Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-09-27
ANY facts you N know. Mrs.
C%arStairs. must be told at the inquest.

ANY facts you may know. Mrs.
Carstairs, must be told at the inquest.
weight" Nt 80. 4v.a
She gave him a glance that seemed
Hinged with mockery, but she only
said: Mine is not a nature to ex-
plot opinions or fancies." Then she
turned to Doctor Mason, and speak
ing in her capacity of housekeeper.
asked him concerning the removal of
the body to another room.
Not until the coroner gives per-
mission" he replied. HE will BIO
here shortly; and until then, we can
Barbara came to the study door.
accompanied by Mrs. Stelton and
Beth. Fordyce. Mrs. Carstairs moved
swiftly to meet them. but though. she
az mitted. Barbara, she refused en-
trance to the others. I did not hear
Her words, as she spoke with them,
but they seemed willing to. accept her
1dictum, and turned away ,ugether. I
couldn't help adn1iring her wisdom
and tact in keeping them out,& for
they were emotional women. and
their ordinations would have Jared
the overwrought nerves of US all.
Mrs. lCarstairs was charming. She
told Barbara in q few wards. all that
we knew, and clasped her arm in an
NSASSS wv AASAlAuI kAp0lAASs
But Barbara shook her of, almost
rudely, and going straight to her fa-
Tiers side. looked at him long and
silently. Then she went over and, sat.
in whispers. 49, aEs.IS
Mrs. carstairs was apparently nor
and placidly continnhdsssfisf@rolS ~
general director of affars. she
Strengthened a small rug. emptied an
ash tray into a waste basket. and was
about to tidy up the desk, when Con-
dron Archer said.
1T would be wiser, Mrs. Carstairs,
not to move ANYTHING, before the cor
oner arrives. He must see the roo1r.
as it is. There may be clues to the
the intruder"
There was no intruder, said the
housekeeper, in a tone of quiet as
surance. Mr.. Van Wyck died by his
own hand"
But she ceased fussing among the
desk appointments, and sat down
near the door. She leaned her head
back, and closed her eyes, looking
the picture of sphinx-like mscruta-
bility.
But she was alert enough to be at
the door. as the coroner entered a
moment later. She ushered him in,
and seemed about to lead him toward
CtAS uceh' WITH OOClOT UdSOH FdtneT
|peremptorily took matters in charge,
himself.
The oroner, whose name was Mel
len, was a brisk and somewhat. ag-
|gressive nan He went at nee to
the body of the dead man and began
his examination. He agreed with the
doctor hat it was difficult to tell
autopsy, but he at once began a
, search for h weapon. At his re-
quest, Archer and / Joined him. but
in the whole great room we could
md no pistol nor any instrument OF
the nature Of a stiletto, :
Then, it must be the work Of ar
! intruder" declared the coroner. ."wht
took the weapon away with him."
But that's impossible" / said;
5 for this room was absolutely. secure
t in its locks and bolts against any in,
ltruder. Nobody could possibly have
But it is equally impossible that {
: man could have killed himself and
Ileft no trace of the weapon" said Mr.
Mellen doggedly.
!! Gould he have stabbed or sho
> himself and then, thrown the weapon
far from him ;" asked Archer, look
d ing deeply thoughtful.
Death was almost instantaneous,
said Doctor Mason: "but / suppos
tAA0S ~ " SpdoJltOUlC III IHuSCIdT - eIIOY
he could have done that. However
the relaxed position Of his hands an,
arms does not makesit seem prob
Z. able"
Z But it is the only explanation,
said eagerly. Come on, Archer
let US make a more thorough search
Z Perhaps Mr.. Lasseter will help u.s.
Barclay LAsseter agreed, though h
lseemed rather half-hearted about it.
n barbara and Morland looked at iii
d tbut made no offer of help.
t. The search was fruitless. Netthe
floor MOI walls showed any bulle
lholes or, powder-marks.S Here va
no weapon to be found; though,
:" produced the few small shot I ma
found on the floor they scene
y meaningless in the absence o an
THE very absence Of a weapo
lp~recludes all idea 81 suicide sal
q Coroner Me1Ien. at last; 'and. thong
I'm not prepared to say how III
le lfnHfderer got In or out of this roo,r
believe that he. did do so, and tina
David Van Wyck did not die by hi
2 lows "a, j hand. re Anythins bss
Sg5sss s ~!