He
made repeated but fruitless attempts to compel the party of
the first part to pay up, and finally, in despair, wrote to
the District Attorney of New York County that he could, if he
would, a tale unfold that would harrow up almost anybody's
soul. Mr. Jerome therefore, on the gamble of getting
something worth while, sent Detective Russo to Auburn to
interview the prisoner. That is how the whole story came to
be known. The case was put in the writer's hands, and an
indictment for the very unusual crime of attempted murder
(there are only one or two such cases on record in New York
State) was speedily found against the photographer's
assistant. At the trial the lover saw his mistress compelled
to turn State's evidence against him to save herself. She
testified to the Christmas carols and the cyanide of mercury.
"Did you ever remove this terrible poison from the bolster?"
demanded the defendant's counsel in a sneering tone.
"No," answered the woman.
"Have you ever changed the bolster?" he persisted.
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