The Globe-republican., 1892-03-24

cases.
The surgeon made a thorough ex-
animation of the wound which had Occa-
stoned John Oakburn's death, and ex-
tracted the bullet, which was found to
be a large lead ball of peculiar, conical
shape, entirely unlike bullets intended
for ordinary pistols.
| The fatal missile was transferred from
hand to hand and viewed with interest
by all.
Paxton, the detective, particularly ex-
| amined it minutely, and, after he had
| whispered to the coroner for a moment,
he was permitted to retain possession Of
the singular, death-dealing ball. He
carefully deposited it in his pocketbook,
as though he regarded its preservation
as matter Of the utmost Importance.
There is no possibility of suicide in
this case, presume, said the coroner,
addressing the surgeon.
NO, sir. Suicide may be positively
excluded. The position of the fatal
wound, the direction taken by the bull
let, and the nature of the indentations
at the margin Of the orifice where the
ball entered, all serve to prove that the
shot was not fired by the dead man him
self. The wound clearly shows to a
practiced observer that the bullet came
from distance of probably in the neigh
borhood of twenty feet" answered the
surgeon.
Paxton paced the distance from the
body of the murdered man, which lay
where it had fallen, to the door leading
to the hall.
1T is eighteen feet from the door to
the body" said the detective.
Indeed! Judging, then, from the po-
sition of the body and the relative loca
ton of the wound, should say that he
was shot by some one who stood at the
door and who discharged his weapon
while his victims back was turned. The
shot entered at the base of the skull"
answered the surgeon.
The impOssibility Of suicide may be
regarded as positively established, he
added.
The police sergeant was now sworn,
and he related what discoveries had re-
suited from the investigation which he
had made the preceding night, in COM
pany with Paxton.
He did not fail to dwell upon the cir
cumstance Of Stuart Harland's disap-
pearance from the house, a few moments
before the discovery Of the crime, ac-
cording to the statement of Judith
Kredge.
To hear him one would have supposed
that he had taken the lead in the inves-
tigation of the preceding night, and
that he deserved all the credit for the
discoveries then made; Paxton said
nothing, however, but sarcastic smile
played upon his lips as he listened.
Mr. Garrison was naYf SwOrn and ho
testified that John Oakburn was an ex-
ceedingly eccentric man, excessively
frugal and economical. That he sup
posed in the course of the years he had
been in his service, the old cashier must
have accumulated d modest competency,
though he was never known to specu-
late, and that Oakburn was always ex-
tremely reticent regarding his personal
affairs.
The broker further stated that the
aged cashier had hobby for collecting
ancient coins and weapons, which he
kept in his little safe. Also that the de-
ceased was precise and very method
ical man in all he did, that he kept his
correspondence and papers carefully
filed away in his safe with his collection
Of ancient coins and weapons.
When Mr.. Garrison's testimony was
concluded the coroner summoned Marion
Oakburn and Judith Kredge, and the
two swomen entered the Office a few
moments subsequently.
Marion's face was lividly pale, and
there was an expression Of mental suffer-
ing and anxiety upon her features.
The coroner addressed the cashiers
daughter, stating that he deemed it
20 ,ivo hn 20 khav se, 20
safe and Marion assented, saying in
conclusion:
Il think you will find my fathers safe
key on his person"
The pockets of the victim of the mys-
terious tragedy were accordingly
searched, and the key, of which he was
in quest, was found by the coroner, who
forthwith opened John Oakburn's safe.
All present inspected the contents of
the dead mans private "strong-box" with
considerable curiosity.
1t contained large, and no doubt
valuable, collection Of ancient coins of
all nations, arranged in admirable order
and numbered and labeled with an ex-
actitude which told Of the owners pre-
else and methodical ways. There was
also in the safe q collection Of small
weapons. There were pistols, poniards,
stilettos, yataghans, Maylay creeses,
and the like. Besides all this, y COM
partment contained the private papers
of the deceased, letters. papers Of busi-
ness, bills receipted and other docu-
ments.
There was no money in the safe.
The coroner examined the papers and
then submitted them to Marion, who
also looked them over carefully.
Among all the documents no certifi
cate of stocks, no deposit receipts, or
anything whatever to indicate or prove
that John Oakburn possessed any money
or property was discovered.
Paxton was on the alert and nothing
escaped him.
He made q mental memorandum of
the contents Of the murdered mans safe,
and. when Marion had concluded the ex-
animation Of the letters and papers 1t
contained, he came to her side and said
In q low tone.
Il am very much interested In this
case, Miss Oakburn, and mean to sus-
tain my opinion that Stuart Harland is