The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-20

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In July, 1867, N. Henri Gretry died
In Paris, leaving large fortune. \ few
days later there was q large family gath
ering at the house of his son, NJ. Charles
Gretry, ON the Boulevard st. Germain.
The dead man had left express instruc-
tons that certain aged distant relatives
should be provided FOR, and his children
and some old friends rffGt TO consult as to
the best way to cnMy out the wishes OF
the deceased. They were cunversing in
a parlor in the reaf Of the grand saloon
when the report Of d pistol was heard
followed by the crash OF glass. The par
ty in great alarm entered the saloon and
found that splendid mirror of great
value. occupying the wall in the center
of the saloon. was badly shattered. A
few seconds after the catastrophe u gen.
tleman dressed in black, with an overcoat
over his arm, appeared at the door aud
was admitted by a servant.
Il am afraid ] am late, Jacques" he
said as lie entered the hall.
mo. monsieur" the servant answered,
surprising that he was one of those invit-
ed: they had just assembled when an
accident happened which has disturbed
them"
"Ah. What was that?" the gentleman
said. and then. not waiting for an an
swer. continued: See, have soiled my
hand. l will go up stairs to the lavatory
and return instantly"
With that he assembled the stairs, and
the servant Joined the company, who
were examining the shattered mirror in
the saloon. Soon afterward Charles, Il
son of NJ. Gretry, quilted the house, in
forming the concierge mt the gate that he
was going to give information of what
had occurred ut the house.
"a gentleman has already left for that
purpose" said the concierge.
"Ah! Do you know who it wasp
Charles said.
II didn't recognize him." was the reply.
He was gentleman in black, with an
overcoat over his arm"
Il cannot think who it could be-
Charles said. cat all events, my going
also can do not HARM"
He departed and returned soon with
two officers. Examination showed that
bullet from the outside had passed
through plate glass window and struck
the mirror in the center. No clew to the
perpetrator of the act could be discovered
outside in the grounds. Next morning
q detective named Perclet came to the
mansion and found the family in state
of great excitement. Nine Gretry's jew
el case, containing gems valued at 300,-
900 francs, was missing. When Perclet
learned the fact, he asked:
when was it last SEEM?
CIV, in nn1
jewelry AZ present" Nine. Gretry said;
''but made it my business every even
ing when preparing for dinner to see that
the case and its contents are safe in my
escritoire, and did so last evening. This
morning l discovered that the escritoirc
had been forced and my jewels removed
perclet examined the escritoire and
carefully scrutiniZed the grounds around
the house. He questioned the concierge
and learned all about the gentleman in
black carrying an overcoat who had pass
ed out the previous evening just after
the catastrophe and who had said that
he was going to inform the police.
jacques, whose duty it was to admit Wis
itors, was likewise questioned and told
how he had admitted just at the time of
the smashing of the mirror q gentleman
who answered the description of the per-
son who had soon afterward passed the
concierge, saying that he was going for
the police.
HE knew my NAME" Jacques said,
"and l supposed he was one of the per-
sons invited. and when he proposed to GO
to the lavatory I thought it was all
right"
'That was tine man." the detective
said. "And the person who fired the shot
was his accsnphce. 1t was very clev.
er stroke of business.&
The concierge iidn't remember having
seen the man VINO passed eat enter by
the gate. The msp who fired the. shot
might have entered the grounds by the
gate, but he certainly did not leave that
way, as no one passed inter the firing OF
the shot except the man already de-
scribed and Charles Gretry.
The grounds were not extensive. There
was very high wall covered with TO
liage near the spot where the man who
did the deed must have stood, as the ball
passed diagonally from the window &c
the mirror. The foliage on the wall was
undisturbed. At the rear Of the house
was u wall equally ms high and sur
mounted with impossible chevaux d.
frise. The wall on the other side Joined
the rear wall and extended for half the
distance toward the gate. 1t was like
wise protected ut the top with iron
spikes. The other half of this wall was
unprotected and about half the height Of
the rest. so as to permit the boughs OF
some fine dwarf oaks growing in the
grounds adjacent to expand. These
grounds belonged to NJ. de Suinne, witt
whom his daughter and her husband
lived. The detective asked permission
to examine the grounds and was inform
ed that NJ. de Suinne was an invalid an(
could not be seen and that his son-in-law
NJ Bradier. and his wife had that morn
ing started for England.
"You had better see NJ. Moyet, NJ. d.
Suinne's valet" said the concierge.
Perclet did so and was confronted by {
gentlemanly man of about 40, who in
stantly granted the favor asked and &C
companied the officer over the grounds
NJ. Moyet expressed unbounded aston
ishment when he heard Of the robbery q,
n. Gretry's. The detective saw thai
1t was an easy thing for Il nimble person
to ascend the walls from NJ. de Suinne's
grounds and to return. But how could {
thief get into NJ. de Suinne's premises
for they were even more carefully pro
tected from intruders than NJ. Gretry's.
at is impossible for any one to entcl
the grounds after dusk without ou1
knowledge" the valet said. Every
night at sunset two blood mastiffs are le
loose, and any trespasser would undoubt
eddy be attacked"
When Perclet reported to NJ. Gretry
that gentleman said:
"Moyet is Il most excellent and trust
worthy person. He was in my emplo!
i for many years and before that had stud
] led MEDICINE apd was Almost skillful ant