The Cotton Factory Times. — 1898-11-11 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

CHAPTER %XXV.  FEAR BEGETS SUICIDE.  Tom Biggs gave Mrs. Crenshaw credit for far more cunning than she really possessed, and built up an elaborate scheme for bringing home to her the guilt of the detestable crime she had undoubtedly attempted. In the company of Jack Spencer, who was horrified at the discovery, but begged that it might for the present, at least, be kept from the knowledge of his Collsul, Tom Biggs went to the cottage, and was introduced to Mrs. Croushaw as an old friend of Miss Spencer's. "Your cottage seems to be the oldest around here, Mrs. Crenshaw ?" the detective remarked, gazing at a beam across the ceiling of the room in which they sat. "You are right, sir. Old Betty Miller, who lives at the cottage near the old turnpike house, can remember when this cottage was the only one between the turnpike and the town." "You have a nice bit of garden behind; may I have e look round ?" "There is nothing to see, sir; nothing will grow here now. Too much smoke, they say." Ignoring her evident wish to keep him from "looking ronnd,"Biggs went out at the back door and walked straight to the old well. "What can he want poking down in that corner, Mr. Spencer ?" asked Mrs. Crenshaw, in a vexed tone. " Illy friend is a detective, Mrs. Crenshaw, and he wishes to see that old well, from which he saw you drawing water last night." "It's a lie! I haven't used any water from that well for more'n twenty year !" said the woman, excitedly, but with a face pale as death itself. "But he saw you, Mrs. Crenshaw, and can describe the jug you fetched it in; the identical jug I have seen on the table of my cousin's bedside. It will be a very serious matter you, Mrs. Crenshaw. My cousin has always been kind to you; why should you try to murder her ?" The accused woman rose hurriedly from her chair, and was about to go upstairs. "Not yet, Mrs. Crenshaw. If I am not greatly mistaken, some of the water from that polluted well is at this moment by my cousin's side. What had you to gain by the death of your lodger? If you fancied I would then marry your niece you have been terribly mistaken. Tell me truthfully who put this notion into your head, and if my cousin is willing, we will forgive you, provided she recovers. But if she dies, you shall swing on the gallows, as sure as you sit there, you murderous old wretch." "I know nothing of what you are talking about !" she replied, doggedly, with set lips. At that moment Biggs came in, and looking inquiringly at Jack Spencer. "The case will have to goon: she says she knows nothing about it." "Then we must apply for a warrant, and have her arrested. Do you go and tell the nurse to throw away all water and everything made from water she may have in the bedroom, except what is in the blue jug; bring that down with you. I think it will be evidence sufficient for our purpose. The constables outside, back and front, will take care she does not escape." Jack Spencer fetched the jug of lemon water, and the detective having emptied it into a bottle, took it sway with him. Mrs. Crenshaw sat for a few moments with her face bowed almost to her knees; then she staggered across the room, and went upstairs. Jack did not attempt to prevent or follow her: he knew she could not escape. Half-an-hour elapsed, and then, accompanied by a sergeant and a constable, Biggs returned. "She is upstairs," said Jack Spencer. The sergeant went up, and found the back bedroom fastened on the inside. But the door was not a strong one, and after vainly calling for admittance, he forced the door open by a thrust of his shoulder. " Erni I So she has cheated justice !" he said to himself, as his eyes fell upon a hanging figure in the farthest corner. "Yes—she is quite dead. Ah! She has been writing." A scrap of paper, written on with pencil, had on it the following "It was Mrs. Worrell, at Number 13, who told me that Mr. Spencer would marry my niece Nellie if his cousin was out of the way. She is a bed woman ! May the curse of Heaven light on her.—