The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-24
By Baroness Orczy

ashe Park, also Mr.. Edward Kelly, of
Wood Cottage, were apprised OF the
sad event.
At this stage the tragic affair seemed
wrapped up in the most profound
mystery. Mr.. jeremiah Whadcoat was
not known to possess a single enemy,
and he certainly was not sufficiently
endowed with worldly wealth to tempt
the highway robber. So far the police
had found nothing on the scene OF
the crime which could lead to clue
footsteps of every shape and size
leading in every direction, a few empty
cartridges here and there; all of which
meant nothing, since Saltashe Woods
are full of game, and both Mr.. Kelly
and Mr.. Edward Kelly had had shoot
ing parties within the last few days.
The public understood that per-
mission had been obtained from Mr..
Kelly to drag the pond, and, not know
ing what to think or fear, it awaited
the day of the inquest with eager
excitement.
| believe that that inquest was one
of the most memorable in the annals
of coroner's court. There was a
large crowd of course, for the little
town of Pashet was mass of seething
curiosity.
The expert evidence of DR.. Howden
assisted by the divisional surgeon, was
certainly very curious. Both learned
gentlemen gave it as their opinion
that the deceased met his death through
the discharge of small shot fired from
a gun at a distance Of not more thai
a couple of yards All the shot hat
lodged close together in the heart, anc
the flesh round the wound was slightly
charred.
The police, on the other hand, hac
quite tit-bit of sensation ready fol
the eager public. They had dragged
the pond and had found the carcass o
a dog. The beast had evidently beer
shot with the same gun which haC
ended poor Mr.. Whadcoat's days
the divisional surgeon, who had ex
amined the carcass, having pronounced
the wound which was in the side
to be exactly similar in character. !
final blow dealt on the animals heat
with the butt-end of the gun, however
had been the ultimate cause OF 1T
death. As the medical officer CAV
this sensational bit of evidence, a sud
den and dead silence fell over all Il
that crowded court, for it had leake'
out earlier in the day that the dea,
dog found in the pond was Rags,
Mr.. Edward Kelly's well-known blac
retriever.
In the midst of that silence Mis-
Amelia Whadcoat--the sister of tn
deceased gentleman-stepped forward
dressed in deep black, and holding
letter, which she handed to the corone
at came under cover, addressed
me-" she explained, ION Tuesday ever
ing"
turned the square envelope between h
fingers. At last he read aloud: 4,
ITO the Coroner and Jury at tt
inquest, should fatal accident occl
, to me this Tuesday, afternoon,
, Saltashe Wood"
Then he tore open the .envelop
} Immediately everyone noticed the loo
/ of boundless establishment which sprea
over his face. There was moment
+ breathless silent expectation amor
: the crowd, while Miss Amelia stoc
!. quietly with her hands demurely foldt
' over her bingham umbrella, and h
+ swollen eyes fixed anxiously upt
5 that letter =,
!, At last the coroner, turning to Il
Jury, said:
r dGentlemen, this letter is address
/ to YOU as well as to myself. l a