Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-11-05
APTAIN HALLIWELI-

ss i want to introduce you to a
70 young lady who is very
anxious to make your ac-
quaintance."
My hostess led the way across the
drawing room to a dark, eXquisitely
lovely girl. She watched us eagerly,
and, without waiting for any intro
duction, sprang to her feet, and said:
"Are you Captain Halliwell?'
/ admitted the truth of the charge.
81 am Edna Doughty" she said, with
q slight air of defiance.
edna Doughty" 1 said, holding out
my hand, 81 am proud to meet you"
The name of Edna Doughty was in
everybody's mouth in connection with
what the papers called "The Great
Label Case"
! Lord Epworth was found dead In his
bed. 1t transpired that he was Sc
cretly addicted to the practice of tax
ing choral. He had received Il bottle
by post from Messrs Perott and Men
son the well-known chemists, from
whom he usually obtained it, and had
taken one dose out of it, Il moderately
strong one.
1t killed him. 1t was taken for
granted at first that his death was
either the result of accident, or a case
of suicide. But at the inquest Messrs.
Perott and Menson positively denied
having sent the bottle to Lord Ep-
worth. 1t was certainly wrapped up
in their label, and packed in one of
their boxes. But they had not sent
| It.
The~label was, of course, examined.
1t bore the postmark, Hampstead,
3.15 p. m. Z, s. 81
1t was obviously improbable that
Messrs. Perott and Menson, whose
| place of business is in Bond street,
would post medicine in Hampstead.
The choral was analysed and pro-
nounced a strong poison.
Lord Epworth had been poisoned,
and the crime had been committed
by somebody who was perfectly ac-
quainted with his habits.
So far as known this narrowed the
circle to about ten persons-his house
hold servants and few relatives.
The question arose, who would bene-
fit by his death. He was married
man, but separated from his wife.
She had been an actress in her youth,
and had handsome allowance from
her husband, whom she had not seen
for fifteen years.
Lord Epworth's estate was immense.
The family property, which was of
great value, would pass to his nephew,
Dalton Humphrey, man who was
well known and very popular in soci-
ETY..
1t was on him that public attention
| was fixed. His uncle made him n
very small allowance, and he was
known to be in financial difficulties.
The death of his uncle would make
him rich man.
Fultherinquiries produced two start
ling revelations-the handwriting on
the label closely resembled Mr..
Humphreys, but it appeared to be dis
guised; also, Mr. Humphrey had GER
tainly purchased n bottle of choral
three days before his uncle's death.
and 1t had been sent to him from
Messrs. Perott and Menson's estab-
lishment by post.
Doubtless he had removed the wrap
pings carefully, substituted the poison,
replaced the wrappings and sent it to
his uncle, knowing that it would be
consumed without suspicion.
In addition TO this, Mr. Humphrey
known tn hny ,NIn
Hampstead on August s. at about 3
O'Clock In the afternoon-the time the
package was posted.
lie was, of course, arrested. He
seemed to be somewhat dazed when
the warrant was read to him, but not
exactly surprised and said:
| We'll, it served the brute rightw
In the teeth of such evidence, and
what sounded like an admission of
guilt, it was difficult for his friends to
believe him innocent
But one person believed In him, in
spite of all, although he seemed not
to believe in himself-the girl he was
engaged to, Miss Edna Doughty.
She was a wealthy girl. and consid-
/ NiN' oLAC VI tlic CutClltS OIL The. sea-
son. In spite of ali protests and ar
gunents, she stood by her lover, and
tested her complete confidence to him.
Public opinion was unanimous-Dal.
ton Humphrey was guilty of most
treacherous and cowardly murder, and
altogether unworthy OF such trump
of girl as Miss Doughty. AS for
| har hn
ular idol.
l must explain. too, that her reason
for desiring to know me was that at
country house where I was visiting
a few months previously, I had been
instrumental in clearing I'D q family
scandal.
Miss Doughty wanted my help.
| Would join hands with her in clear