Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-10-26
A NAIL IN THE SKULL.

LOT uliNtH lHtu tuo Shuil, dnu hiuiVSb hlu
den by .he long black curly hair was an
iron spike about four inches long.
This, the physicians said, had been the
instrument of his murder. He had pro-
pably been choked into senselessness by
powerful hand, and The deed commit
ted. Ho had then been cast into the
water.
Although the most perfect in the world
the police OF that great city were unable
to unravel the crime. A stranger cannot
remain in its limits twenty four hours
even, without being known to the agents
Of the law, but of this youth they knew
nothing. Who he was, whence he came
his object in the metropolis were equally
mysterious and unfathomable.
The hotels and lodging houses, which
are required to keep registry of ali in
mates, we're examined by the detectives,
but to no purpose. None knew him
none had seen him.
The garments found upon lis person,
and which hung upon peg, still dripping
upon the halt naked man beneath, had
offered no clue. They were those of a per-
son moving in tho better class of society,
not in any way unlike the tens of thous-
ands met daily on the public streets.
With look of chogrin, y we'll known
detective, engaged IN the search, stood
gazing thoughtfully through one of the
little glass widows that opened on the
space enclosing the dead. 1t was the
last Of the three days that the body should
be exposed, and he had given up all hopes
Of finding the guilty party.
A slight noise OF voices at the door
caused him to turn his head.
Familiar with the faces Of the new
comers, he recognized them as actors at
one OF the city theaters.
At that time-and even 20 this day
the Morgue was school room for these
children of the stage. They came to
watch and study, unknown, the varying
expression OF horror, disgust and terror
depicted on the faces of visitors as their
eyes first caught sight Of the Shiny corps
es on the stone slabs within.
The present party was composed OF two
ladies and three gentlemen. One of tho
mon had refused 70 enter, and the Of
forts of the others to induce him was
what had disturbed the reverie Of the Of
fcer.
"No, Two seen him. don't care to 60
in. III wait for you here"
The words we're distinctly heard by the
detective, who knew the speaker as one
Of tho most talented, but erratic traged-
ians then in vogue.
lie had himself not yet been observed
by the incomers, to whom he was MS we'll
known as they to him, and, hastily step
ping back, no entered small room to
which the general public was not admit.
ted.
The actors remained but little while
tor despite the singular method OF mur'
der, and the publicity given the case,
visitors we're not numerous.
Indeed it had often been noticed that
deaths Of peculiar horror-or where the
body was almost putrid-or tho face OF
the person crushed in some dsgusting Z
manner, the crowds of eager sightseers
were always greater.
This case, and it had been the sole oc-
cupant OF the dread abode since its arrival ,
was without these attractions. Indeed,
were it not for tho irregularly squa'o nail'
in the skull, strongly contrasting with the
white skin, there was nothing to tell but
that he had died by the silent visitation
of Coo
So the players left and Joined their
friend outside. The others were lively
and talkative, naturally, perhaps, but his
seemed forced gayety.
This party stopped at various cafes and
gardens on their return homeWard,
drinking wine and brandy.
But at every halt some stranger or 9th
er would occupy some seat near them'
The frat in a different dress, but with a
bearing much like detective, had fol
lowed them from the Morgue.
He had spoken q few words to commits
satre he had met upon tho corner, who
had dogged their footsteps until some
distance or he came in contact with a
man walking along in the dress Of sol
disr, who, in his turn tracked and watch
ed them.
The agents OF the french Police are to
Le fouud everywhere, and in all sorts OF
ostensible occupations, in every quarter
Of Paris.
The legal period expired and no claim
ant arising, tho body OF the man "mur-
dered by spike through the brain," as
the verdict had it, was ordered to be
buried in the common ditch the
Potter's Field Of outcasts and unknown.
The strange affair apparently died
entirely out of plbic mind. The Morgue
repeated, in other forms, the ghastly
story, visitors came. and were shocked,
actors and actresses continued to 60 there
ia the interest OF Art, and everywhere
the great drama Of life was still played
on, as is its won't.
A certain detective, however, never
entered the dead house, nor did certain
leading actor.
1t was singular, moreover, that 30
many people called to make trivial
inquiries at the thester. The manager
was surprised at it, but hoping that it was
nothing more than increasing popularity
gave no other expression Of wonder.
Oae day a police official entered his
Office.