Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-03

hold. Hannah had made his fire. She
came and told us that she had done so
He said good night.
After he had gone we found that he
had left his watch on the table. He wore
it only with bunch of seals, and he had
been setting it by the clock, and showing
it to us as something very handsome. ]
knocked at his door to restore it to him
He had not left us but fifteen minutes be.
fore; but he must have been asleep al.
ready, for ne made no answer. SO | kept
it for the night, and wore II down "a
breakfasr next morning. AS | came
down | met n gentleman in the hall. He
inquired for Mr.. Glen. That was the
newcomers name. | sent Hannah to
wake him. She could not do so, and
grew alarmed. She had key that would
open the door, and used il. The next
thing | knew we were all in the room
and the windows were wide open, and
the doctor had been sent for; and the
young man who had called was scream
ing that his brother had been choked to
death; and then there was the inquest
and they arrested me. The brother said
the first thing he noticed was that wore
Mr.. Glen's watch and seals. l had for.
gotten it in my terror"
80 Hannah had key to the room?'
| said
Yes; at least it was key that would
open it, 1t was the key to Mr. Bassford's
door, She knocked the other out with a
stick and put that in"
"The people who were there on that
night were your boarders when the other
men were found dead?" l asked
"Oh, yes!'
"And Hannah was there also?"
All my married life Hannah has
lived with me-"
Your daughter oversees the house
hold in your absence?"
Yes, poor child, with Hannah's help
thought little while.
Madame" / said, "there is some
strange mystery in this affair. do not
despair of proving to all the world your
entire innocence. Meanwhile, be as calm
as possible, and endeavor to remember
everything connected with the sudden
deaths that have occurred in your house
The incident that seems the least impor-
tant may really be of the most immense
value"
SO 1 left and went home. Strange
enough, on the way met the doctor who
had been called in He was a dull, heavy
sort of a person, considerably given to
ability was not very great. However,
questioned him on the subject, and he re.
piled:
"Well, you see, l don't say the old
woman murdered him. If she did, | should
say it was by sitting on him, or smother.
ing him with the holsters. suppose the
cause of his death was asphyxia. Well,
then, what is asphyxia? Why too little
bru n tN ixir 10 I,n
cause he was short of breath. | wash my
hands on that matter. Only there's the
watch; that looks dark
had learned nothing from the doctor.
The Coroner lived near me. His jury had
been twelve of the most ignorant men in
town.
This is all he told me:
"He was smothered-that man was: so
were the other two. Men don't smother
themselves. We made it inscrutable
Providence t'other time. We make it
murder this time. That there watch, you
know"
Thus. without any new light, I went
home and formed my plans. There was
but one way in which to penetrate the
mystery. must enter the house; must
see the people there l must penetrate to
the room in which these men had died so
suddenly, and | must not be known in my
real character. That Madame Matteau
was innocent fully believed; but that
some one beneath her roof was guilty |
made no doubt. 1t might be the librarian,
Mr.. Bassford whose key fitted the dead
mans door. 1t was pOssible-but no,
would not harbor a mad superstition.
There could be no supernatural power be-
meath which human beings dropped and
died. Death as it came to US all was
mystery enough. What had been said to
me by woman, who would have been a
Spiritualist had she lived to-day, was a
mere absurdity.
I" | believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room, she had said I;
some awful, shapeless spirit, that when
it is locked in with its victim murders him.
Let others believe what they will, believe
that"
The words haunted me, but l laughed
at them, of course. Whatever it was,
would try to know. / had plan.
At dusk that day went into my bed
room myself | came out u strange man.
| wore white wig, pair of green cog
giles, and an overcoat, the tails of which
reached to my heels. / had muller
about my throat, and little hunch on
one of my shoulders. L carried a thick
cane and stopped a good deal as |
walked. In my hand carried carpet
bag, and in my bosom pair of pistols
well loaded.
AS | passed out into the street the
early moon was just rising; she lit me on
my way to the door of Madame Matteau's
house.
1t was opened for me, when knocked
by old Hannah. Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then told her that / was
stranger and had received Madame Mat
teau's address from a gentleman in New
York, and desired to stay under her roof
all night. She shook her head.
Il don't think you can" she said
The lady is away from home. Besides,
we are in trouble here. don't think Miss
Gabrielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap-
peared.
am an old man, MISS | said, and,
as you see, quite infrm. dread another
step. | should take it as kindness if
you would accommodate me, and will
pay any price you ask"
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
"We have only one room," she said,
" and that"
| ended the question of my stay by beg
ging to be taken to it.
You will have supper, sir?" asked the
girl.
But | declared that l had eaten and
only wanted rest.
Her reply was:
Hannah, show the gentleman to the
blue room, and make fire."
was in the blue room, the scene of
the three sudden deaths or murders. 1t
was small apartment, painted blue. 1t
had also blue window curtains and blue
silk coverlet ON the bed; neat striped
carpet, a set of old mahogany furniture,
and very handsome ever and basin of
costly china. 1t was at the time almost
a universal custom to burn wood. In this
room, however, was a small coal fire. l
alluded to this as Hannah came in with
the seuttle
Eyes, Sir" she said. "Missus does
burn Goals. Her son is clerk, or the
like, at them new mines at Mauch CHUNK,
n 50