The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-18


manipulation. He gathered as much
from two or three men occupying re-
sponsible positions as they had learned
concerning the crime, and was prepared,
the moment he rejoined Livingston, to
repair to the scene of the murder.
This he resolved upon for various rea-
sons.
If his surmise was correct, the sooner
Livingston was convinced that Beau
champe was scoundrel unworthy OF
confidence, the better. And If he erred.
the sooner he would be able to assist
Livingston in aiding his friend.
Major Dabney's residence was an un-
pretentious house, and its appointments,
strange to say, were severely simple.
The man who Iavished money IN thou.
sand ways had very few luxuries in his
house. There were people who said he
could afford to dispense with them in
house he called his home, but which was
in fact an occasional lodging"
The newspapers gave considerable
space to speculations; the description OF
the house, the discovery Of the crime,
the relative position of the rooms and
the character of the appointments-all
these made columns of reading, but
threw no light upon the murder.
What Simmons speedily discovered for
himself and his companion was this:
That Major Dabney did not enter his
house until ten minutes to one. He was
alone, seemingly In his. usual mood. He
used his night key, and closed the door
behind him, telling the man-servant who
had general supervision of the house
that he might 60 to bed.
He entered his library, in which he
wrote all his letters, and where his pa
pers were NJ atty filed, and lit his lamp
The man. servant heard him moving In
his room at ten minutes after one, and
about eight or ten minutes later, having
occasion to 60 into back-r room to close
shutter which was open, he was sure he
saw the Majors shadow dimly defined
on the half-open door of the library 60
ing into the hall.
The servant returned to 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 un-
usual, became nervous, rose, stood in the
hail above the library, and listened
several minutes intently, without hear
ing sound.
Then he descended the stairway, and
approaching the door, looked in.
Surprised at the strong light, and fall
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. n1s hands were
clenched, bis eyes staring horribly.
The servant stopped, touched his fore
head and recoiled with q cry that awoke
the two female servants, who presently
entered the library.
The man-servant summoned physi-
clan q 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 to the heart. The blow came
from the left side; the Major toppled
over on his right There was not drop
of blood upon the carpet, and very little
upon his clothes.
The theories set up land dilated upon in
some of the papersj were: l. mat 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 to avoid arrest, and effected his
escape from the window the servant had
closed few minutes later. 2. That the
Major had incurred the mercless hatred
of political leaders like himself, and was
murdered by some henchman whom the
Major had sent to prison, for he was re-
lentless when he retaliated upon his
political enemies. 3. That the real
motive of the murder was jealousy. The
Major, it was intimated, had excited the
jealousy of an artist who was in love
with 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 small
cabinet that was unlocked, but closed:
to the spot the Major was found, and
summed the case up thus:
1.-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.
aNobody but hardened criminal could
be guilty Of such Ge iberate 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 las
committed.
This man, though ilIiterate, 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 &C.
curateIy that Livingston's heart sank.
When he was asked how he knew the
artist, he promptly replied that his little
niece, who had posed several times fol
Beauchampe, had pointed him out on
two occasions.