Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-20

and placed IL I'm the bag. stufing the
rest Of the clothing In after 10.
Thompson had no very exalted idea
OF cleanliness" he remarked. His
clothing needs visit 20 the laundry
And this Is ALP
Yes. He'd rented his furniture from
a store down the street. He had 20 pay
his rent In advance because he had so
little baggage. That receipts the only
thing that's got his name on it--oh. YES.
There's n letter tattooed on his left
arm. but it's not a TITS a J."
(which goes 70 show that his name
wasn't Thompson. think you're right.
Simmonds. iu putting him down as a
sailor. 1 thought so last night. I'm fact.
I've already got two men making a
tour Of the docks trying to ind some
body who knew him"
Have your said Simmonds. smiling
That's like you. There's another curl
Gus thing. though. about the clothing
be had on"
"What is thatGr
''Some OF it's marked with one Initial
some with another Not one piece IS
marked with his"
The door opened and the coroners
clerk entered.
''Afr. Goldberg sent the exhibits back
TO YOU" he said. holding out a parcel
10 Simmouds.
Simmouds opened Il aud took out
pocketbook. a pipe. q knife and some
silver money.
"Au right" De said. and signed
receipt
Godfrey waited until the door closed.
then De rose and came over 10 Sim
monds' side.
There's something here that might
help us" lac said. picking up the
pocbetbook. "Those newspaper clip
pincs-why. they're not here,"
Simmouds smiled dryly
That's another thing l wanted 20
tell You. The clippings have been re
moved"
Removed? by whomf"
That's a question. They were re
moved some time between the moment
we looked at them and the moment
the coroner took charge"
Godfrey stared 40 him with startled
eyes.
''You remember" Simmonds contln-
ued. "that after we looked at the
pocketbook I put It back IN Thomp-
sons pocket"
Eyes; ! saw you do that"
Eve then went into the bedroom and
had look around leaving the body
alone
"With Miss Croydon" said Godfrey.
completing the sentence.
There's another thing" continued
Slmmouds after moment Here's
the piece OF pipe we found on the floor.
DO you know where it came fromZ"
"No-I was going TO look that up"
"It came from the radiator. The
connections were defective. and
plumber was replacing them. This Is
a piece OF pipe he had removed and
left lying behind the radiator. He re
members II distinctly. DO you recall
the position Of the udlatorT'
Yes; opposite the bedroom door"
Exactly. Then the person coming
from that door must have crossed the
room 10 get H. More than that. he
must have hunted for IL or known Il
was there. Miss Croydon knows more
than she's told us. l don't think she's
been square with US"
well, perhaps she hasn't" Godfrey
said slowly. Anyway. we've got TO
work AT the case from the other end.
We've got 20 identify Thompson first"
Yes" agreed Simmonds. you'll
let me know If you Ind out anything"
"Of course" said Godfrey, rising.
and with curt nod he went out and
down the steps 10 the street.
At the Office he found two reports
awaiting him. One was from the men
he had sent along the docks-they had
found no one who could Identify the
photograph OF Thompson. The other
was from Delaney. the head of the
Records intelligence department. At
? O'Clock that morning. just before re-
firing, Godfrey had phOned message
10 the office:
Delaney want all the information OBJ
tainable concerning the history OF the
Croydon family. 70 which Mrs. Richard
Delroy and Grace Croydon belong.
This was the result:
lender. Il Rue d'Antin. Paris, removed
with wife and young daughter about 1878
20 Beckenham. just south Of London
England. Why he removed from France
not known Rue d'Antin has been com
pletely rebuilt within last thirty years
and only person there now who remem-
bers Croydon Is an old notary nameI
Fabre. who has Office at the corner OF
Rue St AuROstin. He has vague neIa-
DRY that Croydon left France to avo.1
criminal persecution OF some sort
Croydon bought small country place
near Beckenham and lived there quietly in
semi-retirement- Fortune apparently not
large. In 1881 mortgaged estate for E2OO0
mortgage paid in 1891. Religion, Catholic
Excellent reputation at Beckenham.
Eldest daughter. Edith. born In France
Aug 26. 1874 Educated at school there.
but broke down from overstudy and re-
turned 70 Beckenham. where she became
interested IN social settlement work.
There met Richard Delroy. New York.
who was making investigation OF London
Charities. Married him June s. 1900 and
went Immediately to New York
Only other child. younger daughter
Grace. born at Beckenbam May II. 1880.