River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-05-28
/Rom Ills 6Am- COVERED LlrG ISSUED
a H4MNcAL ELL.

ing in the garden below the west wing
of the house. 1t was evident that
death had been the result of fall
from an open second story window
under which the body was found
Thus far the police Investigation
went. and not much further, for none
Of the domestics who were examined
admitted having heard any unusual
noise during the night which might
have helped to explain the tragedy.
The duke testified that, feeling indis-
posed. he had retired at an early hour
after swallowing a sedative prescribed
by his physician for insomnia. He
had slumbered heavily, according to
his statement, and knew nothing of
the girls death until notified by his
confidential valet The latter, an Eng
lishman, &c years of age, was closely
questioned by the detectives, it having
come to their knowledge that strong
affection was supposed to have ex-
listed between him and the deceased.
He proved a complete alibi showing
that he had passed the night away
from the house with a friend, having
obtained leave for that purpose, and
not returning until just after the body
was found His demeanor, as was
perhaps natural when his fondness for
the girl was taken into consideration,
was that of a man half frantic with
grief, but he bore up we'll under the
cross examination and replied to every
question asked him with a promptness
and lucidity that left no doubt as to
his innocence.
The duke furthermore averred that
the girl had acted strangely for sever
al days and that he believed her to
have committed suicide. This asser-
ton was corroborated by several of
the servants, although their testimony
did not greatly impress the officers,
who were we'll aware that none of the
dukes domestics was likely to con-
tradict any statement made by their
employer. Shaw alone ventured to de-
ny the allegation, but his word was not
of sufficient weight to establish the
girls sanity, and in the end Ellen
Crosby was officially declared to have
destroyed herself while in an I'M
sound state of mind.
1t may be plainly stated, however,
that neither NJ. Claude nor his assist
ants believed that the unfortunate
victim had gone to her death as de-
scribed by the verdict. Popular opin-
ion held the duke responsible for her
demise and in their hearts the inmates
of the prefecture agreed with this
view But to attempt to convict the
duke was useless. The waters of the
| fountain of justice were tainted by
many a foul current during the sway
of the second empire, and peremptory
orders from a higher source brought
the investigation to an abrupt close.
The dukes wealth enabled him to set
| in motion powerful influences which
rendered him immune to the penal
ties which would have menaced an
ordinary person in such a situation.
Meanwhile, to the surprise of many,
Henry Shaw continued in the dukes
service He had succeeded in gaining
the confidence of his master and all
OF the latter's secrets, even including
that of the fraud by which he had
obtained the greater part of his
wealth, were liz his possession.
Beyond expressing his belief in FL
len Crosby's sanity, Shaw made no eff
fort towards exposing the true facts
of the girls sad fate. and wrapped
himself in mantle Of impenetrable
reserve that effectually withstood the
inquiries of all his associates.
But still waters run deep, and this
man who apparently took no further
interest in the tragedy was in reality
planning a bitter revenge upon the
| individual whom he regarded as the
author of his sweetheart's death. He
knew that the hardest blow he could
strike the miser would be to deprive
him of his treasures that were dearer
| to him than his life blood The first
step he took in the furtherance of his
| scheme was to write a letter to the
duke of Molinford in London. pledging