The Verdict

"An inquisition taken for the people         Of the State of Illinois here at LeRoy,         County aforesaid, on the 7th of August,         Anna Domini, nineteen hundred nineteen,         Before me, William Merival, coroner         For the said County, viewing here the body         Of Elenor Murray lying dead, upon         The oath of six good lawful men, the same         Of the said County, being duly sworn         To inquire for the said people into all         The circumstances of her death, the said         Elenor Murray, and by whom the same         Was brought about, and in what manner, when,         And where she came to death, do say upon         Their oaths, that Elenor Murray lying dead         In the office of the coroner at LeRoy         Came to her death on August 7th aforesaid         Upon the east shore of the Illinois River         A mile above Starved Rock, from syncope,         While in the company of Barrett Bays,         Who held her in his arms when she was seized,         And should have laid her down when she was seized         To give her heart a chance to resume its beat."         *        *        *        *        *         The jury signed the verdict and arose         And said good-night to Merival, went their way.         Next day the coroner went to Madison         To look on Arielle, who had written him.