The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-16
TRAGEDY OF MARSTON HALL.

mulStOu, VI IutIStOu lldli, loihohiiV,
England, in 1910, is among the most note
worthy events in the chronicles of crime.
Sir James was the last of long line, and
was bachelor of fifty. He had lived a
gay and dissipated life, and had squand-
cred his large revenues on pleasures OF the
most sensual kind. The baronetcy would
he extinct with him, but the estates would
pass TO a second cousin, young lady of
twenty-five, bearing the name of Augusta
MarstOn.
Marston Hall was an irregular building,
in many styles Of architecture, with a
terraced garden in front, in the old style.
Sir James spent the greater part of his
time in London and Paris; but every
summer he visited the hail and broughta a
few intimate friends with him. In Au-
gust, 1910, he followed his usual custom,
and was accompanied by Mr. John Agnew,
Mr. George Settle, Mr.. Christopher Aims
lie and Mr.. James Herbert. They reached
the hall on the 18th of the month, and
passed their time in fishing, riding, rack
cts and boating, Every evening they sat
down to dinner together, and generally
drank very freely, going to bed late and
rising late next morning.
On the morning of August 18th all
were up and assembled in the breakfast
room awaiting Sir James. 1t was 10
o'clock, and still he failed to appear.
One Of them, Mr. Ainslie, sauntered out
into the garden and passed around the
left wing of the building where the study
was situated. He returned shortly, and
said that Sir James was seated in the
library near the window.
This is too bad,' said Mr.. Agnew,
who was op very intimate terms with
Sir James; "let us go and rouse him
up He must be ignorant of the time of
day
Mr.. Agnew and the others crossed the
hall and went towards the study. On
opening the door they saw that screen
interviewed between them and Sir James.
They entered in body and saw the bar
onct seated in his chair near the window.
His head lay back, his hands dropped and
his jaw had fallen.
"NIy Godw exclaimed Mr.. Agnew, che
is dead"
On approaching they found that such
was the case, but they found more. They
found that the blood still oozed from d
wound in the region OF the heart. The
vest, shirt and pantaloons were saturated
and the floor was soaked with blood A.
n matter of course, the proper authorities
were informed of the dreadful crime
which had clearly been pcrpetrated An
Investigation followed, which resulted in
what is given below. The guests of the
dead baronet testified to their being with
him on the previous evening until past
midnight
Mr.. ignew swore that at fifteen min
ute> past twelve he left Sir James in the
middle Of the dining room with the other
gentlemen. Mr.. Settle swore that he
parted with Sir James at the table in the
hall, where he took his night candle, and
that then Mr.. Ainslie and Mr.. Herbert
were with him.. Mr., Herbert testified
mat he bado Sir James good night at the
loot of the stairs and left Mr.. Ainslc
with him. Mr., Ainslie sworc that he
quilted Sir James at the same place only
q few moments afterward, just as the
porter extinguished the light in the hall
way. Sir James turned toward his
study.
Thomas Cooley, the porter, swore that
he saw Sir James and Mr.. Ainsie stand
ing together at the foot of the stairs, and
that Sir James said: Thomas, sec that
vou put out all the lights and close the
windows securely"
God ey further swore that he went into
the dining-room to close the windows, anC
left Sir James and Mr.. Ainslie speaking
together, and that after he had closed the
windows he returned to the hall anC
found that both gentlemen had gone
There was light, however, in Sir James
study, and Cooley went and looked in a
,he half-opcn door, He saw Sir james
BRING out his tin cash box from an oakel
chest which stood near the window, and
wondering what he could be going to do
had the curiosity to watch. Sir ,iame'
counted out number Of bank notes anc
said To Mr.. Ainsie as he handed them tC
him:
"There is "a thousand pounds and yol
can give me your |. o. y. for it,"
Then Sir James put back q quantity O
hank notes into the tin box and returned
it to the oaken chest. Cooley quitteC
The spot and went about his business
in the houekeeper's room he remarked
10 Mrs. Bruno, the housekeeper, that Mr.
Ainslie had borrowed money from ST
James
William Garry, Sir James valet, test
fed that he went into his masters bed
room and prepared it for him as usual
He haG directions not to stay around the
apartment after midnight if his maste
lid not 90 TO bed at that time. On tina
evening, however, he remained later
"aading a newspaper which lay on tn
,'lessing table. Hearing a step, he looke'
At the timepiece and saw it was nearl,
half past twelve. lie thought the steI
was Sir James, but as it passed he wen
to the corridor and saw Mr.. Ainslie goin
down stairs with an umbrella in hi
hand.
Strange things happen in the hall a
all hours, and Carr thought there wa
nothing remarkable in guest goin