Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-07-22

661(0hv mayed by the murder Of
vSNCk the Hon. Ronald Adair
under most unusual and
inexplicable circumstances. The public
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
whelmingiy strong that 1t WINS not nee
essary to bring forward all the facts.
Only now, ut the end OF nearly ten years.
am I 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
rs nothing to mo 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 ana 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 very remark
able man, that they IRE not to blame
me II have not shared my knowledge
with them. for should have consider
ed It my first duty to have done so had
] not been barred by positive prohi-
billion 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only withdrawn upon the Sd Of last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
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
rend the evidence at the inquest, which
led up to a verdict Of willful murder
against some person or persons un-
known. realized more clearly than
Ind 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 eff
forts OF the police would have been
supplemented or more probably antici-
pnted by the trained observation and
the alert mind Of the first criminal
agent In Europe. All day rs I drove
upon my round I turned over the case
In my mind and found no explanation
which appeared to me to be adequate.
At the risk Of telling a twice told tale
I will recapitulate the facts as they
were known to the public Mt the con-
clusion Of the inquest.
The Hon. Ronald Adair was the sec.
ond son Of the Earl Of Maynooth, nj
that time governor Of one of the Aus.
trnlinn colonies. Adair's mother had
returned from Australia to undergo the
operation for cataract, and she. her son
Ronald and her daughter Hilds were
living together Mt 427 Park lane. The
youth moved In the best soclcty-had
80 far rs was known, no enemies and
no particular vices. He had been en-
gagged to Miss Edith Woodley Of Car
stairs, but the engagement Ind beer
broken off by mutual consent some
months before. and there was no sigI
that 1t had left any very profound feel
Ing behind 1t. For the rest the mans
lie moved in n narrow and convention
al circle, for his habits were quiet nnd
his nature Unconditional. Yet It was up
on this easy going young arlstocrat tha
death came In most strange and unex
pected form between the hours Of II
and 1920 on the night Of March 80
1894.
Ronald Adair was fond Of cards, play
ing continually. but never for sucl
stckes rs would hurt him. He was
member Of the Baldwin, the Cavendisl
and the Bagatelle card clubs. 1t wa
shown that after dinner on the day o
his death he had played rubber O
whist at the latter club. He had ais
played there In the afternoon. Tn
evidence Of those who had played wit
him-Mr. Murray. Sir John Hardy an
Colonel Moran-showed that the gam
was whist and that there was fairl
equal fall Of the cards. Adair Nigh
have lost f5, but not more. His fol
tune was considerable one, and sue
loss could not In any way affect hin
He had played nearly every day at on
club or other, but he was a caution
player and usually rose winner.
came out in evidence that In partner
ship with Colonel Moran he had act,
ally won as much as f420 In sittin
some weeks before from Godfrey MI
ner and Lord Balmoral. So much Il
his recent history rs 1t came out ut III
inquest.
On the evening Of the crime he n