Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-08-13

that he might go 10 bed
He entered his library, in which he
wrote all his letters, and where hts pa
pers were neatly fled, and lii his lamp.
The man-servant heard him moving in
his room at ten minutes after enc. and
about eight or ten minutes later. having
occasion 70 go into a Darkroom 70 close
shutter which was open, he was sure he
saw the Majors shadow dimly defined
on the half-open door of the library go
ing into the hall
The servant returned 70 his room, but
was unable TO sleep He lay twenty
minutes. possibly longer, he was not
positive, and observing the light from
the half-open library door shining on
thesopposite side OF the hall, thing IN
usual, became nervous, rose, stood in the
hall above the library, and listened
several minutes intently, without hear
ing q sound.
Then he descended the stairway, and
approaching the door. looked in.
Surprised at the strong light, and fail
ing to see the Major in his accustomed
seat before his desk, the servant STROBE
into the room.
The door yielded as he passed. then
almost closed. Turning around quickly
the servant beheld the Major lying on
HIS right side, with his left knee drawn
up, and his elbows pressed closely
against his sides. His hands were
clenched, his eyes staring horribly.
The servant stopped, touched his fore
head and recoiled with a cry that awoke
the two female servants, who presently
entered the library.
The mRn-servant summoned a physi-
clan a few doors distant. When he ar
rived he gave it as his opinion that the
Major had been dead nearly half an
hour.
Upon examining him, it was found
that he had received his death-wound
from some small sharp instrument The
puncture was small, but the stroke went
straight 10 the heart The blow came
over on his right. There was not a drop
OF blood upon the carpet, and very little
upon his clothes
The theories set up land dilated upon in
some of tho papersl were: 1. That the
murderer entered the house before the
Major returned home, probably was
familiar with his habits, and being de-
tected in robbery, suddenly killed the
Major 10 avoid arrest, and effected his
escape from the window the servant had
closed q few minutes later .. That the
Major had incurred the merciless hatred
OF political leaders like himself, and was
murdered by some henchman whom the
Major had sent 70 prison, for he was re-
lentless when he retaliated upon his
DO4lLACal GuGml6a- j. lA1L ING real
motive Of the murder was jealousy. The
Major, it was intimated, had excited the
jealousy of An artist who was in love
with a noted singer. This artist was
seen in the vicinity Of the Majors house
late that night. Nothing had been
heard Of him since.
Simmons walked through the house
with Livingston. a prominent city
official accompanied them- Simmons
pointed to certain marks on the desk
near the keyhOle; to the door of a small
cabinet that was unlocked, but closed;
70 the spot the Major was found, and
summed the case up thus:
THE murder was committed by a
thief. He entered before the Major
Possibly he was searching for money in
the cabinet in this corner. He succeed
ed in opening it, but had no key that
would unlock the desk. When the
Major entered the thief tried TO escape
through the window; the Major heard
him, but instead OF running toward the
thief, tried to open the door. The thief
bounced upon him and killed him.
at all happened in less than fifteen
seconds.
Nobody but a hardened criminal could
be guilty of such a deliberate murder;
nobody but man accustomed to weigh
all the chances could execute it and es-
! cape as quietly as this murderer es-
! capped"
Simmons next sought the man who
! had seen the person suspected of the
murder late on the night the murder was
committed.
This man, though illiterate, was posi-
tive, and stoutly maintained that he had
seen Mr.. Beauchampe near the Majors
/ house about twelve o'clock. He de-
| Scribed Beauchampe's features so ac-
| curately that LiYingston's heart sank.
! Atham hn aelraH how ba lrRnNU ha
artist, he promptly replied that his little
niece, who had posed several times for
Beauchampe, had pointed him out on
two occasions.
Livingston's feet were like lead when
| they left this man.
Simmons was as brisk and eager as a
! huntsman entering the field
Livingston was silent; moody. Sim
mons was talkative. Livingston had not
| lost faith in his friend-he had lost all
faith in the ability Of the agents of the
law.
There was a terrible wrong done q
man he believed as innocent as himself,
| but there was not the least reason to be-
lieve the wrong would ever be wholly
righted.
@You are not listening to me, said
Simmons, looking at his companions
! gloomy face. Livingston turned to look
at him; his glance rested an instant
upon a window across the street, then
without pausing to speak TO his COM
DaniOn he dashed across the street,
| narrowly escaping a wagon that was
| driven rapidly. Simmons ran after him
| as soon as he recovered from his sur
prise. By the time ne reached the op-
posite pavement, Livingston had disap-
peared through the entrance OF a dingy
little shop.
Simmons found him in a heated con-
| troyersy with the proprietor, man we'll
| advanced in years, who wore spectacles
high on his nose, and shot angry chances
at the intruders.
~For shame, sir To insult people this
way. To tell me I do not speak the
truth.
Il am ready to swear saw him look
ing out of your window" said Liyings-
ton. Il cannot be mistaken"
very well. We will see The police
will have something TO say about it now.
I will have you arrested for disOrderly
I conduct"
what is this?" demanded Simmons,
turning Livingston around, and striving
10 calm him.
%Can you not search this house-now?
| Do not waste moment" said Livings-
ton.
Impossible. We must proceed in the
regular way" said Simmons. ~WhO did
you see?S
Il saw Beauchampe's face looking out
OF that window" he pointed TO the small
window In the front of the store, Sjust as
plain as 1 now see you"
you hear what my friend says?D said
/. Simmons sharply, 70 the proprietor.
You will both hear what the author
tiles say. gentlemen. the proprietor re-
tOrted anQrflV II am ROfnu noW-vou