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should be punished with death。 This made an impression upon me；
because it was an instance； rare to me then； but common enough now； of
how minds； otherwise exceptionally able； may have a spot so encankered
with creed； bigotry； and superstition as to render their judgments
respecting certain classes of phenomena erroneous and illogical； puerile
and ridiculous。
But to return to those points of the trial which I can remember； and
which I think of sufficient interest to put before you。 These refer chiefly
to Maitland's examination of M。 Latour； and of the government's chief
witness； M。 Godin。 Such portions of their testimony as I shall put before
you I shall quote exactly as it was given and reported by Maitland's friend；
Simonds。
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When Maitland began for the defence he said：
〃At about half…past seven on the night of the 22d of April； John
Darrow met his death at his home in Dorchester。 He died in the presence
of his daughter； Messrs。 Willard； Browne； Herne； and myself。 His death
was caused by injecting a virulent poison into his system through a slight
incision in his neck。 That wound the prisoner before you confesses he
himself inflicted。 I would like to know a little more definitely how he
succeeded in doing it without detection； in the presence； not only of his
victim； but of five other persons sitting close about him。 M。 Latour will
please take the stand。〃
As M。 Latour stepped into the witness…box； a wave of suppressed
excitement ran all over the court…room。 Every nerve was strained to its
tensest pitch； every ear eager for the slightest syllable he might utter。
What could be done for a man who had confessed； and what would be the
solution of the crime which had so long defied the authorities？ The
explanation was now to be made and it is no wonder that the excitement
was intense。
I omit all uninteresting formalities。
Q。 Have you ever seen me before to…day？
A。 Not to my knowledge。
Q。 Have you any reason to believe I have ever seen you before to…day？
A。 None whatever … er … that is … unless on the night of the murder。
Q。 Were you acquainted with John Darrow？
A。 Yes。
Q。 How long have you known him？
A。 About six months … perhaps seven。
Q。 What were your relations？
A。 I don't understand。 … We had gambled together。
Q。 Where？
A。 In this city … Decatur Street。 =20
Q。 What motive led you to kill him？
A。 He cheated me at cards； and I swore to be even with him。
Q。 Had you any other reason？
A。 I owed him twelve hundred and thirty…five dollars which I
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The Darrow Enigma
borrowed of him hoping my luck would change。 He won it all back from
me by false play； and when I could not meet it he pressed me over hard。
Q。 You say this occurred on Decatur Street。 What was the date？
A。 I do not remember。
Q。 What month was it？
A。 It was in March。 Early in March。
Q。 You are sure it was in March？
A。 Yes。
Q。 Should you say it was between the 1st and 15th of March？
A。 Yes。 I am positive it was before the 15th of March。
Q。 Have you long known that M。 Godin was at work upon this case？
A。 No。
Q。 When did you first become aware of it？
A。 Not until my arrest。
Q。 When did you first see M。 Godin？
A。 When I was arrested。
Q。 Did he ever call at your rooms？
A。 Never … not to my knowledge … I never saw him till the day of my
arrest。
Q。 With what weapon did you kill Mr。 Darrow？
A。 I made use of a specially constructed hypodermic syringe。
Half…smothered exclamations of surprise were heard from every part
of the room。 Even the Judge gave a start at this astounding bit of
testimony。 Every person present knew perfectly well that no human
being could have entered or left the Darrow parlour without certain
discovery； yet here was a man； apparently in his right mind； who soberly
asserted that he had used a hypodermic syringe。 Maitland and Godin
alone seemed cool and collected。 Throughout all Latour's testimony； M。
Godin watched the witness with a burning concentration。 It seemed as if
the great detective meant to bore through Latour's gaze down to the most
secret depths of his soul。 Not for an instant did he take his eyes from
Latour。 I said to myself at the time that this power of concentration
explained； in a great measure； this detective's remarkable success。
Nothing was permitted to escape him； and little movements which another
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The Darrow Enigma
man would doubtless never notice； had； for M。 Godin； I felt sure； a world
of suggestive significance。
Maitland's calm demeanour； so resourceful in its serenity； caused all
eyes to turn at length to him as if for explanation。 He continued with
slow deliberation。
Q。 In what particulars was this hypodermic syringe of special
construction？
M。 Latour seemed nervous and ill at ease。 He shifted from side to
side as if M。 Godin's glance had pierced him like a rapier； and he were
trying vainly to wriggle off of it。 He seemed unable to disengage himself
and at length replied in a wearied and spiritless tone：
A。 In two particulars only。 In the first place； it was very small；
having a capacity of but five or six drops； and； in the second place； it was
provided with an internal spring which； when released； worked the plunger
and ejected the contents with extreme rapidity。
Q。 What operated this spring？
A。 Around the needle…like point of the syringe； less than a quarter of an
inch from its end； was a tiny； annular bit of metal。 This little metallic
collar was forced upward by the pressure of the flesh as the sharp point
entered it； and this movement released the spring and instantly and
forcibly ejected the contents of the cylinder。
Q。 Did you use a poison in this syringe？=20
A。 Yes； sir。
Q。 What did you use？
M。 LATOUR hesitated and shifted helplessly about as if he dreaded to
go farther into these particulars； and fondly hoped someone might come to
his rescue。 His gaze seemed to shift about the room without in the least
being able to disentangle itself from that of M。 Godin。 He remained silent
and the question was repeated。
Q。 What did you use？
Again the witness hesitated while everyone； save only Maitland and
Godin； leaned eagerly forward to catch his reply。 At length it came in a
voice scarcely above a whisper。
A。 Anhydrous hydrocyanic acid。
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A long…drawn 〃Hum！〃 escaped from Maitland； while M。 Godin gave
not the slightest indication of surprise。 It was quite evident to us all that
the astute Frenchman had acquired complete control of the case before he
had arrested the assassin。 At this juncture the Court said； addressing
Maitland：
〃This substance is extremely poisonous； I take it。〃 〃Your Honour；〃
Maitland replied； 〃it is the most fatal of all poisons known to chemists。 It
is also called cyanhydric； and； more commonly； prussic acid。 An
insignificant amount； when inhaled or brought into contact with the skin；
causes immediate death。 If a drop be placed upon the end of a glass rod
and brought toward the nose of a live rabbit he will be dead before it
reaches him。〃
A profound silence … the death…like quiet which accompanies an almost
breaking tension … reigned in the court…room as Maitland turned again to
Latour。
Q。 I understand