Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-28
NUMBER 22.


Euston station about half past on the
evening of the Sd. At in the morning
Drebber had been found in the Brixton
road. The question which confronted
Inc was to find out how Stangerson had
! been employed between $3.50 and the
time of tho crime and what had become
Of him afterward. telegraphed to Liv-
erpool giving a description of the man
and warning them to keep watch upon
tho American boats | then set 10 work
calling upon all the hotels and lodging
houses in the vicinity Of Euston. You
see, argued that il Drebber and his
companion had become separated tho
natural course for the latter wonld be
/ to put up somewhere in the vicinity for
the night and then TO hang about the
station again next morning.
They would be- likely to agree on
some meeting place beforehand. re-
marked Holmes
80 it proved. spent the whole OF
Yesterday evening in making inquiries
entirely without avail. This morning /
began very early. and at o'clock |
reached Halliday's Private hotel in Lit
tie George street On my inquiry as 10
whether q Mr.. Stangerson was living
| there they ut once answered me in the
affirmative.
No doubt you are the gentleman
he was expecting. they said. He has
been waiting for gentleman for two
/ days.
Where is he now?' / asked.
"He is up stairs in bed He wished
TO be called at 8.
1T seemed 70 me that my sudden ap-
pearanco might shake his nerves and
lead him 70 say something unguarded.
The boots volunteered 10 show me the
room. IL was on the second floor, and
there was small corridor leading up to
it, The boots pointed out the door TO
me and was about 10 90 down stairs
again when ] saw something that made
me feel sickish, in spite Of my 20 years
experience From under the door there
curled a little red ribbon Of blood, which
had meandered across the passage and
formed little pool along the skirting
at the other side. gave a cry, which
brought the boots back. He nearly
tainted when he saw it. The door was
locked on the inside. but we put our
shoulders 20 it and knocked il in. The
window Of the room was open, and be-
side the window. all huddled mp. lay
the body Of a man in his Dightdrcss.
He was quite dead and had been for
some time, for his limbs were rigid and
cold. When we turned him over, tho
boots recognized him at once rs being
the same gentleman who had engaged
the room under the name Of Joseph
Stangerson. The cause Of death was a
deep stab In the left side, which must
have penetrated the heart. And now
comes the strangest part Of tie affair.
What do you suppose was above the
murdered MANI"
felt a creeping Of the flesh and a pre-
sentiment Of coming horror, even before
Sherlock Holmes answered.
"The word 'Rache, written in letters
Of blood, " he said.
That was it, said Lestrade in an
awestruck voice, and we were all silent
for awhile.
There was something so methodical
and so incomprehensible about the deeds
Of this unknown assassin that 1t i'm
parted fresh ghastliness to his crimes.
Nv nerves, which were steady enough
on the field Of battle, tingled as ! thought
Of il.
"The man was seen, continued Le-
strade. "A milkboy. passing on his way
10 the dairy, happened 10 walk down the
lane which leads from the news at the
back Of the hotel He noticed that
ladder. which usually lay there, was
raised against one Of the windows of the
second floor, which was wide open. Aft
or passing he looked back and saw
man descend the ladder. He came down
30 quietly and openly that the boy i'm.
agined him 10 be- some carpenter or
ioinor at work in the hotel. He took no
particular notice Of him beyond think
ing in his own mind that II was early
for him - bo at work. He has an i'm
preston that the man was tall, had a
reddish face and was dressed in long
brownish coat. He must have staid III
the room some little time after the muir
der, for we found blood stained water in
the basin, where he had washed his
hands, and marks Oh the sheets where
he had deliberately wiped his knife.
fro RE CONTINUED