Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Black Doctor
ConsiderablesensationwascausedinthecrowdedcourtwhenthefirstwitnesscalledforthedefenceprovedtobeMissFrancesMorton,thesisteroftheprisoner.OurreaderswillrememberthattheyoungladyhadbeenengagedtoDr.Lana,andthatitwashisangeroverthesuddenterminationofthisengagementwhichwasthoughttohavedrivenherbrothertotheperpetrationofthiscrime.MissMortonhadnot,however,beendirectlyimplicatedinthecaseinanyway,eitherattheinquestoratthepolice-courtproceedings,andherappearanceastheleadingwitnessforthedefencecameasasurpriseuponthepublic.
MissFrancesMorton,whowasatallandhandsomebrunette,gaveherevidenceinalowbutclearvoice,thoughitwasevidentthroughoutthatshewassufferingfromextremeemotion.Shealludedtoherengagementtothedoctor,touchedbrieflyuponitstermination,whichwasdue,shesaid,topersonalmattersconnectedwithhisfamily,andsurprisedthecourtbyassertingthatshehadalwaysconsideredherbrother’sresentmenttobeunreasonableandintemperate.Inanswertoadirectquestionfromhercounsel,sherepliedthatshedidnotfeelthatshehadanygrievancewhateveragainstDr.Lana,andthatinheropinionhehadactedinaperfectlyhonourablemanner.Herbrother,onaninsufficientknowledgeofthefacts,hadtakenanotherview,andshewascompelledtoacknowledgethat,inspiteofherentreaties,hehadutteredthreatsofpersonalviolenceagainstthedoctor,andhad,upontheeveningofthetragedy,announcedhisintentionof"havingitoutwithhim.
