The Huron Expositor, 1953-01-23, Page 2t. of d At�?'• S k'i'�,
ter
Witted at Seaforth, Ontario, ev-
hureday afternoon by McLean
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PHONE 91
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Peat Office Department, Ottaata.
SEAF5RTH, Friday, January 23
In Proper Perspective
Faced with the thousands of words
of publicity which certain news-
papers are carrying in connection
with the reduced price which manu-
facturers of sugar are paying sugar
beetproducers, the public is -apt to
lose sight of an important aspect of
the situation. The publicity and the
resolutions which various public
bodies are being urged to adopt, all
suggest the solution of the problem
is the prohibition, or at least the cur-,
tailment, of the importation of refin-
ed sugar from Cuba without any con-
sideration of the effect this action
dight have on the return to the
farmer for the other agri ultural
products which Canada ell uba.
During the first nine months of
1952—the latest period for which fig-
ures are available — Cuba bought
from Canada agricultural products
valued at $5,537,280. Huron farmers
in general are producers of thesepro-
•dutc which include:
Beans $ 63,877.00
Oats 178,734.00
Wheat 2,588,047.00
Flour 2,177,075.00
Soya bean oil meal.. 5,340.00
Cattle, pure bred 22,220.00
Pork products . , . - 42,984.00
Butter 1,436.00
Milk products 438,867.00
Eggs 18,690.00
$5,537,280.00
If the trend indicated in the first
three-quarters of 1952 is continued
in the fourth quarter, the value of
agricultural products sold to Cuba in
1952 will be approximately one-third
of the total' exports from Canada to
that country.
During the same nine months per-
iod, the total sales of Cuban products
to Canada (including refined sugar
valued at $1,129,100) was $15,176,000,
while Canada exported to Cuba pro-
ducts valued at $18,535,811. In 1951
'Canadian exports to Cuba totalled
$20t423,930, while imports from Cuba
were less than half—or $8,333,072. If
Canada was to shut the door on Cub-
an imports, the effect on Canadian
agriculture, including the 5,772 farm-
ers in Huron, might well be much
iriore serious than is the situation fac-
ing the 246 farmers in the County
who produce sugar beets. At the
same time, the sugar beet producers,
who in no case are dependent entire-
ly on sugar beets, would feel the un-
fortunate results which might flow
from such action in connection with
the other agricultural products they
ee1L
This is not to say that sugar beet
producers do not make a substantial
,contribution to the agricultural econ-
omy of the County; but in consider-
ing the very real problem with which
they are faced it is essential that no
action be taken which might jeopard-
ize.:the market position of other agri-
cultural products upon the sale of
Which the farmers of Huron are so
111ependent. It is for this reason that
sugar beet problem must be look -
at in proper perspective.
wring recent months the problem
been receiving the active consid-
tion of the Government to the end
tt a: solution, which would give re -
Won to the broad consequences
ach could • flow from hasty action,
ht be found. Et. Hon. C. D. Howe,
e1t11 of Trade and Commerce, is
I�Fwv vls2ting Latin-Anleridan com-
a and one of the important items
agenda is the discussion of the
testfon. with Cuban authori-
a t the producers feel this
.t►: b tisfaetor' is i tc,-
747
f
Gated a circular to inember s (1-
dueers dated January 7, 1953, an iri
vdh'o l cdittee-, 01 the producers'''
handling."'the" problem reviewed the
steps that had been and were being
taken. After ° telling of a conference
with Mr. Howe and oa his efforts on
behalf of the industry, the report
states: "The comm.ttee has confi-
dence that Mr= Howe will not break
faith with the Canadian Sugar Beet
Producers' Association and that im-
portations of Cuban refined sugar
will be restricted and cease to be a
threat to the producer , of beets in
Canada and to the sugar beet indus-
try?'
•
A Governor on Speed
We Were talking to a well known
Tuckersmith farmer the other day
and the conversation turned to the
increasing number of highway acci-
dents that resulted in fatalities. Our
friend was concerned particularly
since accidents were happening so
frequently that they were coming to
be regarded as routine, and were be-
ing accepted by the public as a mat-
ter of course:
'We asked him what he thought the
answer was, and his reply was to the
effect that since the more severe ac-
cidents were as the result of speed,
and since it seemed impossible, de-
spite laws regulating speed, to curb
fast driving, there seemed no alterna-
tive but to compel manufacturers to
construct cars in such a fashion that
speeds beyond, say, 50 or 60 miles an
hour, would not be possible.
There is much merit in the sugges-
tion. Certainly there would be ob-
jections raised on the basis that ex-
tra speeds frequently are required
for legitimate purposes. It would be,
suggested too, that there would be.
difficulty in limiting the speed of ex-
isting vehicles. But if, by eliminat-
ing the means whereby excessive
speeds can be attained, even one life
in each district was spared, the pro-
posal would justify itself. It seems
foolish to provide cars with increas-
ingly greater power and speed when
the motoring public, by its driving
habits, has indicated it cannot pro-
perly control the cars now available.
What Other Papers Say:
Miss the OId Timer
(The Farmer's Advocate)
There is something foreign and
synthetic about the square dance
without the old-time fiddler keeping
time with his foot. These musician
union fees take all the fun out of it.
•
Right Of Fire Trucks
(Brockville Recorder and Times)
Recently a fire truck in Brampton, -
Ontario, while racing to a fire, came
into collision with an automobile at
a street intersection. Whether the
driver of the private car was in the
right or wrong in this case we do not
know and do not propose to say, but
one point is clear, namely, that car
drivers are at all times well advised
to give fire trucks a wide berth. When
confronted by a racing fire truck, it
is a poor time for a motorist to stand
upon his ordinary rights and rules
of the road.
As soon as a siren is heard or a
fire truck is seen, motorists should
pull well out of the truck's path and
wait until all is clear again.
•
Science and Mothers
(Fort. William Times -Journal)
The Sault Ste. Marie Star com-
ments on the fact that Canadian tan-
ners can now make shoes that do not•
require rubbers or galoshes. The
shoes are of fibrous construction, al-
low moisture to be evaported from
inside the shoe, but completely black
moisture from entering 'through The
outside.
The new research development
may be commendable, but we know
some mothers who won't like it when
the wearer comes in the house and
walks on her clean floors.
As a matter of fact, she would be
inclined to do 'some tanning on her
own, sceOtint,
Seen w1 t :e Cn!IPtY avers
Staffs Man Receive& Butter A' Vend
Gerald M. Agars Plan* gef pit
Staffa Creamery, received the nest
finished butter award during dairy
Judging done last .weak at London
prior to the Dairymen's Association
of Western•.Outario .convention and
exhibitions in Hamilton.
=Mitchell
Advocate.
Nati Removed From Child's Lung
Alex Crawford, two -and -one-half
year old son of Mr. and Mrs.:Ken
neth Crawford, of Turnberry,; was
treated for three months for asth-
ma. An X-ray showed, 'a shinge
nail lodged in his lung.' He' was
taken to the Sink Children's "Hos-
pital, London, where doctors re-
moved the nail through his throat.
He is progressing favorably,
Winghaot &trance -Times,
Little Lad Finds tce Tee Thin
Little Tommy McDonald, son of
Mr. and Mrs. . Clive McDonald,d Mit
chell, was a seared boy recently
when he attempted to cross the
Thames River beneath the bridge
on the„way atome from school, and
the thin ice gave way under him.
He had the presence of mind to
cling -to a post until help came
from one of the men working on
the bridge,—.Mitchell Advocate.
Opened New Business
Tho T. and T. Flooring btisineis,�
namely Leroy' Thiel and Herb
Turkheitti, proprietors, located in
the Krueger block, with a new door
entrance to the south, are now
ready to serve the public, 'with
their newly decorated walls and
nicely painted trimmings, along
with a well -furnished stock of dif-
ferent kinds of floor coverings,
floor finishes • and waxes. Zurich
Herald.
Loses Toe in ",Accident
Bruce Fry, home on weekend
leave from Clinton Air School, was
shot in the foot while rabbit hunt-
ing
unting in Normanby township. The ac-
cident occurred when the shotgun
he was carrying misfired. He was
taken to Owen Sound Hospital
where the injured toe had to be
amputated. From there he was
transferred to the Clinton Base
Hospital. — Wln'gha'm Advance -
Times.
Marks 94 Years
•Mrs. William' Penhale, formerly
of Exeter, celebrated her 94th birth-
day on January 16 at the Egerton
Private. Hospital, London, where
she has made her home for the
past 10 months. Mrs. Penhale en-
joys fairly good health although she
is• confined to her room. She is ex-
ceptionally bright and cheerful and
enjoys writing letters and having
her friends visit her. — Exeter
Times -Advocate.
Honor Secretaries
At a recent meeting of the Hay
Township Mutual Fire Insurance
Co., pictures of two past secretar-
ies, Henry Eilber and his son,
Herbert K. Eilber, were unveiled
and hung in the , Zurich office of
the company. Henry Eilber served
from 1881 to 1924, and Herbert K.
Eilber from 1925 to 1952. Herbert
K. Eilber as was the case with his
father upon retirement, has been
appointed honorary manager of the
company. "Both men," said a com-
pany statement, "devoted their life-
work to the service of this farm
mutual."—Exeter Times -Advocate.
Former Blyth Lady in Accident
Mrs. Colin Fingland, Wingham,
formerly of Blyth, was a passenger
in a car driven by Roy McLeod, al-
so of Wingham, when it collided
with a truck on a curve on No. 7
highway about three miles east of
St. Marys. Also in the car as pas -
Seng.orre were Alba Sangster and
24Ii$a Marion McLeod. Driver e •
tke track was Stanley. Graham, o
Fe • s. Several hundred della 's'
damage was caused to the ear. Mc
Leod received leg injuries; Sang
ster, - .severe lacerations; Marion
McLeod, bruised ribs, and Mrs
Fingiand, mouth and .chin brutes.
All were released after treatment
at St. Marys Memorial Hospital.—
Blyth Standard. s
• Bank Manager Dies
David T. Hepburn, 82, one time
manager of. the Dominion `'Bank
here, died in Norfolk General Hos
pital, Simcoe, last week. He was
born at Columbia and was a banker
for most of his lifetime, serving
with the Dominion Bank at Toron-
to, Seaforth, Wingham, Oshawa,
Brampton, Orillia, Uxbridge, where
he retired in 1981 as manager. Ile
was a member of St. Paul's Pres-
byterian Church, Simcoe, and of
Zeredetha " Masonic Lodge, Ux-
bridge. His wife predeceased him
in 1938. Surviving are one daugh-
ter, Mrs. George W. Baldock, 'Sim-
coe, with whom he resided, and
two brothers, Thomas Hepburn,
Preston, and George, of Unionville.
Interment was in Oshawa Union
cemetery, — Wingham Advance -
Times,
Hunters Shoot Wolf
A trio of Clinton hunters finally
.caught ftp with the "big bad _wolf"
in Goderieh Township Mx weeks af-
ter it had cheated death in a trap,
According to the trio, Murray East,
Mervin and William Batkin, the
wolf had been trailed for two weeks
and when shot • by Murray East
was again attempting a getaway.
Shooting a wolf to some hunters
may be nothing out of the ordin-
ary, but when you bag one with
its front toe missing the incident
is significant. The story of this
four -foot nine -inch bush wolf goes.
back to December' when it bolted
from a fox trap after being caught.
A farmer, coming to the scene to
shoot the animal, was, dumbfound-
ed when the animal left his front
toe. The wolf weighed 25 pounds.
Mervin Batkin, a member of the
party, shot his last wolf in 1936,
and at that time old timers report-
ed it must be 80 years since one
was shot in this area. Twelve
years ago another party of hunters
bagged one in this district -Clin-
ton News -Record.
Appointed Insurance Manager
Ross Pearce, son of Mr. and Mrs.
I. R. Pearce, town, leaves on the
first of February to assume .his new
duties as manager of the Guelph
!branch of the Imperial Life Assur-
ance Co. Under him will be eight
salesmen and an office staff of
three. Ross received ,both public
and high school education here and
for a time worked at Stacey Bros.
Ltd., before he decided to take up
insurance. It was on December 1,
1948, that he started with Imperial
Life and since July, 1951, he has
served as unit manager of the
Stratford office under London,
Meanwhile he has been taking a
three-year extension course from
the University of Toronto, embrac-
ing salesmanship, business insur-
ance, physohology, fundamentals of
life insurance, life insurance law
and state administration. In the
spring he will complete this course
for Chartered Life Underwriters, It
is understood that his appointment
makes him the youngest manager
in the history of the company he
so zealously serves. The good
wishes of his many friends and
those of his wife, the former Ethel
Wettiaufer, and their young sort,
David, will go -with them as they
take up residence in Guelph where
they purchased a home last week.
-Mitchell Advocate.
Effect of Slope on Soil Acidity
Farmers very often are of the
opinion that low-lying and. depres-
sional wet land is sour and re-
quires liming;- while the better
drained on . the higher slopes is
sweet, This is not always. the
Daae and indeed in many instances
the opposite is true, says P. C.
Stobbe, Soil Specialist, Central Ex-
perimental Farm, Ottawa.
Itis common knowledge that
lime will sweeten sour or acid land.
In many Canadian soils, which have
formed from limey materials, large
quantities of lime are found in the
lower subsoils. Such soils are
common in southern Ontario and
in seetions of. southern Quebec. In
theseof cations seepage waters car-
ry considerable amounts of dis-
solved- lime to the lower lying ar-
eas. As a result the soils on the
higher slopes are moreeacid than
on the lower slopes and in the ad-
jalcent depression'aI areas- Steep
slopes on which a considerable
amount of erosion has taken place
usually are an exception to this
rule as the limely subsoil may be
exposed or' may occur near the
surface.
In areas free of limestone rock
in wihicb the soil contains very lit-
tle Lime that can be carried down
the slopes „by seepage waters, the-
low=lying wet soils generally are
more acid than the well drained
soils on higher slopes. The exeesm
sive acidity in the depreesiona.l ar-
eas is caused by a greater accumu-
ation•cf peaty materials which on
decomposition form acids.
at 41.
Breediee Makes a Difference
Selecting 'breeding stock for
more lean and less fat can help
in redhicing the waste and logs
Which retelilts tram fat togs, .Test
as Selection has produced the lerdu
type hog itt the United 'States and
the lean ba,trot type hog common itt;
Canada, so selection can continue
to improve Canadian hogs, Breed-
ing stock is not all alike. Given
the same feed and similar condi-
tions, some pigs run to fat and
some stay lean and streamlined.
Getting good breeding stock is
not easy and no one can guarantee
results. Yet in the past 30 years
Canadian breeders and farmers
have proved that selection for a
lean pig 'is feasible and practical,
and they have the facts to prove
their case.
At advanced Registry Test Sta-
tions of the Federal Department of
Agriculture, pure bred breeders
send litter groups of four pigs for
teat. All the groups are fed on
similar feed mixtures and are kept
under identical conditions at sev-
en centres across Canada. After
the hogs are marketed their car-
casses• are carefully examined and
are carcass scored. For a high
score, carcasses must have a high
lean and a low fat contept and
have weight in the right `places.
Each sow from whose litter the
four test .pigs were supplied is
then given -a "sow score," based on
the rating of the pig carcasses.
Because all other conditions of
feeding, housing and the like are
similar the sow score indicates the
sow's inherent ability to produce a
lean bacon type carcass.
In studying' the results of 526
seta tested; in this way with their
litters farrowed in 1951. 372 or
nearly 71 per cent of the sows were
scored 75 or over. Eighty-three
per cent of the test pigs from these
high -score sows graded A carcass-
es,' 16.7 per cent graded B1, and ,3
per eesit were outer grades. Even
in the lower group of 154 sows
scoring from 50 to 74, the showing
eras greed., with 50.5 per cent Grade
A, 47.8 per cent 1:11 and 1.7 per.
oetit otli ' •grades,
litany 'farmers .hold the viev.•'that
(GOletitindd front Page g)
•Wise parents -will not
Skip a 'booster' shot.
The extra Injection
Gives added protection.
Dept. of Wiens! Health and Welfare
Years Agone
Interesting: Items Picked From
The Huron Expositor of Twen-
ty-five and Fifty Years Ago
From The Huron Expositor
January 27, 1928
The 100-11.ere farm on the Goshen
Line, belonging to the estate of the
late William H. MoClinchey, has
been 'sold to •Mr. T. Richardson,
Tuckersmith, the price being $5,500.
A successful euchre and dance
were held in the •parish hall, St
Columban, Monday night under the
auspices of the C.WLL. Prize win
ners were: first, Mr. and Mrs. Jas.
Krauskopf; lucky chair, Mrs. Jas
Cronin; consolation, Miss Camilla
Ryan and Mr. Fred Eckert.
Early Thursday morning while
returning from Grand Bend, Mr
Albert Smith, Hensall, bad his car
Aid into the ditch and pin him
under it and inflicting cuts on his
face.
At the regular meeting of the
Seaforth Lions Club, Judge J. A
Jackson, Lethbridge, gave a talk on
"Boys' Work," illustrating the same
with personal experiences. •
Mr. J. J. •Cluff has purchased the
50 -acre farm of Mr. Thos. Coulter
adjoining Egmondville- It is a
splendid farm and will be run by
Mr. Scott Cluff. •
Mr. Robert Rogerson, Constance
has rcently installed a radio in his
home. - ,
The 63rd ' annual meeting of the
Zurich Agricultural Society was
held Thursday night with E. F
Klopp as chairman. The election
of officers resulted as follows:
president, E. F. Klopp; first vice
president, J. Decker; second vice-
president, J. A. Smith; directors
A. Reichert, E. J. Walker, W. Hay
Ed. Haberer, J. G. Deters, 'W
Decker, J. P. Rau and Fred Hab-
erer; auditors, J. J. Haberer and
J. Pfaff.
The storm Tuesday evening did
not in any way affect the attend
ance at the bowlers' euchre and
dance held in the G.W.V.A. club
rooms. The prize winners were
Mrs. W. J. Duncan, who was given
a china cake tray, and Mr. Nelson
Govenlock, whose prize was a brass
candlestick.
Mr. Billy Ste -wart, of St. Paul, is
home this week and so there had
to be a bonapiel. It was held Wed
nesday afternoon and evening:The
winner of the spiel was Peck John
stone's rink, which was composed
of Bill Bell, Dawson Reid, D. L
Reid and Thomas Johnstone, skip
•
From The Huron Expositor
January 23, 1903
Mrs. J. B. McLean, for many
years organist of St. Andrew's
Church, Kippen, has resigned and
her place will be filled by Miss
Jessie McLean.
Snow drifts, pitchholes, cold nos
es and sparkling parties are much
in evidence these days.
On Saturday afternoon Mr. Chas
Dolmage, McKillop, had a bee of
the neighbors with their teams, to
move his house, which he purchas-
ed from Mr. Pethick.
Mr. Donald McKinnon, of Mani-
toba, son of Mr. Donald McKinnon,
Chiselhurst, Is spending the winter
at his home. It is 19 years since
he left here, and sees many chang-
es.
M. .Lloyd and Charles Layton,
Tuckersmiith, left last week for
Durand, Mich., where they expect
to enter the employ of. the Grand
Trunk Railways as brakemen.
Mr. WM. McIntosh, having dis-
posed of his fine barn on the Lead -
bury' Line, has pur`'cbased a resi-
dence in Winthrop and will reside
there when he leaves the farm.
Mr. William Collins of the second
concession, Stanley, met with a
painful accident a few days ago. He
was working with a jack and get-
ting his hand caught in the cogs,
he had three fingers so badly lacer-
ated that they had to be amputat-
ed.
The following were ticketed to
distant points this week by Mr. W.
Somerville: Miss Bessie Devereaux
to Detroit; Miss Lizzie Kennedy to
Ionia, Mich.; Anthony Neis to New
Mexico; Miss Kate Devereaux to
Chicago. •
Archibald and Cudm.ore, Sear
forth, shipped two carloads of
horses to Manitoba on Tuesday.
Mr. John Flannery, aleKillop, has
purchased the farm of Mr. Richard
Barry on, the Huron Road. It is it
good• farm. of 75 acres. ••
Two rinks of curlers will go to
Stratford to play in the Ontario
tankard, 'They will be: John Beate
tie, James Dick, W. McDougall, W.
Asnent, skip, and F. W. Twaddle, T.
Richeedson W. Pickard and W. D.
Srigtt; skip•
Miss Jlose Riley, Londesboro, left
for London; Wednesday, where elle
Itaa,secure'd a geed >,i itidli.
1,36
CHAPTER VII '
"His reverence has two hobbies.
One is photography and the other
s collecting butterflies."
"Has that anything to do with
it?"
"Quite a lot. Hydrocyanic acid
is used as a reducing element in
treating badly developed nega-
tives. And cyanide of potassium
goes into the killing bottle habitual -
y used by entomologists."
"whew -w! Now we can get a
move on."'
"Unfortunately," Mr.- Sharpe said
restrainingly, "Rotherson wasn't
poisoned with any of -the cyanides,
Morphine was to blame. Se far as
I'm able •to say there wasn't -a
grain of that stuff in the place."
"Sure you looked everywhere?"
demanded the inspector hopefully.
It was not often that Mr. Morri-
son Sharpe snorted, but he 'did let
himself go for once. "No, I'm not
sure," lee snapped after the inele-
gant preface, "but when you do
get that search -warrant we may be
able to know definitely., So good -
day to you."
Where are you off to now, sir?
I'f I'm not presuming,"
"Home—to play solitaire. If you
take my advice you'll take a spell
off duty and try a scrap of patience
yourself."
"Never play it—but I've got it,
Mr, Sharpe."
"That's the damned trouble of
it," the little puzzle -master said as
he stalked off.
When the adjourned inquest on
Martin Rotherson was resumed the
police were not able to produce
very much more evidence than at
the opening sitting.
To make matters • worse Major
Martinshawe, the Chief Constable,
appeared in person to represent the
police. He was one of those exas-
peratingly vacillating men who are
never able to make up their minds.
As a consequence his subordinates
preferred shim to remain in the
background so that they could get
on with their work free from his
cramping lack of determination.
Everything seemed to be going
wrong. Witnesses Were obtuse and
no facts' of any importance emerg-
ed to strengthen the official belief
that murder had been committed.
One or two of the jurymen intro-
duced awkward questions that
showed an inclination to bring in
a verdict of "Suicide."
Against his personal inclinations
the Deputy Coroner had to head
them off this, the police (having
strongly insisted that this would
not meet the case. Eventually, af-
ter' a long and tedious sitting, an
open verdict was returned.
"The deceased, Martin Rother-
son, -met his death as the result of
an overdose of a morphine prepare-
tion.
reparestion. How, or by whom adminis-
tered is unknown,"
That satisfied officialdom, leav-
ing freedom for further investiga-
tion, though the Chief Constable
expressed a private view that they
never would get to the bottom of
the matter.
"We're doing our best, sir," Mat-
thews pleaded.
"Up to now that hasn't been en-
ongh "
"I've had some valuable help
from Morrison Sharpe, sir," Mat-
thews
atthews mentioned.
"That amateur!"
"Of course if you wish me to
dispense with such voluntary ser-
vice I will do so, Major,"
"You may make use of anybody
You like so long as you straighten
the matter out quickly."
The inspector reported this con-
versation to Morrison Sharpe that
same evening, to the Mild amuse-
ment of his friend. •
"Tactless- of both of you," he
commented. "You shouldn't have
told me for one thing and Major
Martinshawe ought,- to have warn-
ed yon to keep to official ways and
have nothing to do with any out-
side meddler. , Then you could
both have availed yourselves of my
help with a clear conscience. Ap-
parently neither of you are stu-
dents of psychology, which is a
pity. All .policemen ought to take
a course,"
"Strikes me that if we took up
everything you'd like us to there
wouldn't be any time for work.
We'd be at lessons most of the
day,"
'And quite right too. I'm going
to give you a couple of hours chess
this evening just to polish up your
wits."
Matthews groaned. "Just as I was
looking forward to a pleasant pow-
wow.,,
As it happened they were not
due for a quiet time either at chess
or talk. Hardly had the pieces
been arrayed on the board when a
messenger arrived from police
headquarters requesting the im-
mediate attendance of the inspec-
tor.
"Lousy luck," he exclaimed,
"Sorry you've been done out of
any stimulating company,"
"No need to be apologetic. If
you like I'll come into the town
with you. Then, if the business
isn't too important, we ,can land a
reasonable spot and make up for
lost time."
Half an 'hour later, all thoughts
of private affairs out of their minds
they were pushing a way through
a crowd of curious people cluster-
ed outside the vicarage.
The police doctor was just wash-
ing his' hands in a bowl of hot wa-
ter brought to him in the cozily
furnished drawing room. At the
moment it had anything but a
homely look, A number of officers
from the uniformed and plain-
clothes departments had been busy
for acme time. Ona deep settee
lay the body of -Mrs. Thorne, now
reverently covered with a white
sheet.
"Pretty grim," commented Saun-
ders, sauntering foreverd,
'"C4liaetly! 'plat's the cause?"
"Cyanide."
"Suicide?" ' ,
" Jtret cyanide,"
"Sot Yolk deft to have made
up your Mind about something."
"Probably Dr, Saunders has tak-
en a professional interest in a -
large box of chocolates?" The obe
servation came from Mr. Sharpe.
"What do you knew'afbaut that?"'
The doctor was clearly gelearlasil..
Sharpe gave one of lits oharatk
teristic shrugs. "I don't -know any-•
thing ' exceptthat ' *Melts a' thing -
ought to be round about sone --
where."
"So there was. Thhey've already'
gone off for analysis
°'C3rood' By the way, aa' ant.
n ob-
servant man, you noticed -that thO
confectionery was a practically fttd-
box?"
. "That's a good guess. But T
dlda't spot it straight away be-
cause the contents., had been spill•" •
ed on to the carpet and we picked
up what remained and put thein'
back in layers as• accurately • ad
possible to their original posi-
tions."
"Exactly what I -wanted to know,'"
replied Mr. Sharpe. "It seemee
Wear that this unfortunate woma'ia.
was taking an occasional sweet..aar•
inelination dictated, Was there a
book at Shand—or a radio program,
going?" ,
'No book, not even a magazine..
And you've missed something your --
self this time, Mr. Infallible."
"No wireless set, eh!"
"Not in this room. There's one.
in the lounge."
"M'm! Do you know this Isn't
so simple as it appears on the sur-
face. It would have been easier it'
we'd found a magazine or some
thing. Womn of the type of Mrs..
Thorne don't sit about idly as --a.
rule. I don't like it. Where's the.
vicar?"
"In his study, I believe."
"Alone?"
"Certainly not. Inspector Hodge
kiss and Sergeant Willfandson are
with him."
"Come on," said Mr. Sharpe urg-
ently. The inspector trotted at
his Heels obediently.
"I think," he observed, "that 1
have a glimmering of what you're
thinking. We know there is a lot
of cyanide in this house and . . ,"-
"And you're already fingering'
the handcuffs. Don't be too pree
cipitous,"
"Something will have to be done;.
sir. Pretty quickly, too,"
Morrison Sharpe's hand closed on.
the inspector's arm: "Evidence,.
evidence, 'and more evidence is-
what you need," he said quietly:
You can't cage a lion in ea mouse'
trap."
Hodgkiss had- suspicions similar
to those of his fellow inspector,
They found him taking down a
lengthy statement on a suitable
piece of foolscap paper which the
vicar had supplied from his private.
stock.
"Confession?" asked •Mattlie'wer
bluntly.
A flush spread over the pale face
of the Rev. Quentin Thorne and he
rose angrily. "Are you trying to
accuse me of killing my wife?" he
demanded. "Such a suggestion le
outrageous and.,you have no right
to - make it."
"All right, all right! Don't take
it too badly. It's my job to sus-
pect everybody."
Thorne calmed down al'm'ost ten
mediately. "I've done niy best to,
help the inspector here,"• he re-
marked. "You must appreciate that
I have undergone a considerable.
shock. My wife and I were devot-
ed to each other. We had been
married only a few years."
"Care to hear the statement?"
asked Hodgkiss.
"Go ahead."
The police officer cleared his -
throat and began to recite in that'
rather stilted manner peculiar to -
his profession. The wording of the'
document also betrayed traces of
his prompting, some of the phrase-
ology being decidedly reminiscent
of the court -house.
"My name is Howard Quentin
Thorne," the statement began. T
am a Clerk in Holy Orders and
have held the living of St. Chad's'.
for the past seven years. Two,
years ago I met the lady who was:
shortly afterwards to become •hey-
wife. We were 'married within:
three months of the meeting.
Our relations have always bee=
of the best. A few days ago T
mentioned to her that the police:
had asked me if I ate chocolates,.
She seemed agitated, but nothing:
more was said. .At about 9:30 on
the evening. of April lith I was
called by the housekeeper, Mrs.
Grimmett. She informed me that"
Mrs. Thorne had been taken sere
ious'ly ill.
Proceeding to the lounge y:
found her lying on a settee. Life
was already extinct. I called the
doctor and informed the pelices•
by telephone. To the best of my
knowledge there was no reason
why Mrs. Thorne should take
her own life. She was in good
health and spirits when I saw her
at about nine o'clock on the same
evening."
"You sign that, sir?" asked In-
spector Hodgkins. -
"Certainly." The vicar extract"'
ed a .fountain pen from his waist-
coat pocket and carefully unscrew-
ed the cap,
"One moment," intervened Mr.
Sharpe, retrieving the fooleca''r
msheet,ore ththg".I'd s,"like -
ask to one or twee
for"If you must. But may I ask you
to be as brief es possible. Thee
strain is beginning to -be too much„
me:"
"I'm sure it must be," was thee
sopthing•respotise, "We're ail try-
ing to save you as much worry an
possible. Unfortunately it may bel -
e ease• of being ,cruel to be kind.
Now about Mrs. 'flierne'da life' •be -'-
fore she met you . . • ,?"
"Is that absolutely necessary?"
bound"Afraid -t(' so. Tile e• things are
o Come out.l'
"She was li^aing 'with an aunt, 1
untteratant1 she 'had alto) travblledl:
extensively>,"
(4o'ntiiiiled-oit• Pkgs. 7)
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