A Conflict of Evidence

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1314, 1 May 1905, Page 4

A Conflict of Evidence

• CHAPTER XV MR BABNBS ON HIS MEWLS . y . ; . (Continued) He therefore. Went to the mill and asked for the ram who had the care of the (luices, From Mm he learned that they had been; closed on the night of the murder, and then persuaded him to have them closed ihis evening also, bo that tho conditions might be the same. Leaving the vicinity ottho mill ho went back.to Biverside and enjoyed his supper with Miss Lewis, After tho meal he said—- " Where is Mr Lewis ? Is he not stayling here?" " He accepted an invitation to visit the Squire to-night." * , " All the better; the fewer people who know what I do to-night, the more pleased I shall be. Now then I want a suit of jour uncle's olothing; old ones wilt do." "I will get what you want." Virginia left the room, returning a few minutes later with some. olotbihg, The detective ■ placed the articles in a pail of water, allowing them to become thoroughly wet before he removed them, Next he. rolled them into a compact bundle, which he tied securely, A " lain now ready for my experiment. My idea is to go to tho triage and throw that bundle over, as Marvel claims that he did, and then see what become oi it, I am sorry that I. cannot- ask him at just what point lie did this, but I must do tho best I can, without his knowledge. The probability .is, that he tossed the bundle v over: as Boon as ho got on tlie bridge, and with his right hand. Therefore he would have thrown it over on tho side nearest the d»m. At any rate, that is ■ what I shall do." " I see what your idea is, and am anxious to have, the experiment tried. Shall wo go at once ?" . '" No. I cannot tell what difference the hour may make on the currents, and; so many, .days after, they, may be totally different. .Besides, I wish if possible to see Everly, and I tkink he vill return, before eleven o'clook." rf "iou will wait till that hour?" " Yes. lou left. Marvel at the river and reached your room at 10.30. Ho came here after that, then went to his own house and back to 'the; bridge, where be must have arrived at or about 1130." The evening passed slowly, moat of the time being consumed by these two in a discussion of the subject which absorbed their minds, until, at about a quarter to eleven, a horse's hoofs sounded without, and a moment later. ihey were joined by Will Everly. "Well," said the detective, "what news?" , "Ifound Ainsley, and through him was enabled to seo the locket." "Very good I What is the inscription ?" '• Simply' W.M.'; the word'to' does not appear, and tho letters are so close together there is no chance that it over was there. It occurred to me that it may bave been, and; bscome worn out, bui that is impossible." A's this hope was dispelled, Virginia seemed much disappointed, • What do you think now, Mr. Barnes ?" said she. " This is discouraging, is it not?"

; "Do yon know if your mother had more than one name ?" . " I oupot bo certain, bull never heard of any othor except Matilda." t' ; ." Still she may hive had others, and it \ may have, been 1 Winona' or some other. . ■ with; W.' for the initial.; Wo must look . thttt up. ' Now we wili start on the other . errand. Mr, Etrerly, you may come with .. us if you wish. We ore going to try to . recover the clothes which Marvel says he threw over the bridge." " I should like !o go with yon, but I - doubt if ycu will succeed,, Young Mr. Lewis inaugurated a regular search, and besides I went myself and looked thorough, ly more than onco since the inquest. I think I should hayo made up a bundle for them to find, only I could not supply the locket which he said is in the pocket." "Nol No I We must not resort to manufacturing any evidence, If Marvel ts guilty he must suffer, but if he is innocont he must be saved. Let us work only * for the. truth." So saying he took up the bundle of wet clothing and stapted. 1 "Virginia and Everly followed in silence, neither of them relishing the last speech of tbs detcct-ivcj however just they knbw it to be. The trio soon reached their destination, and Mr. Barnes stopped at a point yiiear tho rail. . "Here," said he, "if my calculations are correct, is the placo from which I think Marvel must have thrown his bundle. I will now explain to you : what I expect will happen, I.have soaked my bundle, because hii was wet. If dry, tho clothes would float nearor •to tho surface of the water, and would soon •be hurried, over the dam, as the current here is very / ..rapid, .. . But being wet, and therefore more ' weighty, this bundle will float below the surface, jf at all;" His companions listen- ; ed with much interest, Ho continued: "I will now commence my experiment. ■ Fortunately the -moon is bright and we v can see easily. First, I will take a pieco of wood." He looked about, arid soon i found a large heavy piece of timber near the saw-mill. Approaching the rail he said! Now I will this over, and you will see that it will be carried, first, against the boarding which projects above' the , : . lovel, and then be swept, towards the centre, and over," He let it drop, and the

By Eodrigues Ottoleugui Author of "An Artist in Crime."

tosi'll; was exactly as ho bad predicted. "That muoli was easily foreseen, But my next limy not be so accurate, for it is bin a surmise on my part. Mv idea is this. That wood went over readily, Bat with a bivndio of clothing it may bo different, Jf it is first I alien against the projecting portion, and then drawn towards the centre it will go over moro slowly than if carried directly. Now if ibe woighc is siiflioietit to hold it somo distance below the snrfaco, and there are any rapgtd edges to the woodwork of the dam, tho cloth would most likoly catch on them. In that case it would not fall into tie stream below, but would remain sus* pended, finally dropping into the space under the darn. Mr Everiy, you go around to the other Bido, so that in case it dooß go ovor you can seo whero the currents take it," To be cintinuci