Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08

sessed almost as much meaning to me as his
German manner of pronouncing English.
which the good man thought classically per-
.ect. This theory was that the dead body
had been dragged to the wharf and then
tossed Ii the water. 1t was probable, but l
preferred to wait until was in possession
of more facts. To tell the truth, at this
stage of the inquiry was little interested
in the case, which seemed bungling, COM
monplace and easily unraveled. Had I
then suspected all the iniquity and rare
cunning concealed under its simple aspect
my excitement would have been at fever
heat had now gone over the ground OF
the crime, and on my way to the hotel put
the unsuspecting doctor to the pumping pro-
cess. By artful questions I again tempted
him into giving an elaborate account OF his
investigation of the evening before and of
displaying his knowledge of the lives of the
people who made this unattractive spot
their summer home. He bit eagerly at
the bait, and launched into long mono
logue, in which facts, philosophy, German,
Greek and humanity" were jumbled most
delightfully."- together. He was fine egotist,
believing in his own superiority to the rest
of the world, but his garrulousness only
strengthened my first impression of him.
His wisdom 1 don't dispute, nv studies
have not led me in his direction; but despite
his vanity he was one OF those good-natured
fools that an ordinary child might have
wound around his finger. He was easily led
to tell all he knew, and it was still easier to
guess all he suspected; but wisely decided
to have nothing to do with his "cobweb"
theories, and to test his facts for myself
While he INDUCED in an elaborate dis
course, punctuated by astounding grimaces
and wonderful gestures, Imade mental notes
of the following items: There was an eccen-
tric old woman named Amelia Glaye who
had forbidden her daughter Bertha to marry
a certain wild young man named Cyril
Durand. Bertha seemingly obeyed the
command, especially as she had opportuni-
ties to solace her leisure moments with
handsome Young fellow called Otto Morton.
The old lady, in an unusual burst OF activity
had gone out alone on the night
of the murder, and when she
returned her hands were scratched
and she had lost one of her solitaire dia-
mond earrings. On her return she was so
intensely excited that the doctor was called.
He visited her to find her unusually calm
and seli-possessed. She denied having gone
out. and also denied having lost an earring.
This phase of human nature completely
astonished the good doctor, who prides him.
self on his thorough knowledge of human
nature. He had not gotten over his sur
prise at the moment of speaking, or am
convinced that he would not have related
this eccentricity of the good lady, whom he
sincerely respected.
l concluded my mental notes, and pro-
pounded to myself the following questions
while the doctor was still volubly eloquent
over his own superiority to the rest OF human
nature.
The questions were:
Why had the old woman, Amelia Glaye,
broken through the routine of her life BY
going out alone on the night of the murder?
What was the real reason OF her refusal to
allow her daughter to receive the attentions
of the wild Cyril Durand?
Had she ever tolerated Cyril Durand's at
tentions to her daughter? She is rich, and
he is poor. Are money reasons at the base
of the refusal?
She charges Cyril Durand with being
wild. Did he know the murdered woman?
She bitterly charges Cyril Durand with
being wild-with threatening her life. Was
she in love with the Young man and jealous
of him? Stranger things have happened in
this strange world, and a woman's heart at
90 is still alive to sentiment.
What did she witness on her night Journey
that caused her to utter a deliberate false
hood? Is love stronger than jealousy? Is
there content at a rival being removed?
Who is this good young fellow, Otto Nor
ton, and what is the meaning of his mvs-
terious phrases? Did he know the dead
woman, and how did he pass his time on the
evening in question?
L set down these questions just as they oc-
CURED to me, and the reader will Judge
from them that had formulated no definite
theory of the crime. Certain envious per-
sons have criticised my method of conduct
ing this case, and have denied me the right
to bear my well-known nickname of "Lecoq''
Fox. Let the wise reader judge me from
NV plain narrative of facts, and as the case
is unfolded let him ask himself if he would
have acted differently from me. This en-
yious malignity deprived me of the position
of Superintendent of Police, to which had
the right; but it shall not deprive me of
what l hold dearer, my fame and the good
will of my beloved readers, whose judg-
ment is always unbiased by prejudices, and
is always right!
I say, then, that 1 had formulated no
definite theory of the crime, and let me add
that the chief part of this narrative was
written dav by day as my investigation pro-
gressed. 1t was not written after the case
was ended, and its details modified to har-
monize with the denouement. ! made notes
hour by hour, and the reader accompanies
me hour by hour. What know now does
not influence my story in the least, and if
my maligners are right, the reader will
have ample opportunity for deciding or con-
iuting.
At the doctors invitation first went to
ais cottage, where was treated to an ex-
,ellent cold lunch, with fine wine and fine
,igars thrown in. Over the hospitable table
We discussed the case, and again used my
Lecoq" cunning in arousing the amusing
,potism of my amiable host. Before leaving
he house, the discoverer brought the soli-
,aire diamond earring to me, and had an
opportunity of judging of its rarity and
value. The eccentric old woman must have
Deen very rich if she could afford to lose
ewel like this and make no moan. But
.hen, If she is rich, why did she come to a
xretched, questionable place like Eglan-
antine Hill for the summer? As the
ioctor would say, the latent possibili-
lies of the case were endless. Two
,ther items detained me for a few minutes.
In the first place, the microscope incontesti-
bly, proved that the stain on the bulrush leaf
was human blood. Here was one question
definitely answered. In the next place, 1
vas allowed to study the shoe that had been
discovered on the wharf. 1t was a wcman's
hoe; the kid portion above the heel had
been torn out, probably by being dragged
,ver the nails on the wharf flooring, and
,ver the stones, but the sole was intact. 1t
lid not CORRESPOND with any of the measure
nents that had made at the pond. It evil
lently belonged to a woman with a smaller
oot than she who had washed her hands in
he muddy pool. This was another point,
mall but useful. The doctor spoke of pro-
portion, the old Greeks and the Egyptians,