Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-12-21
STRANGE CASE OF DEATH.
Man Was Shot, But None Could Tell
for Years Whence Came
the Bullet.


Il suppose you've all either read or
heard of Zangwill's book, The Big
Bow Mystery" remarked the man who,
according to the New Orleans Times
Democrat, had listened with an air of in
terest to the talk of strange cases that
nonplused the detectives. But happen
to know of case, not fiction, either.
that was even more mysterious than the
one related in that story. The man met
his death, not by his own hand, before
the doors We're opened next day, in a
room that no one could possibly have
entered-doors locked on the inside,
windows closed and shutters down.
Il knew the victim WELL, he con-
tinued, for the mysterious death oc-
Cured in the little town where l was
born and reared. He had a number of
enemies, some desperate characters,
who had threatened to kill him, and so
when the news spread one morning that
Henry Killiam had been found dead in
his armchair, with Winchester bullet
in his heart, it was Immediately in
ferred some one had shot him through
window or door.
"t1e was bachelor, living alone, the
servants all left at night. and nothing
could have been easier. 1t was a winter
night, and the victim, being subject to
rheumatism, had closed every opening
except the chimney. No bullet hole was
found. Clearly he was not assassinated.
Suicide next suggested itself But it was
known he never kept pistol in his room
and none was found when the magis-
trate, summoned by the frightened
house help, broke the door in next morn
ing. Still something had to be done, and
the sheriff, for want of a better idea, ar
rested two or three who had recently
made threats against the dead man and
who were seen in the neighborhOod that
night Certain circumstances did cast
slight suspicion on them, but the
physical facts, of course, acquitted them
at the trial
1T looked as if the mystery would
never be solved. When the man was
removed from the room it was at once
locked up, the colored caretakers re-
tuslng to touch an article>in what was
known as the haunted chamber
Years passed. At last the heirs de-
cided to sell the property. Invent with
the intending purchasers, friends OF
mine, to inspect the building, which was
thrown open to us, completely. My
curiosity at the unsolved mystery Of
Killiam's death revived as we entered
the chamber where it occurred 1t was
as he had left it. The ashes were in
the crate and thick dust, that rose in
all the furniture The air was damp and
musty.
1t was here in front of the fire Mr..
Killiam was found dead, was it not?'
inquired of the colored man, who had
mustered courage to enter with us.
Vas, sah,' he replied, turning almost
pale at the thought. Scarcely had he
spoken when l heard something roll
from the crate and drop on the hearth.
picked it up by a sudden impulse. 1t
was Winchester cartridge shell, black
ened with heat. To my mind it told the
story plainly.
1T had evidently got mixed with the
coal thrown on the fire by the servant
and had lodged in some crevice between
the bricks that held it firm and fast Mr..
Killiam came in on that fatal night, lit
the fire already laid for him by the SER
wants, closed every Granny to keep out
possible drafts and sat down to rest and
comfort before the blaze The heat
quickly caused the cartridge to explode,
and, by one of those curious but not
infrequent condolences, the bullet found
its way straight to the heart. 1t must
have been an accident; l am sure none
of his enemies would ever have thought
of this plan of murder with it's freedom
from suspicion, and even if it had oc-
CURED to them they would naturally
have believed it was a million to one the
scheme would miscarry."