The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-03-15
miscellaneous.
A PARK MYSTERY.

A PARK MYSTERY.
twas the evening of the first day of the
Doltshire assizes. The judge, on the ap-
plication of the prosecution, had fixed the
following morning for the trial of Captain
Charles Oliver for the murder of Miss
Alice Despard, the governess of Sir Robert
Roland's children by his first wife. Tom
Briefly, the leading counsel for the de-
Tense, had just arrived from town, and he,
with his junior, Mr.. Belize, and the solic-
itor. Mr.. Hooker, of the firm of Harry &
Hooker, were in conference as to the
course to be followed the next morning.
Il haven't had time to look at my brief
as yet, " said Mr.. Briefly. II know moth
ing of the facts in the case. You conduct
ed it before the magistrates, Belize, didn't
you:"
Eyes, l did," answered Mr.. Belize.
And with remarkable judgment" add
ed Mr.. Hooker. (Mr. Belize was Mr.
Hooker's prospective son-in-law.)
well, perhaps you wouldn't mind CIV
ing me an outline of the facts proved in
evidenced" said Mr.. Briefly.
with pleasure, ~ responded Mr.. Belize.
1.-The victim was Miss Alice Despard,
Roland by his first wife The prisoner is
a Captain Charles Oliver, friend of Sir
Robert and the present Lady Roland. He
appears to have made the acquaintance Of
the govcrness during his visits to Roland
park. but nobody suspected that there
was more than the mCrest acquaintance
between them until the engagement Of
Captain Oliver and Miss Waverton was
announced.
who is Miss Waverton?" asked Mr..
Briefly.
THE half sister of Lady Roland, 1 be-
lieve,'' replied Mr.. Hooker.
"Oh, wasn't aware of thatl'' said Mr..
Belize.
Yes, and they say all their fathers
property went to her, " added the solicitor,
land that there 8 not any love lost between
them
Yes" said Mr.. Briefly as he made
note in the fold of his brief.
well, anyway" Mr.. Belize went on,
latter the announcement of Captain Oil
ver's engagement it was noticed that Miss
Despard became very Respondent.
who noticed it?' asked Mr.. Briefly.
"Well, think Lady Roland did, " an
swered Mr.. Belize, beginning to turn over
his brief Il don't know that any one
else particularly referred to its
THAT will d." said Mr.. Briefly. go
on"
WELL" continued Mr.. Belize, putting
aside his papers, "Oliver's engagement
was announced on Tuesday, Sept. z, and
on Saturday, the 18th, Miss Despard went
to bed rather early. 1t is clear now that,
instead of going to bed, she went into the
park and, as far as can be discovered, she
never returned again, but her absence
wasn't noticed till the morning. Then
search was made for her, but it wasn't till
evening her body was found. 1t was ulti-
mately discovered among some laurel
bushes not far from the highway, with a
bullet wound right through her head. At
first it was thought to be suicide, but as
no pistol could be found near the spot the
police eventually suspected murder. They
searched the girls boxes and came across
q number of love letters. They were sim
ply signed Charlie, but there seems to be
no doubt they were written by Captain
Oliver"
Does he dispute it?" asked Mr.. Briefly.
Not seriously, but he says, queerly
enough said Mr.. Hooker.
Let us hear the evidence given first,
interrupted Mr.. Briefly.
WE'LL bnlS ulSCONery leu 6llo poiloo W
make inquiries as to divers whereabouts
on the night of the murder. He refused
| to give any information, and he was ar
rested. After his arrest the groom, Hors-
! ley, stated that he had seen him, he be-
lieved, on the night of the murder in Ro-
land park not far from the place where
the body was found, and that he was then
accompanied by lady.
| Euorslay caomad ra1ucfoOt f0 olive his
evidence and refused to swear positively
that the lady with the prisoner was Miss
! Despard Two Independent witnesses
sworo positively to seeing Oliver in or
about Braxby during the same evening,
| and policeman met him after midnight
walking toward Rottenborough, where he
could catch tho morning express to town. i"
"A pretty conclusive Identification, !"
said Mr.. Briefly, especially in the abb
| sence of evidence to show that he was
somewhere else
He made most remarkable state
ment," put in Mr.. Hooker.
Wait please, wait until we have done
with the evidence, said Mr.. Briefly. lis
this the case as it appeared before the
magistrates"
practically it is in outline, =" answered
Mr.. Belize.
Il understand" said Mr.. Briefly.
Now, Just answer me one or two ques-
tions as to the nature of those love letters.
Did they contain any promise Of mar
riage''
"Oh, yes, over and over againl" an
swered Mr. Belize. They are very fer
! vent, and they continually repeat promises
to marry as soon as the obstruction Is re-
moved"
| "Obstruction removed, " said Mr.. Brite-
ly renecuively. Was there any other
woman with claims on Oliver"
Not as far rs l know. The prosecution
said this referred to his pecuniary difficult
| ties"
He was In pecuniary difficultiesi"
"Oh, yes! He admitted that"
well, let me see, !" said Mr.. Briefly.
"Was the revolver traced to himP"
mo, not exactly traced" answered Mr..
Belize, "but the police found In his lodg-
ings several revolvers, and the bullet hole
in the girls skull might have been made
by tho bullet used for any of them"
1.-The bullet itself was not found?'
mo; they searched all about, but
couldn'r find trace of it,.
''Well now as to the wound" contin-
ued Mr.. Britely. What did the doctors
say about itS'
''They say that the pistol must have
been fired very close to her head. The
hair about the wound is singed and black,
ened, and one of the doctors was strongly
of opinion that it was fired by the CIR
herself"
"Wait a minute Who said thatP
asked Mr.. Briefly.
DIR Barber, think. Yes, DIR. Barber. .
tsVery we'll ~ said Mr. Rritely notinG