Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-09-21

circumstances were out of the ordi-
nary and the decedent an apparently
successful business man, that the pub
lie prints had given any space to the
death of the exchange trader.
1t was chill March evening when
he had been found dead, lying against
a building. There was no evidence
whatever that he had been assailed.
The contents Of his pockets we're un-
disturbed. There were no marks of
violence on his body. He carried no
life insurance, but an autopsy was
held by the coroner. The inquest
developed nothing new. According to
two expert physicians Royal Luding-
ton had died from heart failure. He
had been ailing and. depressed for
some time preceding his demise.
There was not the slightest hint at
suicide.
The police, tracing the movements
OF the decedent previous to his death,
testified at the inquest that Luding-
ton had been one of q small party of
friends who had met at the home of
Abel Vandamann. The latter was an
apparently reputable business man Of
the city Of some wealth and social
standing. The occasion of the social
function was the grouping up Of q
number Of business men to whom
Vandamann wishe j to present q stock
selling scheme to float a copper mine
in Northern Michigan. A pleasant
evening had passed, a few cigars.
not too much wine, and the guests
had departed In pleasant humor and
seemingly all In the best Of health.
Two of the guests had walked some
distance with Ludington. and had
babe him good night about q square
and a half from the spot where his
body was later discovered.
Mrs. Ludington had testified that
she knew her husband to have had
business dealings for a long time pre-
vious to his death with Mr.. Wanda
mann. The latter she understood had
loaned her husband money. This was
not a new phase Of the character Of
Vandamann. His business was that
of q high interest rate note shaver.
but he had been always shrewd
enough to conceal his usurious trans
actions under the guise of expenses.
commissions and the like.
This was the story told by the
newspaper clippings l handed to Resi-
Illus Marvel. Pasted to 1t was q
briefer item dated two days later. 1t
had been preserved In the folder be-
cause 1t mentioned the name Of Royal
Ludington. 1t covered q strange hap
pening. On the evening of the funer.
al Of the dead trader. a man had
been detected in leaving by the win
dow route the room Ludington for.
merly occupied at his home. A watch.
man had trapped him as the mid.
night marauder dropped to the ground
He was held until the police were
summoned and was sent to the near
est police station. Upon searching
him nothing whatever was found up
on him. He seemed to be some home
less tramp, he had taken nothing
from the room he had entered. and
when questioned declared with fool
ish grin that he had been looking fol
something to eat. struck a sleeping
chamber instead of a pantry. and was
too honest to steal anything more
than a bite Of food.
The contention of the man was car
ried out in the main by circumstances
The room he had entered had mo-
been at all disturbed. Upon the bu
reau lay the traders purse with some
money and papers In it. This hat
been opened, but nothing removed.
suit of clothes in closet had beer
looked over, it seemed, but not ever
the pockets had been searched.
The marauder. giving the name o
Edward Briggs, had been brought be
fore a police magistrate. charged will
vagrancy, and sent to the house o
correction for sixty days.
/ noticed that my friend read an,
re-read the little clipping telling al
this. l noticed him mark on the pa,
the name-"Edward Briggs" l saw
also that he copied the names Of tn
two guests who had left the Wanda
mann home with the trader the nigh
of his death. Then he arose, and
could tell by the expression Of hi
eye that he was ready for work
Further, I regarded him with the ad
miration his ability always evoke,
within me, for although l could no
guess how, l was sure that out o
the bare skeleton fabric of an unpai
note at bank. weeping girl and tw
newspaper clippings. Resilius Marve
had already discovered a divergin
suggestion, direct and important
Drop around IL the morning." b
said casually. You were right I:
bring this case ia my notice.
told the president of our ban
this. later. In the light of past event
in which Resilius Marvel had bee
concerned, that functionary smile
hopefully as IL he felt he had lande
the burden of a distributing circuu
stance on helpful and reliable shou
ders.
/ found Marvel pacing the fioo
Of his office In thoughtful way. hi
hands clasped behind him, ~hen
called the next morning. He dre'
out his watch and consulted 1t with
slight gesture Of Impotence, q
though had kept him waiting
Two minutes" he announced, AN
then you will come with me. There
person to find. and no time I
lose"