Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
SHE BURST INTO FLOOD OF TEARS

strain Of grief. I've attended her profess
sionally two or three times OF late, and
noted certain abnormal features in her case
that aroused my suspicion that her brain
had become unbalanced. 1 never, however.
suspected her of suicidal tendency"
Her mother. Mrs. Mivart, did," I re-
sponded. "She told me SO only a few days
ago"
II know. I know" he answered. cot
course. her mother had more frequent and
intimate opportunities for watching her
than had. In any case 1t is very dread
full thing for the family"
Very I said.
And the mystery surrounding the death
! Of Mr.. Courtenay-was 1t never cleared up
| Did the police never discover any clue to
| the assassin"
mo. Not a single fact regarding 1t be-
| yond those related at the inquest has ever
| been brought to light"
"Extraordinary-very extraordnary!'
1 went with him into the darkened bed
| room wherein lay the body, white and COM
posed her fair hair disheveled about her
| shoulders and her thin white hands crossed
upon her breast. The expression upon heI
CONFERENCE.-THE face that looked &c
| charming beneath its veil of widowhood as
! she had sat in my room at Harley Place
was calm and restful. for indeed in the
| graceful curl of the lips there was a kind
of half-smile, as though, poor thing, she
| had at last found perfect peace.
Govitt drew up the blind, allowing the
| golden sunset to stream Into the room
| thereby giving me sufficient light to make
| my examination. The latter occupied some
| little time, my object being to discover any
| marks of violence. In persons drowned by
| force and especially in women, the doctor
| expects to find red or livid marks upon the
| wrists. arms or neck. where the assalan:
| had seized the victim OF course these are
| not always discernible, for 1t Is easier to
| entice the unfortunate one to the waters
| edge and give gentle push than grapple
| in violence and hurl person into the
~, T.,
| trace; therefore, the verdict in hundreds OF
| cases of willful murder has been suicide, "
| or an open one. because the necessary evil
| dence of foul play has been wanting.
| Here was another case in point. The
| scratch on the face that Govitt had de-
scribed was undoubtedly post-mortem in
| jury, and with the exception of another
| slight scratch on the ball Of the left thumb
| l could find no trace whatever of violence
| And yet, to me. the most likely theory was
| that she had again met her husband in Sc
| cret. and had lost her life at his hands
| To attribute a motive was utterly impossi-
| BILE. I merely argued logically within my
| self that it could not possibly be case OF
suicide. for without doubt she had me,
| clandestinely the eccentric old man whom
| the world believed to be dead
The facts within my knowledge were I'M
portant and startling, yet if l related them
to any second person 1 felt that my words
| would be secuted as improbable, and NV al
| legations would certainly not be accepted
Therefore. l still kept my own counsel
longing to meet Jevons and hear the re-
| suit of his further inquiries.
| Mrs. Mivart ! found seated in her owr
| room, fearful and utterly crushed. Pool
Mary's tragic end had come upon her a.
an overwhelming burden of grief, and
stood beside her full of heartfelt sympathy
| A strong bond of affection had always ex
listed between US, but as I took her liner
| hand and uttered words of comfort sh,
only shook her head sorrowfully and burs
into torrent of tears. Truly the Mano
| was dismal house of mourning
| To Ethelwynn | sent a telegram addressed
to the Hennikers, In order that she shoult
| receive 1t the instant she arrived in town
Briefly / explained the tragedy and aske,
| her to come down to the Manor at once
feeling assured that Mrs. Mivart In tn
hour of her distress desired her daughte
at her side. Then l accompanied the loca
constable, and the three police officers VIII
had come over from Oundle, down to tn
river side.
The brilliant afterglow tnged the broad
Drumming river with a crimson light, an,
the trees beside the water already threy
heavy shadows. for the day was dying an,
the glamour of the fading sunset and tn
dead stiffness Of departing day had falle
upon everything. Followed by a snal
| crowd Of curious villagers, We walked alon
| the footpath over the familiar ground tina
| had traversed when following the strang
pair. Eagerly we searched everywhere 70
traces of a struggle, but the only spo
where the long grass was trodden down wa
| at point little beyond the ferry. Blu
! as far as could see there was no actua
! sign Of any struggle. 1t was merely a
though the grass had been dattened b.