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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1935-09-26, Page 6Iveleeilleteitee IVO RCG )RDE MI T• DOPPE •4/• Rankin's eyes widened in surprise, "Deserting?" he repeated. "Of course —that would explain his secrecy about his past and why he destroy- ed the evidence that he was ever in the service. He wasn't caught, was he?" "No, he evidently escaped success- fully." "I suppose that's his picture, on the next page," the detective observed. "Yes, the ane that was taken at San Diego." Mr. Roche held out the pamphlet. Rankin reached for it eagerly enough, but without anticipating the shockthat followed. Suddenly, at the sight of the features staring at him from the portrait, he gasped. Exper- ienced as he was in his investigation of crime, he could not control his as- tonishment. The passage of eight years was insufficient to prevent his recognition of the face in the picture. Such was his overwhelming amaze- ment that Mr. Roche eyed him won- deringly. "What in the world is the matter, Mr. Rankin?" he demanded hurried- ly. "You're not. ill, I hope?' You act as if you'rre acquainted with the man." The detective wiped his brow, 'That's just it, I am. But it's absol- utely incredible; for the life of me I can't understand how it can be pos-. sible. You see—" In time, he recalled how little Mr. Roche knew of the true reason he sought the ex -soldier. "He's a notorious second -storey man and is Wanted badly in many cities," `' Vith this revelation, he grasped in one fell swoop all the elaborate mech- anism of the murder. At one mo- ment he was blindly following his nose; the next, every piece of a com- plicated and ingenious puzzle, the sheer originality of which he had not even dreamed, fell into place. He •needed no more information from the marine records. Now he knew how the crime had been engineered and when it was committed. He perceived all the subtle safeguards by which the murderer prevented suspicion from lighting on him, the daring that re- vealed his perverted mind. Always ready to allow his opponent due cre- dit, Rankin appreciated his plot, as brilliant and audacious as any he had ever encountered. The measure of its success was the completeness with which it had baffled him until this very moment. With the solution con- fronting him at every turn, he had been a victim, throughout the case, of a cunning with which he could not cope. His only consolation lay in the fact that back in Philadelphia he already possessed his quarry's fingerprints. Hence, even without the photograph., lie would eventually have discovered Dennis' identity at Headquarters, when he compared his prints with. those he took early in the investiga- tion. Yet, despite his information and certainty, he lacked positive proof of the cirrriinal's guilt. Not one iota of his evidence was more than circum- stantial nor could it be established directly. Though he could show the man's motives and opportunity, and a dozen suspicious moves, they had on- ly the force of suppositions. Dennis had no eyewitnesses to positive acts that linked hire inescapably to Bar- bara Keith's death. So incriminating were the circumstances that Rankin depended on them alone to convict him; but he was not satisfied. He wanted to leave no loophole by which the man might escape and this he could accomplish only with some tes- timony that brought the deed straight home to hien. While he continued his conversa- tion with Mr. Roche, Rankin's 'mind raced in search of some fact that would close his net. Step by step he reviewed every transaction of the criminal, his preparations, precautions and final act; and each detail of the. plot he discarded as being incapable of direct proof. That is, until he con- sidered Dennis' purchase of the chlor- oform. In obtaining that, he commit- ted a distinctly incriminatipg act, which lent overwhelming significance to the purely circumstantial evidence.. The difficulty was that, despite a thorough canvassing of all city drug- gists, Rankin's assistants had thus far been unable to trace it. Unless his quarry had never bought the drug at ala The idea, that oc- curred to the detective at that instant caused hien to breaf off his converse- tion with Mr, Roche, Suddenly he had recalled an item of information that Mortimer Keith had casually dropped early in the case. At the time lie could attach no importance to it, and quiiek- ly forgot it; now it suggested a start- ling possibility that made hire stiffen sines breathe excitedly as he pondered it. He did not believe some one else bought the chloroform for Dennis; that was too great a risk. And if he figured wrongly, he could fall back on the canvas of the city, though that would delay the final ',ar- rest. In one conclusion he had faith. Sooner or later, if he followed tle: man's movements during the entire two weeks prior to the tragedy, he would discover the source of the weapon he used. The detective immediately acted on his theory and decision. As soon as he finished his business with the sec- retary, he returned to the Union Sta- tion and at 6:15 caught a train. for Philadelphia. Three hours later the train deposit- ed him in Broad Street Station and he went directly to City Hall to com- plete the necessary formalities. Then armed with the warrant, he departed and walked briskly down Broad Street to Pine. Here he turned, and just past 16th Street he stopped before a bleak- ly respectable brownstone house, four stories high. The lower windows were dark; but a brass shingle on one front sill—"Dr., Anton Brantman"—indicat- ed that one of the most eminent spec- ialists in ailments of the head lived there. Though, it was long after office hours, Rankin rang the bell. Five minutes elapsed before footsteps echo- ing along the stairs announced Dr. Brantman's approach. Without any comment he led Ran- kin into the lofty waiting room for patients. Rankin apologized for the intru- sion and then came directly to the point. His first query caused Dr. Brantman to shake a solemn head and I enter." He drew out a whistle, bor- tighten his lips with a sigh. rowed from one of the officers. "Now "Yes, I was well acquainted with don't interefere unless I blow this," Mrs. Keith," he replied; "I treated he continued. "I expect I can manage her for -headaches . . . A dreadful him by myself; but he'll be desper- business that." He paused and made ate, so stand by, ready in case he is WINGH,AM ADVANCE -TIMES' ;MOM* EIAOTIt*pee More pallid than usual, he stepped behind the screens The detective lo- cated the bottle. "I fear that you are right, after all, Mr. Rankin," he an- nounced gravely. The amounts don't check at all; fshould have seven oun- ces left. Even if my judgment is on- ly roughly correct, at least four ounc- es are missing," Fifteen minutes later, with the evi- dence upon which he relied and Dr. Brantman as a witness, the detective left the house on Pine Street. On the warrant in his pocket he had filled in the criminal's name. His eyes glist- ened With excitement as he summon- ed a taxi. Experienced as he was in the pursuit of wrongdoers, he would have been less than human not •to be stirred by this momentous occasion. He gave the cabman directions as be climbed in. "And on the way," he directed, "if you notice a cop,stop so I can pick hini up." The taximan obeyed. Near 44th St. two uniformed men stood on the cor- ner, conversing, and the taxi drew up to them. Rankin beckoned them in; and by the time he had identified him- self and explained what he expected of them, they reached their destina- tion. It was an exclusive, somewhat ele- gant red -brick apartment house, L- shaped, each of its wings having a separate entrance. The detective dis- missed the cab and selected the en- trance into the left wing, in the vesti- bule of which he paused at the letter boxes. He indicated one. "That's the one we want, boys—three-C, third floor," he declared. "Now remember your orders — to stay out of sight while or lWide News Brief F On Italy Protests London—Officials expressed sur- prise at a'report that Italy would pro- test to the League of Nations against British naval movements in the Aged,' iterranean War talk in other Cap- itols was labelled preposterous. Of- ficial declarations that "We have no quarrel with Italy" were again heard in Whitehall, which has been at pains in the past few days to curb sensa- tional reports growing out of Italian irritation at the Mediterranean move- ments. • ..,_..�4 �,,� No Price Fixing of Beer Toronto—Price-fixing proposals in the retail beer trade widely mooted in the past month -- were vetoed by Liquor Control Commissioner E. G. Odette. The Liquor Control Board, the commissioner announced, is not going to try ,to enforce a price on beer by the bottle or beer by the bless. Limits on the size of beer glasses also go by the board. King's Son to be Married Nov. 6th Balmoral, Scotland—The wedding of the Duke of Gloucester, third son of the King, to Lady Alice Montagu - Douglas -Scott, will take place in Westminster Abbey on Nov. 6, it was officially announced. The ceremony will follow closely that used in the wedding of the Duke of Kent to Prin- cess Marina of Greece. Details have been arranged by the King, the Queen, the Duke and his fiancee. Selassie's Soldiers Shout for War Addis Ababa—Emperor Hails Sel- assie inspected the feudal lords, chief- tains and soldiers who were to serve him in the event of war. Grizzled warriors attired in lion -skin capes, their heads fringed with the manes of lions, trooped into the palace with a tremendous roar, brandishing their weapons and shouting for war. They proclaimed their devotion to the Em- peror. Italy to go Ahead Without Help London—A survey of Italy's pros- pects of financing a war against Eth- iopia disclosed that private financial sanctions have already been virtually applied against Rome by other Eur- opean nations, In Rome, a spokesman for the Italian Government, said Italy was able and ready to go ahead with its program "without economic help from any one." War Rumor Affects Securities New York -Securities prices reeled in Wall Street under the impact of the heaviest selling in more than a year as tension increased over the It- alo-Ethiopian impasse. Rankin advanced to the apartment .door and boldly seized the brass knocker commiserating sounds. "Only I don't think it was Wednesday evening, May twenty-fourth, that she consulted me last; it was several days later." He went with Rankin into his pri- vate office. "Yes, I am right." He pointed a finger at a scrawled, almost illegible notation, "Here it is, two days later, at eight -thirty p.m., on Friday, May twenty-sixth." "Of course, doctor, that fits in per- fectly, after all," declared Rankin. "She couldn't have visited you Wed- nesday. She was accompanied, wasn't she, Dr. Brantman?" At the physician's reply, his face lighted with a half smile of confi- door and boldly seized the brass dence. After that more eagerly and knocker. rapidly he began to put his questions, (Concluded Next Week) insistently pressing upon Dr. Brant - man his startling inspiration. Finally, the doctor could no longer contain his uneasiness. "I don't doubt Mr. Rankin, that what you suggest is possible," he admitted. "My nurse, Miss Vickers, wasn't here to watch and I had no other patients; and my drug shelves are quite open. ,11 1 ,hap- pened to be occupied at this desk, x' might not notice what went on be- hind the screen. Only it's difficult to believe." "Not if you knew the person we're dealing with as well as I do,' Rankin returned. "But wouldn't Mrs, Keith be cttri- ous about the theft? She'd question it, or stop him, or inform me of it." "She was in no position to prevent anything," Rankin explained. "She didn't dare 'interfere You had bet- ter look, doctor, to find otrt,whcther I'm mistaken, But just point out the di°ttg we must be careful not to des- troy any clues or prints.' "1 hope to God yott are wrong,' Dr. trantran murmured fervently. troublesome." With that, he pressed the button beneath the name of the man he sought; and in a moment, a buzzing sound released the catch on the inner door, The three men trooped in, over a red -tiled floor, and, disregarding the elevators, ascended the stairs on the right. On the third floor, the softly - lighted corridor stretched in both dir- ections, lined with regular -spaced, numbered doors; 3C so close to the stairhead that, to prevent observation, the policemen retreated down several steps toward a midway landing. Then Rankin advanced to the apartment Banks Buy Federal Bonds • Ottawa—Edgar N. Rhodes, Minist- er of Finance, announced that nego- tiations had been successfully com- pleted with a group of Canadian banks providing for refunding of the 25,000,000 4 per cent. three-year bonds maturing on Oct, 15 and the $89,393,000 3.3. . per cent. two-year bonds maturing on Oct. 15. Holders of these, two issues will have their bonds paid off in cash on the due date. The' new issue will be for an amount of $135,000,000, and will be in two maturities, as follows: $45,- 000,000 one-year 11 per cent. bonds on a basis to yield 1.90 per cent., and $90,000,000 three-year 2 per cent. bonds on a basis to yield. approxi- mately 2.25 per cent. Acquitted of Manslaughter William Mulqueeney and Irvin Da- vis were acquitted on .a manslaughter charge Friday. They had on Tuesday last week killed Leonard Koenecke in self-defense while they were trans- porting him by airplane frons. Detroit to B.ucalo. They used a fire extin- guisher to protect themselves against Koenecke who was in a state of in- toxication. One Less Insurance Company The list of Canadian life insurance companies will lose one of its smaller units with the disappearance of the Capital Life Assurance Company. Under an agreement the business of this company will be taken over by the Confederation Life Association, announcement to this effect has been made. Want Old Age Pensions at 60 Britain Will Not Withdraw Warships Halifax A social insurance scheme Geneva—A British spokesman said of broad scope was urged upon the that not one British warship will be I Dominion Government by Canada's Trades and Labor Congress. Under withdrawn from. the Mediterranean until the Italo-Ethiopian dispute "is its plan, old -age pensions would be on the ways toward a settlement." The official referred to a report that Premier Mussolini is willing to begin conversations with Great Britain on the Libyan situation, in an effort to effect a diminution of the British nav- al forces in the Mediterranean. Cleaver, the butcher, was rather sur- prised when a slim young woman en- tered and asked for twenty-five pounds of beef. All the same, he cut off the joint, and put it on the scales. "Will you take it with you, or shall I send it to your home?" he asked. "Oh," she murmured, blushed pret- tily, "I don't want to buy it Yon see, the doctor said I had lost twenty - Five ponuds, and I wanted to see what it, looked like in a lump' FORD tows RATES $150 I to 2,5O Mo let ASS 111 r�1 IjOTELS fin 4totf1.S tAri MOM Montreal-Ioronto RoCHrsrER BurrALC)-F ,'ir Young Boys Convicted of Theft Sarnia—Two 13 -year-old Windsor boys who perpetrated a chain of thefts between that city and Sarnia, stealing numerous bicycles and selling them, and even stealing two Indian ponies from the Walpole Island Re- serve, stood in Magistrate's Court and unmoved heard sentences of eight years in the Bowmanville Industrial School. C.N.R. House Lease Illegal Montreal—A ten-year lease in 1930 of a large Montreal house at a total Cental of $157,250 by the Canadian National Railways for the use of the late Sir Henry Thornton, then Presi- dent of the line, was declared illegal by Mr. Justice Albert Delorimer in Superior Court. ' English Children for Br. Columbia Ottawa—With the Prince of Wales as their fairy godfather, forty-one British children came to Canada to make homes for themselves. In the party on board the Duchess of Athol there are twenty-seven boys and four- teen girls ranging from 6 to 13 years. They will go straight through to Van- couver where two hostels have been provided on a 1,000 -acre, farm for them. Mayor Wenige to Run in London London, Ont.—Amid ` a bustle of pre-election activities, Mayor George A. Wenige threw his hat into the Fed- eral ring and Alderman Allen' M. Towe promptly announced himself as in the field for the Mayoralty. With six now in the Federal fight for Lon- don, there is said to be a possibility that Dr. Hugh A. Stevenson will also qualify. The doctor is a former May- or and 1.1.F.0. -Labor M"P,P. paid at 60 years instead of the pres- net 70; widows would be cared "for, ands health and unemployment insur- ance would be paid as Federal pons ibilities. res - Thursday, Sept. 19tb, ;1.93$ O Range Carnpaign• 20%Off RegularrPri Prices SMALL DOWN PAYMENT. 2 YEARS TO COMPLETE PAYMENT Also Range Wiring financed under above plan. New Low Prices on all reliable makes of Electric Ranges. CALL AT YOUR HYDRO SHOP FOR FULL INFORMATION. ham Utilities mission Co Dominion Assistance Con- tinued for Sheep Industry Ram Grading and Ram Premium Pol- icies in Effect for 1935 Ontario sheep breeders and sheep raisers are again to have the benefits of the Ram Grading and Ram Prem- ium Policies. The Dominion Govern - realizing the importance of a contin- uous policy in the production and use of good rams are providing liberal as- sistance so that farmers may buy good rams with confidence at a reas- onable cost to the purchaser. Hon. Robert Weir, Dontinion Minister of Agriculture, is anxious that purebred breeders of sheep should continue to improve the purebred flocks so that better quality rams ind ewes may be produced. Furthermore, it is hoped that as a result of graded rams on grade flocks throughout the province, the quality of market lambs will show a marked improvement. All purebred breeders will be given an opportunity. to make application for the Ram Grading Service and the premium which will be paid on grad- ed rams will be as follows: On the purchase of XX Ram Lamb $4.00; XX Yearling Ram $6.00; XXX Ram Lamb $6.00; XXX Yearling Ram $10.00. These premiums apply only on rams officially graded under the Federal Ram Grading Policy in 1935. Applications for Ram Grading should be mailed to James Telfer, Paris, Ont., not later than September 9, 1935. Boss—"When you called up my wife and told her I would be detained at the office and would not be hom until very late, what did she say?" Steno—"She said: 'Can I depend on that?' MONUMENTS at first cost Having our factory equipped with the most modern machinery for the exe- cution of high -cease work, we ask you to see the largest display of monu- ments of ariy retail factory in Ontario. All finished by sand blast machines. We import all our granites from the Old Country quarries direct, in the rough. You can save all local deal- ers', agents' and middleman profits by seeing us. E. J. Skelton & Son at West End Bridge-WALKERTON Professional Directory J. W. BUSHFIELD FRIS. HETHERINGTON Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham Successor to Dudley Holmes. H. W. COLBORNE. M.D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Medical Representative D. S. C. R. Phone 54. Wingham Orr Warned re Selling in Italy Ottawa Although Italy has ex- empted from customs duties mater- iels used in the manufacture of muni- tions, Canadian manufacturers arid exporters are warned by the 15epaLrt- ment of Trade and Commerce to be wary about shipping goods to Italy until the Italian ireporter gives assur- ance that he has an import pertn.it, A.R.&F.E.DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street — Wingham Telephone 300. BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office Morton Block.. Telephone No. 66 Dr. Robt. C. REDMOND • M.R.C.S. (England) L;R.C.P. (London) PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON F. A. PARKER OSTEOPATH All Diseases Treated. Office ,adjoining residence next to Anglican Church on . Centre St. Sunday by appointment Osteopathy Electricity Phone 272. Hours, 9 a.m. to'8 p.m: J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to:. R. Vanstone. Wirtham Ontario DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC DRUGLESS THERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT. Hours by Appointment. Phone 191. Wingham Business Directory ADVERTISE IN THE ADVANCE -TIMES THOMAS FELLS AICTIO:NEElt REAL ESTATE SOLD A Thorough 'knowledge of Perin ." heck. P**lent 231, Wingham. Wellington .Mutual, Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840. Risks taken on all classes of instir. ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Ont. ABsNER COSENS, Agent. Wingham. It Will Pay You to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your Bale. . See T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station Phone 174W, HARRY FRY Furniture and Funeral Service LESLIE GORDON Licensed Embalmer and 1 uwtrai Director Ambulance Service. Phones: Day 117, Night 109. T,OMAS E. SMALL LICENSED AUCTIONEER 20 Years' Experience in Farm c Stock and Implement*. Moderate 'Prices. P1tone :381.