The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-12-27


usavssy angular. nystsrious and
eompliesisd case
la bare room Of "a old houss 10 shs
,is,niiy of London bridge railway station
! man vas found dead. hanging by :
ANAL cord 10 hook driven into the Wall,
~ fee, rcssing on the door
He vas discovered soms days aissr nis
death, and by reason Of the strong smell
seu. forth from his decomposing BODY,
He was . stranger. whom DO one knew,
.nd Why he shcSld have como 70 that
place to csrnmii suicide vas great nys
terry.
lie vas well dressed. had gold watch
in his pocket. to which was attached
heavy gold chain; he had diamond stud
in his shirt front, aud cluster ring Of
diamonds on one finger; be had also 2
pocket book on bis psrson containing izoo
in bank notes.
Il waa. thssS1Dfe. evident that hs had
not committed suicide because Of poverty,
nor been murdered for bis money.
Was il suicide, or was II MURDER
There was no scrap Of paper on his
person TO tell Who the stranger vas. or ms
motive for the murdsrous deed, II hs did
| it,
The room, which was the upper story
of an old building, the lower story Of
which was occupied BY = commission
agent. contained no arti0lp Of furniture
II had been rented about ten days previ'
ously 10 rather venerable looking man,
who walked little lame, and wore cog
oles. who said he wanted it for an ONCE
for the sale OF patent that would soon
become very popular with sea-goins pso'
pie. :,
When questioned about the patent, nc
ssid he would not explain it, but would
have something on hand for exhibition 10
the course Of ten days.
The dead man was not the one who hao
taken the room, however, and how and
whom he got access to the apartment NJ
one knew.
There was an old fashioned fireplace IL
the room, and some paper ashes IN II AZ
trscted the attention Of detective wht
happened to bs no other than my humble
self
In turning over the ashes, ! discovered
two or three little bits Of paper not on
tirely consumed, and they had these word
written on them, though now hardly dir
tinguishable;
found her and locked
private room
meet you station u.
Now. after reading these disjoints
sentences, / began to study and ponde
them.
Might not this be portion Of msssae
sent to the dead man, to lure him to n
city for the purpose Of putting him out
the way.
But for what motive?
All. that indeed / could not kno'
That was something only to be found O
after . serious investigation, in case OF
should be made.
Iexsmined the chsrred paper as well
I couisf' ma reached tbs conclusion tn
what had read was part Of tslcgra
which had been sent him by somebody
London, and received by somebody at
distance, and that either the sender CT !
: csiyer intended to meet him. and pro
ably did meet him at the railroad static
II Well, then, where was that somsbod
and why had hs allowed his corresponds
to visit that out-of-ths-wsy room alor
!. and commit suicide, without even goi
to near him afterwards?
And why should the man come to su
IN . placo and kill himself?
Of And could he have found the ro'
without guide, and obtaiDed access to
&c unknown to anyone, il he wns not
- man who had rented it in the first pla'
70. But thon, it was certain that he was
that man, unless he was disguised WI
Ike he hired il; and Why he had gons to
that trouble merely to hang himself, WI
: he could have done it quite ~ efiectua
- in tea thousand better places.
+ No; look on it. reason as ! might
- could not believe tho stranger hanging
that bare room had put the rope arou
\ his own neck.
II / told the coroner OF my belief;
W whether be conceded with me or not,
is certain his jury did not, for they bronl
in a verdict of suicide.
The body was placed in the mortu
for recognition, and / requested that
m should be kept there as long A. pcssi'
~ for had desire to see what ] could
~ 10 working up the case.
ms. ! started ont with the bit Of paper J
par discovered. to see II ! could find at
telegraph Office any message recently
the of. smbodying tho words l had tr
scribed In their consecutive order.
It. was soon fortunate ia getting pos
y sion OF what I believed 70 be tho orig
message.
II was addressed to Horace Gran
lso-----strest, Manchester, and rsas
iollows The words / found among
papsr ashes enclose in brackets:
II have found her and locked her
c1 in : [privsss room. Cone on and !
VI parents authority. Tale the last
train. and I will Inject you'll At Lo'
uai'y Bridge station. y
Judging from this, II was the case
runaway daughter. whom O. bad
lowed. and captured in London. and =