tements of the
experts, who have testified, until even the minds of plain lawyers,
like myself and my associate, have grasped it. Then, and not until
then, did our client give us information, which he will repeat to you
presently, and which corroborates the view which we shall ask you to
accept. The simple facts in this case are: Miss Sloane suffered
terribly from Bright's disease, until through pain she was driven to
take morphine, finally becoming addicted to it. Then came the attack
of diphtheria, throughout which Dr. Medjora nursed her, procuring
skilled physicians, and a competent nurse, until the arrival of the
tragic day which ended her life. When the doctors believed that the
worst phase of diphtheria had passed, but when, as you have heard, she
was still in danger from exhaustion, she experienced a severe attack
of pain caused by the Bright's disease, and to relieve that, morphine
was given as you shall hear. That night she died, whether of
exhaustion from diphtheria, or whether, because of Bright's disease,
morphine had been stored up in her system, until a fatal dose had
accumulated, none of us will ever know. But that is immaterial, for in
either case, she died a natural death, and thus our client is entirely
blameless in this whole affair. The Doctor will now take the stand in
his own behalf."

Dr. Medjora did as he was bidden by his counsel, and thus became the
cynosure of all eyes. Mr. Dudley took his seat and Mr. Bliss conducted
the examination.

"Dr. Medjora," he began, "will you please state what relation you bore
to the deceased, Miss Mabel Sloane?"

"She was my wife!" he replied, thus producing a startling sensation at
the very outset.

"When were you married, and by whom?"

"We were married in Newark, by the Rev. Dr. Magnus, on the exact day
upon which Miss Sloane parted from her mother and left her home in
Orange. The precise date can be seen upon the certificate of
marriage."

Mr. Bliss produced a marriage certificate, which was admitted, and
identified by Dr. Medjora, Mr. Bliss explaining that the clergyman who
had signed it would appear later and testify to the validity of the
document.

"Did you and your wife live together after marriage?"

"Yes. For more than a year. Then I had occasion to go to Europe for
several months, and she went to live at the Twenty-sixth Street
house."

"How was it that at that place she passed as a single woman?"

"Because before I went away, I took fro