Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-21
THE MIDDLE 7EMPLEMURDER
Detective Story by j. s. Fletcher

dress was then Chicester Square,
Bayswater, w"
Spargo rapidly wrote this address
dowr, thanked the photographer for his
courtesy, and went out with Mr.. Quar-
terpage.l In the street he turned to the
old gentleman with smile.
well, don't think there's much
doubt about thatv, he exclaimed.
Maitland and Marbury are the same
man, Mr.. Quarterpage. I'm as GER
Hall there"
And what will you do next, sir?"
inquired Mr.. Quarterpage.
Thank you--as l do--for all your
kindness and assistance, and get off to
town by this 30" replied Spargo.
.ts And l shan't fail to let you know how
One moment, said the old gentle
man, as Spsrgo was hurrying away,
do you think this Mr.. Aylmore really
murdered Maitland2"
mol" answered Spargo with en-
phasis. 81 don't And | think we've
got a good deal to do before we find
out who did"
Spargo purposely let the Marbury
case drop out of his mind during his
| journey to town. He ate hearty lunch
in the train and talked with his neigh
bors; it was a relief to let his mind and
attention turn to something else than
the theme which had occupied it un-
ceasingly for so many days. But at
Reading the newspaper boys were
shouting the news of the arrest of a
member Of Parliament, and Spargo,
glancing out of the window, caught
sight of q newspaper placard:
The Marbury Murder Case
Arrest of Mr.. Aylmore
He snatched paper from a boy as the
train moved out and, unfolding it, found
mere announcement in the space re-
served for stop press news:
MFR. Stephen Aylmore. M. P. was
arrested at two o'clock this afternoon,
on his way to the House OF Commons.
on a charge Of being concerned in the
Temple Lane on the night of June 21st
last. It is understood he will be brought
up at Bow street at 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning"
Spargo hurried % New Scotland Yard
as soon as he reached Paddington. He
met Rathbury coming away from his
room. At sight of him, the detective
turned back.
well. so there you are." he said.
II suppose you've heard the news?"
Spargo nodded as he dropped into a
chair.
What led to it?' he asked abruptly.
''There must have been something"
There was something" he replied.
''The thing-stick, bludgeon, whatever
you like to call it. some foreign article
with which Maybury was struck down
was found last night"
"Well?" asked Spargo.
1t was proved to be Aylmore's prop
erty," answered Rathbury. 1T was a
South American curio that he had in
his rooms in Fountain Court
where was it found?" asked Spargo.
Rathbury laughed.
HE was clumsy fellow who did
it, whether he was Anymore or whoever
he was!" he replied. do you know,
it had been dropped into sewer trap in
Middle Temple Lane-actually Per-
haps the murderer thought it would be
washed out into the Thames and float
away. But, Of course, it was bound to
come to light. A sewer man found it
yesterday evening, and it was quickly
recognized by the woman who cleans up
for Anymore as having been in his rooms
ever since she knew them"
What does Anymore say about it?'
asked Spargo. II suppose he's said
something2"
"Says that the bludgeon is certainly
| his, and that he brought it from South
America with him." announced Rath :
bury, "but that he doesn't remember
seeing it in his rooms for some time.
and thinks that it was stolen from
them"
"Um'' said Spargo, musingly. 'But
how do you know that was the thing
that Marbury was struck down with ?"
Rathbury smiled grimly.
There's some of his hair on it
mixed with blood" he answered. "No
doubt about that. Well-anything come
of your jaunt westward?"
YES" replied Spargo. "Lots!"
"Good?" asked Rathbury.
Extra good. I've found out WHO
Marbury really was"
"No! Really?'
No doubt, to my mind. I'm certain
of it."
Rathbury sat down at his desk,
watching Spargo with rapt attention.
"And who was hep" he asked.
"John Maitland, once of Market
Milcaster," replied Spargo. 'Ex~
bank manager. Also ex convict"
''Ex convict"