The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-07-18
CHAPTER w
The York Solicitor

The inquest was duly opened next
morning. CroIe, as solicitor whom
he had employed in London, and l.,
as his travelling companion, identified
the dead man as Salim MaZaroff, and
told what we knew about him: Eccle-
share and the local doctor testified as
to the cause of his death: the men
who had found the body at Reiver's
den gave evidence as to the circum-
stances under which they came across
it. AT this stage an interruption came
through the entrance of Mr.. and Mrs.
Elphinstone and Sheila, with whom
appeared an elderly man of profess
sional bearing; Manners, by whom
was sitting, whispered to me that this
was Mr.. Wetherby, Mrs. Elphinstone's
lawyer.
Wetherby lost no time in letting
the authorities know why he and his
party were there.
He said, addressing the coroner, 81
wish 70 make an application to you
on behalf of my client, Mrs. Ephin-
stone, of Marrasdale tower. To sup
port it, | shall have-very brehy-to
refer to some past history. Mrs
Elphinstone, as Miss Jean Linton, was
married, some twenty-three or four
years ago, to Mr.. Andrew MerchiSon,
who formerly had some connection
with this neighborhooG The marriage
was not success, and to put matters
plainly, Merchison, within a compar-
atively short time and after making
due provision for his wife, deserted
her, and, it was believed, went off to
the East. Eight months after he had
gone, Mrs. Merchison had daughter
the young lady whom you now see
here, Miss Sheila Merchison. Merchi-
son was never heard Of again until
some years later, when Mrs. Merchi-
son received news that he had been
drowned off MOmbasa. on the East
African coast, while on voyage from
Bombay to Durham. From that time
forward Mrs. MerchisOn believed her.
self widow, and in due course she
married again, and became Mrs.
ElphnStone. Now | come to the cause
and reason of my application. Yester-
day, Mrs. Elphinstone was visited by
two gentlemen now present, who have,
| understand, just given evidence
Mr.. Holt and Mr.. Crole. On the invi-
tatiOn of Mr.. Crole, Mr.. Holt in
formed Mrs. Elphinstone that on the
second evening after he and Mr.. Maza-
hn NnnI,ncIy
Mr. MaZarOff told him that though he
had a perfect right TO the name he
was now known by, having legally
adopted it some years ago, lie was in
reality the Andrew MerchisOn who
had married Miss Jean Linton, and
had left her. l need hardly say, sir,
that this is a very serious matter for
my client, and | think it will be we'll
for all parties if Mrs. Elphinstone is
allowed to view the body of this dead
man, in order that she may see if she
can recognize it as that of Andrew
MerchisOn."
THAT seems, obviously, the very
thing TO do" agreed the coroner.
perhaps you'll accompany your
client, Mr.. Wetherby?"
There was considerable hushed ex-
element in that room during the abb
sence of Mrs. Elphinstone and her
solicitor. Some of the older folk
amongst the spectators whispered
the name Merchison had evidently
reused sleeping memories.
When Mrs. Elphinstone, followed by
Wetherby, reappeared, at the coroner's
suggestion she went into the witness
box and gave evidence. 1t compressed
itself into this-she could not
identify the dead man as Andrew
Merchison. Had the features remained
unmolested, she said calmly, she might
have done so, but as things were-im-
possible
Crole, in his professional capacity,
rose to ask Mrs. ElphinStone a ques-
ton.
Mrs. ElphinstOne," he said, chad
Andrew Merchison a cast in his left
eye"
Certainly, he had" she replied.
"A decided one :"
CrOle turned to the coroner.
Numerous witnesses can prove that
the unfortunate gentleman into whose
death you are inquiring had such a
cast-a squint-in his left eye. SIR"
he remarked. "He also had a birth
mark, in the form of a brown mole,
or blemish, on his right forearm.
That, however, is not an Uncommon
mark, | believe, and | don't attach
great Importance to it. But l am
strongly convinced that further proof
of the identity of the deceased as
Andrew Merchison will be found, and
l should suggest"
There need be no doubt about it !"
exclaimed a sudden voice from the
spectators. The man was Andrew
MerchisOn !"
| knew whose voice that was before
I looked round. Old Mr.. Hassendeane,
whom ! had noticed when Crole and
| entered the room, had risen from
his seat, and was smiling informingly
at the coroner.
Mrs. Elphinstone can't be positive,
| may as well say that l am! | knew
Andrew MerchisOn well enough in the
old days, when he used to come here,
and afterward when he was a young
mani knew him, too. after he'd mar.
ried Miss Linton, new Mrs. Elphin-
stone. And my memory for faces is
remarkably keen, and l recognized
him easily enough when | saw him the
other night. Andrew Merchison, with
out doubt !"
"Where did you see this nan, Mr..
Hassendeane?' interrupted the cor
Oner
81 saw him the night on which he
evidently met his death.'' replied the