St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-27
WITNESSED A TRAGEDY.

Cornhili Magazine.
don't like Menken. Undoubtedly he
is clever-almest brilliantly clever
man. but he is. to my mind, just trifle
too unconventional in his ideas.
He is, however, very good company
and l have passed good many even.
lngs with him, over pipe, and will
acquit him of ever having bored me.
went to his lodgings with him few
nights ago from the club, and soon
found myself seated in an arm chair by
the freside. with a pipe in my mouth
and glass of most excellent whisky
and water beside me. We talked of
many things, till at length, forgot
how, the conversation turned on muir
IDEAS and murdererS.
Some time previous London, and. in
deed, the whole country, had been ap-
palled by series of CHASTITY murders,
all apparently committed by the same
hand, though in no case was clew af-
fOrded by which the murderer might
be discovered.
Menken explained a theory of his
own on the subject, as novel as it was
startling, when the subject turned to
circumstantial evidence and its value.
L
murders out of hundred circumstan-
tial evidence and motive are the only
helps to conviction. No one in his
senses commits murder if there lis any
one looking on"
NO" said Menken, slowly, "people
prefer doing these things in private, If
possible. But sometimes they are not
aware that there are witnesses"
He paused and filled his pipe.
ut is not every one," he went Oh,
''who has been secret witness of d
murder, but have.'
You ?" | exclaimed.
Menken nodded.
"Was he convicted and hanged ?"
asked.
at wasn't 'he,' but She" said
convicted and hanged. or even tried"
when Menken broke in.
My dear fellow, nothing l could
have said could have convicted the
woman. 1t was very odd case alto
gether; one of the most ingenious
things | ever heard Of. / will tell you
the story. If you like. 1t will be simpler
than your getting it out of me by cross
examination.
! about four years ago was travelling
In Switzerland. In the course of my
rambles l reached Tauserwald. l was
much taken with the place; the scenery
was superb, the hotel old-fashioned but
delightfully."- comfortable.
"There were several people staying
there besides myself, but as / am a
gregarious sort of fellow / was rather
glad of it. After L had been there for a
fortnight, on entering the dining room
for dinner, noticed some new arrivals.
Among them was party of three Eng
lish, an old gentleman, his young
wife. and daughter of the old gentle
mans by former marriage. The
daughter, poor girl, was blind. She
was about twenty, and looked delicate.
cannot say she was pretty, but yet she
was not unpleasing. The old boy, her
father, was just like other English
gentlemen you see about.
1.-The wife was decidedly pretty; she
was about eight and twenty, fair, with
gray eyes and most undeniable figure.
They seemed to be we'll off, but they
did not hold much intercourse with the
rest of the inmates of the hotel.
You know | rather pride myself on
my powers of observation. Though [
made no sort of acquaintance with the
party, l used to watch them and study
them, as do all my fellow creatures
whom | come across.
II was not Ioug in finding out three
facts. First, that the old gentleman
was madly fond of his wife and lndif-
ferent to his daughter: secondly, that
the daughter adored her father and did
not like his wife; thirdly, that the wife
hated them both.
II was all the more pleased with my
perception of these facts, inasmucn as
no one else in the hotel had the least
idea of the situation. Outwardly, there
was perfect harmony in the trio.
q" One morning, after tue party had
gentleman did not appear as usual at
breakfast, and, In reply to inquiries. his
wife said that he was not feeling we'll.
In the course of the day the doctor-an
Englishman, by the way-was sent for,
and in the evening the landlord, who was
as angry with the old man as if he
had got his illness on purpose, told
me confidentially, with tears of
rage, that the old gentleman had been
pronounced by the doctor to be Ill of
gastric fever, and that the case was Sc
rious. The landlords anxiety was not
without reason. The fact could not be
concealed, and the visitors began TO
leave in haste. Only a few besides me
l.
nervous about illness, and | had Ito in
tention of leaving the place for such a
cause, resolve which raised me great
ly i'll the landlords esteem.
"One morning, about ten days after
the old gentleman's seizure, met the
doctor coming down stairs. He looked
much less anxious than for some days
past, indeed there was an expression
almost of satisfaction on his face.
How is your patient? | asked.
s.sThe crisis is past, or almost past,
he answered, cheerfully. He owes his
life, if he pulls through, to the nursing
of his daughter and his wife, especially
the daughter, who is TRIUMPH He is
now asleep, and upon that sleep every
thing depends. If he wakens in three
be safe. in all human proba-
bility. Everything depends on his
sleep. | have told the land
lord to give strict orders to
every servant to he most careful. There
must be no noise of any sort. If he
were wakened suddenly the shock
would kill him as certainly as if you
fired a pistol through his brain. have
Just told his wife this. All that is
wanted is-sleep.'
THE doctor nodded to me as he went
down the steps from the hotel, smiling
as if anticipating triumph for his art.
.Monsieur.' said voice at my elbow.
| turned and saw my FREUD the land
lord. Monsieur knows said he, smii-
ing sourly, that Austrian count who
was going to be so brave? Who had nc
fears for sickness? Well; that so brave
man, he also is now frightened-he has
gone, monsieur! He went early this
morning. making excuses, but he
could not deceive mel He was fright
anad He trind tn inEn he said he