The Columbus journal., 1905-07-26

Intc last night or carly this morning an
Incident occurred ut Lower Norwood
which points. IT Is feared. to n serious
crime. Mr.. Jonas pldncre Is n woll known
resident uf that suburb, whore he has car
ricd on his business as n builder for many
years. Mr.. DldlCrc IS a bachelor. ff'y-
two years Of arc, and lives IN Deep Don"
House Mt tho Sylouhlm end OF the road
Of hat namo lie has had tn" reputation
~ being a man Of eccentric habits, SCI
crctivo ana retiring For some years no
has practically withdrawn from the bust.
moss In which he e. said TO hlyo nmassod
considerable wealth \ small timber yard
otill exists. however. at tho back of the
house. and last night. about II o'clock.
an alarm was given that on" OF tho stnCks
was on fire. The engines were soon upon
the spot but the dry wood burned with
great fury. and II was impossible 10 ar
res, tho confederation until the stack had
been entirely consumed Up to this point
tho incident bore the appearance" or m
ordinary accident. but fresh indications
seem TO point to serious crime. Surpr:
. was expressed ut the absence OF tn" mas
ter or tn establishment from tho scene
Of ~" ft'i ana an inquiry followed. which
showed that he had disappeared from tho
house. An examination OF his room re-
,svcalcd that the bed had not been slept In,
that Il safe which stood In II was open,
qthat n lumber of important papers were
scattered uipiit the room md finally that
there were signs OF u murdcrous a%trugRlo,
slisl traces of blood being found within
3thc room. and nm onkcn walking stick
which also showed stains Of blood upof
the handle. il ~ known that Mr.. iona
foldlcro HAD received a lat" visitor In hls
bedroom upon that night. and the stick
found has been Identified az the property
OF this person. who * a young London
solicitor named John Hector Mciarlanc
H iufYilr f.r i, ly If tsyaI,t O., A. N.IH..
lame Of ~ Gresham BUILDINGS. T.. g. Tho
police hclicN" that they have cvid"nc" IN
their possession which supplies "A very
Conyincing motive FOR the crim", and al,
together II cannot be- doubted that sonsa.
tionai de~yolnpmonis VIII follow
Ihtcr-It is rumorrh us We 10 to press
that John Hector cHnrlanc has actually
boon arrested on the charge of tho murder
Of Jonas bldaCr". II IL AT least certain
that ~ warrant has boon issued. There
nay" been further and sinister develop.
Im"nta In the Investigation ut Norwood
besides the signs OF IA struggle In tho
ruom ~ the unfortunate builder Il IL
how known that tho French windows
OF his bedroom (which ~ on the ground
,fuor) wcro found To hc open, that thcrn
were marks ~ IL some bulky object
had been dragged across to IN" wood pile.
md finally II IL assorted that charrcd re-
mains havc boon found among the char
coal ashes Of the IRE. The police theory 1,
that a most sensational crime has been
Committed. lint the victim was cluhhcd
T. death In his own bedroom. his papers
Titled nnd HIS dead body dragged across
10 tho wood stack, which was then ignitcd.
So az TO hide all traces ~ the crime, Thu
Conduct OF tho criminal Investigation has
been loft In the experienced hands ~ In
'Sp"ctor lcrtradS of Scotland Yard. who II
following ny the cl"ws with HIS acCus-
Coined energy and Eagacity.
SHERLOCK Holmes listened. with closed
eyes and finger tips together. to this re-
Ularkablc account.
"rhc ease has certainly somc points
OF interest,"" said he In his languid
Cushion. MAY I ask. In the first place.
Mr.. Mci'arlnnr. how II Is that you are
still ut liberty. since Their" appears to
b. enough evidence to justify your ar
rrstY"
81 live Mt Torrlngton Lodge. Black.
hcatl. with my parents. Mr.. Holmes,
but last night. having to do business
very Into with Mr.. Jonas Oldncrr. !
stayed ut II hotel In Norwood and
cam" tn my business from there. |
knew nothing of this affair until | vas
In tho train, when | read what you
have 5(ist heard, ! at once saw the hor.
rib" danger of my position, and | hur.
ried to PIT Ill" ems" into your hands.
have no doubt that | should have been
arrested either nj my city oiilc" or at
my home. \ man followed me from
London Fridge station. and | have no
doubt Great heaven! What Il thntt"