Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-07


my son Is a Mstcllle and gentleman. y
introduce myself a. TIE detective EN-
pl0yed IN The Melville murder case.
wl4s retained 81 Hrs. Clark Melville 10
Person She came % my Office On the
afternoon Of the day after the murder.
and prss~rnDed Der own card and that OF
the Reverend James Morgan. talented
clergyman. whose acquaintance l had
formed while serving on the regular city
force.
THE Reverend James Morgan" she
began. after had given her a chair IN the
private Office. recommends you ~ a per
son 70 % relied upon IN difficult and
delicate matter. You have my card. The
Herald lay on your table when | entered.
i II neceesssFy that You should hear
from mo tho details OF the unfortunate
AFFAIR."
sbCken ike a woman. Who bet a
woman would expect an officer 10 begin
work on an important case with nothing
bat a hastily written newspaper article
for guide' Well. | had wealthy eli
ent and a case quito important enough
20 add % my reputation, SO | kept my
thoughts TO myself There would be
time enough fer tho details after had
been retained
Il arm not satisfied with the theory sd-
vancod by tho public officers" she con-
timed. after I had answered her Gues-
ton 10 the negative, although nothing
would please me more than absolute
proof Of It's correcrness. Ihaye reasons Of
my own for MISUNDERSTANDING | should
have said fearing-that the person who
committed the murder entered the coach
mans room by way Of the passage from
the kitchen. IL this be true the murderer
Is undoubtedly member of my house
hold.
81 want the matter probed 10 tho bot
TOM Name your own price. but do the
work secretly. No member OF my fam
lily must know that 1 have employed a
private detective"
She had no suspicion of any person in
the house or out OF it. She could point
her finger at no one and say, Look there
first Suspicion. she said, would be a
new element IN the Melville family, but
In order that justice might be done she
would open her doors TO the most search
ing inquiries.
There ars only my son, Mr.. Richard
Melville she explained, Miss Clara
Roberts, who IS shortly to become Rich
ards wife. myself and the servants in
the house Begin your investigations
when and where you please"
asked her but one question. Had her
son been on friendly terms with the
coachrnan. asked it because Mr.. Rich
ard Melville and the coachmsn were the
only adult male members of toe family.
l received my answer in tone in |
which pride and Wen bred indignation |
were both Observable.
My son il a Melville and gentle
man. shs said, and no servant ever
bad cause TO complain OF III treatment
at his hand& The Melvilles havs been |
honored and respected for more than
century. and Richard possesses all the
OF the family
She gave me check and turned To-
ward the door. but stopped before she
was well away from the chair vher,. she
had been sitting. l saw that she was
hssitating about the p<opriety Of telling
me something which had evidently inst
come into Der mind Mrs Clark Mel
vie was a woman Of extraordinary de-
rision ~ character. It took her only an
Instant 10 decide.
II impose only one condition. she
sud The results Of your inquiry must
- considered "a belonging exclusively
% me-. When you have made your final
''port you VIII receive Your final paw
fent expect ron 70 let the matter
lrop there. alone ar n decide what
'ourse - pursas IN regsrd 10 any dis-
'0veries you may make
| agreed 90 this condition readily
nough. and Mrs. Melville went swav.
he result VIII show that did foolish
hing in accepting the coadisio I'M
ssec. but 4 acted ca my best Judgment
& the tisae.
Three days later VS. in Mrs. Clark
deivliics house as a rlenlnsr or her
orps % servautS \ took nv meals IN
Be kitrhen from which the coacaman
I'D gone forth "a b. death. 1 sept In
&c 80 t3tt+aii = III. ~ Lst- Elf1tF tFff1Z
vss IRE family ccschman.
10 use . phrase common among mem
ers e ny rrofsssfcn my f-St work il
ae house WA - slze ~ IS inmates.
Fiss-Mrs Clark Melville. NOT far
ran sixty. hlas eyes. browa hair. fast
hanging - . uoss sristocratic gray. IN
erson TAI AMI stately. slowing few
gns Il advanced s-p, manners dixui-
81 ami kindlv-alEnost rnosherlv when
e,aiirx With those ia her employ. Eri-
eusly a ~cursn proad If her Position in
'ciegy. q her family. her culture aud
er manurTs-
Sss7zusi- ~ Cara Roberts. Certainly
ot nsors han tws-aty. brown evee. hssck
sari fare oval ard complexion r~sf~rt: :
! perSsa. slight snd rr2sefal. manners E
npssrsrns ansi exscting wi.s interiors;, )
nj coaxing aai kitseaish vasn h corn- + &
any vita fr Gicasri Melville her {
azure Assasa5 AMI - r8gfher. 81 ths