The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-02-02

on Thursday night, or rather Friday morn
ing, goes long way toward verifying this
saying. A crime has been committed by an
unknown assassin, within short distance Of
the principal streets Of this great city, and Is
surrounded by an impenetrable mystery.
Indeed, from tho nature Of the crime itself,
the place where It was committed, and the
fact chat the assassin has escaped without
leaving a trace behind him. 1t would seem as
though the case itself had been taken bodily
out Of one Of Gaboreau's novels, and that his
famous detective Lecocq only would be able
to unravel It. The facts Of the case are
simply these;
"On the eth day Of July, at the hour Of
twenty minutes TO O'Clock In the morning,
q hanson cab drove up to the police station,
in Grey street, ST. Kilda, and the driver
made the startling statement that his cab
contained tho body Of . man whom be had
reason to believe had been murdered.
"Being taken into the presence Of the In
spector, tho cabman, who gave his name a.
Malcolm Royston, related the following
strange story:
ing, be was driving down Collins street East,
when as he was passing the Burke and Wills
monument he was hailed by a gentleman
btAAluluk az Iuo ny Illo OSOtlu CuuINus
He Immediately drove IN, and saw that the
gentleman who hailed him was supporting
the deceased, who appeared to DO very In
toxicated Both were In evening dress, but
the deceased had no overcoat on, while the
other wore short covert coat u light
fawn color, which was open. A Royston
drove up, the gentleman In the light coat
said, Look here, cabby, here's some fellow
awfully tight, you'd better take him homer
"Royston then asked him II the drunken
man was his friend, but this the other denied,
saying that he had Just picked him up from
the foot path, and did not know him from
Adam. At this moment the deceased
turned bis face up to the light Of the
lamp under which both were standing,
and the other seemed TO recognize him,
for he recoiled q pace, letting tho
drunken man fall In heap on the pavement,
and gasping out 'YouF he turned on his heel,
and walked rapidly away down Russell
street in the direction Of Bourke street.
"Royston was staring after him, and won
dering at his strange conduct, when be was
recalled to himself by tho voice Of the do
ceased, who had struggled TO bis feet, and
was holding on to the lamp post, Swaying TO
and fro 1 wan GONE be said in q thick
voice, st Eilda.' He then tried TO get into
the cab, but was too dru. TO do 20, and
finally sat down again Ola the pavement
Seeing this, Royston got down, and lifting
him up, helped him Into tho cab with some
considerable difficulty. The deceased fell
back into the cab. and seemed to drop Cd 10
sleep, so, after closing tho door, Royston
turned to remOunt his driving seat, when hO
found the gentleman in the light coat whom
be had seen holding up the deceased, Close 70
his elbow. Royston slid, oh, you've come
back and tho other answered, Yes, I've
changed my mind, AMI will see him home'
As be said this he opened the door Of the cab,
stepped In beside the deceased, and told Roy
Ston TO drive down to st. KildA Royston,
who was glad that the friend Of the deceased
had come TO look after him, drove a. be had
been directed, but near the Church OF Eng.
land Grammar school, on the St Kilda road,
the gentleman in the light coat called out to
him 10 stop. He did %, and the gentleman
got out Of the cab, closing the door after him
"'He won't let me take him home, he said,
30 IN just walk back to the city, and yoh
can drive him to St Kilda'
"'What street, slrF asked Royston.
"'Grey street, fancy said tho other, but
my friend will direct you when you get TO
the Junction
"'Aint he too much on. sirF said Roystou,
obviously.
"'oh, 70; think he'll be able to tell you
where be live& It's Grey street or Ackland
street, fancy. don't know which
HE then opened the door Of the cab and
looked In Good night. old man, be said
The other apparently did Dot answer, for the
gentleman in the light coat, struggling his
shoulders and muttering >sulky brute, closed
the door again. He then gave ROySton half
q sovereign, lit Q cigarette, and after max.
ing few remarks about the beauty Of the
night walked on quickly in the direction Of
Melbourne. Royston drove down to the
Junction, and having stopped there, accord
ing TO his instructions. be asked his fare SOW
eral times where be was to drive himto. Re-
ceiving no answer, and thinking that tho
deceased was too drunk TO answer, ho
got down from bis seat, opened the
door Of the cab, and found the deceased
lying back In the corner with handkerchief
across his mouth. He put out his hand with
the intention Of rousing him, thinking that
be had gone to sleep, when on touching hun
the deceased fell forward, and on examina-
ton, 70 his horror, he found that he was
quite dead. Alarmed ct what had taken
place, and suspeeting the gentleman In the
light coat, he drove to the police station at
st Kilda, and there made the above report
The body Of the deceased was taken out Of
che cab and brought into the station, doctor
being sent for at oncA On his arrival, how
ever, be found that life was quite extinct,
and also discovered that the handkerchief
which was tied lightly over the mouth was
saturated with chl0roform. He hAa no hesi-
tation In stating that from the way In which
the handkerchief was placed, and tho
presence Of chloroform, . murder. bad
teen committed, and from all appearances
The deceased died easily and without .
Struggla Tho deceased IL slender man. Of
medium height. with dark complexion, and
b dressed In evening drezs, which will render
Identification difficult, o. d b . costume