Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29
CHAPTER K.
Which Puzzles the Doctors,

AT the inquest held in the big upstairs
room Of the Star and Garter Hotel at Kew
Bridge there was crowded attendance. BY
this time the public excitement had risen
to fever heat 1t had by some unaccount-
able means leaked out that at the post
mortem we had been puzzled therefore the
mystery was much increased and the pa
pers that morning without exception gave
prominence to the startling affair
The coroner, seated at the table at the
head of the room, took the usual formal
evidence of Identification, writing down the
deposltlons upon separate sheets of blue
foClScaD.
Samuel Short was the first witness of i'm
portance, and those in the room listened
breathlessly to the story of how his alarm
clock had awakened him at o'clock; how
ne had arisen as usual and gone to his
masters room, only TO discover him dead
You noticed no sign Of a struggle?" in
quired the coroner. looking sharply up at
the witness
None, sir. My master was lying on his
side' and except for the stain of blood
which attracted my attention 1t looked as
though he had died in his sleep"
And what did you do?''
Il raised the alarm" answered Short
and then he went on to describe how he
switched on the electric light, rushed down
stairs. seized the knife hanging in the hall
opened one of the back doors and rushed
outside
And why did you do that. pray?" asked
the coroner looking at him fxedly
, Il thought that some one might be lurk-
ing in the garden" the man responded, a
trif1e lamey.
The solicitor of Mrs. Courtnay's family
10 whom she had sent, asking him to be
present on her behalf rose at this juncture
and addressing the coroner said:
Il should like to put a question to the
witness. sir. 1 represent the deceased's
family
LAS you wish" replied the coroner. "Ru,
do you consider such course wise at this
stage Of the inquiry? There must be ar
adjournment"
He understood the coroners objection
and acquiescng, quickly sat down
Nurse Kate and the cook were called
and afterward Ethelwynn, who dressed In
black and wearing a VEIL looked pale and
fragile as she drew off her glove in order tc
take the oath.
AS she stood there our eyes met for ar
instant; then she turned toward her cues.
toner, bracing herself for the ordeal
When did you last see the decea sed
alive?" asked the coroner, after the usual
formal inquiry as to her name and con.
nection with the family
AT 10 o'clock in the evening DR. BOYD
visited him and found him much better
After the doctor had gone went upstairs
and found the nurse with him, giving him
his medicine. He was still sitting before
the fire."
was ne III MS usual SpfrltSE
Quite
What was the character Of your CONVEX.
satfon with him? 1 understand that Mrs
Courtney, your sister, was out at the time
Did he remark upon her absence?"
Yes. He said 1t was a wet night and
he hoped she would not take cold for she
was often SO careless of herself"
The coroner bent to his paper and wrote
down her reply.
And you did not see him alive again."
No"
you entered the room after he was dead
l presume?'
No; IL hadn't the courage" she fal.
tered They told me he was dead-that he
had been stabbed to the heart"
Again the coroner bent to his writing
What, 1 wondered, would those present
think II I produced the little piece of stain.
ed chenille which 1 kept wrapped in tissue
paper and hidden in my fusee box
To them it of course seemed quite natura