Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-09-22

THE GREAT "LABEL CASE"

ATTAIN TIAILlWELL, l

V young lady who is very
anxious to make your ac-
Quaintancc,'
drawing room to Il dark, cNquisitely
lovely girl. She watched us eagerly,
and, without waiting for any intro
duction, sprang to her feet and said:
Are you Captain IIalliwcll:"
adj lifted tie truth Of the charge.
IL all Edna Doughty" she said,with
slight air of defiance.
Edna Doughty" I said, holding out
my hand, Il am proud to meet you"
The name of Edna Doughty was in
cvcrybody's mouth in connection with
what the papers called "The Great
Label Case"
Lord Epworth was found dead in his
bed. 1t TRANSFERRED that he was Sc
crctly addicted to the practice of tax.
in. chloral. lie had received bottle
by post from Mcssrs. Perott and Men
son the wcll-known ohrmIsts, from
whom he usually obtained it, and had
taken one dose out of it, a 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 Mcssrs.
Pcrott and Mcnson 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
1t.
The label was, Of course. examined.
1t bore the postmark, "11ampstead,
3.15 p. III. I, s, o."
1t was obviously improbable that
Mcssrs Perott and Mcnson, whose
place of business Is in Bond street,
would post medicine in Hampstead.
The choral was analysed and pro-
nounccd Il strong poison.
Lord Epworth had been poisoned,
and the crime had been committed
by somebody who was perfectly ac-
qmntcd with his habits.
SO far Us known this narrowed the
crcle',o about ten persons-his house
hold servants and n few relatives.
The question arose, who would bcnc-
filthy his death. lie was Il married
man, but separated from his wife.
She had been an actress in her youth,
and had a handsome allowance from
her husband, whom she had not seen
for fifteen years.
Lord EpwOrths estate was immense.
The family property, which was of
great value, would pass to his nephew.
Dalton Humphrey, a man who was
well known and very popular in soci
city.
1t was on him that public attention
was fixed. His uncle made him n
very small allowance, and lie was
known to be in financial difficulties
The death of his uncle would make
him rich man.
FurihcrinQuirics produced two start
ling rcvclations-thc handwriting on
the label closely rcscmhlcd Mr..
Humphreys, but it appeared to be dis
guiscd; also, Mr.. Humphrey had Ger
tainly purchased Il bottle Of choral
three days before his unclr's death,
and It had been sent to him from
Mcssrs. Pcrott and Mcnson's cstab-
lishmcnt by post.
Doubtless he had removed the wrap
pings carefully, substituted the poison,
replaced the wrappings and sent 1t to
his uncle. knowing that it would be
consumed without suspicion.
In addition to this, Mr.. Humphrey
was known to have played golf at
Hampstead on August s, at about 3
o'clock in the aftcrnoon-tlle time the
package was posted.
Hedwas, of course. arrested. He
seemed to be somewhat dazed when
the warrant was read to him, but not
exactly surprised and said:
"Wcll, it served the brute right"
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-thc girl he was
engaged to, Miss Edna Doughty.
She was Il wealthy girl and consid
cred one of the "catchcs" of tho sea-
son. In spite of all protests and ar.
gumcnts, she stood by her lover, and
tested her complete confidence to him.
Public opinion was unanimous-Dal-
ton Humphrey was guilty of Il most
trcacherous and cOwardly murder, and
altogether unworthy OF such trump
Of girl as Miss Doughty. AS foi
her for the moment she was the pop.
ular idol.
must explain. too, that her reason
for desiring to know me was that at
a country house where | was visiting
Il few months previously. mad been
instrumental in clearing up family
scandal
Miss Doughty wanted my help
Would join hands with her in clear
ing Dalton Humphrey? She could
tell me nothing about the case beyond
cuscd was ohstinately silent. All she
could say, with tears in her eyes, was
that she believed him innocent.
At tbe bottom Of my heart l firmly
believed in the mans guilt But II
was impossible to refuse the request
of such Il noble minded girl.
Our first and greatest difficulty was
the prisoner himself. He would an
swcr no questions and render no as
sistancc. All he would say was: