Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-21
THE RICHMOND DISpATCH-SUNDAY. NOVEMBER o. 1886.

no crime could b proved just % tho
accountant had told me. that no evil
depce Of fraud really existed. A Law.
yer consulted told mo much the same
thing. He said:
Whatever presumption you may
form on these circumstances, 1t 10 clear
you have no evidence that crime has
been done or fraud committed, nor
have you . particle Of proof to show
sgsinst any individual"
And yet ! have worked out theory
in my mind which l believe to be the
truth. | think that . plot was formed
in the East, and that Bsvidge Was Sc
lected as the victim, probably because
be was not only wealthy, but was also
known to conduct bis business In an
unusually private manner. Zanat Driss.
the Malay, came to England to execute
tho plans. First, old Bayidge was lur d
into some large undertaking. Most
likely the enterprise was genuine. and
the securities given to him for advances
also good, for he was not the man to be
taken in by false representations. But
when he had embarked all his credit
in other words, his capital--,heu the
conspiraters sought to secure 1t TO
themselves. Driss-for | believe the
agent was bim-efected the murder OF
Bavidgc At the Guildhall by means Of
the poisoned arrows which he may
possibly have deposited there himself
How DO did so guessed from my own
adventure. 1t will be remembered that
the Oriental stranger, doubtless Driss,
who sat beside Bayidge at the banquet
and left the table with him, was after
ward alone with the half-conscious sui
ferer for a few minutes. What more
easy than to pick his pockets of the
keys and pocket-book? Daring the
night, probably disguised, he nigh,
have used the keys to let himself in the
Office to destroy every paper referring
to the special business in which be was
interested and to remove his own secu-
rites. Hence his yillainous associates
in the East would be enabled to retain
Bavidge's property without any one
being the wiser.
Now, | think that the fascination
which causes a murderer to return to
the scene of bis crime brought this man
again to the Guildhall. Fate, or the
hand of God, led him to accost me
By accident he learned from my words
what doubtless led him to suppose |
was on bis track. lie instantly con-
ceiyed the idea Of removing me by the
same apparently accidental means he
had used against my employer. Who
shall say there was no interposltion OF
Providence in the Illustration of that
attemp;-in the "chance which saved
my life and turned the assassin's wea-
pom against himself? Not ], certainly.
That the wretch went from the Guild
hall to certain and immediate death |
know, and his look and words now as
sure me that he also knew it. never
succeeded in tracing him, but suspect
it was his body that was picked up Il"
the Thames a week later. The descrip'
ton read of " foreign seaman found
drowned sufficiently tailed with my
recollection Of TIE Malay. But the
&C ual robbers, Of whom he was but
the active agent, are they never to be
pursued and brought TO justice?
am only poor clerk, though sm
rich in dear Eumeline's loye-who Is
now my wife--and have neither means,
nor time, nor ability to hunt down tho
plumbers Of old Bayidge. the associates
Of the assassin. And | have found
more yet to help me. So | have written
this narrative down in the form of q
story, hoping it may find one reader
who shall be to me wise ard poten'
tisl ally in tracking out TIE scoundrel
garg, the yet UNPUBLISHED abettOrs Of
The weird and subtle crime committed
az | truly believe, by the stranger
met in the Guildball.