Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-23
The Strange Case
OF Mr.. Challoner
CHAPTER III.

There is no witness so sure as the
he gazed from one to the other of two
photographs before him, one represent
ing him holding an automatic pistol to
his own head, and the other in which
Sir James was posing as a murderer.
Malcolm Sage never failed to empha-
size the Importance of photography in
the detection of crime. He contended
that a Photographic print established
for all time what the eye could only
dimly register for the moment, with
the consequent danger of forgetful-
nsss.
He picked up third photograph and
laid it beside the others. 1t was a print
of Mr.. Challoner's head, showing,
marked in ink, the course of the bullet
towards the left of the frontal bone
"A man shooting himself" began
Malcolm Sage, places the pistol in a
position so that the muazle is directed
towards the back of the head on the
other hand, any one approaching his
victim from behind would have ten
dency to direct the muzzle towards
the front of the head. That is why
] got Dawkins to take a photograph of
me holding the pistol to my head and
of you holding it from behind These
photoEra phs will constitute the prin-
cipal evidence at the trial"
Sir James nodded. He was too in
terested to interrupt
"On this enlargement OF the wound
continued Malcolm Sage. you will see
an abra sion on the side nearer the ear,
as If the head had suddenly been jerlted
backwards between the time of the
muzzla being placed against the temple
and the actual firing of the shot"
Thompson leaned across to examine
! the photograph
! IF the eyes of some one sitting at a
table are Suddenly and unexpectedly
covered from behind. the natural In
stinct is to Jerk backwards 20 that the
| head may he turned to see who 1t Is.
That is exactly what occurred with
Challoner. He jerked backwards, and
the barrel of the pistol grazed the skin
and was DETECTED still more towards
I the frontal bone"
/ Sir James and Thompson exchanged
I glanCer Dawkins stood by. n look OF
| happiness in his eyes. His beloved
camera was fustlfying itself once
more Inspector wensdale breathed
/ heavily.
Apart from all this, the position OF
/ the head on the table. and the way In
which the hand was holding the pistol
/ not to speak Of tho curve of the arm
were unnatural. You get some idea Of
4
took Of mo. although | could only sim
ulate death by relaxing the muscles
Again. the head would hardly be likely
! to twist on to Its side.
The next step continued Malcolm
| Sage. was how could any one get Into
the room and approach Calloner with
| out being heard or 'senscd'7''
"He must have been very much ah'
rorbed ir-what he was doing" suggest
| cd Sir James.
Malcolm Sage shook his head, and for
few seconds gased at the photographs
before him.
You will remember there was moth
! Ing on tho table in front Of him. II
| IS very unlikely that n man sitting at a
table would not be conscious Of soma
| one approaching him from behind. no
/ matter how quietly he stepped. unless
/ that mans presence in the room were
/ quite a natural thing. That gave me
| the clue to Peters. He Is the only per-
\ son who could be in the library without
| Challoner taking any notice OF him
| Consequently ~ was easy for him u
approach his master and shoot him.