Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-04


proceeded to make only Mr.. Mortlock and
l were present of my household. My wife
had no wish to accompany us. Mdlle.
Rosalie had expressed her willingness to
do So but she was not allowed.
did not require prompting to relate to
the officers all that knew concerning my
uncle's movements which, in my judg-
ment, had any bearing upon the matter.
/ said nothing of the conversation which
so vitality affected my future prospects in
| life, for deemed it a purely private affair.
Mr.. Mortlock then supplied the officers
with information, and learnt that he had
been with my uncle in his bedroom after
they had both wished US goodnight. He
had remained with my uncle half-an-hour
or so in private converse, and, to my re-
| lief nothing fell from his lips as he spoke
| to the officers with respect TO Eunice. He
had concluded his narration when he made
a remark which, had not kept a strong
| guard over my feelings, would have
brought the tell-tale blood to my face.
| The officers had turned down the bed
clothes, and my uncle's hands were lying
| by his side. Mr. Mortlock stopped and
looked at them.
'Mr. Wilmot," he said chad diamond
ring on his finger last night. 1t was
single-stone ring. and the diamond was
of fine sparkle, aud attracted my atten-
ton"
They searched the room for the ring,
and / assisted them, the ring being all the
time in my pocket. l dared not produce
it, fearing the construction that might be
placed upon its being in my possession.
''That looks" said the inspector, "as
| If robbery were the motive The murder
er is in danger; the ring can be identified. 1"
81 will swear to it," said Mr.. Mortlock.
"You see, gentlemen" remarked the in
| spector, these fellows generally supply
US with clue That ring discovered, we
shall soon lay hands on the murderer"
| And yet" observed Mr.. Mortlock, cit
! hardly looks as if robbery were the mo-
tive. Mr.. Wilmot's watch and chain have
not been touched"
THAT doesn't matter" said the inspec-
tor; cit is left to put us off the scent
What is in that despatch-box?"
"a large sum of money!" replied, land
| some valuable jewels. On the night Of
| Mr.. Wilmot's arrival here-that is, the
night before last-I assisted him to count
the money. There were five Thousand
pounds"
The inspector gave low whistle Of as
constituent THAT'S large sum to carry
aboUt-a dangerous sum. 1t is putting
temptation into mems way"
1T was Mr.. Wilmot's whim," said Mr..
MOrtlock. II travelled with him abroad
for some time, and he seldom carried less
than that amount"
''Of course" said the inspector, 4tthat
was his affair. It's good thing to have
it tocarry about. Few of us haVe the
luck''
''The despatch should be examined, -
said Mr.. Mortlock.
''It is what intend,' said the inspector.
'First, the key"
1t was found in one of the murdered
man's pockets.
destructive of your theory" observed
! Mr.. MOrtlock.
Don't be too fast, sir, be gging your
! pardon. >Seeing's believing"
He unlocked the despatch-box The
money was gonel
! The inspector looked at Mr. Mertlock
| triumphantly, and said
| ''How about my theory now, STRIP
''Youareright. The murderer is also a
1 thief"
-''Now. sir" said the inspector to me,
| ''can you tell US what shape the money
took"
81 can," l replied. "There were five
hundred sovereigns, and four thousand
five hundred pounds in Bank of England
notes."
''Do you know anything of the numbers
OF the notes, sir"
81 do not"
.''To year knowledge did deceased part
with this money, or any of it, since his ar
rival?"
mo"
ale may have banked it in a Gecal
bsnk?"
He has not stirred out of my grounds -
THANK you, sir. The numbers of the
notes may be written down somewhere On
these papers"
it was during this search that l made
another discovery.
THE will is gomez l cried.
.''Ihe will?" said the inspector
MY uncIe's will. 1 saw it the night be-
fore Last
did you read it, sir?"
81 did not, but 1 know its purport.''
"Any objection to say what it was, sir"
''None at all 1t made me his herr
''But what would be the use of the will
to the gnurderer?" asked the inspector
more of himself than of us.
Leave that to me-" 1t was the detee-
tive who spoke, for the first time. II
should like to have little private CONVEX
sation with your servants, sir.'
MY entire household is at your dis
poSal. For Heavens sake sift this dread
full affair to the bottom. Twill reward you
we'll"
81 do not think there will be much diff
ffeulty," said the detective, with unusual
mOGesty in one of his class. There are
three clues-Sour, may say"
Four"
| -Four. First, the money The sover-
eigns may be spent; not so easy with the
bank notes. We shall trace their numbers.
Second. the ring. The murderer holds it,
and will keep it. They never have the
pluck to throw such things away. 1
shouldn't wonder" he said e0ntemplative-
IL, eff he sometimes puts it on his finger.
There's fascination in diamonds, sir.
| Third, the cord with which deceased was
strangled. That's trifle, you'll say. Not
at all. Keep it about you, and it may be
found. Burn it, and the act may excite
attention. Throw it away, say in gar
den or street. and it may be picked up.
Throw it into the water. and it will float.
1t must be a strong piece of cord with
which that''-pointing TO the body-"was
| done. 1t must be q thin piece CencIu-
sion-whipcord. Fourth, Samuel Fleet
wood. He has disappeared. Even If he
were to come on sudden among US, he
wouldn't be allowed to go away again. 1t
is of no use stopping here any longer.
shall feel obliged if you will write down
on this piece of paper the names of every