease to show how I must have been deceived by" the resemblance, and misled by m yemotion, ignorant as X then j was of the existence of a counterpart. Dealing with the manuscript, which, | with the dagger blade and photo- j graphs I had been ordered to pro-1 ace, i he caused me to'avow my belief that it was the fabrication of-a desperate and vengeful scoundrel who had oir ried hish atred with him to the ;*rave. After an examination lasting two hours, ho concluded by saying slowly and solemnly: "Now, Mr Grey, will you state on your oath that the man in the dock is your friend, Henry Fitzgerald Denver, and no other?" !

"I found that the house had apparently been entered through the library window, and I found a button on the sofa below tha window. The dust had also been brushed off the sofa, as if by somo otio falling upon it." "Did not the last witness, Monsieur Morel, by mean's of that button, trace Robson from Havre to Chatham?"

When he ceased speaking Fenton raised his head sudenly, and looked me full in the eyes. I re turned his gaze for a moment, and then, acting on an irresistible impulse, I turned and looked at Denver. Our eyes met foi or instant, and I turned again to the ex a mining counsel, and said : "Yes; I can solemnly swear that he is.' . Mr Latchford-Brown sat down with a smile of triumph on his face, and when Fentbn rose to begin- his cross-examination, I heard a T>uza of half-supresed excitement run. round the court, and several persons evep ventured to. expres their opinions aloud. • - Silence was at once restored, and every ear mas strained to catch Fenton's first question. I was now so 'absolutely confident of Denver's innocence, 'that I felt utterly careless as to my cross-examination. " I did not think it was posibles to break down my evidence.

"Yes, ho did." (Sensation). "When you saw the accused, three days ago, at a house in Half Moon Street, did you recognise him as Major Denver?"

CHAPTER XXII

HYPNOTISM OR FACT?

Fenton thus began his cross-exam-ination of Grey: 'About four months ago did you soo the prisoner at the Victoria Embankment, near the Cleopatra Obelisk?" . "At the time that was my impression, but it was at-night." "Did you then think that he was your friend, Major Denver?" "No, I did not." 'Why?' "Because at that time I firmly believed Major Denver to be dead." "Was he not then in company wicj 'James Robson, and did you not heir Robson mention himself to him by name?" "Yes; to the best of my recollection ; but I must have been " "Pardon me; I do not want your opinions. I know what they are at present, and I shall refer to chcr.later. I want you now simply to tell me what you remember." I bit my lip to repress my anger at the reproof, and waited for what was coming. "Did you, on the same night that you saw. this man on the Embankment have a peculiarly vivid dream?" < As I answered "Yes" to this question,- I felt a shiver pass through me. I put my hand to my brow, and it was '*o't with cold perspiration. ' Will you tell tho emirt bucßv v.-h.it •U;o dream was?" "Sir," interposed Mr LatchfordBrown, hurriedly rising, "I must pro-! test. Wo do not want dreams, but I facts." j "My learned friend will find this • particular dream a very pertinent fact if ho will allow me to proceed," said Fenton, very gravely. "Proceed, sir," said the magistrate. "Will you tell us of your dream, | Mr Grey?" Fenton now asked me. 1

"No, I did not." "W'le i. did your opinion as tc his identity change?"

"I think I have, hut I don't know." "Do you feel it at present?" "I don't know what you mean." "Come! Try to collect-yourself! Do you feel the influence now?' I gazed in helpless silence round the courtroom, and then I glanced toward th© dock. l)enver; ashy pale, had up to his full height, and was gazing intently at me. _ Our eyes met for a moment; my bewilderment vanished instantly, and I answered firmly, and almost angrily : "I am as collected as you are. There is no influence acting upon me. I only desire to tell the truth, and see justice done." A murmur of applause ran round the crowded room, but was instantlv suppressed. (To be ContinuedV

"I dreamt tliat I scrambled through ;i sma'.l window into Major Denver's library at Gravesend. In doing so 1 tore a small button off my coat. I fell on a sofa under tho window, and immediately a man inside spoko to me in Denver's voice, but used words that lie never would have used. He turn[ed tho slide of a dark lantern, and I 1 recognised him as Denver. I followed him upstairs to a bedroom, whero we opened several trunks and drawers with false keys. The last we opened was at the foot of tho bed, and wo took out a great many bundles of letters and papers, and some jewellery. As my companion closed tho trunk the light of his lantern fell upon tho bed, and I saw to my horror tho corpse of Major Denver laid out, while his living counterpart stood besido me.-Then I awoke.'

J "When I ceased speaking a murmur ' of excitement ran through tho court. Glancing at Denver I saw that he was looking down at tho table before him, and his face was ghastly pale. "A not uncommon result of excitement, and a heavy supper," remarked Mr Latchford-Brown, looking up 1 with a bland smile. "Something more serious than that, as you will see," said Fenton garvely. Then, turning to me, he continued: "Have you not left something out, "Mr Grey? Did you not see yourself in a mirror in your dream?" "Yes, I did see my face in the glass, but " "Was the face your own?" "No." "Did you not afterward see a photograph which you at once recognised as that of the man you saw in the glass?' "Yes." "And was not that'the photograph of Fitzgerald's acomplice, James Robson?" "I believe it was.". "Have aou ever seen this James Robson, save in your dream?" "No, uevcr, to my knowledge." "Wero you not so much impresed by this dream that you went to Gravesend the next day to examine the house?" "Yes." "And what did you find there?"

"The same day. I had an interview with him and lm lawyer in his cell, and lie quite convinced me that I was wrong in thinking him Fitzgerald." "Have you noticed any clrrrnge in yourself, -beside your change of conviction—say, since the day before yesterday?" "Yes; I have not felt well —and—" "Excuse me for saying so, but have you felt quite responsible for your own actions since you saw the accused in the cell. I hope you will answer the question frankly." Mr was on his feet in an instant. "Sir, with all due respect to my learned friend, I protest that this is a perfectly outrageous question. It is intended to make the witness destroy his own credibility." " "I think, Mr Fenton," said tho magistrate, "that I must tell tho witness that he need not answer tho question unless he likes." Fenton bowed, and then said to me: "Would you rather not answer the question, Mr Grey?" "I will ai swer it, - ' I replied. "I must confess that for tin- last two <<r tlu-eo days I have been unublo to account for my peculiar statr* of mind. I can describe it only as a kind of waking dream, in which 1 have been apparently under some control other than that of my own volition." "Have you felt this influence to be stronger while you have been in tho company of the accused than when you were away from him?"