The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-09-23
THE CASE
OF TENoN1
BY MARVIN DANA


X Copyright. 1901. by Marvin Dana .
| SoAoAoAoAoAoAA
| At o'clock In the afternoon OF
March % woman entered the hall OF
the Grand hotel. New York city. She
was evidently young. hardly more than
a girl. with a face rather too pale. but
made charming by regular features
and large dark eyes.
She walked without any hesitation
to the Office and inquired:
lis Senor Tenoni inT'
The clerk struck a bell and shouted.
'FRONT.'
The end boy Of the row seated on a
bench started up and presented him
self before the clerk with Yes, sir"
''Show this lady to No. lS."
'Oh. no." exclaimed the visitor. 81
know where Senor Tenonfs room Is.
But would you be so kind as to do me
a great favor?' she queried.
with pleasure. l shall be very
pleased to do anything I can for you"
please take this letter." With the
words she held out an envelope.
"Why. it's addressed to me!'
"Yes; it is addressed to you"
"But l did not know l knew you
that is. didn't know you knew me"
cried the astonished man.
mo, I suppose not" answered the
girl, with some embarrassment. Then
she added: But you must promise not
to open 1t for at least half an hour.
Will you give me your wordr
"Why, yes. Of course" the clerk an
swered, with as much grace of manner
as one 30 puzzled could command.
The mysterious visitor turned away
and went slowly down the corridor.
The clerk stared after her and saw her
pause and knock at No. Is. She wait
ed a moment. apparently for an an
swer, then opened the door and en-
tered. When the door had closed be.
hind her. he turned to a careful con.
temptation OF the letter. which was ad.
dressed In dainty handwriting:
"John Briggs. Esq. Grand Hotel"
The envelope could properly be
opened at half past 3. At quarter
past the door OF No. Is opened. but II
was Tenoni who appeared. He was
alone and hastily left the hotel without
a word to any one.
Now, that's funny" meditated the
clerk. "But he'll be back soon. 1 sup
pose"
But the moments dragged on. and Te
noni did not return.
This is a curious business" the
|. clerk mused, and then. 1t being one
minute OF half past 3. he opened the
letter. 1t ran as follows:
Dear Mr.. Briggs-Circumstances mus
| not reveal have surrounded me with per
; lis. / must see Senor Tenoni today. but
he 10 a desperate man. II you should
hear me shrek. come to my help. and Il
: do not come out Of his room by
, o'clock have a search made for me
trust my life to you. for / have heard o.
your noble character from a mutua
, friend. When we next meet. all will b,
, made clear to you JULIA CRAMER-
Mr. Briggs turned pale as he reat
this extraordinary document.
>I In a few minutes the whole hote
was I'm an uproar. Repeated knock
} ings at No. Is gained no response. Ther
Z the door was tried and found to b'
, II "ti'
summoned. the door was beaten open
and a search was made. Nobody wal
found. nor was there any trace Of thu
woman who. according to the evi
D dence OF eyewitnesses, clerks, bell
boys and porter, had entered there a
: 3 O'Clock, but had never come out.
The same night Tenoni was arrested
charged with having murdered his Wis
itor.
When Tenoni was arraigned, court
l jury, bar and public were much AFFECT
3 ed by the charms of the victim as Sc
: forth by the clerk. the porter and tn
, bellboys. The most strenuous effort
/ ON the part Of the police failed to dis
= cover any other person answering :
the name or description Of Julia Cra
mer. 1t was hoped that Tenoni woul
' confess and explain the singular mean
3 by which he had managed to dispos
e Of the body. But Tenoni seemed POI
3 sessed Of dauntless effrontery and ir
sisted that he had never known an
person named Julia Cramer.
When the accused had been Sworr
!, the following questions and answer
u were given:
+ "Were you In your room at th
II Grand hotel at the time when. a
!, stated by the witnesses who precede
you. this person entered the hotel an
q asked for you"
a 81 was not"
This answer caused much surpris
and rather increased the general fee
: ing Of the prisoners guilt, since
q number of witnesses had testified
,f having seen him leave the room a fe'
, minutes later.
= "Did you have any visitor in you
, room at the hotel ON the day In que
tion?"
81 did not"
A murmur Of disapprobation aros
q but ceased when the counsel passed
ID the clerk of the court a small pare
1t which had been lying on the table b
c. fore him.
- 81 wish to offer In evidence the col
tents Of this parcel"
The articles were passed to the Judg
3 who examined them curiously. IT
10 counsel then asked that they shou
be examined by the prisoner. wh
however. hardly glanced at them. b.
IN left them lying in his lap.
II Counsel for the defense requests
70 that Mr.. Briggs should be recalle
:. Then he asked:
"You have n very clear remembran
@ of the appearance OF this girlY'
IN "Sir." Mr.. Griggs replied with EN-
T. tion, "her form and face are forev