Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-01
CHAPTER vi.
The Third Suicide.

inc SllGIlSS COHIGSlO!l III lLe HOlSI III
stinctively l recognized that the 3ensa-
ton Of the unusual that so affected me
was something more than the feeling
every one experiences on suddenly
awaking for the first time in a strange
place
sprang from the bed and, opening
my door, looked out into the hall. l
could see nothing, for turn of the
corridor shut me off from the main
hall. From the floor below came the
confused murmur Of many voices and
the sound Of men moving about-many
men. My first thought was of fire, but
there were no cries and there was no
smell Of smoke. The memory Of my
experience in the post-oflice REQUIRED
to me. l vaguely wondered if l had
been tracked and discovered.
FASTENED to dress. II they suspect
ed me Of robbing the pcst-office, tho
sooner found out the sooner l could
plan some method Of action. AS I put
on my collar heard footsteps in the
corridor, aud, coatless as ! was, flung
open my door. A chambermaid was
passing.
Whats the matter?" l asked.
Haven't you heard about it?" she
asked in wonder.
Heard about WHAT"
"The suicide in the hotel-in the
room right under yours. They discov-
cred it hours ago. The coroners just
come and is getting ready TO hold the
inquest"
Who was he?" I asked. I was
thinking it might be Hugh Crandall,
dead in some suicide pact with Katha-
rine. A sense of disappointment be-
gan to take hold OF me- l felt that if
it were Crandall my efforts to clear
the mystery would be still more fu-
tile, but the woman's answer quickly
dispelled the thought.
ut wasn't a he It's a woman"
She hurried Oh down the corridor
and ! FASTENED TO finish my dressing,
recalling as did so Davis belief that
there would be other suicides. 1t
seemed absurd that there could be any
connection between the suicide of .
woman in a country hotel in an OBJ
scure New Jersey village and the two
suicides the day before in New York,
and yet there was at least one link
between them. 1t was Crandall who
had telephoned Katharine. Some one
had telephoned Elser, too. II was in
iCrandal's rooms that we had found
the address OF this place where the
third suicide in the series had taken
place.
With the triumphant feeling that my
friend the inspector finally would
have to accept my theory Of Crandalls
guilt, hurried downstairs and forced
my way into the room where the coro-
her had already begun his inquest.
On the bed, covered with a sheer,
except for the face, lay the lifelcss
body Of woman perhaps fifty, the
face still distorted from the death
agony. A bit Of rope attached to q
rod among the raftors Of the room
showed that she had hung herself. Thu
woman's outer clothing lay neatly
piled on q chair near tho bed This
much I lad time to notice before the
coroner finished selecting his jury.
Near tbs coroner, too, observed the
man whom the clerk had called Cook.
l thought he gave quick glance in
my direction. but could not be sure.
The first witness was called, Mahion
Williams, the proprietor Of the hotel.
"Mr. Williams" said the coroner,
do you know this woman?"
II can't say as | do"
"What Was her name?"
"She was registered here in the no.
tel. The names on the book. You
can see for yourself. don't know il
it twas her real name or not"
"Mary Jane Teller. Bridgeport.
Conn.," was the entry in the hotel
register which was produced and sub.
mitted for the jurors inspection.
TELL us, Mr. Williams, what you
know about the deceased"
Mighty little: nothing ct all, in
1uCl. SllS SOlI!S ilt-S eShSAS 'SHSes
Got in on the seven-two train from
New York, I calculate, from the time
of her arrival. She had no baggage,
only that little black bag yonder, and
she asked for Il room for the night-a
cheap room. She seemed so feeble
gave her this room on the ground
floor, No 4, and only charged her sew
enU-five cents for it, though its a dol
lar room, or a dollar and half for
bridal couples. She paid for it for one
night and right after supper she went
into it and stayed there. Yesterday
morning after breakfast she went out
somewhere and was gone maybe an
hsur or an hour and half. l didn't
See her when she come in but l
heard"
"NIahlon Williams" said the coroner
severely, you ought TO know enough
about the law to understand that what
YOU heard amt evidence. Tell only
them things you know Of your own