SHORT STORY. THE GREAT " LABEL " CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 50

SHORT STORY. THE GREAT " LABEL " CASE.

I. " Captain Halliwell, I want to introduce you to a, young lady who is very anxious to make your acquaintance." My hostess led the way across the drawiug room to a dark, exquisitely lovely girl. , I She watched us eagerly, and -without waiting for any introduction sprang to her feet and said : "Are you Captain Halliwell?" I admitted the truth of the charge. " I am Edna Doughty," she said, with a slight air of defiance. "Edna Doughty?" I said, holding out my hand. "I am proud to meet you." The name of Edna Doughty was in everybody's mouth in connection with what ■the papers called " The Great .' Label ' Case." Lord Epworth was found dead in his bed. It transpired that he was secretly addicted to the practice of taking chloral. He had received a bottle by post from Messrs Perott and Menson, the well-known chemists, from whom he usually obtained it, and had taken one dose out of it, a moderately strong one. It killed him. It was taken for granted at first that his death was either the result of accident or a case of suicide. But, at the inquest, Messrs Perott and Menson positively denied having sent the bottle to Lord Epworth. It was certainly wrapped up in their label, and packed in' one of their boxes. But they had not sent it. The label was, of course, examined. It bore the postmark " Hampstead. 3.15 p.m. 7-8-97." It was obviously improbable that Messrs Perott and Menson, whose place of business is in Bond street, would post medicine in Hampstead. The chloral was analysed, and pronounced a strong poison. Lord Epworth had been poisoned, and the crime hud been committed by somebody who was perfectly acquainted with his habits. So far as was known this narowed the circle to about 10 persons — his household servants and a few relatives. The question arose, who would benefit by his death? He was a married man, but separated from his wija. She had been an actress in her youth, and had a handsome allowance from her husband, whom she had not seen for 15 years. Lord Epwortli's estate was immense. The family property, which was of great value, would pass to his nephew, Dalton Humphrey, a man who was Avell known and very popular in society. It was on him that public attention was fixed. His uncle made him a very small allowance, and he was known to be in financial difficulties. The death of his uncle would make him a rich man. further inquiries produced two starfcUgjt,

revelations — the handwriting on the label closely resembled Mr Humphrey's, but appeared to be disguised ; also, Mr Humphrey had certainly purchased a bottle of chloral three days before his uncle's death, and ifc had been' sent to him from Messrs Perotfc and Menson's establishment by post. Doubtless he had removed the wrappings carefully', substituted the poison, replaced tho wrappings, and sent it to his uncle, knowing that it. would be consumed without suspicion.

In addition to this, Mr Humphrey Avas known to have played golf at Hampstead on August 8, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon—the time the package was posted. He Avas, of course, arrested. He seemed to be somewhat dazed Avhen the- Avarranfc was read to him, but not exactly surprised, and said :

''Well, it served the brute right! "- In the teeth of such evidence, and what sounded like an admission of guilt, it w.is difficult for his best friends to oelieve him innocent.

But one person believed :n: n him in spite of all, although he seemed not to believe in himself — the girl he was engaged to, Miss Edna Doughty. She was a wealthy girl,- and considered one of the "catches" of the season. In spite of all protests and -arguments, she stood by her- lover, and testified her complete confidence in him.

Public opinion was unanimous — Dalton Humphrey Avas guilty of a most treacherous and coAvardly murder, and altogether unworthy of such a trump of a girl as Miss Doughty. As for her, for the moment she was the popular idol. I must explain, too, that her reason fir desiring to knoAV me Ayas that at a country house Avhere I was visiting a few months previously I had been instrumental in clearing up a family scandaL

11. Miss Doughty wanted my help. Would I join hands with her in clearing Dalton Humphrey? She could tell 'me nothing about the case beyond what the papcis leported, as the accused was obstiaalely silent. All she could say, with tears in hep eyes, .was that she believed him innocent.

At the bottom of my heart I firmly lelieved in the man's guilt. But it was impossible to refuse .the request of such a noble-minded girl. Our first and greatest difficulty was the prisoner himself. He would answer no questions and render no assistance. ■ All he would say was :

'"I don't care. Let them do what they like."

I felt it was not quite fair to infer the worst from this obstinacy. It might not arise from a consciousness of guilt. It is conceivable that a man's mind might be somewhat unhinged at the gravity of 'the charge. .

I examined the evidence carefully. The handwriting • on the label certainlyresembled his, but not so exactly as to. be conclusive. , - ' The question.' was, 'who,w,ould or could imitate it? Was it ione out" ojE malice? Above all, was it possible that Tdiere was a "woman, in' the . -case'? ' Someone, perhaps, who was jealous of Miss Doughty. . I. knew, many .of. bis , friends, and made careful inquiries",' but could iind no reason to suspect anyone of conspiring againsfc him. But one curiojis fact was, elicited. Humphrey had left a" West End club afc 10 minutes past 3on August 8. He drove to Hampstead in a 'cab, and arrived at the links late. • „ If that was the case, how could he have posted' .the package at '3.15? ~ - ' It was • an odd discrepancy, but not by any means sufficient to clear Kirn. A cunning man might have arranged things so. . I obtained- a- photograph of' the label,, and distributed copies amongst his friends. But accident suggested a curious possibility. A friend of mine was interested in a "benefit" which -was being -organised for an old actor.- -

He called to let me kpow how it was progressing. ' ' ■ . ,: " I have had such a bit of luck," he said. " I wrote to Lady Epworth. When she was. on. the stage she was a "pal' of old. Burrows, and I thought. perha.ps she might fork out a fiver. However, to'-'my surprise, the, old screw ' has sem^ - five-and-twenty pounds. Here's her lettefr." While reading her letter I noticed that there was, at any rate, .'some resemblance between her writing and that' on the label. It seemed v tq me that the writing" on the label was about 'midway between that of Lady Epworth and Dalton Humphrey. If he had' tried to imitate her handwriting or she bad, tried to imitate his, one could imavgine that this would be the result. 1 submitted the three specimens to an ex* pert. ' His report was unfavourable. In his opinion the addresses had not been written by Lady Epworth. He was satisfied that the label was addressed by the person — whoever he was — who had written the third • specimen.'- That, person was, of course, the accused. Messrs Perott and Menson. told me that they knew Lady Epworth by /sight, bub had never seen . her- ia [the shop; "and I began to lose what little confidence I had ever had in the case. But not so Miss Doughty. She didn't believe "experts," nor in fact anybody who had anything to say against Mr Humphrey, and suggested we should try another interview with him..

At' first he was as obstinately silent as ever, but I mentioned the discrepancy in the time of posting. Instantly his attention was aroused."Do you mean to say," he said bitterly, " that you don't take it for granted that I am guilty? " "I don't take anything for granted," I replied sharply. " And if you' would only pull yourself together like a man we might do some good." '' What can I do? " he said, colouring. " Answer a few questions. Whom do you suspect? " " Nobody. It is that which bewilders me.

What about your aunt? Would sh.e benefit by Lord E»wor^> d.e*lM*

■i

" Indirectly she would," he said, thoughtfully. "When my uncle married he was •wildly in love, and made extravagant settlements." "But she has an annual allowance?" I said. "Yes; but she doesn't always get it," he said, with a smile, " because Epworth's affairs were in such a pickle. But now that lie is dead nobody could prevent her stepping into a large property." "What kind of a woman is she? " "A thoroughly bad lot," was the prompt "Does she know your handwriting?'" I &sked. " Certainly. She has had lettei-s from me." This gave us something to work on. further conversation brought to, light the fact that there lived with Lady Epworth a Miss Denton, who seemed to be half lady's maid, half companion. Humphrey said he believed she was a relation — probably a sister. It was possible that, although Lady Epworth herself had never entered Perott and Menson's shop, her creature might have done so. With some difficulty I procured a photograph of this Miss Denton, and, placing it ■ amongst a number of others, took it to Messrs Perott and Menson. They picked it out immediately. The - lady was a -regular customer. She purchased chloral. They knew her name, and she gave the address of a small shop in Lady Epworth's neighbourhood. Moreover, they had transmitted through the post a bottle of chloral to the woman a few days before Lord Epworth's death. She or Lady Epworfch had evidently imitated Humphrey's handwriting, watched his movements, and posted the poison at a time when suspicion would inevitably fall on him. Having proceeded so far with the case, I now thought it right to hand it over to his solicitors to complete it, as I had no wish 10 yose as n, detective. ?vfr Bennett, instead of- consulting the police and taking steps to have the women arrested, or at any rate watched, simply wrote to Lady Epworth, requesting her to ca'l at his office. Evidently she and her "lady's maid"' took alarm, for the effect was startlingly tragic. Next morning London was electrified to learn that Lady Epworth had died by poisoning by her own hand, and her accomplice had disappeared. The expert on handwriting had blundered, as experts sometimes do ; but we had no difficulty in obtaining Humphrey's release at tho next magisterial. inquiry. There v/as, however, still one 'point which had not been cleared up, and in Miss Doughty's presence I put two questions to him. "Why had he purchased a bottle of chloral, and, above all, why had he tacitly admitted his guilt? " His answer was a painful one.

"I have been secretly addicted to the habit of taking chloral for the last three years,"' he said. "I suppose the tendency is hereditary. Nobody knew of it, and I was constantly trying to break myself. When I was arrested I was more or less under its influence, and scarcely knew what I was saying. But when I found myself in gaol on a charge of murder, I honestly believed myself guilty. I believed I had been out of my mind."

I won't dwell on the scene that followed. Humphrey declared that this experience had cured him of the vice, and pledged his word of honour never to give way again, and he has kept his promise.

I fear the account that I have given of the affair has necessarily shown him in a bad light. But he is really "one of the best," and I know no happier people, than tht, present Lord and Lady Epwortb.

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