Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-01
Copyright by Harper & Eros,


There is nothing more deceptive than an
obvious fact" he answered, laughing. Be
sides. we may chance TO hit upon some
other obvious facts which may have been
by no means obvious to Mr. Lestrade. You
know me too well to think. that am boast
ing when say that | shall either confirm
or destroy his theory by means which ne IS
quite incapable of employing, or even OF
understanding. To take the first example
to hand. | very clearly perceive that in
your bed room the window Is upon the
right-hand side, and yet question whether
Mr.. Lestrade would have noted even SO self
evident a thing as that
How on earth
My dear fellow, / knet you well.
know the military neatness which charac-
terizes you. You shave every morning, ana
In this season you shave by the sunlight;
but since your shaving less and less COM
plete as we get farther back ON the left
side, until 1t becomes positively sioveniy as
we get round the angle of the jaw, 1T Is
surely very clear that that side is less well
illuminated than the other. l could not
imagine Sman of your habits looking at
himself in an equal light and being satisfied
with such result. / only quote this as
trivial example of observation and infer
ence. Therein lies my meter and it is just
possible that 1t may be of some service In,
the investigation which lies before us. There
are one or two minor points which were
worth considering"
What are they?'
1T appears that his arrest did not take
place at once. but after the return to Hath
erley Farm. On the inspector of constabu-
larry informing him that he was prisoner
he remarked that he was not surprised to
hear it, and that it was no more than his
deserts. This observation of his had the
Iltural effect of removing any traces Of
doubt which might have remained III the
minds of the coroner's jury.
1T was a confession" l calculated.
NO, for it was followed by "a protesta-
ton of innocence
Coming on the top of such a damning
series of events it was at least a most sus-
picious remark"
'On the contrary" said Holmes, sit is the
brightest rift which | can at present see in
the clouds. However innocent he might be,
he could not be such absolute imbecile
as not to see that the circumstances were
very black against him. Had he appeared
surprised at his own arrest, or feigned in
dignation at it, / should have looked upon
it as highly suspicious, because such sur
prise or anger would not be natural under
the circumstances, and yet might appear
to be the best policy to a scheming man.
His frank acceptance of the situation marks
him as either an innocent man or else a
man of considerable self-restraint and firm
ness. As to his remark about his deserts,
1t was also not unnatural, if you consider
that he stood beside the dead body of his
father and that there is no doubt that he
had that very day so far forgotten his filial
duty to handy words with him, and even
10 the lllIe girl whose evidence
is so important, to raise his hand as if to
strike him. The self-reproach and contri-
ton which are displayed in his remark APP
pear to me to be the signs of a healthy
mind, rather than of a guilty one
l shook my head Many men have been
hanged on far slighter evidence l re-
marked
so they have. And many men have been
wrongfully hanged
What is the young mans own account
of the matter?"
1T is, l am afraid, not very encourag-
ing to his supporters, though there are one
or two points in it which suggestive.
You will find it here, and may read it for
yourself"
He picked out from his bundle a copy of
the local Herefordshire paper, and having
turned down the sheet he pointed out the
paragraph in which the unfortunate young
man had given his own statement of what
had occurred. l settled myself down in the
corner of the carriage and read 1t very care
fully. 1t ran in this way:
Mr.. James Mccarthy, the only son of the
deceased, was then called. and gave evil
dence as follows: L had been away from
home from three days at Bristol, and had
only just returned upon the morning of last
Monday the Sd. My father was absent
from home at the time of my arrival, and
1 was Informed by the maid that he had
driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the
groom. Shortly after my return 1 heard
the wheels of his trap in the yard and.
looking out of my window, l saw him get
out and walk rapidly out of the yard
though l was not aware in which direction
he was going. 1 then took my gun, and
strolled out In the direction of the Bos-
combe Pool, with the intention of visiting
the rabbit warren which is upon the other
side. Upon my way | saw William Crow
der, the gamekeeper, as he has stated in
his evidence: but he is mistaken in thinking
that l was following my father. | had no
idea that he was in front of me. When
about hundred yards from the pool
heard cry of 'Cooee." which was a usual
signal between my father and myself. I
then hurried forward and found him stand
Ing by the pool. He appeared to be much
surprised at seeing me- and asked me rather
roughly what was doing there. A CONVEX
satton enSued which led to high words, and
almost to blows, for my father was man
of very violent temper. Seeing that his
passion was becoming ungovernable. l left
him, and returned toward Hatherley Farm.
| had not gone more than $50 yards, how
ever, when | heard a hideous cutlery behind
me. which caused me TO run back again. 1
found my father expiring upon the ground
with his head terribly injured. l dropped
my gun. and held him in my arms. but he
almost instantly expired. | knelt beside
him for some minutes, and then made my
way to Mr.. Turner's lodgekeeper, his house
being the nearest. to ask for assistance. l
saw one near my father when l re-
turned. and / have no idea how he came by
his injuries. He was not popular man.
being somewhat cold and forbidding in his
manners Dut he ndu, as 1ar as know, no
active enemies. l know nothing further of
the matter
THE coroner: Did your father make any
statement to you before he died?
Witness: He mumbled a few words, but
l could only catch some Illusion to a rat
The coroner: What did you understand
by that?
Witness: 1t conveyed no meaning to me.
i thought that he was delrious.
THE coroner What was the point upon
which you and your father had this final
quarrel?
Witness: should prefer not to answer
THE coroner: l am afraid that 1 must
press 1t.
Witness: 1t is really impossible for me
to tell you. l can assure you that Ii has
nothing to do with the sad tragedy which
followed.
THE coroner: That is for the court to
decide l need not point out to you that
your refusal to answer Will prejudice your
case considerably in any future proceed
ings which may arise
Witness: i must still refuse.
The coroner: | understand that the cry
or 'Cooee was common signal between
you and your father?
Witness: 1t was.
THE coroner: How was it. then. that
he uttered 1t before he saw you and be-
fore he even knew that you had returned
-.