New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-19
"And how long do you Think Mr. Moffett
has been dead Z" ,,.,.

"Bctwecn three and four hours 'uas'
n' aTbcn he was killed about A o'clock" re-
marked Amncr. ain broad daylight
{. And the murderer aftcrward shut the hght
from his work 10y drawing the tapestry cur
tains," added the Inspector. >, -, o,
"'"' Im NJ /" cried the Inspector. "Whcn
those thick curtains entirely cover the window
his room must he in almost, total darkness.
There is no other window, and even the doors
are curtaincd.' =,
Exactly" asscntcd Owen; 81 know by
experience that even at midday, when those
curtains arc drawn, the room is in darkness,
"Thcn your previous remark seems Absurd -;
How could that deadly blow with the knllc
! be struck in the darkness 7"
| "Verv easily | imagine by substituting the
sense of feeling for that of sight You VIII
notice that the middle band passes across tho,
chest, Just below the heart heart 1t Is saturated
"Bnt what could possibly he the motive
| the ncceesty-for such a procedure
"Wc have first to find a motive for the
CRIME itself" replied Owen. o.,
! Then lac drew the Inspector aside, and spoke
! earnestly and eagerly with him for several
moments. Hodges listened in wonder and per-
| plcyity. and with a slight suspicion OF his COM
| paniOn's sanity.
| oucsf." he replied, when Owen had ceased
| spcaking "And | cannot take upon myself to
Grant Il, You must understand that am now
| responsible to the law in this case.
! II will take the responsibility, urged Owen;
| "You cannot he responsible Tor me- replied
| Hodges somewhat largely.
| Owen seeing that he had committed an or
| ror FASTENED to retrieve 1t.
! "You misunderstood me, Inspector | meant
| that | would he responsible to you, not ior
Won" Then, seeing that Hodges was Modified
| Immediately, he dcicatcly but firmly pursued
! his advantage 'Upon yon, and you alone
the responsibility must. Of course, rest Of either
| granting or refusing the permission | ask.
Inspector Hodges hcstatcd He was nat
urallv shrcwd man, and he had had large
, experience but his mind was narrowed through
! lack Of education and reading, and like most
| pcoplc. he was suspicious and sccptical Of any
| Thing he was unable TO understand.
1--WE can leave the matter until tomorrow
at any rate" he said at last In the mcaE-
time will make inquiries" =.
"Tnfortnatclv tomorrow will lie too late"
replied Owen, sitting his impotence 10y dcs-
Irrltc effort. Z" 1t must bc done now or not al
aIl. | repeat that what ] wish can do no poSs-
lille harm Already three officers Of the las
have seen the murdered man. and what would
remove could. if necessary, he replaced at any
moment If you refuse me, however, there IS
no more 10 he said.
Then hc turned away with 4 gesture which
plainly repeated what he had hnttd before
The responsibility If refusal Is yours you
may regret it,
q You may proceed" he said. when the de-
ic,tiycS have finished, and in their presence. |
can only hope that no blame viii fall upon me-
ia the matter
Blame will attach 10 no one replied Owen
gratefully. 81 promise you. Inspector, that you
: viii have no cause to regret this mark Of con-
! Glcncc in me-.
McssrS. Amncr and Pritchard were disap-
D pointed because the further they proceeded IN
{ heir investigation the more convinced they
| lccamc thai, notwithstanding the strange and
| sensational nature Of this murder. but little
/ honor or profit would accrue from II for them
: selves Everything tended 20 confirm The llst
& natural suspicion that the black servant was the
/ uuiliy ncrson. and 70 hunt down a black man
/ I'M y white country a very slmp.e task
! Thoy had learned from Owen that the only per
SON who would gain by Hope Molfcus death
vas = married sister In Scotland. who was
ahcaiy r h. ia fact 81 scd p IS BE avenue
to interesting complica'onst lhciI reasoning
vas plausible in Us way. The fonl work was
not Ike that Of an Eneli>hman. II was too
! deliberately brutal EneliShmcn very rarely
use knives in cold blood. Tic murderer dP-
reared g. have an intimate knowledge OF tho
rooms 10 even knew the most suitable weapon
| they contained, and no one could nave HTh
| better acquainted with the cutlery than inc
servant. According TO Owen. Ham was much
attached 10 his master; Int after all he WIS hnl
! semi viliZod and rs dangerous and unreliable
in the opinion Of the detectives, as a tame Ion
| no valuablcs Of any description had been taken
savage revenge. It was the outrageous result
If some injury, on flncicd injury done tie black
/ servant by his mlStcr-a not unprecedented
case. oven in London.
This rcaSouing was not progrr s~iVc, hut retro
ercssiyc. Ii would not have satisfied ogiclaE.
| ii failed 10 satisfy Owen. who saw That IT began
| with. and entirely depended upon. Hams dis
| appearance. II was not faulty, As groundwork
for a suspicion, lut had IT sufficient body and
reason 30 Justify conclusion Il started 10y
| ,.ip a
murder: il neglected 60 consider the possible
i'y Of the murder tcing tie consequence OF
| Hams absence
owen saw the weakness in the detectives
reasoning, but he had neither The tmc nor in
| clnation a. combat it. His mind was absorbed
and wholly absorbed, with another issue.
Then was enacted a most singular sceuc and
| one without precedent in the annals Of criminal
| investigation 10 three II The four men engaged
| init-men too, of stcelv nerves. it was strangely
| horrible and it would Ic impossible for the
| impression il created upon them ever to entirely
| fade And vet the operation that Owen per
formed upon bis deal friend was one Of he SIM
plc,t known to surg ry-onc that is p 'rformed in
| London daily upon living subjects. While the
| thrcc Officers each held a candle directed
| Che In pccior, in addition, holding the instrI-
mcnt case with his left hand, which trcmbIcd
| in spite Of his efforts TO Muster the idlntncSS
| which affected his nerves., the young surgeon,
with marvellous swifincss and skill, and with
he tcndcicSt care. removed ono Of the stony
| Owes Of tho murdered man, and softly wrapped
it in indicated wool
The effect Of this scene could not he more
adequately conveyed to the imagination than H.
he remark subsequently made by Inspector
hodges IL every moment expected the muir
dcrc1 man 10 cry ont Owen stood for n
moment with his strange prize in his hand his
eyes blazing. and n vivid spot Of color upon
each Of his pal" checks. He was strangely
| excited.
"Gcnicmcn," he said and his voice trcm-
| IL Il, al pot {.
say nothing Of this a present charge you
| With Gods help more will come Of il
The next moment he was gone.
| PART III.
In saying that il is an easy matter to catch
| 4 hlack man in white country The detectlyo