New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19

Cover Street. He remembered the clrcumstance
perfectly becanse tho sentlsman ad h hs
the witness had called him back to receive. no
ticket collector at Cover Street did not remember
person of that description lhGw ioaa no bnt
first class ticket from Harrington had poch coeo'
at that time.
The evidence of the doctor who examined the
body was still moro disturbing to the popular
theory. Dr. Ford was man in the prime OF NE, ne
and widower. He possessed q considerable
practice and .pS be- mad tie
reputation of being keen and clever. Wnen, tnere-
fore. he stood up IN the witness-box ana gave
his positive conviction that the ia.a, he self
inflicted lie inspired some belief, az least III ..e
minds of people who knew him we'll Inc c1rong a
sceptical but courteous asked what GROUNDS INC
witness had for his opinion.
Il compared the deceaseds arm with the depth OF
the wound. replied the doctor, and found that ms
strength could not havs been sufficient to drive tho
knife SO far 1t should be mentioned that the
weapon was common dagger such as may be seen
in the window of any cutters shop.
II was here suggested that the knife was not
driven in by one blow but pressed in, but Dr. Ford
very readily coniuted that theory. He began 10y
ponting out the depth of the wound: mnch deeper
than was necessary to kIll-the steel had CLEFT the
heart in twain. Then as to character; IL was
perfectly and direct self-incted. 1T would IN
the highest probability have been Irregular Bnt
that was not all. The suspicious excited by the
circumstances already stated had urged DIR. Ford to
a closer examination than he might otherwise nave
made. with the result that be discovered on toe
skin around the incisOn brulse, shgnt' out
sufficiently palpable. which clearly demonstrated
the force with which the haft of the knife had come
in contact with the surface OF the body. 10 nave
occasioned even slight bruise through thick
clothing that force mat have been very considerable
far too great, the doctor argued, to admit OF the
blow having been selt-nfIcted.
man, although weak, might be capaple or
intiicting such blow upon another added Tue
witness. In that case he would have the advan-
tage of distance, in which TO give impetus to the
Of w IL denied
against himself. These interesting arguments
although listened to with patience and courtesy,
inquest, however. was adjourned for a few days so
that inquiries night be made concerning the bearded
man described BY the rail way clerk.
When the proceedings were resumed nothing had
been heard of the mysterious stranger. There was
nothing unusual about that, SAID the police.
man of an extremely nervous and retiring dlspos-
ton would instinctvely avoid being mixed mp IN
an affair of the kind, and, having no important
testimony to offer. wOnld probably keep out OF the
way. As it was considered that further inquiry
was unnecessary, the facts at the disposal OF the
police being sufficient, the inquest was brought to
a conclusion. In SUNNI ing up for the jury the
coroner weighed the evidence for the theory OF
suicide against the medical opinion, very much in
favor of the former. Tue strong points in that evil
dence were three-viz. ~ the attitude OF the dead
man; (2l the absence Of any signs of struggle ;
and 81 the fact that Mr.. COwen had recently
suffered severe financial losses through speculation
in stocks. On this last point several OF the
deceaseds City friends gave testimony. Mr.
C0Wen. III appeared. WAS gentleman vi Consluor-
able private fortune who had been induced several
months before his death to try his luck on the
Stock Exchange. The results were unfortunate
and il asserted that when he met his fate he
was returning home after a vary ba1 day."
This evidence, which though pauoible was cir
cumstantial. was permitted TO overweight that OF
DR.. Ford which was scientific and positive. As
snming the latter to be correct it was arguel. Mr.
COwen was murdered. Was such thing COZ Gel a.
ble pOssiblef Could man be stabbed to death in
that big artery of human motion. the Underground
Railway and the murderer. red handed walk Off
undetectedf Certainly not! the idea was too
absurd to admit of argument SO thought the po-
lice, thought the coroner, so thought tho major
itv of the public and so thought the jury, who re-
turned a verdict of feio-dc-se
BIT DR.. Ford was unshaken. and he had at least
one sincere aiherent-tbe murdered mans widow.
Mrs. COwen understood nothing of medical science;
but she knew her husband and her sublime faith in
him WAS mistaken by bis death. Her evidence would
have touched any thirteen men less wooden than
the coroner and his jury. and supporting as it did
the medical testimony, have convinced any less self
opiDlonated persons than the police authorities.
She stated, with an air OF simple conviction that
should have been irresistible, that her husband
the last man in the wOrld to have ATTEMPTED
his own life. HIS disposition was too hopeful, too
buOyant and sanguIne to admit of such an idea.
His pecunary losses did not appear to veX him in
the slightest degree. They were heavy. but to a
was sunshine itself she declared, and during the
twelve years of thei married life she had never
he was too fond of his honie OF his friends. Of his
two children, of his vile of all that made life
beautiful to him, 10 have taken tnat life himself
Yet they called him o snicidel
Mr.. Jules Merlin attended the inquest as wit
ness. HIS evidence was of a slight and negative
lie had heard no cry noise of any
unusual kind, and had seen no bearded man. Inc
tragedy, however, had doubtless taken place
before be entered the train Mr.. Merlin followed
the proceedings with considerable interest, and
after the verdict lie sought an interview with DIR.
"Your arguments interested me profoundly,
DOCTOR he said. and under the circumstances
scarcely think the verdict was proper one.'
1T was id improper One." declared the doctor
blnntly I" As surely az the coroner is an ass and
the jury idiots, Mr. Conon was murdered"
But the motIveY" asked the other.
"txcuse me- sir" replied the doctor, but that
question is more like that of an imbecile police
Inspector than of a man of sense. How am to tell
you the mOtvef I'm not the murderer. / don't
know him. and can't get inside his mind. There
was evidence of motive"
"That was he strong point against you," said
Mr. Merlin with smile. 1t was not robbery, for
the mans ewery and money were untouched. 1t
was not revenge, for the man apparently had no
enemies 1t had nothing to do with secret societies,
"All very true, Mr.. Merlin, and yet the man
murdered"
You think so ~
"Tll swear it,"
Mr.. Merlin started.
lou scientists are very positive" he said.
ave are able to he, sir. Now evidence of motive
is very good thing for the TOlce TO work upon #
they can get it. When they have it. believe they
invariably hunt down heir man. murder. how
eVcT uOcS uOb utaT INC mOtlNe upon ltS
face. Yet, judging by this case, mo apparent
motive. no murder seems 10 be a police axiom"
But the knife was found in the dead mans
hand" urged Mr.. Merlin.
"A hand powerless to inaict that death-blow.
The murderer put it there
"And there appearance of a struggle"
added Mr.. Merlin after thoughtful pause.
You would not he able struggle if a knife
were suddenly plunged in your hLari," was the
reply.
True; true; but I'm still doubter cannot
conceive of such thing being done under the cir
cuDsa nces and the murderer getting OFT upper
ceived."
Nor can the police" replied the DOCTOR " Nor
could but that examined the murdered man. Two
things the murderer must have had-fearful
devIlsh craft, and wonderful luck"
"True again; wonderful lucK!" assent ted Mr.
Merlin "ADd assuming your theory to be correct
the murderer hao at any rate succeeded In proving
the possibility OF a thing which every body
doubted, aud still doubts AS to motive" he added
,lowy, al neleve-yes, really believe that could
assign @ motive"
cnudf What is il ~ aaked