The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-09-21
( THE GREAT label CASE"

APTAIN HALLIWELL,


young lady who Is very
anxious TO make your ac-
quaintance."
My hostess led the way across the
drawing room to n dark, exqulsitely
lovely girl. She watched us eagerly,
and, without waiting for any intro
duction, sprang to her feet, and said.
Are you Captain Halliwellr'
admitted the truth OF the charge.
81 am Edna Doughty" she said,with
n slight air of defiance.
Edna Doughty" said. holding out
my hand, II am proud to meet you"
The name OF Edna Doughty was In
eyerybody's mouth in connection with
what the papers called "The Great
label Case"
Lord Epworth was found dead In his
bed. II transpired that he was &c.
cretly addicted TO the practice Of TAX
ing chloral He had received a bottle
by post from Messrs. Perott and Men
son the weIl-known chemists, from
whom he usually obtained II, and had
taken one dose out Of IT, n moderately
strong one.
1t killed him. II was taken for
granted at first that his death was
either the result OF accident, or n 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.
II bore the postmark, Hampstead,
3.15 p. IN. z, 8, o."
1t was obviously improbable that
Messrs. Perott and Mcnson. whose
place OF business is I'm Bond street,
would post medicine In Hampstead.
The chloral was analysed and pro
nounced 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 bcnc-
1T 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 socl-
ETY..
1t was on him that public attention
was fixed. His uncle made him Il
very small allowance, and nc was
known to be in financial difficulties.
The death of his uncle would make
him n rich man.
Further inquiries produced two start
ling revelntions-the handwriting on
the label closely rescmblcd Mr..
Humphreys, but IL appeared To be dis
guiscd; also, Mr.. Humphrey had Ger
tainly purchased n bottle of chloral
three days before his uncle's death,
and il had been sent to him from
Messrs. Perott and Menson's cstab-
iishmenr 10y post.
Doubtless he had removed the wrap
pings carefully, substituted the poison,
replaced the wrappings and sent 1t to
his uncle, knowing that 1t would be
consumed without suspicion.
In addition to this, Mr.. Humphrey
was known to have played golf at
Hampstead on August &. at about 3
o'clock in the afternoon-thc time the
package was posted.
He was, of course. arrested. lie
seemed to be somewhat dazed when
the warrant was rSld to him, but not
exactly surprised and said:
''Well, ii served the brute right"
In the teeth of such evidence. and
what sounded like an admission of
guilt, IL was difficult for his friends tc
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 n wealthy girl and consid
cred one OF the catches" of the sea.
son. In spite of all protests and ar
guments she stood NV her lover. ant
tested her complete confidence TO him
Public opinion was unanimous-Dal
ton Humphrey was guilty of n mos
treacherous and cowardly murder, anC
altogether unworthy or such trumI
OF n girl as Miss Doughty. AS foi
her, FOR the moment she was the pop
ular idol
l must explain, too. that her rcasor
for desiring to know me was that n
n country house where | was VISITING
few months previously, l nad beer
instrumental in clearing up famil,
scandal.
Miss Doughty wanted my help
Would join hands with her in clear
ing Dalton Humphrey? She coul,
tell me nothing about the case beyon,
what the papers reported. as the nc
cused was obstlnately silent All sh
could say. with tears in her eyes. wa
that she believed him innocent.
At the bottom OF my heart | firml
believed I'm the mans guilt. But
was impossible TO refuse the requos
OF such noble minded girl.