New Britain herald., 1927-05-05
WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

bedlH StTIhcS SIdIItlG T oiSoAii while swimming with a party of friends at Ocean Town, N. J. At the Hotel Majusaco. where they all had been guests an inquiry is be- gun, after a doctor, perfunctorily examining him on the beach, pro- nounces him dead.
 Folsoms companions had been Roger Neville. Mrs. Helen Barnaby. and Carmelita Valdon. It is estab- lished that Folsom. just before his death. had been standing next to Ned Barron, who was one of a par ty including his wife, Madeline: Angelica Fair and her fiance, Rob- in Sears, and his father Croydon Sears.
 It is decided to telegraph Fol- som's sister Anastasia, in New York.
 Carmelta Naldon sneaks in Fol- soms room but is surprised by a chambermaid. Then the startling announcement Is made that Fol- som had died by a stab wound- had been murdered.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER VIII
 Still no word was spoken by the silent hearers.
 Dixon, his eyes glued to the faces of the pair who listened, and Futile, who was standing by, watching also. said afterward that both Mir. Neville and Mrs. Naldon seemed amazed and astounded be- yond all power of speech.
 Naturally, I did not know of this when I looked at the dead man down on the beach," the doc tor went on. with an apologetic note in his voice. "because the mans form was covered with a blanket. and I saw only his head and shoulders. But on examina- ton just now. find that he was stabbed with a long. sharp knife or dagger. and that the blade pierced the abdominal aorta, caus- ing instant death."
 "Why was this not discovered until your return?" asked Neville, his silence suddenly broken. Has the blanket not been moved?"
 Probably not" said Doctor Manning. "and, too. it would have been possible for if to have been moved and yet the fact of the stab would not have been discovered" !"
 Why not?"
 "Because. you see, the stroke was delivered swiftly and straight from all appearances. Then. it seems. the instrument of death was immediately withdrawn. and as a result the water of the ocean from the garment Mr. Folsom wore. and anyway, there was very little blood outside.
 "The hemorrhage was entirely internal, and though death was in stantaneous there was no evidence of it on the body save for a small clean incision, that in the absence of any blood stains was almost in discernible even to my practiced eye"
 How extraordinary!" exclaimed Neville.
 That is the word, sir" de- clared the doctor. Extraordinary, indeed! Not the fact of the in conspicuous wound. That is ac- counted for by the water of the ocean. which precluded any crim- son stain. But the extraordinary thing is the possibility of an as- sailant finding opportunity and tune to drive that blow unseen and unnoticed by the scores of people crowding about him."
 "An assailant." cried Roger Ne vile. You mean he was murder ed?"
 "Of course, my dear sir. I though you realized that. It would be a sheer impossibility for a man to kill himself in that man. ner. So as there is no doubt as to the fatal wound. what other theory can you suggest?"
 "An-an accident? ?" stammered Neville. floundering in his speech.
 Scarcely imaginable" the doc tor shook his head. ocean bath CTS do not go in for a dip carry ing sharp pointed instruments which accidentally kill their neighbors. No. there is no room for doubt. Mr. Folsom was stabbed by some one who went into the ocean armed with the knife and who had premeditated the murder"
 Tt is too incredible." Neville sighed deeply. What can we do?"
 Tt isn't what can we do. but
 IT