The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-17
GheGtttelligetter.
A FOURFOLD ALIBI.
From the June Galaxy,

family boarding house learned that Mt
Anderson, the occupant OF the Two pau
front, had been found dead on bis Deu
with dagger sticking IL lis heart, they
felt that fortune had been kind TO them IN
presenting them with topic oil inexhaus'
lible merit, :,
For, in the first place, the question
whether the dead man had been murdered
or had committed suicide was one admit
ing of vast deal oil discussion. Then,
surprising that he had committed suicide
me investigation u his motive would be a
rich vein in the working Of which uninl-
.ginable scandal might be unearthed. II,
~ the other hand, he had been murdered,
wide field Of conjecture as 10 the muir
,!crrr would be ut once opened. In what.
ever light the tragedy might be viewed
l. was iull Of promise 10 the lover Of Cos.
sip. so the twenty-six DOarders at once
tell upon It and discussed 1t all over the
house with the utmost enthusiasm.
Viii, however, two Or three eXcep-
lions. The wife OF the dead man nalu-
rally did not join in the general CONVEX
s4tiOnRl uproaI, neither did his brother,
who occupied the hall bedroom next to
the room Of Mr.. Anderson, and who for
got his own grief In bis tender sympathy
with the greater loss Of the vile. Then
there was Mr.. Banks, o gentleman who
was on bad terms with the deceased, and
who had quarrelled publicly with him
over & question OF p0lidcs only the day
before the tragedy. Mr.. Banks said little
about tue matter, and bis retlcence was
commended and initiated by Mrs. Stein,
\ fascinating and beautiful widow, who
had been but three days at Mrs. Burn
tash's, but was already the belle Of the
clearinghouse.
Soon alter Airs, Anderson, entering
their room, found her husband quite dead,
Mr.. James Anderson, his brother, inform.
ed the police, and coroner's Inquest was
held the next day. A physician sWore
that the position in which the dagger was
found was Quite consistent with the theory
Of suicide. Mrs. Anderson testified that
On the evening In question she had left
her husband In their room 10 his usual
health and spirits, at eight o'clock in the
evening, in order to call on friend living
On the next floor; At half past nine she
returned and found him dead. Symp.
toms OF the rigOr nlOrtiS were already ap.
pared, showing that he had been dead
Tor some time. She was sure Of the exact
time when she left him and when she dis.
covered his death, for on each occasion
she had glanced at the clock 10 the room,
She had lived happily with her husband,
and could imagine no reason why he
should have committed suicide. He had
no Gnemles, so lar as she was aware,
although he was not on good terms with
Mr.. Banks, whom he dislikc1, and who,
he said, had insulted him. The dagger
WAS her husbands and was habiLually
used by him rs paper.Cutter. Mr..
James Anderson testified that he know
nothing OF the tragedy udtil Mrs Ander-
son knocked at his dUvf airi cried out
that her husband was dead Heheard no
noise whatever In the room Of the de-
ceased during the evening Of his death.
Mr. Banks admitted that he had Quarreled
with Mr.. Anderson the day beiore his
Heath, and might have said that he would
be even with him yet" II SO, 1t was not
threat, but an idle remark that really
meant nothing. He had heard Of his
death alter the discovery had been made
by Mrs. Anderson, though he could not
remember tho precise hour He was In
his room al the time, and hearing noise
in the hall came out TO see what was the
matter. He met servant who told him
Mr.. Anderson had been murdered. Mrs,
Stein, the widow, who occupied the room
adjoining the dead mans room in the
rear, was the last witness, and her tcsti.
mOny was substantially the same as that
Vi Mr. Banks, with theexceptlon that she
was 10 the parlor with the latter gentle
man from seven o'clock until after nine;
thus establishing an alibI both for him
and for herself. The Jury found q verdict
To the effect that Mr.. Anderson came 10
his death by being stabbed with dagger,
but prOIessed an inability to decide
whether 1t was a case Of suicide or muir
der. The dead mau was duly buried, bis
will proved, and his property; the whole
Of which was left 10 his wife, takon 10
charge by his brother as executor, and
both brother and widow remained at the
boarding. house, and maintained every
outward appearance Of deep and sincere
grief ~
Thus the problem how MIR. Anderson
came TO his death seemed to be generally
given up by every one as unsolVable. A
week alter the funeral, however, . new
boarder made his appearance; middle
aged man, apparently unmarried, with
plenty Of leisure on his hands, and with .
genial hearty manner that made him uni.
YersSlly popular. Mr.. Pryor was not 9
detective, as the reader has possibly sup.
posed, but simply an idle man with q
passion for solving difficult puzzles, he
had read the report Of the cOroners In
quest, and had made up his mind that he
would yet discover what the jurymen ad.
mRted TO be beyond their powers oil
divnatiOn. He therefore entered the
ranks Of Mrs. BurntaBh's boArders and I'M
metliately proceeded to work out theprob'
lem he had set himself 10 solve.
Ills tlrst move was tomake the Rcquain'
lance oil the physician who had testified at
the inquest. A slight cold, for which he
consulted him, was sufficient for his pur.
nose, and he easily led the conversation 70
The subject that occupied his thoughts.
The physician described the position In
which The dagger was found, and though
Lc admitted the possibility OF the theory
Of suicide, he evidently inclined to the
opinion that the man was murdered. He
could, however, give no reason for this,
except that q man who committed suicide
by stabbIng would probably insnnctiyely
withdraw tho weapon from the wound as
soon as he felt the pain produced by It.
Not much was to DO gained from this
quarter. and the amateur solver OF crimi.
nal puzZles set himself TO watch the In
mates Of bis boarding. house. lie soon de-
cded that il murder or suicide had been
committed, one Of the four, wit
nesses at the inquest who resided
in the house ought To- BIO able
10 throw moro light upon the matter. As
l..