The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-29

II went back through the upstairs hall
and found the window at the end raised
about two feet. I looked out and saw on
the tin roof below of the summer kitchen
a leather rife case. Then l searched the
whole house below, from cellar 10 attic
but found no sign of the missing pistol
No robbery had been done, because For
dyce identified everything Of value and
even showed me about $500 in bills, his
wifes pin money. which was tucked care
lessly into an old. painted OF giIded
gourd on the dresser. | was puzzled
about the pistols disappearance. but con-
cluded that the 'robber had secured that
first. had probably awakened Mrs For
dyce in that way and made of after the
raurder with the revolver in his pocket.
Yet how or why having secured the pis-
tol, the intruder had found time or cause
tc uncase the rife and use It in prefer
ence to the smaller. handler gun. could
not figure out. l made sure that every
thing had been locked except that one
window. and il seemed as plain as day
that the murderer must have climbed in
over the kitchen roof and out by the
same route. Where was the PTS
tcl1 I searched that house dozen times
that day. even unfolding the clean linen
IN the closets and rummaging in Ber- /
thas trunk. TO the great anger Of her !
grief-stricken father. But 1t was not to I
be found. ! spent the night proving 10 /
my own satisfaction that Fordyce had 1
actually been at his store till half an
hour before the murder must have oc-
cured
The women who had met her all spoke
well of Mrs. Fordyce. Bertha the daugh-
ter, had come home from boarding school
at Ogdensburg in May. II was about
June 10 that the murder occurred. Now.
after finding out as much as could. 1
made UP my mind. and It cost me many
twinge to do so. I made up my mind that |
Bertha had killed her own motherl II
was such q preposteTous, monstrous sus-
piciOn that I was ashamed of Il myself
and. of course. dared not mention II 20
anyone else at least. until l had some
sound evidence. She was apparently a
very emotional. cultivated young girl and
I couldn't think OF the least shadow OF
motive sufficient 10 urge her TO so hate
-u- and unnatural a crime. but the facts.
few but adamantine. told me, in spite OF
myself, that she had done IL Now. in
case ike that. where the evidence Is
wholly circumstantial and at that far ,
rom final, il is absolutely necessary 10
ind or supply q motive ! was so sure OF ;
ny theory that I spent week Al the Og- ,
ienburg school trying 20 find out all .
.bout Bertha. her disposition. vagaries. ,
-egard for her home and her mother. Ev
r9thing was favorable TO the girl. There ,
vas not a hint OF criticism upon which ! !
night fasten the thread OF justification !
OF my suspicion. I went suddenly back !
o Fordham and searched the Fordyce
louise again l don't know what moved >
ac 70 II. but I got out on the tin roof. !,
nd noticing a warped place where the 2
aetal had raised about al inch from the :,
svel. I thrust In my hand and pulled out :
he missing pistol that had been st0lea ( !
rom under Fordyces pillow,
Meanwhile The coroneTs JURY had lad !
be crime az the door 81 party or par :
les unknown. aud. certain So 1 felt :
lat this strange g1rl must have alb
trscted her parents weapon IN The day
me Or perhaps during g previous night =
nd had gone about the murder Eith 3
renleditated and horrible cooiusss. was =
oW erlsss 10 reopen the case for knew =
bat. Unless ! couid suppiS 2 reasonable :
-otiye for the incredible crime J would =
p laughed at 50 I PASSED Up TIE whole
latter n,
Never id auything a5out ~ voa- :.
cred The aiEst CLERK
NO. Never heard of Tire F0r5yces :,
gain til tvo Years ago. ~as visiting =.
cid sister q rinc II Bos1au- ! was =
sting or The fzont xtoEp ere simmer -
7elinS vixen Z Saw Fu-1yce and rs =
sughter pass. arm - srr1- asked ruy
ster = she Knew them ard she sad
ieir nause was BailaT1. thai M hel-
who lived across 1hs street. hzc xzeWu
.e woman when she N4s \ gin Neal ~
-er 20 see ATs Kelly that sFSri1E and
.e sad that HSslarts Tea2 lz-ne vss
ortyee. bat thas he lad chanree e p--- ~
srs en- secos-S q rs first xtsss rza-- -
z ~ A. For1ha-n
And who IS tbs YoGnr WrUs1 AFl-E
m hl=f = she hls daughter "a
No. said Mrs Kelly SO = hss step / q
.uxHter T5a Sc - married . willow ~
.rue8 Ceiis zorz<tksrg. vAea nsy c1s.1 -,
- ahout = yc1FS cid TIE -aot1eg wss CO.
Bed sc-nshc~ ~ bI-g1zr. nsiieFe- n.
q couple 81 years zfter~zFt - tET-s 81,
and Esz-rsss Tie azEEals<- --Totz l. I
Ifts-y. tkz