The Argosy — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

210 THE ARGOSY. ‘Tt is unmistakably the imprint of a hand,’’ he replied. ‘Do you notice the absence of any of the fingers? ”’ “The third finger of the hand has certainly left no impression,’’ he replied. ‘‘ Should you conclude from that that the hand that left that imprint had a mutilated or deformed middle finger? ’’ ‘That would be the most natural conclusion,’’ he testified. ‘“Doctor,’’ I pursued, ‘“‘ you have had a great deal of experience in wounds and accidents causing blood to flow from the human body. How long do you think a hand should remain in that place to produce that jmprint?”’ ‘‘ If the hand was placed there when the blood was fresh,’’ he answered, “it would have to’remain there for a period of from one to two hours to allow the blood to coagulate sufficiently to produce and retain that im- pression,’’ I glanced around the courtroom. Everybody wore a puzzled expression. The defense was growing more mysterious now. | ‘‘ Doctor, have you a magnifying glass with you?’’ I knew he had, for I had instructed him to bring one. ee ‘*T have,’’ was the reply. ‘. Now, I want you to examine that exhibit carefully and say whether, in your opinion, that hand was there before the blood flowed in around it, or whether it was placed there after the blood was shed ?’’ Although ignorant of the exact import of this question, every one felt that it had some startling bearing upon the case, and the doctor’s minute examination of the article was watched, and his answer awaited with breath- less interest. : ‘‘ My opinion is,’’ he said at length, ‘‘ that the hand was there before the blood was shed.’’ ‘Will you kindly state to the court your reason for that conclusion ?’’ ‘““My reason is, that under the glass I find some spots, especially under the palm of the hand, in which the fiber of the carpet appears unstained. I judge that the fleshy part of the hand rested so heavily there that the ' blood did not penetrate to it.”’ ‘Then your testimony is to the effect that the hand was pressed upon the carpet before the blood was shed, and that it remained in that position for from one to two hours after the deed was committed ?’’ ‘* Ves, sir, that is my opinion.’’ I excused him and summoned several others, eliciting from all the same general verdict. Then I requested that Detective Bright be recalled. Bright knew what I wanted evidently, for it did not take him long to admit that his judgment agreed with that of the doctors. The district attorney made an unsuccessful effort to have him declare he was unable to pass an opinion, but the court insisted, at my suggestion, upon a “‘ Yes’’ or ** No”? . answer. He glanced at me with a smile of derision as he passed down from the stand, and I recalled the words he had used when he first showed me the damaging evidence: ‘‘ What does it matter, anyhow ?’’ Eomichbooks (S@)