Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-08-28
The Mayfair
Mysteries.
151E57G1R52515aS7515251515a51

All Londoners were horror-stricken
and indignant when they learned
through the newspapers of series
Of extraordinary crimes, in some re-
spects similar to the notorious Jack
the Ripper murders.
The first OF the series was the MUIR
der of a boy in the maze of news
and stables lying between Jermyn
street and ST. James square; week
later a similar crime was committed
on the south side of Oxford street.
This time the victim was an elderly
shape
In each case death had come swift
ly and without a struggle. In each
case the crime was committed during
the earliest hours of morning. All
the victims when found showed the
same external injuries.
They had been struck once, and
only once, a heavy, crashing blow be-
hind the left ear with some heavy,
blunt instrument, and it was on this
fact, first of all, that the police placed
much reliance as a likely clue. Yet
Ghe fifth crime of the series found
them as much in the dark as ever.
Marshall Third, the Vigilant, had been
following up the cases in the papers
eagerly.
So far, in spite of extra plain
clothes patrols and a hastily organ
ized vigilance committee, the police
had only made one arrest to which
serious Importance could be attached.
At one time it had seemed practically
certain that Q conviction would have
been obtained, but two circumstances
placed the mans innocence beyond all
doubt The first was the extremely
able and convincing defense set up
by Lawson Hood, the great criminal
barrister; the second, which was con-
elusive, was the fact that the third
crime was committed on the evening
of the police court proceedings.
Lawson Hood was personally known
TO the Vigilant, and the two had met
on several occasions in connection with
various causes celebres. He was the
author of two standard works on GRIM
inology, and though comparatively a
young man, had already climbed to
the top of the tree. On the Vigilants
desk lay a note in his handwriting
accepting an invitation to come around
that evening.
He arrived punctually to the min
ute. He was a tall, slim-bUilt man,
broad Of shoulder, with a keen, clean
shaver face
al was glad TO get your note, Mr..
Third" he said, taking a seat. Il
particularly wanted to have a chat
with you. I must confess these muir
ders utterly puzzle men, and I want
to hear your theory. Needless to say,
a child could have seen that the poor
wretch l got off the other day was
innocent.
ct is a peculiar Casa very recu-
liar case" said Third. 81 think l am
not exaggerating if 1 say it is the most
peculiar which l have ever concerned
myself in.
Now as to essential points. First
and foremost, all the crimes have
been confined to an area bordered on
south by Pail Mall. Not one has been
committed east of Piccadilly circus,
nor further west than Half Moon street
that was the case of the young Amer
can returning from a supper party
after the theatre, you will remember.
Lawson Hood nodded.
'sFrom that fact I deduce that the
murderer is in all probability homi-
cidaI maniac of good position, fire.
ouenter Of those parts 1t is r 'glon
particularly free from loafers and
ne'er-do-wells. We may reasonably
assume that the murderer is man,
and since there is an absolute lack OF
motive, maniac with an occasional
irresistible desire to kill.
1.-The next fact is that he is prob
ably a tall man, for, according to the
reports in the original case of the
messenger boy, the blow was struck
in a distinctly downward direction,
though he was tall for his age-fve
foot three, to be precise. The Amer
lean stood a shade over six foot, yet,
according to the medical evidence, the
dow was d I'll OdiS'A SNSOp, AhuASs'IAAS
that the murderer's shoulder must
have been as high as his victims.
therefore we have a tall, respect
able dressed man, liable to attacks Of
homicidal mania, who steals out late
at night and stalks his victim through
the silent street-never before mid
night; never after three in the morn
ing. and never, so far, out of the