The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-04-14

college a year before. The atmosphere
of the room was sitting. DR.. D
threw open the window, after which We
removed the lid of the coffin. We
found the remains in an excellent state
of preservation. DIR. D-'s examina-
tion disclosed the startling fact that the
stomach OF the dead man contained a
large quantity of arsenic-enough to
have killed half dozen men.
at is as I suspected" exclaimed the
president excitedly, throwing down his
knife. The man was poisoned. How
the deed was done know not. bat am
positive that Richard Vandevere was
murderedI'
"By whom?'' cried.
"By DIR. Fairfield, otherwise Ralph
Arlington" replied DIR. D., who
seemed in his excitement to have lost
every particle Of dignity with which he
had been accustomed 10 awe US.
Ralph ArlingtionI" ] exclaimed.
'Yes, Mr.. Willoughby. When read
that diary of poor Richard Vandevere's
which you found, / recollected having
met Arlington, the false friend and Sc
ducer, when in London, where lived
in 1845. II suddenly occurred to me
that DR.. Fairfield bore a wonderful re-
semblance TO Arlington. | at once caus-
ed inquiries regarding Fairfeld's ante
l. l. \ IL Il L L
confirmed my suspicious. though sill
possessed no positive proof of the cor
rectness Of my supposition. But little
conld be learned of him, save that he
arrived in New York IN 1916 with his
wife-or a woman he called his wife
and soon obtained lucrative practice,
and later an extensive reputation. He
had always given evasive answers when
questioned regarding his life previous to
1916, and his friends soon learned that
the subject was disagreeable one to
him. His wife died two years after their
arrival in America, and"
The report of pistol sounded in the
garden outside. We rushed to the win
dow. DR.. Fairfield lay upon the
ground, groanIng terribly.
"Good Heavenw exclaimed DIR. D.;
she has shot himself"
"He has been outside the window lis
tening" Clayton cried.
We leaped into the garden, and bore
DIR. Fairfield into the house. He was
bleeding profuselv from a wound in the
side
"He cannot liver' announced Dr.
D., alter brief examination.
You were right, DR.. D." the dy-
ing man said; ~ am that wretch Ralph
Arlington, who for twenty years led n
life of torture. which he thanks Heav-
en- Ia almost an end"
After brief pause he resumed: 81
wish to confess all before die. mur
dered Richard Vandevere. When
passe his cabin on my way to this in
stitution he recognized ME, although I
did not zee him. He sent for me by Mr.
Willoughby. I dared not disohey the
summons. I went to him. As ! enter
ed the hut he closed and locked the door,
crying, Ralph Arlington, false villainl
you're in my power at last He grasp
ed my throat and bore me to the ground.
I was utterly powerless in his hand; he
seemed endowed with the strength of a
dozen men. ] had abandoned all hope
of ever leaving the place alive, when
suddenly his grasp relaxed, and he fell
hack grasping for breath and crying,
'Wateri waterp ] saw that the terrible
excitement under which he labored had
brought on a severe attack of heart dis
ease. He might die then and therel
But soon it became apparent to my
practical eve that he was recovering. A
terrible thought occurred TO me. Why
allow him to recover? Why not kill
him? If spared his life was ruined!
could poison him; in my pocket was a
package of arsenic, which had pur.
chased for the purpose of making GER
tain experiments. He would be univer-
sally believed to have died of heart dis
ease. If doubt arose on the point a
word from me, one of the most eminent
medical men in the country, would re.
move it. Water! water! waterp the
PROSTATE man cried, this time in firm.
er voice, for he was fast recovering. In
an instant had enptied the arsenic in
to a tumbler, which / then half filled
with water and gave to Vandevere. He
drank it and fell back, crying ont: "Bit-
ter, bitter!" / cannot. dare not tell you
all that followed. Suffice il ia to say
that remained with him till he died
Then / removed all trace of the poison
and hastened TO the college. The nexr
morning the announcement that will
had been found in which Vandevert
left his body to this institution, filled
me with horror. knew that the pres
ence of arsenic would be Immediately
discovered in the stomach; I was certain
that suspicion would point TO me. and
that my life would be forfeited. These
thoughts so affected me that, as you re-
member, tainted. All that day
racked my brain for some means of ca
cape from the terrible exposure will
which ] was threatened. Finally de
cided upon the plan which put int
execution, and which has concealed ih'
evidence of my crime from the worl6
until to-day. ] paid George Garrison
the sexton, fifty dollars to remove tn
body at midnight and bury it in tn,
churchyard."
One hour later Ralph Arlington died
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