“Ah, civil engineer, (with a glance at the jury).  Following that occupation with Miss Hawkins?” (Smiles by the jury).

“No, sir,” said Harry, reddening.

“How long have you known the prisoner?”

“Two years, sir.  I made her acquaintance in Hawkeye, Missouri.”

“M.....m...m.   Mist-er.....er Brierly!   Were you not a lover of Miss
Hawkins?”

Objected to.  “I submit, your Honor, that I have the right to establish the relation of this unwilling witness to the prisoner.”  Admitted.

“Well, sir,” said Harry hesitatingly, “we were friends.”

“You act like a friend!” (sarcastically.) The jury were beginning to hate
this neatly dressed young sprig.   “Mister......er....Brierly!   Didn’t
Miss Hawkins refuse you?”

Harry blushed and stammered and looked at the judge.  “You must answer, sir,” said His Honor.

“She—­she—­didn’t accept me.”

“No.  I should think not.  Brierly do you dare tell the jury that you had not an interest in the removal of your rival, Col.  Selby?” roared Mr. Braham in a voice of thunder.

“Nothing like this, sir, nothing like this,” protested the witness.

“That’s all, sir,” said Mr. Braham severely.

“One word,” said the District Attorney.  “Had you the least suspicion of the prisoner’s intention, up to the moment of the shooting?”

“Not the least,” answered Harry earnestly.

“Of course not, of course-not,” nodded Mr. Braham to the jury.

The prosecution then put upon the stand the other witnesses of the shooting at the hotel, and the clerk and the attending physicians.  The fact of the homicide was clearly established.  Nothing new was elicited, except from the clerk, in reply to a question by Mr. Braham, the fact that when the prisoner enquired for Col.  Selby she appeared excited and there was a wild look in her eyes.

The dying deposition of Col.  Selby was then produced.  It set forth Laura’s threats, but there was a significant addition to it, which the newspaper report did not have.  It seemed that after the deposition was taken as reported, the Colonel was told for the first time by his physicians that his wounds were mortal.  He appeared to be in great mental agony and fear; and said he had not finished his deposition.  He added, with great difficulty and long pauses these words.  “I—­have —­not—­told—­all.  I must tell—­put—­it—­down—­I—­wronged—­her.  Years —­ago—­I—­can’t see—­O—­God—­I—­deserved——­” That was all.  He fainted and did not revive again.

The Washington railway conductor testified that the prisoner had asked him if a gentleman and his family went out on the evening train, describing the persons he had since learned were Col.  Selby and family.