New Britain herald., 1927-05-10
WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE


 Death strikes Garrett Folsom 1 while swimming at Ocean Town. x. J. After being perfuctorily examined by doctor. the body is brought to the Hotel Majusaca. where an in- quiry is started.
 Folsom's bathing companions had been Roger Neville. Mrs. Helen Barnaby, and Carmelita Valdon. It is established that Folsom, just be- fore his death, had been standing next to Ned Barron. known as the copper king.
 Then the startling announcement is made that Folsom had been stabbed to death in the water. Ross, his valet, is questioned, as are Bar ron and his wife, but no light is shed on the mystery.
 Anastasia Folsom, eccentric and masterful sister of the dead man, arrives and takes command. At the inquest 1t is established that the death weapon was a pichaq. an Oriental knife, and that it and its scabbard had been purchased on the boardwalk.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XVI
 Then" said the coroner, "our next step is to find out who did buy this particular weapon. What is the address of the shop, Mir. Meeker?"
 Tt isn't exactly shop. It is an auction room.' A place where auctions are held of various stocks or consignments carried there for that purpose"
 "Yes, I understand. Well. doubt less, the proprietors can give us the information we want. Jepson, you'd better go there yourself. and now, and learn all you can of that mat ter.'
 The detective went off at once. and the coroner. with sigh, re- turned to his investigation.
 ''I am in rather a strange pre- dicament." he said. frankly. Never before have I had so little evidence to work upon. The question before us is how did Mir. Folsom come to his death? What weapon was used, and who used 1t? Those are the only matters that affect us. With the private life of the gentleman We have no concern, unless 1t can be shown that 1t has to do with his tragic death.
 There is no body under sus- picion in the case, but it is un- doubtedly murder, and was ap- parently committed with premedi- tated intent. There is little ques- tion of motive or opportunity. which are usually the first mat ters to be taken up. But, as you can readily see. everyone in the ocean at the time of Mir. Folsom's death may be said to have had opportunity. and so far as We have been able to learn, nobody has shown any evidence of having had a motive. This makes the af fair most mysterious, for mon arc not murdered without motive. And so, gentlemen of the jury. I will call on those who knew, MT. Folsom per sonally, and you may gather what knowledge you may from their de- positions"
 Hubbard was naturally little verbose and suited of diction, but in this case he was more so, by reason of his own uncertainty how to proceed. It seemed absurd to call on the people who knew Garrett Folsom. for they were the ones most interested in learning the truth. and the ones least likely to be implicated in the crime.
 However. 1t was the only thing to be done. and Miss Folsom. as the nearest relative. of the dead man. was called next.
 Her testimony was, of course. only to the effect that she had been summoned to Ocean Town by the telegram announcing her broth CTS death. This message had been sent to her Chicago home. but as she was in New York, it had been forwarded to her there and she had immediately started for the seashore resort.
 She answered readily the coro- ner's questions as to her brothers business and habits of life, but nothing she could tell had any bear ing on the subject of his death. In addition to the information required of her. she reiterated her determine ton to bring the murderer to jus tice, and declared herself willing 10 spend as, much of her fortune as might he necessary in order to sue coed in her quest.
 There was something about Ana stasia Folsom that made her hear