Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-11-25
CHAPTER VI.
LIFE AFTER DEATH


Upon making a careful ans complete
examination of the body OF the man
named Paul North. 1 find that a han.
probably fred from a revolver of 81
caAber az an angle Of probably 90 de-
grees, and from distance not exceed
Ing three feet entered his back near the
spinal column az the seventh iutercostal
space on the right side. and passed in an
inward and upward direction. COINS
through the upper portion OK the liver
and completely through the lower lobe
Of the right lung
The path Of the ban was not arrest
ed. showing that IL was fred I'm the di-
rection indicated. It pierced the lurc
nearly opposite the third rib and left
the body on the front side. Just above
the rib named.
Il 90 not find that the said Paul North
could have committed suicide. The po-
sitiOn OF the entrance OF the ball. and
its direction, seemed TO deny this pos
sibihty
There was ample external hemor-
rhage 20 have permitted the man TO
have written the words on the wall OF
the room in which he was found. II SO.
Immediately the writing was concluded.
he no doubt died
Death was painless, and resulted
from internal hemorrhage. caused by
the opening OF an artery in the right
lung"
The ringing Of the Office bell suspend
ed the report OF The autopsy over Paul
North's body az this POINT
Dr. Jarrett rose 90 meet his caller.
recognizing him at once as the reporter
whom De had met few hours previous
~ at the house iu Marlboro street
"Ah. Thomas be said -'stiu on the
case. eh? A very good story. that OF
yours In the afternoon paper-very
judicious indeed"
Thanks" the reporter answered.
And now want you 90 help me get out
an equally good story. or a better one.
for the morning The autopsy was per
formed az the City Hospital morgue. OF
course. Can't you give me the rerort?"
Dr. Jarrett shook his head and rubbed
his chin.
There isn't a man I would sooner
givV out the report Co than you. Thomas.
but 10 wouldn do 90 have it published
before it's submitted All I can say
at this point really is that have no
doubt whatever that murder has been
committed
Mr.. Thomas fingered hts watch chain.
Not a word morc2" be Qucried.
I'm tell you what I'll 90. Thomas"
the medical examiner an-wered. after a
meditative turn up aud down the hall.
you have kept good many important
secrets when the work OF the authorities
couldn't have been done without your
silence. IN tell you who assisted Ia the
autopsy. You could interview him
without mentioning my name IN the
matter"
A broad smile illuminci the reporters
face, and he presented the medical ex-
aminer with a very comprehensive
wink
"Dr. Francis Huntress is the man.
continued the examiner. conddenually.
He has an ol3ce where he lives. az No.
- Greenwich Park"
Il know him we'll" said Mt. Thomas.
as he parted from the doctor; and there
was full Justification for the words ia
the friendly greeting accorded 70 him
at the surgeon door.
Two minutes after he had pulled at
the bell handle. Thomas was comfort
ably ensconced In an easy-chalr in the
doctors study. the physician sitting op-
pOsite 20 him at his desk where a drop
light burned
You are the most extraordinary fell
low the surgeon exclaimed. admiring-
~ after Thomas had stated his mission.
Some OF the morsue people must have
told you ] was called In No? Well.
never mind-we u assume you OWNED
IL, as you have hundred other matters
supposed TO be the most profound OF
secrets. But I'll tell you one thing. my
black-haired friend. This Is one OF the
most curious AID remarkable cases that
ever came 70 my attention."
You have no doubt IL was a case OF
MURDER" questioned Mr.. Thomas, busy
with his watch charm.
Il can find no other explanation. You
saw the wound; you noticed how the
man lay? Now the bullet was a 30 cal
iber pistol ball. II entered at an angle
OF certainly no less than 20 degrees. and
went upwards and inwards in that di-
rection. don't know whether you OBJ
served any traces Of powder on the
mans clothing?"
No"
They were there. nevertheless. And
that means that the pistol from which
the fatal shot was fired couldn't have
been held more than three feet away.
At the same time We concluded il must
have been more than two. And this.
you see, efiectuaNy disposes Of the the
DRY OF suicide"
And now. doctor. / want 20 ask you
TWO OF three questions. In the hrst
place isn't il within the possibilities Of
medical science TO determine just how
long a man has been dead?"
Anywhere within "a or 50 hours.
probably yes"
With how much accuracy"
We'll. possibly within an hour"
"As close as THAR"
Il believe that most surgeons and
physicians accept the proposition OF an
eminent surgeon and chemist who