The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-08-06


long, for in no walk Of life more than
in the detective business is the accur-
acy of this statement more often and
more positively born out. In a case
which passed through my hands some
seven years ago and which created a
profound sensation under the name of
THE Margrave Mystery" it was the
presence of tiny witness. about one
tenth of an inch in dimension, which
enabled me TO track the perpetrator
of the crime, and to bring him to the
scaffold which he merited.
One morning, early In June, re-
ceived a telegram from headquarters
bidding me to proceed Mt once to the
village of Margrave. in Berkshire,
where certain DIR. Powis desired to
interview me Immediately. Arrived at
the Doctors residence after a 40 min
utes' journey in an express from Wat
erloo, | was usnered into his library,
and found him awaiting me with an.
xious eyes.
He was a road.shouldered. firm
faced man. with eyes and mouth which
proclaimed honesty and stealfastness
of purpose, but it was obvious to me
that he was under the influence of
some terrible shock, and his very first
words proved that my diagnosis of his
emotions was correct.
"A horrible and painful episode has
just occurred. Mr.. Harding he said,
speaking very hurriedly. my patient,
Sir William Margrave, of Margrave
Hall. has been poisoned by bottle
of physic sent to him from this house
by me-mderstand that-a bottle of
physic prepared by me, with my own
hands, last evening and taken by my
messenger 10 his house. Unless the
mystery is cleared up before the in
quest, l shall be in a dreadful posi-
trial at the assizes. For Heavens
sake, tell me what is TO be done"
81 can tell you, DR.. Powis. what is
not to he DONE" | answered, without
hesitation, and that is not to excite
yourself thus unnecessarily. BY pre-
serving your calmness as much as pos
sible, and giving me q clear and con-
else account of this affair, you will
be helping the cause CT justice, and |
have no doubt that | shall be able to
aid you to some extent"
Very well, them he exclaimed, ris
ing and pacing the room nervously
81 may tell you at once that for some
time past have been attending Sir
William for gout, and have been in
the habit Of sending him bottle of
physic every Wednesday evening, to
counteract the effects OF the complaint
In some degree. Last night l prepared
the medicine as usual in my Surgery
downstairs, and having despatched my
messenger with the physic, sat down
to read the Lancet in my study until
bedtime"
He paused, wrung his hands in an
guish, and then went on. "All went
on as usual, but about midnight / was
summoned from my bed by footman
from the Hall. He merely announced
that Sir William had been taken very
ill-was in violent agonies-and that
the servants believed him to be dying.
Without word | followed the man
back to the houso, and only arrived
in time to find the poor old baronet on
the point of death, whilst he gasped
out to me. as l knelt over him, these
words:
"'Analyze the medicine! Analyze
the medicine!'
'He never spoke again, and from the
manner in which HIS body was con-
torted, and from the odor in the room,
1t was obvious to me that he had swal-
lowed a dose of the deadly drug
known as oil of almonds-in other
words, prussic acid.
Directly had lain the dead man
upon his bed (for in his struggles he
had fallen to the foor) | turned to
examine the bottle of medicine, and
one Whit at the drug told me what
had occurred. An infusion of prussic
acid had been added to the gout mix
ture, and to its addition Sir Williams
death was to be traced.
II sent for the servant who had
summoned me and bade him ride TO
the police station and inform the night
inspector of what had occurred, and
then lay down upon the sofa in the
dining-room till 8 o'clock, when the
official in question arrived in company
with the police doctor. The latter
agreed with me that the deceased had
met his death through poisoning by
prussic acid, and | can assure you,
Mr.. Harding, that from his manner to-
ward me 1t was plain he considered
that was to blame, and that through
some criminal oversight had commit
ted blunder and sent Sir William to
his death.
However. he said nothing of the
sort to me, and, having taken an Off
cial note of the affair, went away. The
body now lies at the Hall awaiting the
inquest, which will doubtless be held
on the day after tomorrow. and you
will, therefore, appreciate my position,
Mr.. Harding. II something is not al
duced by that time to show that rhe
horrible affair has come about through
no fault of mine my reputation will be