Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01
MYSTERY OF A CRIME
Toldby the Diary Of Inspector Byrnes,
the Detective Chief
PLOT OF A DOCTOR AND A WIFE.
They Poison an Old Man, Marry and Live
on Ill-Gotten Wealth.
THE DEAD TURNS Up AFTER MANY YEARS
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE pIsPATCH.]
NEW YORK, April 30-One of the
most interesting cases on the records
of Inspector Byrnes' office is entitled
''The Broderick Mystery" The mys-
terry began one morning In January seven
years ago with note written in pencil on a
bit of rough brown paper. The note was
addressed to the "Chief of Detectives, Po-
lice Headquarters" 1t was brought to the
door of the Inspectors Office by young
man, who said to the Sergeant on duty that
there was no answer, and then he turned
away and was gone before the Importance of
his message was discovered. Inspector
Byrnes opened the note and read:
"Come or send a good man to my house at
once. A great crime is about to be COM
mitted. Do not delay a moment, or you
NAV be too late. HENRY BRoDERICK
The Inspector made two important dis
coveries while he was reading the note, or
rather he arrived at two conclusions. One
was that the writer of the note was very
weak or else that he was so badly fright
ened that he was trembling violently while
he wrote. The other conclusion was that
the man who wrote the note had instructed
the bearer to deliver it without being dis
covered or followed by persons who might
have an interest in learning its contents.
The Inspector had never seen Henry
Broderick. but he had heard Of him as
wealthy retired merchant who lived in an
elegant home in the vicinity of Murray
Hill He was probably 80 years of age.
Turning to large scrap book on his desk
the Inspector found that a year before
Broderick had furnished the papers mild
sensation BY marrying a pretty, but some
what sensational actress
Death Came With the Midni=ht Hour.
'Tll look into this" the Inspector said
to himself. And as soon as he had disposed
of his morning mail he called a cab and
drove to the home of Henry Broderick.
Crepe hung from the door, and the Inspec-
bell. If crime had already been COM
mitted he would know it before he left the
house. A servant girl answered the ring
and, without giving his name, the Inspector
said: 81 wish to see Mr.. Broderick
Fright this way, sir. Many's the friend
the poor gentleman had, sir.
The girl led the way into the front parlor
and, holding aside the rich draperes,
pointed toward beautiful silver trimmed
coffin that was almost concealed BY bank
of flowers.
"He's there, sir. an they all say he's
natural as life. For me, sir, I can't bring
myself to think he's dead. He looks like
he's just sleepin'."
The Inspector stepped forward and looked
into the open coffin. There lay the body of
Henry Broderick. He looked at it long
and critically. The face was indeed life
like in general appearance, but the pallor
OF it was tie pallor of death.
"When did he die?" the inspector asked
of the girl.
Last night"
"How long was he Zip"
"Only few days. He grew worse sud-
denly last night and died at midnight
care you sure he died at midnight?"
eyes, sir; it was just on the stroke of the
hour that he breathed his LAST
The note from Henry Broderick in the