The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-19

kSSs9G 9zak the Hon. Ronald Affair
under most unusual and
inexpucable circumstances. The public
has already learned those particulars of
the crime which came out in the police
investigation, but n good deal was sup
pressed upon that occasion, since the
case for the prosecution was 50 over
whelmmgly strong that it was not nee
essary to bring forward all the facts
Onlynow. at the end OF nearly ten years,
am l allowed to supply those missing
links which make w the whole OF that
remarkable chain. The crime was of in
terest in itself. hut 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 l think of ii and feel
ing once more that sudden flood 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
have occasionally given them Of the
thoughts and actions of a very remark
able man. tbat rhev are nor 10 blame
me if have not shared my knowledge
with them. for l should have consider
ed it my first duty to have done 50 had
l not been barred by Il positive prohi-
bition from his own lips which was
only withdrawn upon the 81 of last
month.
1t can be imagined that nv close in
timacv with sherlock Holmes had in
terested me deeplv in crime ana that
after his diSapnparauee | never failed
to read with care the various problems
which came before the public. And I
even attempted more than once for my
own private satisfaction 10 employ his
methods in IN ir solution. though with
Indifferent success. There was none.
however. which appealed 10 me like
this tragedy of Ronald Adair. As
read the evidence ut the inquest which
led up TO Il verdict Of wiIlful murder
against some person or persons IN
known. realized more clearly than I
had ever done the loss which the com
munity had sustained nv the death OF
Sherlock Holmes.
There We're points ohout this strange
business which wonld was sure have
specially appealed to him. and the eff
forts Il tile police would have been
supplemented or more probably antic;.
mated hv the trained observation and
the atert mind of the first criminal
agent in Furape. All day rs I drove
upon nv round I turned over the case
IN nv mind and found no exclamation
which apueared to me 10 be ADEQUATE.
Al the risk Of telling n twice told taIe
l will recapImlate the facts as they
We're known IN Tho nphlic ot tho CON
clusiou Of the INQUEST.
The Hon. Ronald Adair was the seq
ond son of the Earl of Maynooth. at
that time governor of one of the Aus
tralian colonies. Adairs mother had
returned from Australia to undergo the
operation for cataract ana she. her son
Ronald ana her daughter Hilda were
living together ut 42T Park lane. The
youth moved i'm the best Society-had.
SO far rs was known. no enemies and
no particular vices He had been en-
gagged to Miss Edith Woolley Of Car
stairs. but the engagement had been
broken on hy mutual consent some
months before. and there was no sign
that it had left any very profound feel
ing behind ii. For the rest the mans
life moved In 81 narrow and convention
al circle. FOR his habits were quiet and
his nature International. Yet ii was M
on this eaSy going Young aristotrat that
death came I'm most strange ana unex-
pected form between the hours of 10
and 1920 on the night Of March so
1921
Ronald Adsir was fond NJ car.Is MAY
ing continually. but never for such
stakes rs would hurt him. He was a
member of the Baldwin. the CavendiSh
ana the haSatetle card clubs II was
SHOWN That after dinner on the day Of
ms death ne had played 4 rubber OF
WHIST NJ tle latter club. He had also
piaye1 mere I'd the afternoon, The
eNiRenee q 'iloSe VINO haa p.aEed Win
hlnl-Mf. Murray. >lr donn Hardy aud
'oioiei hef'sh shower t4at the same
was WHIST ana tiat theFe was fairy
slu'i ial OF .he Gurus. Adalr mis3f
nave 'o>t - nut not more It's Ter
tune was 4 S'is.oeIaote one. ana Sllch
ioss eosiu hot ~ any way adeetFalm.
tie ua0 plaNe0 nearly every day n one