The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-06

IN town, I hurried away.
was going to call on DR.. Holmes,
whose name was at the foot Of the certifl-
cato recording the death Of Sir Douglas
Renwood.
Ihad to wait some time at the physiclan's d
house, as no 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
eIce.
"Dr Holmes" said, ST 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 - CottageS"
He jumped from his chair in his amaze
ment.
"My dear SIR" he cried, "what on earth
are you talking about? i know nothing
whatever Of Sir Douglas Renwood except
that he was reputed to be a man Of eccen-
trio habits, as he refused to have any serv.
ants in his house."
The suspicion which had been darkening
In my mind grew darker as no spoke these
words. In moment l had risen from the
chair, and, walking quickly to the doctors
side, said:
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 n forgery" he cried. 81
have never signed certificate of this
mans death. More than that, did not
know even that he was ILL.,"
thought for u moment and then said:
'Our way is clear. We must go at once
to the police station and get q warrant for
the arrest of the man who produced that
certificate as coming from you. That man
Is Mark Renwood, Sir Douglas nephew
apd-heir."
The doctor gave me quick glance.
"His heir, eh?" nc said. Come, per.
haps we are on the brink of discovery. 1t
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 be
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 i'm the least astounded
at the appearance of the doctor. Evidently
he imagined that he was the legal
friend on whom he fancied had gone tn
call, for he held ont his hand with smile
ANY friend of yours, Mr.. Geary,', he
said, ''is welcome here. Introduce me-
please.
Wondering whether he was merely play.
ing part or was sincere formally intro.
duced the two men.
''Dr. Holmes-Mr. Mark Renwood
A terrible change came over Renwood's
face, and he clun2 to the table for support.
He tried to speak, bur words failed him.
The look on his features told what lad
already guessed.
But there was no time for idle thought
or conjecture. touched the bell, and the
two constablcs appeared in a moment.
Il give this man In custody" l said i'm
a loud voice, "for uttering forged death
certificate. Whether n further charge and
a more serious one will be added remains
to be seen."
Renwood uttered not word With
white, scared look he suffered himself to
be led from the house, and thence into
Of the police station.
A coroner's inquest was held on the
body of Sir Douglas Renwood, and the
verdict of the jury, following on the doc
tors postmortom examination, was "will.
full murder against Mark Renwood.
He was accordingly committed for trial
at the next assizcs.
The incident which served to convict
him was the forged certificate. He could
assign no reason for the forgery, and there
fore the jury had no option but To conclude
that the man who had administered to the
deceased the subtle poison which caused
his death was his nephew, the man W no
stood i'm the dock.
Sentence was passed accordingly, and ON
the night before his execution he sent for
the chaplain and made full confession.
Ii ran thus:
~ killed my uncle by means Of "A drug
which the natives use in certain parts of
India for medical purposes, and which
leaves the features calm and composed aft
ct death. My uncle was about to marry,
and in the event of his doing so, and hav-
ing issue, knew that my chance of "a great
estate was gone. 30 brought him down
To Staines and kept him under lock and
key in the cottage
Having killed him, knew that no
physician would certify the death without
some sort of inquiry, and l therefore forged
cert ificate of the death myself 1 sent for
tho solicitor, Geary, i'm order that he might
see for himself that all was fair and square;
otherwise appreciated the fact that there
might he some awkwartlness about the
transferring TO me Of the property. How
Geary discovered that the instrument was
not genuine passes my understanding. Jt
is that discovery which has put the rope
around my neck"
How did discover the forgerys by the
fact that | knew DIR. Holmes bandwrit-
ing and detected the difference. Not bit
Of II. The Doctors handwriting was ms
unknown TO nc us the first pharaoh. No
1t was simply ON account Of the fact that
the death certificate bore the cause Of
death, inflammation Of the lungs" the
word Inflammation" being spelled with
one IN"
in the letter from Marx Renwood with
which this history begins the word occur
fpd with the letter omitted, and IL struck
me a. being very curious that two men
should make ~ mistake over the same
word. 80 curious was this apparent coin
cidcDce that pursued the inquiries which
ended as l have described. lf Mr.. Mark
Heti Ind l,tn "A lctttr etp1lar ~