The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-04

uOuTS investigated
This was his conclusion when Simp-
son entered Captain Thomas Office to
announce to him another visitor, ask
ing for the officer in charge of the. uni
versity case.
"Well, bring him in here, Simpson,"
Rankin instructed, "and let's hear
what his business is"
Ushered into his presence, the new
conner was obviously a college man,
but slightly older than the average
undergraduate. Perhaps twenty-six,
thin featured and intelligent, his slen-
der mustache and pince-nez added sew
eral more years to his age.
II am handling this unfortunate
affair."" the detective introduced him
self. my name is Rankin. What can
do for you, MP"
Hayward, Kenneth Hayward" the
stranger informed him. Il am a grad
uate student in the department Of
chemistry at the college"
"You have some information about
this fraternity house murder?" Rankin
AA4uil GU. VCIC yOu WILL
Jordan, Mr.. Heyward?"
NO. was not. But my reason for
coming may have some bearing on the
crime, though hope not. The news
papers all say the poison used to kill
him was CONNIE, the juice of hemlock.
Conine is not easy to obtain and 1t
was one of the alkaloids with which l
am working. This morning, I meas
ured my supply at the laboratory and
discovered that some of it, and some
atropine, as well, were missing"
The detective nodded, gratified that
the publicity given the name of the
poison in the papers had brought the
results he hoped it would. "You kept
it in the chemistry laboratory at the
university?' he asked
"Yes, for my specific experiments"
Hayward replied.
II see. And for your experiments,
you have in your workroom quantity
of alkaloids, including conine?"
Just little at once. They are sell
dom used and the department orders
them, only when required, a few
ounces at time"
could CONNIE be procured from any
other departments in the college,
where the handling of chemicals Is
part of the curriculum"
II doubt it, Mr.. Rankin" Hayward
answered. "That was how knew
anything was wrong in the first place.
compared my stock this morning
with my chart of what remained; and
ascertained / was shy two grains of
atropine and over six drops of the
hemlock alkaloid."
More than sufficient to cause a
great deal Of damage" Rankin COM
mented grimly. He leaned across Cap
tain Thomas desk. "From your last
check-up, Mr.. Hayward, have you any
idea what day they disappeared?
When did anyone have the opportunity
to remove them?"
II am almost positive / lost them
day before yesterday. On Tuesday.
happened to be experimenting with
both poisons and I weighed them in
the morning before starting. None
was missing then; and made no mis-
take about the amounts measured
out for my tests. The fact is that
during the afternoon, left the lab.
oratory several times for maybe twenty
minutes or more"
The definiteness of the probable
date was pleasing; the Tuesday he
mentioned was that of the tragedy.
Couldn't the theft have occurred
just as well yesterday, during your
absence?"
mo, because the place is always
under lock and key" Hayward replied.
"Short Of breaking inland there Is
no sign Of that--it is impossible to
| enter"
'You have the only key to the room
in the department." the detective In
quired.
"0h, no, my adviser, Professor
Harris. also owns one" the young man
returned quickly. "But he assured me
this morning that he lent it to no one
and that it was not out of his pos
session either Tuesday or Wednesday"
Rankin's voice held the grave note
which usually accompanied an i'm
| portant inquiry.
| ''Have you any suspicion of the
identity of the culprit? Any reason
to believe he was some particular per-
SOM"
Hayward shrugged his shoulders
carelessly. SIN afraid not, Mr.. Ran
kin. But almost anyone could have
sneaked into the laboratory Tuesday
afternoon and taken the poison"
"Who. for instance, was aware you
were dealing with variety of poisons?
just want general notion of how
widespread the fact was"
swell, Professor Harris of course,
and the assistant professor in organic
chemistry, Mr.. Nichols" The visitor
reflected a moment '"Then outside
the department, my roommate in the
graduate dorms, Frank Powell, knows