The Haslingden Gazette. — 1906-03-24 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

CHAPTER VIII.  THE wvaimur.  Mr. W titers left Bottonaquare on tile evening at tho find day if the inquest M a very uneertain frame of mind. He could not weept the theory of a suioide. Mrs. Redfern surely was the prnam who knew best the state of her husband's health : and A was plain that, ,ts far front thinking him depressed or melaneholy on the evening of hut death. she KA considered ham to be quite in his usual tondition. Nor did the ooroner believe that mere grief at karts hag that his nephew was addicted to play timid have led the doctor to take away has own life, a week after the disclomre had teen made to him. If Mr. Redfern committed suicide, ,rgited the "Ironer. some other n.ason for the. act must Ix. found; and the only mssibk, CallSe that suggested itself to him was trouble abut money matters. The best person to give information upon this point was evidently the doctor's lawyer; so the coroner sent a note that evening to Mm. Redfern, rsquesting her to send him the name and addle,. of her late husband's attorney. . .  'Pho first witne-o called lal the folk-riving da.,,E was, aecordingly, He. Redfern's lawyer—Mr. Juliuu Payne. a oolieitor of the old sehool. woll-cut old-fashionoil clothei, and a voluminous white neck. tie. and carrying a gold-hoailed cane.  "I shall not detain rm long. Mr. Payne," said the coroner. in a respe,tful tone, when the solicitor had been worn. "The point on which you can help ni in thie painful enquiry is a very simple one, Dr. Redfern was one of your client, I believe?" "He 1.6 la,” a orient of mine for the last thirty pram and men'." , "You had, then. a pretty intimate atquaintance with hi.. affair:r  " Certai " I ark you, generally, was Or. Redfern invoived in pecuniary difficulties of any kind?" Not to my knowledge. I may say I bow that ho was not. He died poi-Fessed of a large articunt of property." " He was not engaged, so far a, rat know, 111  _ _ sroculations':" "No: and he could hardly have curried on speculations to any iiin,iderable extent without my knowing it. 'Resides, to do en would Lave been entirely foneign to his Dr. ..Redfern was. a cautious and prudent man." " Ho had made his will, then, I minter?" Mr. Payne he,itated. 1, it for me to snorer that question?" he said at length.  " I believe it replied the coroner. "We know that the doctor died from the efferta of poison, which °mild hardly have been administered aoci• dentally. From what you have said it SOM an likely that he committed suicide. You IllioNt fieV that the cpwation who was to benefit by his loath b0011111)4,i of vital importasice." .  The word, had 111,1ly left the oonmer's when he virretted that he had ,said so much. It Wll3 imprudent to chow so plainly the direetious to whirli ' Ids thoughts had been taken. The words had lawn spoken. however. and 00111111 not he res ailed : he bent over his paper. and prepared hemeeli to tako dorm Mr. Payne's reply. "Soon DP, ith tuarrisge.•' said the .soliciter,  r. rit ncid.• Id, will. By bind will the hulk 1..• pronlii.v woe, h, go to any children might.  V, aml fa ling them- lat willow wad to have-an , annuity of 25001 year, and the TVA of his property wait bequeathed to lii, nephew, Captain Everett. Eta abont a 'WA' Nlll,--verhaps ttai days: ago (lOW - ho called on no, and said he had been much IllS• appointed in his nephew'. conduct, and that he was 00 hewer itiepreed to make him 'hie heir. And ho inalcuctoll fins tO make a M`W " What were the terms of the new will?' poked the 001.011,,  " wihni- was to have the annuity, as hefort, but his unpile.- me practically .1.40aq-tied. Cap. • tab Everett was to have, not a legary. 'but a quarnut,i o t W•••lty.fiVl. pktlllll6. 111(.11P were other ; small legacio, last the greater part of the estate wee ti i In expended in founding medical leetiweidin. and reholanhi.s in connectnin with MO si the boo . .  '• War, that will exemitedr" No (h. the /111.411,111 K of the day Dr. Redfern din], 111.4 Ilonelay morning. I happened to mo t Captain Even•irt in tlk otreet. I had a alight ae goaintanoi with him, aind he atoppi•,/ and rmoke to me. fie eakl, ' You will be glad to hear, Mr.  I  Payne. that itie slander under whioli I have beell labouring 10.4 114,11. damned.' " " Did you make any reply?. "I said la. very glad linked to !war it. • said Captain Everett, • I 1114.1 l to a`e my uncle, and (bar up matteni tu hi, sutsfaction; " W. that all th.it " I said I strongly wlvised hlm to do no at once, and to haw no tilllo about it; and the re.on I ellia so wan that tho DOM wilt disinhoriting Captain Everett was ready for exemition ; and I had Eltitended to semi it dud day to Dr. Itt‘lferit to to signed by him.. "ltd cm tell t hi. to Captain Everett" , "Certainly not," "But you etronel• ad, ised him to 0.1.0 his uncle at caw, and make hi+ peace with }Mar "I did. In fact I thought I ma.. rendering a seevice to both uncle and 11114140111 by doing