The sun., 1901-08-11

ApRCRONKITE. DETECTVE, TESTS
A PSYCHOLO0ICAL THEORY.

A PSYCHOZO6ICAL THEORY.
A auAssn Dean That Aneessd ne Dss.
psAtasu q Fortune Slyvtsriosn ne
netwssn the Twins ard . Suspected
Crsms-An Heiress Gets Her nights.
Ths imprasaion made by the Righters
- Babel Springs was favorable. The
widow had q gentle dignity, votsd most
booming In the circumstances; Clara
ssen,ed q well-bred girl. though still too
ur1uu,--.,sllsd- h,. school ip1alapces 70 haxa
much personality: wkiI6 th6&s o. Sh5 men
Who met -Chauncey on the links or tennis
court. or In mild conviviality, agreed that
b was q good fellow.
The possession OF a fortune covers 9
multitude OF sins. True. there are q few
critics who maintained that the least the
widow could do was to keep q strict So
olusion until she and her children had
passed from the public memory; but the
majority good-naturedly argued that,
since no fault was chargeable. II would be
unjust to withhold from the young people
the society 30 consonant with their years
and prospects.
II was when matters had thus satisfac-
torly arranged themselves that passing
reference to the Fighter case in the smok-
ing room one evening caused q quiet,
elderly gentleman. named Abel Marcott,
lately arrived from Europe and 30 out Of
touch with current events. to seek enlighten-
ment. Gerald X. Edman. earliest Of guests
IN the spring and latest in the fall, assumed
the role OF informant. to the relief OF tho
others, who soon loitered away, a. II sick
Of the subject.
'when Jacob Righter died year ago. .
sppreciative audience even Of ono, she
left q great fortune His viii was plain
and brief. He bequeathed gross sum to
his widow in lieu Of dover. and the remain
der Of his estate to James Righter, his only
child. born of Q former marriage. In case
be survived him for two years. Should
James die within this period. then the
entire estate went to tho widows two
children.
There was q reason for these provisions.
James RICHTER. at 81 was q confirmed old
bachelor. fond Of country life and sports.
While out hunting one day. he accidentally
shot himself. Tho ball pierced his chest:
and II was q marvel that he was not killed
outright. Some Of the surgeons said that
the wall Of the heart was actually touched;
others, that that vital organ had escaped
by q hairs breadth; but one and all
agreed that the patients only chance Of
hfe lay In maintaining complete and alb
sohlte rest for at least two years. Any
shock. however slight. they said. was GER
tain 30 to disrupt the tissues ss to cause a
fatal hemorrhage.
only child. He believed that he might
get well. marry and rear a family to con-
tinue the Fighter name and wealth, II only
he lived beyond this period set bv the physi-
cians and In that case he wished him to be
his heir. But he was unwilling that 4
disposition OF the fortune he had accumu-
lated with such pains. Hence, he left
everything TO Chauncey and Clara, ifSames
died within two years.
with regard to the widow, my dear
sir, wish to state emphatically that there
is no better woman In the world. Ten
years ago, when her first husband. Mark
Germaine, an artist, with more talent than
thrift, died. leaving her without means.
and with two young children, abe quite
exceeded the expectations Of her friends.
quickly establishing herself in adequate
that she and Mr.. RICHTER met. They be-
came sincerely attached, married and had
. happy home, Chauncey and Clara taking
his name at his request James lived with
them and on friendly terms with these
new relations.
After Jacob Fighters death, this friend.
liness continued. James, OF course, re-
NAMED In the family house, for 1t was i'm
possible to move him, having his own ser-
wants, but still receiving many kind atten-
tions from the others. So matters ran
along smoothly, with James fiat on his
back. but steadily improving until GER
'On this night something happened to
James that gave him the predicted fatal
shock His nurse had been called away
at late hour by unexpected sickness in
her own family, he himself insisting that
she should 60 after she had arranged him.
ing and found him dead in his bed. At
the inquest the physicians testified that
some one coming back Of him might have
thrown him in the twisted position in which
he lay, or that he himself might have done
SO. In either event, the movement had
been 80 abrupt as to produce hemorrhage
and death
Mrs. RICHTER and the children testified
fully and freely All the bedroom doors
had been unlocked that night. they said,
80 that they might go to James should he
call: but they had heard no unusual sound.
The house had been secured before re-
firing and all the windows bolted. Moth
ing had been stolen and there were alb
solutely no signs Of any intruder. This
evidence was corroborated by the servants,
making IL plain that James RICHTER must
have tossed or started in his sleep to his
own undoing'
Probably he had nightmare sug-
gested Mr.. Marcott.
Undoubtedly" returned the gratified
Fdman, "and l congratulate you on as
signing so simple yet convincing a reason.
But you know what the average Coroner's
jury Is, or, better yet. God alone knows.
That sapent body reported a verdict OF
Death from cause unknown and OF
course. talk ensued. But this gossip, so
foul, so unfounded was never formulated
into charge The will was duly admitted
20 probate and Mrs. RICHTER has already
received her portion, which II was directed
should be paid over at once. under
stand too, that within week Of so the
executors will dispose Of the residuary
estate by paying TO Chauncey and Clara
their shares
hope the young man will use his in
herltance discreetly," said Mr.. Marcott
so many fine fellows have gone to the
dogs through too much pocket money
All, but he has been trained in the ways
OF economy by his mother explained
Mr.. Edman -She has always supervised
his expenditures and guarded against ex-
travagance. noticed signs of restessness
n him a while ago, but sober second
thought must have shown him that his
r.fxht 60 he. haa hs.a. Ia