New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-07
MYSTERIOUS CRIME.
AN EPISODE IN SO0CHOW.
Ha.AttA


From The st. James's Gazette.
some time ago a murder was committed at soochow.
IN ona which ac at S Sf nHy i eew The
follows: a small shopkeeper haimco
lie one morning found dead IN his pea LIS
once, according 10 law reported to the masstra,e
who was ex ofcio coroner 81 me astric,. anu ni
without dsSs S ms These found the house
draped with every emblem of woe. and the WIDOW pc
side herself with grief Che body bore no ou,wada
signs OF violence and to all appearances suggested
death from natural causes. In due course the mags
trate held inquest. and. having apphed every est
known Chinese science. declared himself completely
at fault. - -,
was no evidence to show how lie had met his death
This result however failed to satisfy the Prefect who
was austere man and abhorred antiquities; no
with direction TO make further investigation. and TO
arrive at more definite finding. Ihs rescrpt
reached the magistrate when he was taking his ease
In the bosom of his family. and awoie most unpleas-
ant authorizations in his mind as to the course which
further failure In his difficulty he took his wife into
his confidence Having listened carefully to all he
had to say, and having asked many questions as 10
the lie family and their surroundings she said
Did you examine carefully the crown Of his head
under the thick locks of hair which form the queue
MOI replied her husband. 1T never occurred 10
"Then If / were you should said his wife.
Acting this hint, the magistrate returned to Les
house. and having carefully parted the hair on the
crown Of the head found the end of nail which had
created the greatest CONSERVATION In the honsehoa ana
Mrs Les grief gave way TO Pro ,eIrT and l
umphan the magistrate reported the Project the ro-
II congratnIate You on your sldll and acumen.'
doubt that the widow Is the In that sn po tel me
Il feel convinced, your Excellency. that Mrs. lie Is
guilty Her terror when R.t s pointed a at al ' eSen hs
participation in the crime As TO your second cues.
0n nus. oc conGs n W aG TO whom G had narrated
the circumsl ances Of Les death"
Indeed" said the Project. May ] ASK who your
wife was SO talented lady doubtless belonged to
some scholars family
My dun thorn answered the magistrate was
who died within a few months Of his marriage
suddenly ~ inquired the Project
Rather. / believe" said the magistrate.
%" should like TO make the acquaintance OF so clever
LADY, replied tie Project Ana would take r hef
Delighted at the distinction thus conferred upon
her, the lady readily repaired TO his Yamun where,
after the usual compliments the Project entered upon
the matter in hald. He praised her ability. and
drew from her full account of the interview at
which she had made the notable suggestion.
May ask" he went on to say. what put i into
your head think 1t possible that nail should have
been driven into that SPOT of the mans skull!
81 thought II possible" she answered with some
confusion. as l remembered once having heard of
your first husband. believe died rather sud-
denly; dld he not May / ask what ne dcd u or"
fusion much that it was some minutes before she
He died by the decree Of heaven, your Excecncy.r
Did the coroner discover the disease which proved
fatal to him?"
mo. your Exccllency but it often happens that
at fault"
Where was your husband burted!" asked the
Project
In the family burying-ground outside the city wall
at Hangchow."
Very well. 60 home now and" said the Prefect
turning TO the magistrate. 90 with the examlna-
ton into the lie and report TO me the result in
due course"
So soon as the magistrate had taken his leave the
Project dispatched trsty messenger to the coroner
at HaDgchow with directions to eXhume the body of
Chen. and to examine infinitely the skull to
death.
Meanwhile the magistrate Intercepted Mrs. To-
whom the sight Of the instruments OF torture
ersed powerful influence that after some
equivocaon she confessed that she had murdered her
husband in order that She might be free 10 marry
man on whom her real affections were centred
This confession. which borne by collateral
evidence left the magistrates course clear. He
ported the result the Project, who. in view of the
helnous nature of the crime. ordered the womans
ecuton without waiting for the usual reference to
Picking. The Project, however, delayed carrying out
the sentence until the return of his messenger from
Hangchow. At the end Of a few days this man came.
bringing with him dispatch from the coroner at
the skull of the deceased Chen he had discovered
nail. which had been driven through into the brain
thus causing death On the receipt of this dispatch
the Project instantly sent 10 arrest the magistrates
wife; who finding her case hopeless, acknowledged
her gIt, and suffered the penalty of her crime at the
time and place with the whose secret she
had herself exposed.