Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-14
ASAVAGE FIGHTFOR LIFE
THE DEATH OF MAJOR MURRAY
RECALLS A STRANGE STORY.
The Majors Rand-tO- Hand Encounter
With a Jealous Money Lender in
Lonely Room IA London-A Duel to the
Daatlr
From The Rets York Sup.

= CO6'ouS nAOnEJ go -
Lonely Room IA London-A Duel to the
Death.
From The Ne4c York Suu.
LONDON, Jan. 19.-Three Gays ago
brief notice in the London newspapers
told OF the death at Monte Carlo of Major
William Murray, at the age of 70 years. 1t
has excited no comment; and yet, just
twenty.f five years ago next. April, Major
Murray was the talk of London and the
strange, savage tragedy of Northum-
berland street, Strand" in which he was
concerned, was the nine-day horror of
Europe.
Major Murray was a gentleman of good
position and fortune, a brave soldier, and
highly popular in the military clubs-one
OF those bachelors known as "a mans
man." Twice or thrice a week he went
down into the city, for he was an int1uen-
tIal director In several strong companies.
In appearance he was a model of the re-
tired military OH er; erect in carriage,
trim In dress, with bold, sweeping NOUS
tache, waXed at the ends. The Major
mad no secrets from the world; mis- habits
were as regular as the sun, and he could
be found as easily as any man in town.
one crisp April morning, after break
tasting heartily at his club in Pail Mall,
ne SET out to walk down to the city to the
meeting of one of his Boards of Directors.
An extra dividend was to be declared that
day, and the Major was uncommonly
cheerful-even, as subsequently appeared,
TO the extent of infringing club rules by
tipping his waiter under cover OF
the cloth. Ten minutes later he was
pacing jauntily down the Strand. At the
corner Of Northum berland street be was
stopped by man whom he had never be-
fore seen.
"BeI pardon, but this isMajor Murray"
the stranger asked c0urte0usly.
Yes" said the Maj1r.
director in the Grosyenor Hotel Com
pany?'
Yes" said the Major again.
''YOu will, | hope. overlook this intrus-
ion. | am the solicitor for a gentleman
with 100000 to invest in the GrOsvenOr
hotel on any favorable report. | have
studied the condition of the company for
week, and am entirely satisfied except
on couple of minor points. | was on my
way to lay my inquiries before the Board
of Directors when / saw you. To-day il
happens am very much pressed for time.
on can tell me in moment what | want
10 know, and this is my excuse Tor this
liberty, and why | should be immensely
Obliged if you would step into my cham
bers just below"
He was medium-sized, self.possessed.
buslness-like man with cropped black
Whiskers, and the air and Dire IS Of pros
porous attorney. Evidently be was not
used to standing on formalities to save
time and gain point. The Major hesitat-
ed. 1t was al irregular proceeding. But
the stranger was quietly pressing, aud
the Major good humoredly acqu,esced.
tie followed the man to dlngy building
on NOrthum herland street, and up three
flights OF stairs, into a set OF cramped,
husky chamaeT They were notably tidy.
Legal looking papers were piled neatly on
shining desks and clean shelves; but no
clerk appeared. On the largest table
litter OF letters, an open inkstand, and
the hali-written page Of a note showed re-
cent occupation. The furniture was
rude but polished by time Not an enliv-
ening place, the Major thought, but
copy, no doubt, of hundreds of chambers
in the neighborb0Od. His guide stopped
in the first and ligatest room, having a
double window. with tiny panes, looking
out on The low roofs opposite, and wheeled
chair with high, straight arms and back
into the III mt. He had not spoken on the
journey. Now be said:
''lt's high up, eh ~
"Yes," said the Major as he seated him.
self.
''Out of the way OF everybody.' the
stranger continued with an odd cauckie,
The Major turned suddenly at the sound.
He never Knew why, for his nerves were
strong. But that low husky rattle had in
IL something so sinister, so cunning, so
satisfied that it startled even the old sold-
er. The man had turned toward the
shelves and seemed to be quietly and
me hOdlcally searching papers. His ace
was hidden. Without answering, the
Maj r resumed BIS first position, with
crossed legs. upright shoulders, and
glOVed hands resting on his malacca cane
IAN attitude OF patient expectation. But
he felta restless impaJieuce to be done
with the business, aud an odd depressing
uneasiness. He bent down his be d TO
get broader view of the CHEEKY morning
sky. The next instant he sprang madly
forward at the electric tOuch of a small
icy ring ut the back of his neck, and the
next fell face downward, rigid and sense
less, with cartridge ball just above his
spine, and 10 his ears the echo of pistol
shot thrown back muffied from the thick
walls.
How long his paralysis lasted or what
1t concealed the ajOr never knew. When
he opened his eyes he was still PROSTATE
on the hlOr He was conscious of a pool
Of blood under his cheek and another
where his hand had fallen, crunc ed be-
meath his breast. With some guardian
iatuitiOn, he struggled, in his returrrng
consciousness, to restrain motion. He
could see nothing but the brown squares
OF straw mating against which his face
had dropped. AS his confused sense
cleared he realized that he was wounded
N three places ia the neck. in the
shoulder, and IN the side. Those last two
had saved him by letting the blood which
relieved the cerebral syncope that had
caused the assassin to believe he had
killed his victim with the first ball. The
Major telt little pain from mis- wounds.
1t was too soon for that. But there was
spot on his leg, with the dull, continuous
soreness of a brulse. With diabolical
malignancy his enemy had twice 6red
into and then kicked the BODY OF the man
who seemed to be dead. The MAJOR, living
moti0nless, did not speculate on the
c suses Of this acrid, insensate hate. He
asked himself only. "Where is the scoun.
drel nOw?" And growing stronger every
moment, he finally decided to turn upon
his side.
He contrived to achieve this noiselessly
and brought the further half Of the room
within range of his eyes, ana then he
closed them and breathed more lightly
than an infant; tor. seated at a desk.
calmly writing, was his cowardly assai-
ant. His profile was toward the Major
cameO-like in its paleness against the
black OAK waiasc0tng. His broad.
square brow was unclouded, and his OK.
preston fixed and serene. But for the