Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-12

49, fashionable world dis
ESSrMNAV mayed by the murder Of
kSNSG the Hon. Ronald Adair
under most unusual and
ineXDlicable circumstances. The pubic
has already learned those particulars OF
the crime which came out in the police
Investigation, but good deal was sup
pressed upon that occasion, since the
case for the prosecution was so over
whelmingly strong that it was not nee
essary to bring forward all the facts.
Only now, at the end of nearly ten years,
am | allowed to supply those missing
links which make up the whole of that
remarkable chain. The crime was of in
terest in itself, but that interest was
as nothing to me compared to the in
conceivable sequel, which afforded me
the greatest shock and surprise Of any
event in my adventurous life. Even
now, after this long interval, find my
self thrilling as think Of it and feel
ing once more that sudden food Of joy,
amazement and incredulity which ut
terly submerged my mind. Let me
say to that public. which has shown
some interest in those glimpses which
l have occasionally given them OF the
thoughts and actions Of very remark
able man, that they are not to blame
Inc if have not shared my knowledge
with them, for should have consider
ed it my first duty to have done so had
l not been barred by positive prohi-
bition from his own lips, which was
only withdrawn upon the Sd Of last
month.
1t can be imagined that my close in
timacy with Sherlock Holmes had in
terested me deeply in crime and that
after his disappearance never failed
to read with care the various problems
which came before the public. And l
even attempted more than once for my
own private satisfaction to employ his
methods in their solution, though with
Indifferent success. There was none,
however, which appealed to me like
this tragedy Of Ronald Adair. AS
read the evidence at the inquest, which
led up to verdict Of willful murder
against some person or persons un-
known, l realized more clearly than
had ever done the loss which the COM
munity had sustained by the death of
Sherlock Holmes.
There were points about this strange
business which would, was sure. have
specially appealed to him, and the ef-
forts of the police would have been
supplemented or more probably antici-
pated by the trained observation and
the alert mind of the first criminal
agent in Europe. All day as drove
upon my round turned over the case
In my mind and found no explanation
which appeared to me to be adequate.
At the risk Of telling twice told tale
I will recapitulate the facts as they
were known to the public at the con-
clusion Of the inquest.
The Hon. Ronald Adair was the sec
ond son of the Earl of Maynooth. at
that time governor Of one Of the Aus
tralinn colonies Adair's mother haG
returned from Australia to undergo the
operation for cataract. and she. her son
Ronald and her daughter IIilda were
living together ut 427 Park lane. The
youth moved in the best soc.ety-had
SO far as was known, no enemies anu
no particular vices. He had been en-
gagged to Miss Edith Woolley of Car
stairs, but the engagement had been
broken of by mutual consent some
months before. and there was no sigh
that it had left any very profound fcei-
ing behind 1t. For the rest the mans
life moved in narrow and convention
| III circle. for his habits We're quiet ana
his nature Unconditional. Yet it was up
Oh this easy going young aristocrat that
death cane in rost strange and uneX-
pectc,i form between the hours OF 10
an, 1920 on the night of March 80.
1894.
Ronald Aiiair was fond Of cards. play
ing continually. but never for such
stakes us would hurt him. He was
member of the Baldwin. the Cavendish
and the Ba.:telle card clubs. 1t was
shown that after dinner on the day or
his Geath lie had played a rubber or
whist ut tie latter club. He had also
| p,lycl there In the afternoon. The
| evidence OF hose who had played with
| hir-Mr. Murray. Sir John Hardy and
| Colonci Moran-showed that the game
was whist and that there was fairly
equal fall of the cards. Adair might
have lost f3. but not more. His for
tune was a considerable one, and such
Il loss could not in any way affect him.
lie had played nearly every day at one
club or other, but he was cautious
PLAYER and usually rose winner. 1t
came out in evidence that In partner
ship with Colonel Moran he had actu-
ally won as much as f420 in a sitting
some weeks before from Godfrey Mil
ner and Lord Balmoral. So much for
his recent history as 1t came out at the
inquest.
On the evening of the crime he re-
turned from the club exactly at 10
His mother and sister were out spend
ing the evening with relative. The
servant deposed that she heard him en-
ter the front room on the second floor
generally used as his sitting room
She had lit fire, and as 1t smoked she
had opened the window. No sound was
heard from the room until 11:2O, the
hour of the return of Lady MaynOott
and her daughter. Desiring to say
good night. she attempted to enter hel
sons room. The door was locked OF