Middletown transcript., 1870-07-23
did not stop to observe his few good quail
tiles, in magnifying his bad ones.

tiles, in magnifying his bad ones.
Meanwhile everything was confusion
and excitement at "Thc Films" Estelle
apparently overcome by this sudden ca
lamity, was prostratcd on bed of sick
ness, and would see no one except Ran
dolph and Randolph himself, although
stronger, ill-bore his grief, for his uncle
had been as father to him. He had liv-
ed with him since he was very young. His
parents, having died while he had scarce
emerged from his infancy, had consigned
him to the care of Mr.. Edison, who had
proved in every respect father to him.
A short time before the tragedy, slight
misunderstanding had existed between
Randolph and his uncle on account of
some indiscreton which he had been gull
ty of, but which they had compromised,
and it was on that account that he appear
ed to feel more poignantly his loss. He
wandered, pale and nervous, through the
house, holding no communication with
any one.
On the day prior to that on which the
murder was discovered, Mr.. Edison had
completed the sale Of valuable farm, for
which he had received in payment large
sum of money. Having received it too
late to bank it on that day, he secured it
in safe in his chamber, intending to de-
posit it in the bank on the morrow. But
during the night an entrance had appar-
emily been effected through one of the win
dows Of the apartment, which was situated
on the second story, by means of scaling
the vcrandah, which ran the width of the
mansion, the roof of which was on level
with it. The safe was forced open, and
Mr.. Edison, probably aroused by the noise
which attended its performance, while at
tempting to capture the intruders, was
murdered, and the perpetrators of the foul
crime dccampcd with their blood bought
booty.
But the most inexplicable part of the
tragedy was the fact that Notwithstanding
the great noise which had to all appear
ances been made, none Of the inmates of
the house, though sleeping in close pro-
pinquity to the scene of the heinous crime,
were disturbed during the night in ques-
ton, except the coachman, who, being
sensitive to such things, imagined he
heard the rumbling of carriage about
midnight, but being in his first sleep, he
had paid no attention to it, and on going
to the stable on the following morning,
the horses looked as though they had been
driven during the night, which fact he
found it impossible to account for.
Things were in this state of conjecture
when the detective, short, wiry, muscu-
lar hooking fellow, named Boggs, arrived
on the day following the tragedy. Shortly
after his arrival Boggs made an eXamina-
ton of the apartment in which the murder
transpired. Between its windows stood
the safe, its heavy iron doors still aar,
and its contents strewn about the room in
confusion, as was also the furniture. The
detective took survey of the department
in glance.
$50 they don't understand how they
didn't make any noise, do they?" solilo-
quised he, nodding knowingly. "Well, 1
do, and what's more, I've found out before
this that cats have vclyety paws" And
with this sage reflection, the detective re-
sumed his investigation.
Going to the safe, he scrutinized it
closely for some minutes, worked the lock,
looked at the interior, after which he pro-
ceeded to pick up the scattered papers and
other contents, and replaced them in the
safe. In bending to reach some which
had fallen beneath it, he caught glimpse
of something lodged behind, the corner of
which was suspended beneath the safe
With the Indifference which oharacterizes
his profession, he drew it from its hiding
place. 1t proved to be a lady's eambric
handkerchief, in which was enveloped
small pointless degger, scarcely larger
than q pocket knife, richly ornamented.
Both were stained with blood, now dry
and crusted and upon the corner of the
handkerchief was embroidered the initials
"E. r." The murderers, in their haste,
had hid them in that spot, fearing detec-
tion did they allow that evidence of their
guilt to remain unconcealcd, and were
probably prevented by some circumstance
from coneealing it more effectually.
After this discovery the detective close
ly examined the windows and the doors,
and then seemingly satisfied with this ex-
animation, quilted the room.
In passing through the hall he met Ran
dolph, VINO was just issuing from the IL
brary, where he had been pacing excitedly
during the time the detective was prose-
cutting his investigation.
did you discover any clue which will
lead to the discovery of the murderer? in
quired Randolph, searchingly.
Yes, that there were two implicated
in it."
"Why do you think there were more
than are concerned ?"
Because the indications are what We
generally go by, and they look very much
as though there would have been hard
time for one" replied the detective.
"And did you discover nothing fur
ther ?" questioned Randolph, in suspense
"No!" He uttered this lie most delib-
erately. 81 never met case that has
been done so cleverly before-donc every
thing as clean as a new pin," he added, in