Year: 1873

I have worked up many hard cases,
and have cornered many notorious Grim
inals, but never, before or since, have
engaged in case so complicated, or one
which was SO hard to clear up, as that
Stuart -Firstone murder case.


You know the Stuarts We're very
healthy, and the old man had only two
sons, Cecil and Gilbert; outlandish names
they had, to be sure, but they were very
proud of them, at least the younger one.
As I said, he had only two to bother him,
and to these, of course, he gave the bulk
of his property. Cecil was cripple,
the result of being dropped by careless
nurse in infancy.


Gilbert, the younger of the two, was
early known to all the sports as a jolly
good fellow, partly because he would al
ways stand treat, and would play bill
liards and such games; and yet lie was
never known to win when playing for a
wager. In this manner he sustained his
reputation of being a free-and-easy fell
low. But in the meantime his property
was steadily decreasing until, at last, his
share-which, in the first place, would
have been more than enough for men
like you and me-dwindled down to an
insignificant sum, and he had to look in
some other direction for money to pay
his gaming debts. He had often ap-
Piled to his brother for aid, and had of
ten obtained it, together with good ad-
vice, which he promised to heed, but
never did -


Cecil was always very studious, and had
surrounded himself with all the old
fashioned books that he could hear of or
obtain. And on account of his lameness
this kind of company had a charm for
him that we Ill good health would not
feel.


Cecil was always very lenient toward
his erring brother; but at last hearing
from every source of his scrapes, he was
compelled, by sense of duty, to re-
solve to refuse his application for aid.
And it was not long before he had to test
his resolution, for Gilbert, after an call
night of it at gaming saloon, came to
him and begged for more money Cecil
reasoned with him, and with tears in his
eyes begged that he would quit his wild
habits. But all was of no avail, and he
was compelled, much against his broth.
erly feelings, to refuse him the aid he
sought. At this Gilbert few into 6
frenzy of rage and left the house, swear
ing that he would get the money in some
manner.


As he was walking homeward, feeling
anything but pleasant, he saw his dead
hest enemy riding with a young lady, t.
whom he had been paying attention fol
some time, but who now gave him th'
"cut direct" Maddened at this, h,
rushed into saloon near by, and calling
for whisky he swallowed glassful in al
instant, then went home and called hi
bosom friend and counselor TO him.


Albert Firstone, the friend, was bro
ken-down gambler; man who had spen
fortune on the turf, and WIS now nom
inally acting as jockey for Gilbert Stu
art, but was in reality his confederate il
schemes of robbery, and, as the seque
VII show, of murder. These two friendl
were closeted together for a long while
and time showed the result Of their con
Terence, though 1 would not spoil m,
story by revealing too soon their nefari
Gus designs.


vi course You remember the excite
nent in the uptown circles when tn
news OF Cecil Stuart's murder was cir
cualted, and the astonishment of ever,
one when it was known thst his bod
had been found in the coal cellar o
hoger Lyons brown-stone palace Az
constituent was increased manifold b
.he intelligence that Roger Lyon ha
oeen arrested and charged with the Grim
OF murder. +


Although but lew were intimately &C
quainted with Cecil Stuart, and scarce
~ large circle barely knew him as


We y eccentric man, yet the crime bein