The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-19
A MIDNIGHT
TRAGEDY;
s-C-;-
Tle Crime Of The
Brokers Office.
w. F. MOTT.
w. F. MOTT.
CHAPTER ",

young and ambitious man. He had en-
tered upon the profession in which We
find him engaged eeveral years previous
to the occurrence of "the crime OF g
brokers' Office" as the murder OF John
Oakbu1n was designated, and he hao
labored with enthusiasm and met with
several successes which had attracted
attention to himself to such an extent
that he was regarded as rising man.
But as vet he had not attained the en-
inence which his ambitien craved.
Paxton was ever on the alert to take
advantage Of circumstances, and when
he left the brokers' office after the in
vestigation he believed that he had al
last found q case that might open great
future for himself and enable him to
win celebrity and eminence. He COM
prehended that in the case Of John Oak
burns murder all the elements OF su-
preme interest were united-magnitude
of crime, mystery, uncertainty Of issue,
and difficulty of solution In short, that
1T was just such a case as he longed to
undertake, and he was filled with enthu-
siasm which aroused all his energies,
and made him feel the keenest anxiety
and hope.
He smiled as he thought how simple
the police sergeant regarded the whole
affair, and how READILY he had jumped to
solution Of the whole matter.
Circumstances may still further i'm
plicate Stuart Harland, but l have en-
barked in the case with the assumption
of his innocence, which shall under
take to establish in the face Of all the
circumstantial evidence that may be
onl T chol1
ceed," muttered Paxton, in tone OF
conviction.
His faith was firm, his determination
indomitable, and the possibility OF fall
ure he was never inclined to admit.
He had not concluded his investiga-
ton, although it was his policy to con-
ceal this fact from the police sergeant.
After walking a block or so in COM
pany with the officer Of the police and
his companions, Paxton turned down
q side street, made a detour, and !,
doubling on Ais own tracks, he returned
to the brokers' Office.
~ Stealthily, as though he wished to
conceal his presence from the two Of
hcers who were on guard in the Office,
Paxton entered the passage between the
Office and the adjoining building and
proceeded to critically inspect the ground
under the window in the rear compart.
sSment Of the Office. = - -. ~.
The night was doubly dark in the mar
row passage where the shadows are
dense and black, and the detective was
<obhged to produce his pocket lantern,
which was of the bull s-eye type, in order
e ilscect the ground in q satisfactory
manner. s. - =
The result was a discovery.
The imprints of mans feet were dis
covered in the ground beneath the win
dow, where the earth was soft and yield
ing owing to thaw.
The impressions we're quite distinct,
and the print of a double 5ow Of nails,
which must have studded the sole of the
boots or shoes which had made the
tracks were quite clearly defined. Pax
ton also detected certain marks OF abra-
sions Of the paint on the side Of the
building under the window, which had
undoubtedly been made by some one
who had climbed up to it.
He caught the window-sill, and with q
firm grasp drew himself up to tile win
dow, which he examined, making the
further discovery that there were GER
tain marks under the edge Of the shut
ters.
Il was not in error. This window was
opened from the outside and not from
the inside, as our worthy police sergeant
80 positively affirmed. ! see plainly
where an iron bar was forced under the
shutter to pry off the fastening. Yes,
the assassin entered from the outside
through the window" said Paxton to
himself, in satisfied tone.
He let himself down from the window
again and having once more carefully
inspected the track under it he procured
piece of board which chanced to be at
hand, and covered them So as to preserve
them from obliteration.
He understood the value Of such mute
evidences as these, and he never neg
lected any precaution which might event.
uate to his advantage.
With the certitude Of the truth Of a
positive theory which he had formed for
Q basis, he proceeded to erect super
structure intended to sustain his hy-
pothesis and convince others Of its
truth.
Revolving in his mind vari us con-
lectures and possibilities suggested by
his discoveries, Paxton repaired to his
own apartments.
Before retiring, however, he made
from memory very exact diagram OF
the premises where the murder had been
committed.
II Stuart Harland was to be placed in
peril Of his life by reason of John Oak.
O defender whose services would prove
49,
the lists against any opponent.
The following morning the crime was
made known to the public through the
newspapers and there was much excite
ment on Wall street and throughout the
city, The street in the immediate neigh
borhood of the brokers' Office was
thronged with an eager and excited mul-
titude, and morbid curiosity, to view the
remains Of the victim Of the tragedy i'm
pelled many to seek an entrance. But
the policemen on guard permitted nc
one 10 enter.
At nine o'clock a. m. tho coroner, his
clerk, number of police officers, includ-
ING tho sergeant who had accused Stuart
Harland, and Paxton, the detective, ar.
rived, and entered the office.
Mr.. Garrison and his clerks presented
themselves soon after, and they were ad'
mitted, as were also a number OF gen
tlemen from the assemblage without
who were selected by the coroner x
servo as jury.
Tho usual prehminaries being COD
cluded, and the jury duly sworn, the in
quest proceeded as is usual in sucl
cases.
The surgeon made a thorough ex