The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-10-13
The Student Fraternity Murder

the last moment, the pain ulSdp-
peared and l decided to watch the
initiation anyhow, even If I didn't take
part. So put on my robe and took an
empty chair behind the pledges with
the other brothers; saw most of the
ritual"
Then II was you who stepped up
to unite Jordan's hand before the final
toast?" Rankin's query was penetrat-
ing and unexpected. to catch him off
his guard.
Though still perturbed. as If at his
surroundings, Patterson displayed no
alarm.
"No, stayed in my place." he an
swered. II had no idea where he
stood in the line. Anyhow. enough Of
the other boys got up ahead of me to
free all the PLEDGES"
Rankin accepted this assurance with
nod. "And now. Mr.. Patterson" he
said. "as to what you may have
learned through knowing Stuart so
we'll. :.
For the following fifteen minutes, he
questioned the sponsor searchingly
about his contacts with the dead boy
and their various conversations to-
gether. Less constrained as the In
quiry progressed. Patterson appeared
candid and willing to relate what he
could. But, as Stanton had intimated
he could tell no more about the boy
than any other member of the fra
ternity.
When the detective dismissed Pat
terson, he had discovered nothing to
forward his investigation.
Before he went below to view the
chapter room itself, Doctor Sackett,
the coroner's physician. arrived and
Immediately began his examination Of
the body. At the same time. a head
quarters photographer appeared; and
though his service had little value. he
cause Jordan had been moved since
his seizure. he set his camera without
waiting for directions The detective
arranged with Doctor Sackett for hav.
ing the remains shipped to the morgue,
when his diagnosis was completed.
with regard to the autopsy, Doc
tor" he then said. "see that It Is be-
gun Immediately. It is absolutely es-
sential to have the poison that killed
him identified early tomorrow. Can
you arrange to find that out by the
first thing in the morning?"
swell. I'll do what can," the physi-
clan grumbled. 'sBut you mustn't ex.
pect miracles. With any luck. we
might strike the poison on. our first
or second analysis: on the other hand.
it might take NOR than a dozen elm
mating tests to clear the ground"
Doctor Thompson remained upstairs
to assist him. so that only Ted STAN
ton. the supervisor and Mr.. Fletcher
accompanied Rankin below AS vet be
did not understand the lawyers con-
nection with the fraternity: but the
problems presented by the crime occu-
pied him at the moment to the exclu-
sion of that question Mr. Warwick's
attitude indicated some good reason
for his presence and Rankin continued
to accept him as spectator.
The scene of the initiation offered
eloquent proof of the confusion follow
ing JOrdan's collapse. The line of
chairs barely suggested the semicircle
they previously formed. so many were
overturned or out of place. On the
dais lay glasses Of wine, the bottle
itself on the tray.
Rankin's first act was to send the
officer on guard at the door to Doctor
Sackett. to procure from his kit sew
eral empty medicine walls. He re-
turned shortly with three, which the
detective took. These. he carefully
filled with wine, the first from the
contents of the bottle. and the other
two from glasses chosen at random
among those on the floor. When he
had corked them and set them aside,
he knelt gingerly among the debris at
the altar; and covering his hands for
protection with the folds of two hand
kerchiefs. he swept together the frag-
ments of splintered glass within his
reach. Then from an inner pocket, he
produced an empty envelope and put
them into 1t, sealing the flap. The
entire collection he delivered to the
policeman.
"Give these bottles and the envelope
to Doctor Sackett." he instructed. "In
case he leaves before am finished
here, tell him to have them thoroughly
analysed by the departmental chemist.
Warn him to pay particular attention
to the moisture on some of the larger
particles of glass"
He shut the door after the depart
ing officer. and proceeded to discover
from Stanton the relative positions, at
the moment of the tragedy, of the
officers on the dais, the PLEDGES and
sponsors at its foot, and the specta-
tors seated behind them. When the
scene was fully described to him, he
indicated the door.
"How about that? | gather it isn't
locked during the ceremony, If Patter-
son could enter the room after II
started"
mo. there's no need for It." the
president replied, because an officer
of the fraternity Is posted there We
call him the sergeant at arms; his
duty is to keep order in meeting and
evict unruly brothers at the command
of the chair. He opens the door only
to those who have right to be pres
ent."
at is improbable, then. that anyone
could get in secretly, unknown to
him?'
Stanton nodded emphatically. "No
one could pass him, Mr.. Rankin, with.
out giving the signals by which he
recognizes brother"
II suppose only fraternity brothers
are familiar with these signals?" Ran