The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-06-06

she wished. / glanced at BARLEY, and
the queer smile he gave me limited
| that he, too, thought as / did.
| The next witness was a Doctor
| Webster. / knew that a second ply
stefan had been called in on the morn
| ing Of the crime, but had not met him.
Doctor Kings position was a peculiar
one, as he was not only the physician
| who had first seen the body, but also
the coroner. In order to have the
testimony Of a second medical man,
he had sent Doctor Webster to ex-
anime the body and testify as to It's
condition. AS the doctor took the seat
near the coroner 1 examined him
closely. He was a man Of at least
sixty, rather stout, with a beaming,
kindly face, and white beard that
gave him the appearance of a prac-
titioner of the old school.
In response to questions, he told
how Doctor King had requested him
to go to the house and examine the
self could not testify at the inquest.
In terms more scientific than plain,
he described how Slyke met his death,
a death which, he said, must have
been instantaneous, as the bullet had
lodged in the brain.
doctor, do you think the wound
could have been self-inflictedT came
the question.
The doctor paused, then answered
thoughtfully, THAT is very hard to
answer. So far as the wound itself
is concerned, 1t could have been self
inflicted. But other things that were
brought to my attention cause me
to believe that 1t could not have been
so inflicted"
The room stiffened into attention
1t was the first hint they had had
that Slyke might have been murdered.
Explain your answer What do
you mean by other things were
brought to your attention'?"
The doctor replied slowly. THE
facts I will mention we're brought to
my attention by Mr.. John BARLEY, the
famous criminal Investigator, whom
1 found at the house when 1 arrived"
At the mention of Bartley's mama q
little murmur of surprise went over
the room. Half way down the room
the reporters, for the first time, were
writing hurriedly, and in a minute q
telegraph boy went out with a mass
Of kilograms Within an hour the fact
that BARLEY was working on the case
would be in all the newspaper offices
In New York
The doctor continued: Mr.. BARLEY
aided me In making my examination
Of the body. The wound was, as
easily inflicted upon himself, but such |
a wound causes death within a few |
seconds after 1t Is made. I thought |
at first sight that 1t was suicide, but |
Mr.. BARLEY pointed out that the |
hands Of the dead man, one Of which |
clothes and that they were pulled up |
around his neck. It would |
have been impossible for Mr.. Slyke
himself To have done that 1 mean
ne could not have killed himself and
hen placed his arms under the
,lothes, after first pulling them up
around his chin. He would not have
lad time before he died, had he fired
he shot. AS Mr.. BARLEY pointed out
-and as should have thought Of for
nyself-in cases of violent death the
yes are open. Mr.. Sykes eyes were
1r,n khaxv al |
lfter death, Miss Potter has just told
u.s."
Again there came a murmur Of as
enlistment. The doctors statement
ad been entirely unexpected by most
+ the audience. For the first time
was suggested that, instead of
;lyke's having killed himself, he had
cen murdered. All awaited eagerly
urther developments.
Then you would say that Mr.. Slyke
7as murdered?" came the question.
The doctors answer was q long
me In coming.
II hardly know what to say. What
IT. BARLEY pointed out to me causes
lie to believe that Mr.. Slyke was
illed. OF course, there is a posi-
llity that the wound might have been
and someone else ar
inged the bedclothes around his neck
fter he was dead"
He paused again. then continued.
That might have been done, but the
lances are that he did not kill him
If. I cannot positively state, how
yer, whether 1t was suicide or MUIR
,r."
His hesitation started a long argu-
ent between him, the coroner, and
e district attorney. If Slyke had
lied himself then someone else must
I've pulled up the bedclothes and ar
nged the body. What had been the
'rson's reason for doing it7 If, on
e other hand, he had been murdered,
en- very definite attempt had been
ade to make it look like suicide. The
volver In the dead mans hand came
der discussion, and Doctor Webster
i'd that, though it could be placed In
persons hand after death, any
aimed eye could detect the fact. His