Charlevoix county herald., 1915-03-13

all aware Of the reason for this
gathering and Il Is quite unnecessary
10 recite any of the details of what
happened within our walls. The dis
grace and publicity OF this affair are
such that am sure every one of US
would have given anything to avoid It.
While Il seems incredible to me that
such could be the case, circumstances
appear to point to one of our members
as being-shall say. sirs, a-mur-
derer7"
silence In the room.
''It is, therefore. all the more in
cumbent upon u.s." the Duke resumed,
ito give every possible aid to the
officials of Scotland Yard in unravell-
ing this mystery. and in bringing the
guilty party to justice. Let me hear
your opinions II you please"
No one stirred as he sat down, and
the great clock IN the corner licked
loudly az the men about the table
looked down uncomfortably ell its
polished surface.
IL suppose the servants have been
questioned fullyf" II was Sir Thomas
who spoke.
"They were all examined by the In
spectors this morning" the Duke an
swered. "As you know, gentlemen,
the club closes its doors at 2 o'clock,
at which time the servants are free
to go home. Only the Waterman and
hA afaIy -
other employees are known to have
left the building before half after 2
o'clock
'"At what time was the body dis
coyeredT asked Sir Harry Farndale.
About an hour and a half later"
said the Duke. Perkins, one of the
caretakers, then entered the room to
clean II, and found Capt. Towneshend
sitting upright in one of the big easy
chairs by the reading table. The man
says that Capt. Towneshend's head
was hanging down C7er his breast and
that at first he thought him to be
asleep. Upon going over to awaken
him, however. Perkins discovered
blood upon his shirt front and a slit
about two inches long just over the
heart. You see, gentlemen, the lights
are switched OF from the stewards
Office on the first floor, and there was,
consequently, no occasion for any OF
the servants to enter the room before
Perkins did So"
but how is II that the doorman,
knowing as he must have known, that
Capt. Towneshend had not left the
club, did not send someone to search
for him when the building was closed
for the night?" Sir Thomas Queried.
That have been unable to learn
the Duke replied. "Dodson, who Is.
as you all know. an old servant OF the
club, was in attendance at the door
last night He has not been here as
yet today, but I believe the inspectors
have secured his address and have
gone to his home to question him"
And have the other servants been
placed under arrest"
mo Perkins statement Is Vouched
for by two others who were directly
behind him when he entered the
have merely detained. here in the club,
all those who were in the house after
its closing last night"
us there any liz elihood Of any OF
these men being charged with the
crime?"
II was Harcourt's drawl that asked
the question. and instantly all eyes
were turned upon Kim,
That is quite possible, of course"
the Duke admitted
Il do not believe that any OF them
are guilty" said Harcourt. These
men are known to us from long SER
vice. and 1t is extremely unlikely that
any Of them coG;i have had any
cause to quarrel with Capt. Town
eshend."
Unless the motive could have been
robbery" someone suggested.
Nonsense" Harcourt broke In
quickly. "a man would not commit
murder for whatever sum Towneshend
would have been likely to have IN his
pockets last night"
Lord Harcourt is quite right" said
the Duke. In fact the Captains
watch, his wallet, ard all Of his jewell
ry were found upon the body. Rob
berry could have been no incentive to
the assailant"
From my understanding OF the
case, Sir Thomas broke in, cit is quite
apparent that someone quarrelled
with him and that the blow was struck
In anger"
ION the contrary" Harcourt object
ed. THE fact that he was found sit
ting upright in a chair makes II seem
to me that the thing was deliberately
planned out. Either the murderer
struck him from behind as he sat
there--perhaps a little the worse for
hquor-or else the body was placed
there after death, to deceive anyone
who might happen to pass through
the room, and thus delay discovery
OF the crime"
THAT is possible" said the Duke,
but IL suggests devilish cunning that
can hardly credit amid such sur