The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-01-06
THE LEFT-HANDED ASSASSIN

.
I'M
THE LEFT HANDED ASSASSIN.
| was called down from London to Fps.
wich on an errand peculiar 10 one Of my
profession. | reached the inn were | was
TO meet a fellow detective, who had ex-
pended both time and patience in attempt
ing TO ferret out mysterious murder.
But it appeared to be one of those singu~
lar cases that defy human detection and
which are generally abandoned by those
appointed to discover the cuiprit, and left
to devine vengeance.
met Mr.. Croft, Who formerly resigned
in my favor, and, after taking glass OF
rum-Punch with him. returned to the city,
while | prepared for my journey.
will now state how the matters stood
Some three and a half miles from Ipswich
stood a stone mansion, the property OF
Charles Simonds, retired barrister lie
resigned his profession, owing to having
bequeathed to him q handsome legacy
by an only brother, who, after amassing a
fortune III Australia, took it into his head
to die Charles was his sole heir. MIR
Simonds had practiced law in Ipswich, but
his health had never been very robust
and, soon after entering into this legacy
he purchased the mansion alluded to and
retired from business, seeking the quie;
and rest one in his station SO greatly need
ed.
He married when young, but he made
a great mistake in selecting partner fol-
life. His wife was pretty (the snare that
caught him. but wholly devoid of primer
pie; .illiterate and low in her tastes, she
became the bane of his life.
She had brother who occasionally Wis
tied the house, and who ingratiateL him
self in Mr.. SimoEds' favor by his amiablc
manners, genteel address, and the frequent
brolherIy lectures he read to Mrs. CLARA
Simonds, his sister.
Morris Obdyke was always we'll dressed
when he came to the house, and his con
duet was uneXceptiorabIe, quite in con
trast 10 that of his sister,
What his profession was could not be
ascertained by Mr.. Simonds. When he
asked his wife, she replied she did no,
know, and he forebore questioning Mf
Dbdyl,e himself, for the reason that the
gentleman never spoke Of having any Ju
sines5.
All that could be learned was that lie
resided in London, mace periodical visits
10 Ipswich, and remained there two 0.
three days, then lett again, wither no one
coul tell, or those no could would not
When MIR Slmonds retired from bust
ness and took possession of the mansion,
Obiyke came more frequently, ard his
visits were more prolonged.
In spite Of the lectures, he and his SIS
ter seemed to agree amazingly well, and,
10 Mr.. SImonds' great satisfaction, she
grew more refined, or, more properly
speaking, less vulgar every day. Refined
she would probably never be; it was not
in her nature to be so but she managed,
by some means, to render herself obnoxi-
Gus to her husband, and he conducted
himself toward her accordingly.
Matters stood thus five years, when
Mrs. Clara SmonGs contracted maglig
nant lever and died in five days after the
symptoms manifested themselves. This
occurred during the absence OF her bIoth-
er. and she was inferred before he knew
even that she was sick.
When he heard Of the sad event, his
rage was terrible to behold. He accused
Charles Simonds Of being the cause of her
death, and threatened to have the affair
thoroughly investigated.
But, ascer.aining that bis sister died
from natural causes, he suddeaIy disap
peared from the neighborhood, and came
to visit Charles SimorGs no more.
There were no children born to Mr.. ST
monds; hence, in the even! of his death,
the estate would fall into the hands of dis
tant relations, who had gone to America
years before.
One day, some time otter the death OF
his wife, Charles Siuonds examined her
persona. effects, and was surprised to find
among her papers will, with her sigma
ture attached to it. Rather amused at
this discovery, he sat down to read 1t, and
found that she had, in case of her death,
bequeaJhed all her real and personal prop
ertv to her brother, Morris Obdyke.
Her property, when she had none TO
bequeath? She was as poor as church
mouse (to use homeIy but quite forcibIe
phrase) when Charles Simonds married
her. Where, then, was this legacy to her
brother from her to come from
Thus reasoned She widower when he
read the curious document; but present
y the truth flashed upon his brain. The
letter had been made in the expectation
that she would survive him, then she and
her brother would reveI in bis wealth, and
after her death all would be his.
+" Was this conspiracy against him T.
was his mental question " had they cal
culated confidently on bis demise2 If So,
is it not probable that they neditated US
ing means to accomplish the desired ob
ject q Horrible thought.
lie turued 10 the will to see the date
It lad been written six months previous
70 Lei death; tic Witnesses flames were