Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-18
CHAPTER II.


Marcus Gray had taken his ticket at
Victoria Station and two more minutes
would have seen him in the train on his
way to Streatham, where the Lumsdens
lived, when his attention was attracted
bv the placard of an evening newspaper.
"Mysterious Murder This Day OF City
Merchant" was the startling announces
ment which stared him., in the face.
Now, his uncle was city merchant, one
OF thousands Of others, and that OF IT.
self was enough TO cause him 10 invest
q penny IN the purchase OF a paper.
1t is enough to say that Gray did not
90 to Streatham that day, nor for many
weeks afterward.
Some DAYS passed without any evil
dence on which the police could act be-
ing forthcoming, other than that which
their first crude investigation had
brought TO light. That the safe had
been rifed there was 40 longer any
doubt. seeing that neither a note nor a
coin OF sny kind was found in 1t; but in
view of the fact that Mr.. Lumsden had
been I'm the habit Of keeping all cash
matters connected with the business In
his own hands, IL was difficult to ascer-
tain with any degree Of exactitude until
certain books should have been gone
through what moneys he had 10 hand at
the time be came by his death. The
chances. however, were that the sum
was not a large one, the dead man hav-
ing been in the habit OF banking day by
dav. Mr.. May, the managing clerk, had
no knowledge Of any cash having been
maid 10 his employer on the morning OF
the ninth: but, on the other hand,
HouUhtop averred that on taking some
letters into his masters room ABOUT
eleven o'clock be found there gentle
man dressed in deep mourning ana an
entire stranger TO him, who, at the mo-
ment OF his entering, was in the act OF
handing a number Of bank notes across
the table to Mr.. Lumsden. The notes
IN ouestion were not now TO be found;
M entry of them hsd been found In the
cash book; neither could Mr.. May throw
anv light on the personality OF the man
who had paid them over.
AT the Inquest, which was more than
once adjourned in the hope that further
evidence would be presently fourthcom-
ing. a verdict Of "willful murder against
some person or persons unknown was
eventually returned. The tuneral hau
taken place some days before.
Mr.. Orde did not fail TO impart to In
snector Fountain, who had charge OF the
affair on the part Of the police, the par
ticnIars of what he had so strangely
hoard through the medium OF the tele-
Dbore The inspector appeared to De
mucb struck thereby and made ample
entries in his notebook. There was rea-
con for believing that during the next
Js,v DAYS he devoted considerable por-
tion of his time 10 endeavorlng TO SScer.
tain whether the murdered man hau
baen on intimate terms with any one'
eitber a friend or q relative, whose oap-
,ismal name was Harry or Henry, but
ali such INQUIRIES proved OF no avail
IT, bis Initiative is was due that an ao-
,,e-tisement was inserted in the Times
I'D other newspapers requesting that
sbo,Id the same meet the eye OF the per.
son who on the morning OF the nlnth OF
T,na Maid the late Mr.. Edward Lums-
SeD of II. Augustine's alley, sum OF
mepey In bank notes he would az once
communicate with the police; out time
rent on and the advertisement seemed
likely to remain dead letter. mat
,ho merchant had come by his death AZ
49, hands of some one who was aware
40 az that hour Of the day he and the
osScs how had, as q rule. the premises 10
sbsmselyes. could scarcely be doubted.
T. All probability Houghton had been
- - -. Ie.va the office. and the adVan-
800 ha6 been taken Of his absence.
a. Sse an such snppositions served 70
deepen the mysteryewnlcn e'ons AA0uAo
the affair. rd..vl,.
Mr. Charles L,umsden, Ea HAIa Z
a--.- brother. cane mp from the
Je--'