The witness had at last remembered whom he had met at the cemetery
gate at the hour, or near the hour, his wife lay dying in the lower
part of the city.
The effect was electrical. One of the spectators - some country
boor, no doubt - so far forgot himself as to cry out loud enough for
all to hear:
"Tallman! Let us have Tallman!"
Of course he met with an instant rebuke, but I did not wait to hear
it, or to see order restored, for a glance from the coroner had
already sent me to the door in search of this new witness.
My destination was the Cosmos Club, for Phil Tallman and his habits
and haunts were as well known in Washington as the figure of Liberty
on the summit of the Capitol dome. When I saw him I did not wonder.
Never have I seen a more amiable looking man, or one with a more
absentminded expression. To my query as to whether he had ever met
Mr. Jeffrey at or near the entrance of Rock Creek Cemetery, he replied
with an amazed look and the quick response:
"Of course I did. It was the very night that his wife - But what's
up? You look excited for a detective."
"Come to the morgue and see. This testimony of yours will prove
invaluable to Mr. Jeffrey."
I shall never forget the murmur of suppressed excitement which
greeted us as I reappeared before coroner and jury accompanied by
the gentleman who had been called for in such peremptory tones a
short time before.
Pages:
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192