The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-11
"The Brook street business"

THE Brook street business"
ANY fresh news?"
Tragic, but ambiguous" said he.
pulling up the blind. Look at this-a
sheet from a note book, with For
Gods sake come at once-P. t.
scrawled upon it in pencil. Our friend.
the doctor, was hard put TO ii when
he wrote this. Come along, my dear
fellow, for it's an urgent CALI
In a quarter of an hour or so we
were back at he physicians house.
He came running out to meet us with
a face Of horror.
"oh, such a business!" he cried, with
his hands to his temples.
"What then?'
'Blessington has committed suicideps
Holmes whistled.
Yes, he hanged himself during tho
inight.''
We had entered, and the doctor had
preceded u into what was evidently
his ~waiting-room.
II really hardly know what I am do
ing" he cried. 1.-THE police are already
upstairs. 1t has shaken me most dread
fully"
when did you find it out?'
IL has a cup of tea taken in to
him early every morning. When the
maid entered, about 7, there the UNI
fortunate fellow was hanging in the
middle of the room. He had tied his
cord to the hook on which the heavy
lamp used to hang, and HI had jumped
off from the top of the very box that
he showed us yesterday"
Holmes stood for a'moment in deep
thought.
with your permission" said he at
last, Il should like to go upstairs and
look into the matter"
We both assembled, followed by the
doctor.
1t was a dreadful sight which met
us as we entered the bedroom door. 1
have spoken of the impression of fab
biness which this man B1essington con-
veyed. As he dangled from the hook
it was exaggerated and intensified until
he was scarce human in his appearance
The neck was drawn out like a plucked
ohickeh's, making the rest of him seem
the more obese and unnatural by the
contrast. He was clad only in his
long nightdress, and his swollen ankles
and ungainly feet protruded starkly
from beneath it. Beside him stood d
smart-looking police inspector, who was
taking notes in a pocketbook.
All, Mr.. Holmes" said he, heartily,
as my friend entered, Il am delighted
to see you"
"Good-morning, Lanner,' answered
Holmes; you won't think me an in
truder. l am sure. Have you heard of
the events which led up to this affair ~
Eyes, l heard something of them.'
Have you formed any opinion?',.
A far as I a see, the man has
been driven out of his senses by fright.
The bed has been well slept in, you
see. There's his impression, deep
enough. It's about 3 in the morning
you know, that suicides are most COM
mon. That would be about his time
for hanging himself. 1t seems to have
been very deliberate affair."
Il should say that he has beer dead
about three hours, judging by the rigid
ity Of his muscles said l.
Noticed anything peculiar about the
room?" asked Holmes.
Found u screwdriver n soma
screws on the wash-hand stand. Seems
to nave smoked heavily during tho
night, too. Here are four cigar-ends
that 1 picked out Of the fireplace
"Hum." said Holmes. "TIave you got
his cig~arholder??"
mo, l have seen none
His cigar case. them"
Eyes. 1t was in his coat pocket
Holmes opened it and smelled the sin
gle cigar which it contained.
"Oh, this is an Havana, n these
others are cigars of the peculiar sort
which are imported by the Dutch from
their East Indian colonies. They are
usually wrapped in straw, you know.
and are thinner for their length than
any other brand He picked up the
four ends and examined them with his
pocket-lens.
1.-Two of these have been smoked
from a holder and two without said
he. 1.-TWO have been cut by a not very
sharp knife, and two have had the
ends bitten off by a set of excellent
teeth. This is no suicide, MIR. Lanner.
1t is a very deeply planned and cold
blooded murder"
impossible cried the inspector.
"And why"
"Why should any one murder a man
in 50 clumsy a fashion as by hanging
him?"
THAT is what we have to find OUT"
"How could they get in?'
Through the front door"
at was barred in the morning
'"Then it was barred after them"
"How do you know
(To he Continued TomorFow.D