Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-01

Woou w cACuSS me lof HAIL du muir, DIS
wanted to call on legal friend who lived
in town, hurried away.
l was going to call on DIR. Holmes,
whose name was at the foot of tho certifl-
cate recording the death of Sir Douglas
Renwood
Ihad to wait some time at the physician S
house, as he had numerous consultations
in progress. After an hour of terrible an
ticipation in the dull waiting room was
at length ushered into the Doctors pres
ence
CDR. Holmes, said, II have not come
to see you professionally, but rather to ask
you question. Did you sign a certificate
of the death, through Inflammation of the
lungs, of Sir Douglas Renwood, who now
lies dead at the place called -- Cottage9'
He jumped from his chair in his amaze
ment
"My dear sir" he cried, "what on earth
are you talking about? know nothing
whatever Of Sir Douglas Renwood except
that he was reputed to be man of eccen-
trio habits, as he refused to have any sery-
ants in his house."
The suspicion which had been darkening
in my mind grew darker as he spoke these
words. In moment had risen from the
chair, and, walking quickly to the doctors
side, said:
doctor, there has been some foul play
in this business Sir Douglas Renwood
lies dead, and have just seen certificate
of his decease bearing your name at the
foot"
The doctor looked astounded.
Then it is forgery" he cried. 81
have never signed certificate of this
mans death. More than that, did moi
know even that he was i'll"
I thought for moment and then said:
"Our way is clear. We must go at once
to the police station and get a warrant fol
the arrest Of the man who produced thai
certificate as coming from you. That mar
is Mark Renwood, Sir Douglas nephew
and-heir."
The doctor gave me a quick glance.
Ellis heir, chr" he said. "Come, per
haps we are on the brink Of discovery. II
seems to me that there is more in this
business than meets the eye"
thought SO too.
An hour later DR.. Holmes, couple Of
plain clothes policemen and myself entered
the cottage. Bidding the two men to b.
close at hand in case of need, the doctor
and l went straight up stairs in search Of
Mr.. Mark Renwood.
He did not seem in the least astounde(
at the appearance of the doctor. Evidently
he imagined that he was the "lega
friend" ON whom he fancied had gone tt
call, for he held out his hand with smile
ANY friend Of yours, Mr.. Geary," hi
tic Trt,
please"
Wondering whether he was merely play
ing part OF was sincere formally intro
duced the two men.
CDR. Holmes-Mr Mark Renwood -
A terrible change came over Renwood'
\ face and he chung to the table for support
He tried to speak, but words failed him
The look on his features told what hat
already guessed.
But there was no time for idle though
or conjecture. touched the bell, and thu
two constables appeared in moment.
II give this man in custody" / said il
a loud voice, "for uttering forged deatl
certificate. Whether further charge ant
more serious one will be added remain
to be seen.
Renwood uttered not word. With
white, scared look he suffered himself t.
be led from the house, and thence into
conveyance. Our way lay in the direction
of the police station.
A coroners inquest was held on tn
body of Sir Douglas Renwood, and tn
verdict of the jury, following on the doc
tors postmortem examination, was twill
full murder against Mark Renwood.
He was accordingly committed for tria
at the next assizes.
The incident which served to convic
him was the forged certificate. He coult
assign no reason for the forgery, and there
fore the jury had no option but to conclud
that the man who had administered to tn
deceased the subtle poison which causet
his death was his nephew, the man VIII
stood in the dock.
Sentence was passed accordingly, and OF
the night before his execution he sent TO
the chaplain and made full confession.
1t ran thus:
II killed my uncle by means Of dru,
which the natives use in certain parts 0
India for medical purposes, and whicl
leaves the features calm and composed aft
er death. My uncle was about to marry
and in the event of his doing SO, and hay
ing issue, knew that my chance of grea
estate was gone. So brought him dowi
to Staines and kept him under lock ant
key in the cottage.
Having Killed him, knew that II,
physician would certify the death withou
some sort of inquiry, and therefore forget
certificate of the death myself. l sent fo
the solicitor, Geary, in order that he nigh
see for himself that all was fair and square
otherwise appreciated the fact that Their
might be some awkwardness about tn
transferring to me Of the property. How
Geary discovered that the instrument wa
not genuine passes my understanding
is that discovery which has put the rop
around my neck"
How did l discover the forgery? BY tn
fact that l knew DR.. Holmes handwrit
ing and detected the differencep Not a bi
Of it. The DOCTORS handwriting was a
unknown to me as the first pharaoh No
1t was simply on account Of the fact tina
the death certificate bore the cause o
death, "inflamation of the lungs" tn
word inflammation" being spelled will
one en-"
In the letter from Mark Renwood witt
which this history begins the word occur
red with the letter omitted, and it strucl
me as being very curious that two Incl
should make mistake over the sam
word. So curious was this apparent coin
cidence that pursued the inquiries whicl
ended as / have described. If Mr.. Mari
Renwood had been a better speller, h
would, in all probability, be alive at thi
hour.-Cassell's Journal.
The Idea Of an Economist.