Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-31
p. Why was the letter written?


"(b) Her evidence nowhere says that
she did
"(c) She never told me that she
went away on Monday.
"(d) When did she leave home?
"3. The inference to be drawn is that
Miss Webb and Mr.. Aldrich can tel
more than they have told.
"(a) Suppose Miss Webb was absent
I two nights. And
"(b) Suppose Aldrich cannot ac-
count for Sunday.
"(c) 1t may mean Senn's guilt. Or
"(d) 1t may mean Aldrich's.
-. | follow the evidence toward
Senn's guilt we'll enough and skillfully
enough to deserve much credit.
"(a) No person wrote such letter
under the influence of a vague suspi-
ciOn.
"(b) No one wrote the letter with
intention that l should pause in doubt
between the two.
"(c) Therefore, if the letter means
anything, it means Aldrich.
I'D And if it is Aldrich who. is
guilty, l cheerfully agree with the kind
friend who has called me a great fool.
-. Is any particular clergyman meant
by the reference to some good preech-
er'?
"(a) Where would the man be
found who would be most likely To
know something of intereSt-in Boom
vile. or in Boston? Where the letter
was written, or elsewhere?
wi. Did an ignorant person or an edu-
Gated one write the letter?
Il. The handwriting:
"(a) 1t is probably disguised.
"(b) The sex of the writer cannot
be determined.
80 The spelling:
"(a) The following words are incor-
rectly spelled Dear sir suggest
ed please preacher Webb great
which the error is exactly the same;
ee for ca. A person who had incor-
rectly written that combination once,
purposely, would be likely to do so
again.
"(c) The following words, which are
spelled correctly, might give trouble to
an actual poor speller: Questions,
which, some knew another aw-
full because wicked sinner re
morse Sunday mirror whether,
detective
8. The use of capital letters:
"(a) Capital letters are incorrectly
omitted from all places but one In
which they should have been used.
This does not seem a natural result,
but rather the fruit Of care and effort.
"(b) Every instance in which cap
ital letter is Incorrectly used shows 1t
at the beginning Of an important word.
An ignorant person might have COM
menced any word with capital letter.
a. The letter Is quite well pune
tuated.
"(a) An educated person may pune
tuate poorly. either Intentionally or
through carelessness. But
"(b) An ignorant person rarely pune
tuates well.
IS. The letter is brief, definite,
pointed.
WI. Conclusion:
u. The letter was probably written
in Boomville;
"2. On Thursday evening, November
oath, 1870 or early the next morning;
"3. BY we'll educated person;
"a. Who desired to appear ignorant;
IS. With the intention Of turning my
attention and suspicion from Gilbert
Sem to Walter Aldrich:
&c. Because the writer hates. or fears,
or distrusts. or desires to obtain pow
er over him."
A crude analysis, no doubt, TO- Prier
was liable to be mistaken and i!iogi-
cal. smart and shrewd though he was.
But feel almost certain that had the
writer known the sort Of treatment the
letter would receive at Prier's hands
had Prier's character, his many-sided
character been fully understood-the
letter would have been somewhat diff
ferent. 1t is a risky experiment 10
attempt-this using of a mans profess
sional tools and methods by mere
amateur.
A crude analysis, no doubt, but when
a man has done his earnest, honest
best. he is entitled to the feeling Of
satisfaction which Is so natural and
usual.
Prier was well satisfied with his
mornings work
He wrote in his diary: December
30th. 1870. Analysed letter; long
step toward solution of mystery"
Then he smoked a cigar or two, leis-
urely and refiectively.
Afterward he walked.
Later he dined.
After dinner he read the news which
appeared In the Boomville Weekly
News Express.
Weekly! Prier sat down lazily,
pencil-in hand, and thoughtlessly made
it Weakly-in name!
News 1t was most of 1t some days
old. The detective had read almost
in
the Herald and the Transcript, papers
which were sent him regularly from
Boston.
Express! A slow one surely.
Then Prier nodded over the locals,
and. finally, went to sleep with one of
them half read:
Mrs. Gilbert Sem, daughter Of our
late fellow tOwnSman, Donald Barron,
Esq, has shown energy and ability In
her management and settlement or the
somewhat involved affairs Of the estate
OF her deceased father The sudden
death of the old gentleman, followed
by the trial of her husband and the
exposure of certain facts In his past
history which will render it inadvisa-
BILE for her to live with him, have seri-
OuSly undermined her once vigorous
health She has decided upon a some
what extended trip through Europe
and will go there at once; she sails on
Monday next. She will"
And just here Prier shut his eyes
and actually snured. So he didn't read
the remainder of the bit of news in
the News Express:
BE accompanied by the young
lady who has so long been her near
est and best friend. the popular musi-
clan and artist. Miss Lurline Bannot-
tie"
Pr'ier slept long time. 1t was quite
dark when he awOke. The fire was
out. The room was very cOld-as was
also the detective.
He lighted the gas.
He put fuel in his stove.
so my enemy is going to Europe, is
she?" he said to himself, picking UP
the paper and remembering what he
had read: that may possibly make
my work here easier"
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