The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-10-29
A STRANGE MURDER.
A DETECTIVES STORY.

retired from business, and living in n
pretty little villa in the suburbs of the
city, did not appear at breakfast as usual
one morning, and, on entering her bed
chamber, it was found that her bed had
not been occupied the previous night.
Search was made and at last, in q
sort of natural arbor made by the group
of lilac bushes, with the clusters of
white and purple blossoms bending
down, as though to hide the pitiful
sight from our avenging Heaven, they
found her lying stabbed through the
heart, and, as if that were not horror
enough, two fearful gashes crossing
each other on her face, and making it
almost unrecognizable.
The evidence went to show that the
murdered girl had retired to her room
about O'Clock on the previous evening,
pleading a headache. Mr.. Hamilton,
who was a widower, supposed that she
had retired to rest but, on the testi-
mony of one of the servants, it appeared
that she was afterward seen in the gar
den in company with a young man,
newspaper reporter named Geo. Gan
goil, for whom she cherished an attach
ment, but contrary to her fathers wish.
About ten o'clock the servant saw this
young man leave the garden by the
water gate, and jumping into boat
that lay moored there, row rapidly away.
Then the witness expecting Miss Ham
ilton to re-enter the house, had gone to
bed.
Gangoil's landlady testified that he
returned home about eleven o'clock,
evidently disturbed in mind about some
thing, and hastily packing few arti-
cles in valise, had paid his bill, and
told her he would probably not return
for week or two. Then he had taken
a cab and driving to Clearing Cross sta
ton, left by the one O'Clock express for
Denver.
On this evidence the inspector of
police telegraphed to the authorities and
had him arrested as he was stepping
on the boat to cross the channel. So far
everything was correct; the police had
fulfilled their duty in arresting him, and
it was now ours, we of the detective
force, to find out whether he was wrong
ly accused, and if so, who was the per-
petrator of the crime.
The first moment looked at Gangoil
L felt convinced that he was innocent,
but though L could not get him to
answer any questions, felt certain that
it was not the sullen obstinacy of guilt,
fearful of eliminating itself, but the
apathetic despair of an overwhelming
misery.
" You have the power, if not the right
to insult me-" he said, his eyes flashing
up fiercely for moment. 81 loved her
and we bid each other sad farewell be-
cause of her fathers wishes, and now
you dare to accuse me of her death-my
murdered darling!'
Every word he spoke, his face burn
ing with honest indignation, convinced
me the more of his innocence, but as 1
could get no more information from
him, proceeded once more to the scene
of the tragedy.
l felt perpleXed. had not the slight
est clue to work upon, and as 1 stood
there could only make vague conjec-
lures, wondering what the tale would
be. Could those scented blossoms that
all night long hung over that dead mu-
tilated face but speak.
1t might seem foolish, but, after all,
that was the only way to pierce the
mystery-to build up theory, and then
proceed to prove it either true or false.
The more 1 thought of the possibilities
of it having been Gangoil who did the
deed, the fewer they seemed.
Supposing that sudden fit of passion
or jealousy had moved him to kill her,
he never would have made those fearful
gashes upon her face. From the esti-
mate formed of the man he could not
do it. But then on the other hand, the
murderer must have been prompted by
either revenge or jealousy, for the rings
upon her fingers and the chain around
her neck were untouched and turning
these thoughts over and over in my
mind, at last once became satisfied the
criminal was a woman.
My conjectures went no farther than
that, and L once more made thorough
search through the garden, but had
done this so carefully twice before that
it seemed almost useless. However, /
prosecuted my search and at last found