New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-09-20

DIR. Doremus approached the muir
dered man with a callous indiffer-
cnce indicative of a long process
Of hardening. He first inspected
the face closely-he was, l imagine
looking for powder marks. Then
he glanced at the bullet hole in the
/ forehead and at the ragged wound
IN the back of the head. Next he
moved the dead mans arm, bent
+ the fingers, and pushed the head a
little to the side. Having satisfied
! himself as to the state of Iigor
morris, he turned to Heath.
I r'Can We get him on the settec
there?'
Heath looked at Markham inquir-
ingly.
"All through, sir?"
Markham nodded. and Heath
heckoned TO the two men at the
front windows and ordered the
/ ody placed on the davenport. It
retained its sitting posture, due to
the hardening of the muscles after
death, until the doctor and his
assistant Strengthened out the
limbs. The body was then I'M
dressed, and DR.. Doremus exam
ined it carefully for other wounds.
He paid particular attention to the
arms; and he opened both hands
wide and scrutinized the palms. At
length he Strengthened up and
wiped his hands on q large colored
silk handkerchief.
shot through the left frontal"
he announced. 'Direct angle of
fire. Bullet passed completely
through the skull Exit wound in
the left occipital region-base of
skull-you found the bullet, didn't
you? He was awake when shot,
ard death was INN ediate-prob-
ably never knew what hit him.
He's been dead about-well,
I should Judge, eight hours; maybe
longer"
How about twelve-thirty for the
exact time?" asked Heath.
The doctor looked at his watch.
"Ifts 0. K. Anything else ?"
No one answered, and after a
slight pause the chief inspector
spoke.
wed like a post-mortem report
today Doctor
"That'll be all right" Dr. Dore-
mus answered, swapping shut his
medical case and handing it to his
assistant. but get the body to the
mortuary as soon as you can"
After a brief Misunderstanding cere-
mony, he went out hurriedly.
Heath turned to the detective
who had been standing by the table
V hon he entered.
Burke, you phone headquarters
to call for the body-and tell EN-
to get a move on. Then go back to
the office and wait for me-"
Burke saluted and disappeared.
Heathe then addressed one of the
two men who had been inspecting
the grilles Of the front windows.
How about that ironwork. Shit
l,in?'
mo chance, Sergeant" was the
answer. STRONG as a jail-both
of 'em, Nobody ever got in
through those windows"
every good" Heath told him.
Now You two fellows chase along
with Burke.
When they had gone the dapper
nan in the blue serge suit and |
derby, whose sphere of activity had /
seemed to be the fireplace, laid two
cigaret butts on the table.
Il found these under the gas-logs, |
he explained unenthusi- |
asically. Not much; but there's
nothing else laying around"
"All right, Emery" Heath gave
the butts a disgruntled look, You
needn't wait, either. I'll see you at
the office later"
Hagedorn came ponderously for
ward.
Il guess I'll be getting along,
too" he rumhled. But I'm going !
to keep this bullet a while. It's got |
some peculiar rifling marks on it.
You don't want it specially, do you,
Heath smiled tolerantly.
"What'1l l do with it, Captain?
You keep it. But don't you dare
ose it"
i won't lose it." Hagedorn as
surcd him. with stodgy serious
'ess; and, without so much as a
slaSco at either the district attor-
ley or the chief inspector, he Wad-
sled from the room with a Slightly
'olling movement which suggested
hat of some huge amphibious
mammal.
Vance, who was standing beside
ne near the door. turned and fol-
owed Hagedorn into the hall. The
Wo stood talking in low tones for
everal minutes. Vance appeared
o be asking questions, and although
was not close enough to hear their
I caught several
vords and phra ses-''traje ctory,"
'muzzle velocity" angle Of fire"
impact" "deflection,"
nd the like-and wondered what
N earth had prompted this strange
Interrogation.
AS Vance was thanking Hage-
orn for his information Inspector
} Bricn entered the hall.
Learning FAST" he asked, smil-
rg patronizingly at Vance. Then,
sit hcut waiting for q reply: Come
long, Captain; III drive you down
own"
Markham heard him.
'Have you got room for Dinwid
lie, too, 1nspector?'
"Plcntv, Mr.. Markham"
The three Of them went out.
Vance and I were now left alone
z the room with Heath and the
istrict attorney, and, as if by com
non impulse, we all settled our
IT. !