The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-10-06

CHAIR, was there WIN MS "lAe' ~
blanket covered his supposedly
helpless limbs. Cilly felt an over
whelming urge 10 KICK MIN in the
shins as she passed, to see If he
would jump. She wondered how
the man had made the journey,
wheel-chair and all. Detective
Martin must have provided a Spe-
cial police car.
Mr.. Pohnson arrived a few min
uteS after she was seated, and ne
was followed by a young couple
the Smiths. undoubtedly. As
vet there was n sign of Mrs.
Wheeler.
Promptly at 1890, Sergeant
Dolan entered the room, followed
by Martin. Dolan seated himself
at the desk, his back to the dou-
bic windows. Martin stood behind
him. leaning against a window
sill. The tenants sat facing the
windows. where the light Shone
on their faces clearly and relent-
lesSlv. If they lied, Cilly thought,
Dolan would be able to read in
their features.
Everybody here. Martini" Do
Ian asked.
Martin checked with 4 list in
his hand. Didn't get in touch
with the Wheeler woman yet he
reported. The three other ten
ants are still out of town--but |
don't see the COrbettS.
The CorbettS. Cilly looked up
i'm surprise. But. of course, they
would be summoned. Mrs. Cor
belts mother was the caly person
who actually saw the murder
committed. Her testimony would
be very important.
Even rs Martin spoke. the door
opened and they entered. Mr..
Corbctt. Cilly noticed, had sur
vivcd his drinking very well. He
was immaculate in a light gray
tropical worSted, and he carried
himself with an air of assurance.
Mrs. Corbett. the same meek
and humble woman Cilly had first
met. followed her husband hest
family into the room. She wore
a nondcscript blue wolfe dress,
and il hung Imply on her thin
frame. Her face was pale and
drawn. Her mother, in spite of
asthma, held her head high and
entered the room with a firm
step. There was a challenge in
ncr dark eyes. and her chin was
aggressive. Small wonder, Cilly
thought, that Mrs. Corbett was
nervous and haggard. What a life
she must cnduc rs the buffer be-
tween these two dominant indi-
viduals - her husband and her
husband and her mother.
As soon as they were seated,
Sergeant Dolan addressed the
group:
"-u all know" he began, in
calm. rather friendly voice, IA
young woman was killed in a fall
from the roof of the Bayview
apartments last Sunday night
or. to be more exact, ut 1920
early Monday morning. We have
a witness present who can testify
that the girl did not fall. but was
deliberately thrown from the
roof. This is Il cold-blooded muir
der. ladies and gentlemen, which
we are investigating, and | need
not impress upon you the impor-
lance of absolute truth and ac-
curacy in answering my qucs-
tionS. Mrs. Shaw, will you please
tell us again, in your own words,
Just exactly what YOU saw occur
on the roof of the Bayvicw?"
Mrs. Corbett'S mother got to
her feet. All eyes were turned
upon her. Dramatically, she
squared her shoulders and took a
deep breath before she spoke.
"As | told you before, SER
geant," she said in clear, crisp
tones, IL was seated at the win
dow of my bcdroo min the St.
Ann apartments. | had not been
feeling well. and | wanted to get
the air. 1t was very dark out
there were neither stars nor a
mOon-and ordinarily | could not
see the roof opposite except when
an occasional beam from one of
the ships in the bay would pass
over it. Suddenly | heard this
frightful scream, and at that
very instant a beam passed slowly
over the roof opposite, ! saw a
Nan pick this girl up in his arms
and deliberately fling her over
the side Of the house. That is
all. | must have tainted. My
daughter prepared an opiate for
me, and did not awaken until
morning"
Thank you, Mrs. Shaw. May
| ask if the light was sufficiently
strong for you to recognize this
man in any way"
at was not" Mrs. Shaw re-
Sumed her. seat.
Sergeant Dolan scanned the
faces before him. "Now | am GO
ing 10 ask each of you to remem-
Der very carefully what happened
Sunday night. Wen start with
YOU. Mr.. Hunter. You live on the
top floor, directly under the roof
where the murder was committed.
Did you hea any voices on the
roof. any sign of quarreling?'
"No. sergeant" Hunter replied.
He spoke in a frail voice, as if to
match the infirmity of his limbs.
81 must have been asleep. 1t was
the scream which woke me up.
My wife ran to the window. :"
Did you get up?"
The man shook his head sor-
rowfully. 81 couldn't do that, you