The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-20

q deeper regret that the strain OF my
Interests had been the last straw to
break down an overworked and uesful
lie. P%ervading all was tho conscious.
uess Of o possibility too horrible to con.
template. There was nothing to do,
however, but notify the authorities,
and, before the day had passed, the
house was again thronged with coroner,
physicians, constRbles and jurymen.
The body Of the dead detective was
examined. He had evidently prepared
himself for bed AZ usual; his clothes
were laid carefully over . chair, and he
had passed away in his sleep apparently
without a struggle or pana. breathcd
q sigh OF heartfelt relief when the in
yeattHation disclosed no evidence Of
y~iolsnce, and the verdict was rendered
accordingly: "Dsath by heart failure
occ@'ioRed by exhaustion aad over.
work"
My brothers funeral had been set
for tho following day, aud | confess to
something Of d mental struggle as TO
whether ! should at once acQualnt the
local authorities. with Phillips dis.
coveries. skidmore, the village con.
stable, was the last to leave me and, as
he did so, he took occasion to intimate
that tho solution Of the murder had
been pretty accurately arrived at, aud
that, without the aid Of mo h~ighialutin
city detective"
"What do you mean p asked quickly.
"OhI nuthin' much" no replied.
"0niy we've found out that that there
teller Ralph was seer a walkIn' up tn
road Ia this direction bout live o'clock
that tnornin'."
"Who saw him?"
"BillY Cough. I reckon no don't
know much, but $50 knows enough not
ter 10 fooled on q Teller that's bin round
here as long as Ralph has"
With this parting ahot, the local
IIawkGhRW took his departure, leaving
me Internationally porturbol ut his in.
formation. | had begun somehow to
feel satisfied Of the innocence OF the
young coIlegian. a knife thrust was
tho last method a man like him would
adopt, and 1t seemed TO mo to bring tho
crime closer to tho Italians with whom
my brother had quarroled. Whether
this Impression originated with myself
or whether ! felt uuConsCiously that
Phillips conclusions we're tending In
that direction, I do not know. Still, /
could not deny that this last bit Of los.
limony was very material as clrcumstan.
tiai evidence. To DO sure, Billy Cough
was hardly half.witted, but, as tho con.
stable said, lie knew Rnlph vol enough
not to 30 mistaken Oh q question OF Isis
identity.
! haYo forgot 10 state TO YOU that, i'm.
niodialcly upon my discovery al Pull.
lips death, | had naturally tolegraphod
superintendent Sanford, and that, by
his directions, Inspector Ransom had
como up to attend the inquest and to
make arrangements Tor tho removal Of
the body to Now York. Ito had had
little or nothing to say during tho pro.
ceedlngs, and ! mad left him In tho room
occupied by Phillips, WhIlo I saw the
constable 10 tho door.
As turned back into tho hall, Mary
was deIcSnding tho stairs. lIsr incO
wnB ngitRtoh and / nnrmtVOd ut onccthat
shO must have overheard SkidmotO',
parting remarks, 4 BarmisO which proved
20 bs correct
"What did that mar say to you 2" she
asked, coming close.
| told her In a iow words, lnumMiHg,
M did 10, n hardly folt doubt rs TO tho
reliability Of Billy Coughs statements.
"llO was perfectly correct, nnvutthu.
loss" Bho said, after u short hesitation.
~ wont out about 3 o'clock to meet Jack
by appointment aud ~ arrange tn 70
away with him. met him on tho road,
and hO walked AZ Tar "a tho cato with
inc. II waB almost dix o'clock, aud Jack
wont back 10 tho village. Ito did not
come oven ~ far ma tho house, aud
know ho could not have killed. father.
A fot your Now York friend who was
trying 10 fix II on him."
"Mh smith, may | have a iow words
With yoH IS eBeS2' min n voice from
tho 6lairL My niece started nj lIlo
sound aud lartcd into tho library.
"Cetlaluly, inspector" | answered.
"Cnn ! trouble YOU In como up hOfn 7'
] mounted The stairs hastily, had
Ransom brow mo into tho room, cl0,iug
tho door behind 49, Ills iaco was moro
than lntiouA.
"llOrS liza HOhlOd letter addressed Ia