place。〃Moral for the jury： Was this the sort of woman who would
exasperate a man into poisoning her？ And was this the sort of man
who would be capable of poisoning his wife？
Having produced this salutary counter…impression； the Dean of
Faculty sat down； and the medical witnesses were called next。
Here the evidence was simply irresistible。
Dr。 Jerome and Mr。 Gale positively swore that the symptoms of the
illness were the symptoms of poisoning by arsenic。 The surgeon
who had performed the post…mortem examination followed。 He
positively swore that the appearance of the internal organs
proved Doctor Jerome and Mr。 Gale to be right in declaring that
their patient had died poisoned。 Lastly； to complete this
overwhelming testimony； two analytical chemists actually produced
in Court the arsenic which they had found in the body； in a
quantity admittedly sufficient to have killed two persons instead
of one。 In the face of such evidence as this； cross…examination
was a mere form。 The first Question raised by the TrialDid the
Woman Die Poisoned？was answered in the affirmative； and
answered beyond the possibility of doubt。
The next witnesses called were witnesses concerned with the
question that now followedthe obscure and terrible question；
Who Poisoned Her？
CHAPTER XVII。
SECOND QUESTIONWHO POISONED HER？。
THE evidence of the doctors and the chemists closed the
proceedings on the first day of the Trial。
On the second day the evidence to be produced by the prosecution
was anticipated with a general feeling of curiosity and interest。
The Court was now to hear what had been seen and done by the
persons officially appointed to verify such cases of suspected
crime as the case which had occurred at Gleninch。 The
Procurator…Fiscalbeing the person officially appointed to
direct the preliminary investigations of the lawwas the first
witness called on the second day of the Trial。
Examined by the Lord Advocate； the Fiscal gave his evidence； as
follows：
〃On the twenty…sixth of October I received a communication from
Doctor Jerome； of Edinburgh； and from Mr。 Alexander Gale； medical
practitioner； residing in the village or hamlet of Dingdovie；
near Edinburgh。 The communication related to the death； under
circumstances of suspicion； of Mrs。 Eustace Macallan； at her
husband's house； hard by Dingdovie； called Gleninch。 There were
also forwarded to me； inclosed in the document just mentioned；
two reports。 One described the results of a postmortem
examination of the deceased lady； and the other stated the
discoveries made after a chemical analysis of certain of the
interior organs of her body。 The result in both instances proved
to demonstration that Mrs。 Eustace Macallan had died of poisoning
by arsenic。
〃Under these circumstances； I set in motion a search and inquiry
in the house at Gleninch and elsewhere； simply for the purpose of
throwing light on the circumstances which had attended the lady's
death。
〃No criminal charge in connection with the death was made at my
office against any person； either in the communication which I
received from the medical men or in any other form。 The
investigations at Gleninch and elsewhere； beginning on the
twenty…sixth of October； were not completed until the
twenty…eighth。 Upon this latter dateacting on certain
discoveries which were reported to me； and on my own examination
of letters and other documents brought to my officeI made a
criminal charge against the prisoner； and obtained a warrant for
his apprehension。 He was examined before the Sheriff on the
twenty…ninth of October； and was committed for trial before this
Court。〃
The Fiscal having made his statement； and having been
cross…examined （on technical matters only）； the persons employed
in his office were called next。 These men had a story of
startling interest to tell。 Theirs were the fatal discoveries
which had justified the Fiscal in charging my husband with the
murder of his wife。 The first of the witnesses was a sheriff's
officer。 He gave his name as Isaiah Schoolcraft。
Examined by Mr。 DrewAdvocate…Depute； and counsel for the Crown；
with the Lord AdvocateIsaiah Schoolcraft said：
〃I got a warrant on the twenty…sixth of October to go to the
country…house near Edinburgh called Gleninch。 I took with me
Robert Lorrie； assistant to the Fiscal。 We first examined the
room in which Mrs。 Eustace Macallan had died。 On the bed； and on
a movable table which was attached to it； we found books and
writing materials； and a paper containing some unfinished verses
in manuscript； afterward identified as being in the handwriting
of the deceased。 We inclosed these articles in paper； and sealed
them up。
〃We next opened an Indian cabinet in the bedroom。 Here we found
many more verses on many more sheets of paper in the same
hand…writing。 We also discovered； first some letters； and next a
crumpled piece of paper thrown aside in a corner of one of the
shelves。 On closer examination； a chemist's printed label was
discovered on this morsel of paper。 We also found in the folds of
it a few scattered grains of some white powder。 The paper and the
letters were carefully inclosed； and sealed up as before。
〃Further investigation of the room revealed nothing which could
throw any light on the purpose of our inquiry。 We examined the
clothes； jewelry； and books of the deceased。 These we left under
lock and key。 We also found her dressing…case； which we protected
by seals； and took away with us to the Fiscal's office； along
with all the other articles that we had discovered in the room。
〃The next day we continued our examination in the house； having
received in the interval fresh instructions from the Fiscal。 We
began our work in the bedroom communicating with the room in
which Mrs。 Macallan had died。 It had been kept locked since the
death。 Finding nothing of any importance here； we went next to
another room on the same floor； in which we were informed the
prisoner was then lying ill in bed。
〃His illness was described to us as a nervous complaint； caused
by the death of his wife； and by the proceedings which had
followed it。 He was reported to be quite incapable of exerting
himself； and quite unfit to see strangers。 We insisted
nevertheless （in deference to our instructions） on obtaining
admission to his room。 He made no reply when we inquired whether
he had or had not removed anything from the sleeping…room next to
his late wife's； which he usually occupied； to the sleeping…room
in which he now lay。 All he did was to close his eyes； as if he
were too feeble to speak to us or to notice us。 Without further
disturbing him； we began to examine the room and the different
objects in it。
〃While we were so employed； we were interrupted by a strange
sound。 We likened it to the rumbling of wheels in the corridor
outside。
〃The door opened； and there came swiftly in a gentlemana
cripplewheeling himself along in a chair。 He wheeled his chair
straight up to a little table which stood by the prisoner's
bedside； and said something to him in a whisper too low to be
overheard。 The prisoner opened his eyes； and quickly answered by
a sign。 We informed the crippled gentleman； quite respectfully；
that we could not allow him to be in the room at this time。 He
appeared to think nothing of what we said。 He only answered； 'My
name is Dexter。 I am one of Mr。 Macallan's old friends。 It is you
who are intruding herenot I。' We again notified to him that he
must leave the room； and we pointed out particularly that he had
got his chair in such a position against the bedside table as to
prevent us from examining it。 He only laughed。 'Can't you see for
yourselves；' he said； 'that it is a table； and nothing more？' In
reply to this we warned him that we were acting under a legal
warrant； and that he might get into trouble if he obstructed us
in the execution of our duty。 Finding there was no moving him by
fair means； I took his chair and pulled it away； while Robert
Lorrie laid hold of the table and carried it to the other end of
the room。 The crippled gentleman flew into a furious rage with me
for presuming to touch his chair。 'My chair is Me；' he said： 'how
dare you lay hands on Me？' I first opened the door； and then； by
way of accommodating him； gave the chair a good push behind with
my stick instead of my hand； and so sent it and him safely and
swiftly out of the room。
〃Having locked the door； so as to prevent any further intrusion；
I joined Robert Lorrie in examining the bedside table。 It had one
drawer in it； and that drawer we found secured。
〃We asked the prisoner for the key。
〃He flatly refused to give it to us； and said we had no right to
unlock his drawers。 He was so angry that he even declared it was
lucky for us he was too weak to rise from his bed。 I answered
civilly that our duty obliged us to examine the drawer； and that
if he still declined to produce the key； he would only oblige us
to take the table away and have the lock opened by a smith。
〃While we were still disputing there was a knock at the door of
the room。
〃I opened the door cautiously。 Instead of the crippled gentleman；
whom I had expected to see again； there was another stranger
standing outside。 The prisoner hailed him as a friend and
neighbor； and eagerly called upon him for protection from us。 We
found this second gentleman pleasant enough to deal with。 He
informed us readily that he had been sent for by Mr。 Dexter； and
that he was himself a lawyer； and he asked to see our warrant。
Having looked at it； he at once informed the prisoner （evidently
very much to the prisoner's surprise） that he must submit to have
the drawer examined； under protest。 And then； without more ado；
he got the key； and opened the table drawer for us himself。
〃We found inside several letters； and a large book with a lock to
it； having the words 'My Diary' inscribed on it in gilt letters。
As a matter of course； we took possession of the letters and the
Diary； and sealed them up； to be given to the Fiscal。 At the same
time the gentleman wrote out a protest on the prisoner's behalf；
and handed us his card。 The card informed us that he was Mr。
Playmore； now one of the A