The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-05-30

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the sort of company he keeps, and
! | shall not be surprised to find that
/ he committed the murder. Now,
then, want to see the body of your
father and the room in which the
deed was done
Well, Mr. Ferguson. she said,
rising and preparing to accompany
me, you will find everything as it
was when first discovered. The
officer decided not to disturb any
thing until ter the inquest, which
takes place to morrow forenoon
Wrapping myself up in my great
coat we set out, and aft r brisk
walk of ten minutes reached the
handsome residence of my COM
panion. | was at once shown to the
room of the murdered man, and
then began making such an exami
nation as only a detective knows
how to make. Circumstances OF the
most trivial character, which would
be overlooked by an ignorant per-
son, are often seized upon by a
Skilltul detective, and sometimes con
stitute the most damaging evidence
of guilt. In this case, however,
everything had been done in the
most skillful manner, and | could
not succeed in making any dis,
covery.
was about to leave the room in
despair when, glancing toward the
bed, | noticed what appeared to be
slight scratch on the neck of the
murdered man just above the gaping
wound which had SO cruelty let out
his life blood. On examination |
found it to be nothing more than a
hair, which had in some manner
probably become ioosened from the
head of the assassin and had settled
on the neck Of the victim, where it
now lay, Silent yet truthful witness,
pointing out the guilty wretch to the
eye of justice. The hair was of
deep red color, which was totally
unlike that OF any of the household.
1t was, indeed, the same color and
shade as that of Conrad Smithers.
l placed it carefully in my pocket
book, and saying nothing to any one
of my discovery, startei for the
residence of Smithers. intent on
doing little acting. | found him,
as his attendant said, i'll in bed and
on no account must he be disturbed.
This sickness is but stratagem,
thought, to divert suspicion.
Telling the woman that l wanted
to sec him but tor a moment on the
most urgent business, she finally re-
luctantly consented to my entrance.
| found him lying upon a bed, ap,
parently in great pain. In my youth
| had studied medicine and was con-
sequently we'll intol d in such mat
tiers, and saw at cnce with a quick
glance that he wa, only feigning
sickness. He started up somewhat
angrily as | entered, but | silenced
him with a motion of my head.
Conrad Smithers, this is a desper-
ate game you are playing, but it
will avail you nothing.
What do you mean he exclaimed,
springing to his feet, his illness all
gone.
| mean that the game is up and
the murderer OF John Randolph is
discovered.
Thrown completely off his guard,
as had anticipated, he sank into a
chair, and burying his face i'll his
hands sobbed out, Lost lost !
Do you confess the murder, then?
| do, he answered, now that con-
cealment is no longer of use.
| took him at once into custody
and soon had the satisfaction of see
ing him change places with Edgar
Morton.
Conrad Smithers was tried for the
murder and, knowing that any de-
tense would be useless after his con
tession to me, he pleaded guilty and
threw himself upon the mercy of
the court, which sentenced him to
Imprisonment for life.
1t needs scarcely to be explained
that the villain Smithers had found
an opportunity of visiting Edgar
Morton's room in his absence and
possessed himself of the razor and
the articles of clothing. After the
commission of the murder he had
returned to the apartment and de-
posted the blood stained evidences
of his crime, thus incriminating
Edgar.
About year after | received an
invitation to the wedding of Cecil
Randolph and Edgar Marion, who
1--we most happily together and
never ceased thanking me that
Edgar was saved by a hair.