The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-07

covered. One fact which has not
been explained is the statement of
Barrymore that his masters foot
prints altered their character
from the time that he passed the
moor gate, and that he appeared from
thence EDWARDS to have been walking
upon his toes. One Murphy. gypsy
horse dealer, was on the moor at no
great distance at the time. but he ap-
pears by his own confession 10 have
been the worse for drink. He declares
that he heard cries. but is unable to
state from what direction they came.
No signs of violence were TO be dis
covered upon Sir Charles person, and
though the doctors evidence pointed TO
an almost incredible facial distortion
so great that DR.. Mortimer refused at
first to believe that it was indeed MS
friend and patient who lay before him
lit was explained that that is a symp-
tom which is not unusual in cases or
dyspnoea and death from cardiac ex-
haustion. This explanation was borne
out by the post-mortem examination
which showed long standing organic
I disease. and the coroner's jury returned
a verdict in accordance with the medi-
cal evidence. 1t Is well that this is so,
| for II is obviously of the utmost i'm
| portance that Sir Charles heir should
settle at the hall end continue the
good work which has been so sadly IN
| terrupted. Had the prOsaic finding OF
the coroner not finally put an end TO
the romantic stories which have been
| whispered in connection with the ar
| fair, il might have been difficult TO find
a tenant for Baskerville hall. 1t is
| understood that the next of kin is Mr..
I he hA
/ the son of Sir Charles Baskervilles
/ younger brother. The young man.
/ when last heard of. was in America,
and inquiries are being instituted with
a view to informing him of his good
| fortune"
| DIR. Mortimer refolded his paper and
replaced it in his pocket.
Those are the public facts, Mr..
! Holmes, in connection with the death
of Sir Charles Baskerville"
Il must thank yOu," said Sherlock
| Holmes, for calling my attention to a
/ case which certainly presents some fea-
/ lures of interest. / had observed some
I newspaper comment at the time, but /
was exceedingly preoccupied by that
little affair of the vatican canoes, and
/ in my anxiety TO oblige the pope ] lost
touch with several interesting English
cases. This article, you say, contains
all the public facts?"
1T does"
Then let me have the private ones"
| He leaned back, put his finger tips to-
] gether and assumed his most impas-
sive and judicial expression.
In doing SC" said DR.. Mortimer, who
had begun TO show signs of some
| strong emotion. Il am telling that
I D fr1, L huK 70
! My motive for Withholding it from the
coroner's inquiry is that a man of sci
enee shrinks from placing himself in
the public position of seeming TO in
dorse popular superstition. had the
further motive that Baskerville hall. as
the paper says. would certainly remain
untenanted If anything were done 10
| increase its already rather grim repu-
| tation For both these reasons
thought that / was justified in telling
/ rather less than l knew, since no prac-
| teal good could result from it. but
with you there is no reason why
should not be perfectly frank.
The moor is very sparsely inhabited.
and those who live near each other are
/ thrown very much together. For this
reason l saw a good deal of Sir Charles
| Ba skerVille. With the exception of Mr..
/ F'rankiaad of Latter hall. and Mr..
Stapleton, the naturalist. there are no
other men Of education within many
miles. Sir Charles was retiring man,
but the chance of his illness brought US
together, and community of interests
In science Kept US so. He had brought
back much scientific knowledge from
South Africa, and many a charming
evening we have spent together dis
/ ems "a live Of
the Rushman and the Hottentot.
Within the last few months it be-
came increasingly plain to me that
Sir Charles nervous system was
strained to the breaking point. He
had taken this legend which / have
read you exceedingly TO heart-so
much so that. although he would walk
in his own grounds, nothing would in
duce him 10 go out upon the moor at
night. Incredible as il may appear TO
you. Mr. Holmes. he was honestly con-
| WINGED that a dreadful fate OveThung
his family, and certainly the records
| which he was able TO give of his an
cestors were not encouraging. The
idea of some CHASTITY presence con-
stantly haunted him, and on more
than one occasion he has asked me
/ whether l had on my medical journeys
at night ever seen any strange crea~
ture or heard the baying of a hound.
The latter question he put to me sew
eral times, and always with a voice
which vibrated with excitement.
4 can well remember driving up to
his house in the evening, some three
weeks before the fatal event. He
CHANGED to be at his hall door. / had
descended from my gig and was stand
ing in front of him. when | saw his
eyes fix themselves over my shoulder,
and stare past me with an expression
of the most dreadful horror.
whisked round and had just time 10
catch a glimpse of something which
{ took TO be a large black calf passing
al the head of the drive So excited
and alarmed was he that l was COM
PEELED TO go down to the spot where
the animal had been and look around
for it, 1t was gone, however. and the
incident appeared to make the worst
impression upon his mind. | stayed
with him all the evening. and IL was
on that occasion. TO explain the emo
ton which he had shown, that he
confided to my keeping that narrative
which read TO you when first | came,
mention this small episode because
il assumes some importance in view
OF Inc Tragedy WHICH lohoNeu' Uut
was convinced at the time that the
matter was entirely trivial and that
his excitement had no justification.
1T was at my advice that Sir
Charles was about 10 go TO London
His heart was. / knew. affected, and
the constant anxiety in which he lived
however chimerical the cause of II
might be. was evidently having seri-
Gus effect upon his health. / thought
that a few months among the distrac-
tons of town would send him back a
new man. Mr. Stapleton, mutual
friend, who was much concerned at his
state of health. was of the same opin-
ion. At the last instant came this ter
rible catastrophe.
ION the night of Sir Charles death