The Fatal Cigar.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1860, 26 February 1892, Page 4

The Fatal Cigar.

• Murder will out,' said Mr. Price Brindle as he lit a cigar and puffed at it vigourously, at the same time gazing at me keenly through the cloud of smoke he bad raised.

'Do you think so ?' I queried. • I know so,' was his emphatic reply. 4 There's no sach thing as a man having committed a crime escaping entirely. He may ran ecot-free for a month or a year, but sooner or later he is bound to be found out. Now, in the case of old Mr Jordan, one would hardly tbink to look for his murderer in his son-in-law, who seemed to love the old man as his own father.'

'There seems to be no doubt of the yonng man's guilt?' 'Not the least. An incautious word gave him away, and he is now in prison awaiting trial. lam sorry for bis poor wife; but what could she expect, marrying euoh a man as Jack Ferguson ? ' ' Such a mao as Jack Ferguson ?' ' Yes. He was a reformed gambler, if the truth has been told, and Madeline Jordan took her ducks to a poor market when she became the wife of Fergusoo. I came over, at her request, however, to see you, Mr. Deering. The poor young thing seems all broken up over the affair, and I don't wonder.'

'Do you think it necessary for a detective to look into the affair, Mr. Brindle ?'

'No, I don't think there's the least aae,' returned he. 'I am of the opinion that Fergnson will confess, or at any rate can be made to do so, if the case is worked op properly. That may be worth your time, captain.' ' I will come over,' said I. ' The inquest has not been held, I understand.' ' No ; at my request it has been stayed until you looked into the affair. I saw that the murderer was put in a safe place, however, pending an examination.' Price Brindle rose to his fret and bowed himself out leaving me to my reflections. He was a man of influence in the little city of Dorington, a member of a lainbrr dealing Arm that was supposed to bo wealthy. The sadden deat j of the senior member of the jflrin had startled the community, and when it was foand that a murder had been committed the wrath of Dariugton was deep indeed. I had been long located in the place, and was somewhat surprised at receiving a call from Mr. Brindle on the afternoon of the day of the murder. He explained that his partner had been fjund dead on the floor of his office adjoiniog his dwelling, with a knife in his heart. The old man's son-in-law bad quarreled with Jordan on the previous oay, aud bad been heard to utter threats. Moreover, the knife, a clasp affair, with a long, wicked blade, belonged to young Ferguson, and this together with tue fact that Ferguson had admitted quarreling with Jordan, led to hia being arrested for murder. Soonjafter the departure of I'rice Brindle I repaired to the scene cf the crirn?. I was admitted by Mr?. Ferguson, a bright pretty woman of less than twenty, whose face was pallid aud stained with tear?. • Oh, sir, Jack never did it, and you mast save him!' cried the young wife, a look of earnest entreaty in her brown eyes. I was touched at her grief, aud promised to do what I could in her husband's behalf. I entered the office, a small room adjoining one in which the dealer slept, he being a widower, his daughter acting as housekeeper. The body of the dead man lay on a bed in the room off fr>~>m the office.

Madeline did oot accompany me to this place, bat Mr. Brindle did. ' He was found jast here,' eiplainod

Brindle, pointing to the floor near the table, ' where be bad fallen oat of bis chair when the assassin plunged a knife o his heart.' I glacced keenly about—at the fl ;or, the chair, and the immediate 6urroundingf. Under the table was a Bpittoon in which lay the 6tamp of a half-bamcd cigar, and on the table was a bottle of wine.

The murdered man bad evidently been enjoying himself at the time he met his fate at the hand of an assassin. From the office I passed into the bedrcom and examined the daad. The knife-wound was plainly to be eeec, and I soon made an important discovery. There was no blood on the clothing of the murdered man, and I had noticed none in the office. Surely this was a little singular. As I passed back into the front room, I saw Price Brindle jast removing the spittoon from under the table. ' Leave that where it is,' I said sharply. ' Eh I What, sir ? ' The gentleman seemed astonished. 'Leave that spittoon where it is, Mr. Brindle,' I said; ' nothing must be disturbed till the inquest. You ought to know the custom in cases of this kind. Nothing must be disturbed in this rocm for the present.' ' I beg pardon,' said Mr. Brindle, apologetically. ' I have assumed charge since my partner's death, and supposed it would be all right to clean up the room a little, aut I realize that you are right, Mr. Deering. I see that you understand your business, and Madeline did right in Bnggesting jou as tho proper person to look into this affair.' We left the room in company. I interviewed the officer in charge, and then went to Mrs. Ferguscn. ' Have yju made any discoveries'?' she questioned at once. ' I think 60,' said I. 4 Tell me ' 'Not yet. You must tell me all you know about this sad affair, Mrs. Ferguson.' I then began questioning the young wife closely. Sbo admitted that her father and husband had quarrelled. Mr. Jordan was a man of violent temper, and often had hot wcrda with those in his employ. On the previous jevgning the two had sat till a late hour, smoking and chatting in the office. ' Had they any quarrel list night ? ' • None that I am aware of; in fact, I am sure the meeting was a pleasant one,' assured the woman. ' When Jack was leaving, a stranger called at the office, and my husband left tho two together.' ' Indeed I Did you see the stranger ? ' ' Yes I saw him go down the street in te moonlight. I had a bad toothache, taxd was ap attending to it. Jack was

snoring then, and I know he did not leave oar room till morning.' ' Who discovered the tragedy ?' ' One of the servants.' ' And then your husband was arrested?' ' Yes, he was arrested. I tbink Mr. Brindle pointed him oat to the eißoers.'

' What sort of a man is this Brindle ? ' 1 A gentleman, sir; but he is mistaken when he acouses Jack.'

1 Perhaps. Did the stranger whom yoa saw leave the oflho at a lata boar last night resemble Mr. Brindle ?' 'Not ia the least. Jack says he hal a heavy bear J. Oj, no sir, Mr. Brinlleis a gentleman, and would not wrong anybody intentionally.' ' Perhaps not.' I questioned her minutely about her father's relations with different men. She could give m? no information about her father's visitor, bat requested me to see Jack, who had seon him in the fall glare of the office lamp. Once more I returned to the office, and made it a point to secure two things, the spittoon and the bottle of wine. I had a theory which I determined to carry oat immediately. I The bottle of wine and caspidor I secreted in a paper, and carried them both to a chemist, who was a personal friend. Leaving the articles with him, I turned my steps towards the city prison. I found Jack Ferguson, a young man of good address and frank fa?e, yet deeply distressed over his nnfortnnate position. He had little to offer save that he was innoceat. The knife found in his employer's heart was his, bat it had been stolen from him a long time before the tragic night. As to the stranger, ha hal never seen him before, and even Mr. Jordan seemed not to know him. ' He was very chatty, however, and offered cigars to both Mr. Jordan and myself.' 4 Did yoa accept one ?' ' Yes.' ' And smoked it ?' 1 No; I was just going oat, and put the cigar in my pocket.' 1 Where is it now ?' 1 In my coat at home.' 4 Very good.' A little lator I left him, and quickly repaired to the chemist. ' What luck, Will ? ' 4 The wine is all righ'.' ' And the spittoon ? ' ' I'll tell yon,' and my friend bent forward and whispered a word in my ear. 4 1 thought so,' I 6aid, with a start. The chemist was curious, and I had to enlighten him as to my l*t»>st case. I had everything iu readiness for the inquest, which wis hell the next morning. I made myself known to the coroner at the onset, and had learned from Mrs. Forguson her whole family history, and such other things as I deemed necessary. The first wituess cilled was young Fergusoo, who gave au account <jf that last evening with his oiupl .yer. S lice the young unn was tin ler nrrest his testiiuooy wis taken with a decree of allowauce on the part of the jury. He told of the coming of the stranger, a man with au immense beard, who professed to know Mr. Jordan, and who seemed a good-natured fellow indeed, since he offered cigars at once. The next witness was Madeline. corroborated that part cf the story her husband told relating to the stranger, and I could see this had au influence on the jury. I took it upon myself to ask a good many questions. Tho moat important witness was y*t to come, however, in tho person of the mnrdered man's partner. 110 was cool and collected enough when ho eutered the witness-box. After tho coroner had brought out the fact ! that it was Ferguson's knife foan lin the heart of the murdered man, I took the i witness in hand. ' How long have you been in partnership with Mr. Jordan ? ' My fmt question was one easily answered, which led to others of a preliminary nature. 4 Now, Mr. Brindle, it is your opinion that your late partner came to his death from the kuife-wound ? ' 4 Of course. How else coald it be ? ' he asked quickly. 4 We will get at that soon,' I said. 4 Now, sir, if the knife caused Jordan's death, what became of the blood? I foand none on the floor, nor any ia or about the murdered man's clothing.' I regarded the wituess keenly. 4 He must have bled internally,' was Brindle's reply. ' Wonld it be possible to stab a man to the heart and not draw a drop of blood to the oatside ? ' I asked.

' I do not know, sir.' ' But I know. It would be impossible,' I said sharply. • Well it may bo. I cannot judge,' returned tho witness. ' I am 6tire the kuife was found in Mr. Jordan's heart, and, as it belongs to Jack Ferguson, that is evidence to me that he is the murderer.'

' Now, don't jump at conclusions Mr. Brindle. We do not care for your opinion ou the case just now. You will simply answer questions put to you,' I said curtly.

' I am ready to answer, sir.' ' Very well. Au expert surgeon has held a post-mortem ou tho remains, and he asserts that Mr. Jordan was stabbed after life was extinct.' I bent and regardeJ Brindlo keenly. I saw his faco blanch, and believe he trembled. ' What is this to me ? ' ho said firmly. ' You will soon discover.' ' I did not come here to bo insulted.'

Tho man was getting on his dignity, and it pleased me. ' You shall not be insulted,' I said. We only seek the truth, and so are sifting matters. Now, Mr. Brindle, tell the jury who the Btrange man was who visited Mr. Jordan on the night of the murder.'

' I know nothing about biin.' • Are you sure ? ' 'lam Dot ill the habit of being doubted, Mr. Deering,' suappel the witness, angrily. The man was loeiDg his temper, a fact which pleased me not a little. I would 60on have him at a good advantage. 4 1 suppose not,' I returned,' but I beg to differ with you as regards this stranger. However, let him drop. Do you recognise this ?' I suddenly presented a morocco cfgarcase to the gaze of the witness. He glared a moment and then put out bis hand. ' It is mine,' he said. 'Exactly.' I now turned to the jury and said

' Gentlemen, this cigar-case was found in Price Briudle's pocket, the pocket of a coat worn on the night of the marder. It bas been jasc r lined that Mr. Jordan died before be was stabbed, and the stamp of a cigar foand ia the spittoon in Jordan's offioe, being analyzed, is fonnd ti contain a most subtle poison. The stranger who vUited J jrdon on that fatal night passe 1 cigars, and one of them Jaok Ferguson took, but did not smoke. That, too, bas been analyzed; it contained the same subtle drug. Itjis evident that a double murder was contemplated.' Profound si!euoa reigned while I made he announcement. Tiie face of Mr. Prioe Brindle was very white. At length he said:

• Whit is this to mo ? I o&n't &ee that this helps Jack Ferguson.' • I'll tell yon,' I cried, taming upoa him with a pieroing look. ' Tue plot to remove both Mr. Jordan .land Jack Fergua&n has failed. Tue] poisoned cigar that the former smoked oame oat of this morocco oase. The cigars remaining here contain the same deadly drug, and yon acknowledge the case and cigars to be yonra, Price Brindle ?' White ai a ghost, the witness gasped • The case is mine bnt not the cigars. It is a plot to rain me.' 'Oh, no, it is not,' I said, suddenly producing a huge false beard, 4 This you wore on the night of the murder, Mr. Brindle. The evidence ia complete. You are tho narderer!'

His white lips parted, but no souad came forth. With a gasp he slipped from his chair in a dea l faint. Price confessed his crime soon after. His motive was twofold. His partner's daughter had refused him and married Jack Ferguson ; and he, Brindle, was an embezzler, having robbed the firm for some time, and, fearing detection, he planned the murdsr. Failing to kill Ferguson, = an afterthought attempt fixing the crime on the young mao. Brindle died in prison soon after the confession.