The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-06-16

his ingenuity of mind In the field Of
corporation law, In which he special
lied. He had married late In life, the
detective recalled-but five years be-
fore-a girl much his junior, from
his own office the nuptials had caused
rather widespread press comment and
publicity.
Rankin was not aware, however, of
any connection he might have with
the university or fraternity. But
though at a loss to account for his
presence, he accepted it for the mo-
ment without comment.
The supervisor waited until the liv-
ing room door was closed and all were
seated
Il regret very much, Mr.. Rankin"
he began, "that what has occurred
here tonight makes it necessary to
summon the aid of the authorities
Briefly, these are the facts. An initia-
ton was held In this house tonight, to
admit new men into membership in
this fraternity. And just as the final
rites were being administered, one Of
the candidates, young third-year stu
dent in the architectural school, named
Stuart Jordan, was killed"
"Killed?' Rankin pursed his lips
gravely. "That's very tragic. 1t was
an accident, of course?"
But Mr.. Warwick negatived the de-
tective's supposition. eve can't say
how it happened, but 1t was scarcely
unintentional. Young Jordan was
poisoned"
"Poisoned?" Rankin repeated; the
unexpected statement startled him.
"How?"
"By subtle, quickly acting drug"
Doctor Thompson explained, shat pro-
duces sort of muscular paralysis.
Death follows from INSTRUCTED respi-
ration"
"Have you any idea, Doctor, of the
nature Of the poison?" the detective
asked.
II can only guess; the autopsy will
have to decide that accurately. But
am led to suspect vegetable aka
loid-that is, the poisonous juice Of
some plant. 1t might be aconite or
nicotine or perhaps gelsemin. :"
"Gelsemin?" Rankin queried curl
ously.
"Yes, the juice of the gelsemium
plant. 1t causes most Of the symp-
toms observed in Jordan-the muscu-
lar disturbance, prostration, dilation
Of the eyes and quickened respiration.
Or again, for the same reasons, 1t
could be conine."
"How would you say the poison was
taken?"
SIT Is difficult to determine that I'M
til the autopsy" Doctor Thompson. re-
piled. at might have been swallowed;
but in my superficial examination,
found no indication Of that. Perhaps
it was injected with a hypodermic
needle, under the skim"
"Could 1t possibly be self-admin-
istered?" Rankin put the suggestion
tentatively.
Evidently 1t had never occurred to
the doctor, but he considered 1t care
fully.
"Yes, I know of nothing to contra
dict that idea," he admitted slowly;
sin fact, I'd rather that were the
case. But it seems most unlikely,
doesn't it? After all, a fraternity
initiation is singular place to COM
NIT suicide"
The detectives tone held the per-
plexity his words expressed. "But no
more so, surely, than as the scene Of
a murder. And If someone else in
jected the poison during the ceremony,
the boy would have felt the stab Of
the needle and made some disturb
anee." He paused. "You were called
in, Doctor, at nine-thirty?"
ITO be exact, at nine-t hirty-five;
that was shortly after Jordan col
lapsed In the initiation room, and
fruitless effort to revive him made.
Il arrived fifteen minutes later, but 1t
was then too late to help him. Given
large enough quantity of poison, 1t
must have taken effect few minutes
after entering his system"
$50 that it probably did so at nine
twenty-five or thereabouts," Rankin
commented. 'I'll have to send for
Doctor Sackett, the coroner's physi-
clan. He'll want to see the body be-
fore it's moved, in any case, and the
sooner he gets here to do 1t, the more
he'll learn"
Summoning one of the policemen
from the lSll, he instructed him to
communicate with the city official;
also to arrange for the dispatching of
a photographer from headquarters.
That done, he turned to Mr.. Warwick.
"And now, sir, the quickest way for
me to proceed with my investigation
Is TO hear exactly what took place
in the initiation room. Preferably
from someone who was both present
and had an active part in the ritual;
I'll want the facts clear"
The supervisor went to the door and
said
'Tll have the president of the fra
ternity in. He probably directed tho