Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-10-14
WITNESSED A TRAGEDY.

don't like Menten Undoubtedly he
Is a clever-allnGst :, brilliantly clever
man, but he il, 10 my mind. just tribe
too unconventional in his ideas.
He is. however, very good company,
and have passed good many evenings
with him over a pipe, and will acquit
him of ever having bored me.
went to his lodgings with him a few
nights ago from the club, and soon found
myself seated in an armchair by the fire
side, with pipe in my mouth and a
glass of most excellent whisky and water
beside me. We talked of many things,
till at length, forget how, the conver-
sation turned on murders and murderers.
Some time previous London, and in
deed the whole country, had been APP
palled by series OF ghastly murders
all apparently committed by the same
hand, though in no case was u clew af-
forded by which the murderer might be
discovered
Menken explained as+heory of his own
on the subject, as novel as it was start
ling, when tho subject turned to cir
cumstantial evidence and its value.
"After ALL" | said, lin ninety-nine
murders out of hundred circumstantial
evidence and motive are the only helps
to conviction. No one in his senses com
mits murder if there is any ono look
ing on.
No." said Menken slowly, people
prefer doing these things in private. il
possible. But sometimes they arc not
aware that there are witnesses"
He paused and filed his pipe
1T is not every one" be- went on,
"who has been secret witness OF iAur-
der, but | have"
You ! exclaimed.
Menken nodded.
WAS he convicted and har -ej"
asked.
1T wasn't he, but she" said
Menken smiling. "And she was not
convicted and hanged, or eyel tricl."
But surely you was beginning
when Menkcr broke in.
my dear fellow, nothing | could have
said could have convicted the woman.
It was very odd case altogether; one
Of the most ingenious things ever heard
Of. Twill tell you the story, if you like.
1t will be simpler than you getting il
out of me by cross examination.
About four years ago Twas travelling
in Switzerland In the course OF my
rambles reached TaUaarwald was
much taken with the place; the scenery
was superb, tie hotel old fas!.ioned but
delightfully."- comfortable.
"There were several people staying
there besides myself, but as ! am gre
garious sort of fellow, vas rather glad
of it. After I had been there about a
fortnight, on entering the dining room
for dinner | noticed some new arrivals.
Among them was parry Of three Eng
hsh-an old gentleman, his young wife,
and daughter Of the old Scntleman's
by a 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.
"The wife was decidedly pretty: she
was about eight and twenty, fair, with
gray eyes and most unbeatable figure.
They seemed to be well 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, used 10 watch thom and study
them, as do all my fellow creatures
whom come across.
II was not long in finding c"t three
facts. First, that the Old E-nt'"Ilu was
madly fond Of hi Wi'' aud ia4.a mt
to his daughter. secondly lhot ,ne
daughter adored her father Gnd cid NOT
like his wife: thirdly, that tEs VIE hated
them both.
IL was all the more pleased With my
perception of these facts. IL, 1921, a o. nc
one else in the hotel had the !e..#, .!ya OF
the situation. Outwardly taere wa.
perfect harmony in the trio.
Zone morning, after the pariJ had hcel
in the hotel about week. the old Gtu,ie
man did not appear rs usual at breakfast
and in reply to inquiries his wiz" lid
that he WAS not feeling wril ia ,he
course of the day the doctor-aa .usi.sh
man, by the way-was seat for, ana in
the evening the landlord, who WAS a,
angry with the old man rs II he had got
his illness on purpose, told me couiidea
TALLY, with tears Of rage. that the old
gentleman had been pronounced by the
doctor to be i'll OF gastric fever. and that
the case was serious The landlord
anxiety was not without reason. Tn,
fact could not be concealed, aul the Wis
itors began to leave in haste. Only /
few besides me remained ! am uo
in the least nervous about illness. and
had no intention Of leaving the place fol
such a cause, a resolve which raised III,
greatly in tho landlords esteem.
= "One morning, about ten days aftel
tho oil gentlcman's seizure, ! met tn,
doctor coming down stairs He looked
much less anxious than for some days
past: indeed, there was an expression NJ
most of satisfaction on hi, face.
"How is your patient asked.
1.-The crisis is past, or almost past,
he answered cheprfully He owes hi!
life. If he pulls through, to the nursing
of his daughter GEd bis wife. especiall,
the daughter, who ~ trump lie il
now asleep. and upon that Errrp every
thing depends. II he wasrns in thre,
or four hours Of his own accord he vii
be safe. i'm all human probability
Ev,rvt hir r,.f 1auprtls nm Ills Slppu Ihav,