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The Wingham Advance Times, 1935-07-04, Page 6'AOS SIX IvcRcGCou ,, DER SYNOPSIS AIL ON P OPPE a isms, Si:: persons are in an inner office of the law firm of Dawson, McQuire and Locke at Philadelphia. A master Bearing in the divorce case of Row- land. vs. Rowland is under way. Mrs. Rowland, represented by her lawyer' brother, Mr. Williard; Mr. Rowland, the defendant, and his attorney, Mr. Trumbull; the court clerk and Mr. Dawson, the master, are the six per- sons. There is a new development in the case. After failing to defend him- self against the charge of adultery in earlier hearings, Mr. Rowland digs up ,evidence and .asks the court's permis sion to produce witnesses and resist the suit. Judge Dawson overrules the heated objections of Mr. Williard, and orders Mr. Trumbull to bring in the first witness, Mr. Trumbull has just gone to an outer office to bring the witness but finds her dead—chloro- formed. She is Mrs. Barbara Keith, wife of a prominent business man. Judge Dawson phoned for the police. Detective Tommy Rankin is assigned to the case. He is now questioning all of the parties involved in the case. • NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY. "How is it Mfrs. Keith waited in here for her summons?• Don't your visitors usually remain beyond the rail in the outside office until called?" Mr. Dawson nodded, "Yes,. it's the phone operator's place to inquire into their business and have them take seats there. But that applies ordinar- ily only to strangers. Since these hearings, Mr. Trumbull has had free access to the library; he may have had some reason for bringing her here." "I'll have to question hirn about it," Jtankin remarked and turned to the doctor. "Have you moved the body, Dr. Clark, or did it lie this way when you arrived?" "I did not disturb it for my exam- ination," the physician answered. The detective indicated the door to 1505, that led into the corridor. "Then if she was killed here, and that door is locked, it sirnplifies mat- ters.. At least, it limits the criminal to some one arriving through 1505 and to employees and members of the firm." "That door is never used and is al- ways bolted, Mr. Rankin," Mr. Daw son stated. "It requires a separate key from the other two entrances. With - .out a key, no one could possibly open it from the hall." "Unless it was already unlatched from the inside," Rankin contradicted. Halfway to the door, he paused to draw a handkerchief from his pocket. Careful not to grasp the knob, he wrapped the handkerchief gingerly about the stern and exerted pressure. It turned and the door opened. Rankin's voice showed his disap- pointment, "The door isn't latched," he annonnced. "I was afraid of that. Somebody in these offices has fasten- ed the catch, which means that the whole world could have entered from the outside." It was coincident with this start- , discovery of the unlatched door that the telephone .operator appeared at the door from the library to an- noturce Dr. Sackett, The black -goat- eed coroner's physician entered be- hind her. He was followed e w d by a pho- tographer from Headquarters, and then by Johnson, the fingerprint ex- pert. As soon as introductions had been made, Dr. Sackett, assisted `by Dr. Clark, began his examination of the body. While Johnson was produc- ing an insufflator and a magnifying glass from his kit for the detection of prints, Rankin cautioned hint: "Pay particular attention to the knobs of both doors and to the win- dows." The expert acquiesced with a grunt. "While they're busy in here, we'd Beneath what appeared to other handkerchief, he found bottle. be an - a small best continue the investigation in the library," Rankin suggested. "It's too crowded." Accompanied by the two men, he carried Mrs. Keith's pocketbook with him into the next room. It had been on the desk before her, a fine petit - point bag. In the library, Rankin went to the door into the main office, and beckon- ed Jenks. "Here is your first job, Jenks," he said. "I want you to quiz the entire force in there and learn what you can of their actions. I'm especially inter- ested in finding out who came in here today—anyone at all, whether em- ployees or clients—and when they did so." Mir. Dawson shook his head. "If it's your object to learn who opened that door to fifteen -o -five," he observ- ed, "I fear that won't help you much. You really have no idea when it was unlocked; it might have been done some other day, by any of a dozen callers, wh. recently used the library." "Except, Mr. Dawson," the detect- ive countered, "that the criminal couldn't have foreseen until today— possibly not until Mrs. Keith arrived —that she would be in there, waiting alone. Do you recall tile last time WINGI 'AM ADVANC -TIM1S you noticed the latch on?" "`I haven't had occasion to try it for weeks; in fact, I haven't been us- ing the office at all for longer than that. I'm only certain it wasn't open- ed by my key," Rankin shrugged and spread his arms in a brief, comprehensive ges- ture. He continued his instructions to Jenks. "See if any of the staff remem- bers finding the door' locked more re- cently than Mr. Dawson does." "O. K., Tommy," Jenks prom'ised.. "Anything else?" Rankin drew out his watch and nodded toward the library window and the towering structure , visible across the street. "That's another thing we mustn't overlook," he said; "the chance that some employee in those offices ob- served some suspicious acts over here. See to it the people on this side of the building are questioned early in the morning." As soon as Jenks departed to carry out his orders, he opened Mrs. Keith's pocketbook. Mr. Dawson and the court clerk watched him as he placed on the library table a gold vanity !case • with the chased initials B. W. 1 K., lipstick, a key ring of five' keys,. 1 a handkerchief and a nail file. An- other compartment held tickets to a charity ball and a checkbook which Rankin put aside for future scrutiny. Beneath what appeared another hand- kerchief, he found a small bottle of clear, colorless liquid. Even before he uncorked it, a reek- ing pungent odor revealed its contents to be chloroform. The cloth was ac- tually a thick cotton pad, still damp from its saturation with the drug. 'The bottle, large enough for 4 ounc- i es, was half full. It lacked a label land the distinguishing marks of any druggist. Mr. Simpkins made the first sur- prised comment. 'Why, that must be the , . . stuff the criminal smothered her with, Mr. Rankin!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Why do you suppose he hid it in her purse? Surely that's a dangerous thing to do." The detective shrugged. "Why I not? He couldn't carry it, around and this is as safe a way to get rid of it as any." Pocketing the checkbook, he return- ed the other articles casually to the handbag, and addressed Mr. Dawson. "I think I'm ready now to inquire what the others, besides your force, can tell me of the tragedy," he an- nounced. "I'll question your partners first." "Neither of them is here, Mr. Ran- kin," the lawyer informed him. "Mr. Locke is in New Yorlc on an import- ant case—gone since Monday. Mr. MacQuire is playing in a golf tourna- ment this afternoon." "Then I'll question the immediate parties to the hearing, and their law - j yers. One at a time; if you'll be good enough to have Mr. Trumbull come in, I']1 start with him." ' When summoned, Allen Rowland's attorney entered the library from Mr. I Dawson's office. Although still und- Ier thirty-five, he looked at least five LEADERS IN CANADIAN -AMERICAN CONFERENCE More than 160 educators, colleges, institutions and authorities int Canad- ian -American relations are taking part' in the Canadian -American conference at St. Lawrence University, Canton, 1*1.Y,, ander the auspices of the Car- ie Endowment for Peace. Photo shows a group of the leaders attend- ing. LEFT to RIGHT': Dr, Richard Eddy Sykes, retiring president of St. Lawrence university; Dr. W. Hamil- ton I{yfe, principal of Queen's-ttniver-. city, Kingston, ' Ontario; Alanson '13, Moughton, former ambassador to Gt, Britain; Dr, James T. Shotwcll, dir- ector of the division of cconotnis and history, Carnegie ltndownment for In- ternational Peace, n-ternationalPeace, and Prof. Albert 13, Corey, of St, Lawrence university. years older. After Mr. Dawson introduced hirci, the detective began without further prelini.tnaries. • "Perhaps I can best make progress with this case, Mfr. Trumbull"—lie mo- tioned hint to a chair—"by clearing up What happened here this afternoon before the meeting; But first I need information about Mrs. Keith. You stated at the hearing, I believe, that she is connected with a leading fanc- ily in this city? "So she 1$, Mr, Rankin," MIr. Trum- bull returned, "Mrs. Barbara Keith is the wife of Mortimer Keith and lives iu Chestnut 1-lill at the Aldwich Apart- ments." Obviously impressed, the detective raised his eyebrows and. vented a low whistle. "Mortimer Keith" he repeated, "the silk manufacturer?" • Once more, he could plead an off- hand familiarity with a.name involved in the tragedy. Few indeed, in Phila- delphia, had not heard of the Keith family, distinguished historically and politically since the American Revol- ution. Mortimer Keith was the last of his line, molded in the family tra- dition, austere, upright and reserved. When his ancestors' estate was threatened by depletion, his dominat- ing personality and enterprise rebuilt both. He was well into middle age, Rankin vaguely recalled, when he married a beautiful woman much his junior, about four years earlier. Whatever the previous importance of the crime, because of the promin- ence of the divorce action, it paled in- to insignificance before this new rev- elation. Murder was always murder; but the identity of the dead witness— no plebian citizen' or mere menial— gave it additional promise of being a genuine cause celebre. "Yes, that's who she is," the lawyer replied to his query, "Mrs, Mortimer Keith." "Then her husband will have to be "How long before the meeting be- gan today did you arrive with Mrs. Keith?" notified of what's happened at once. I'll want to question him about Mrs. Keith as promptly as possible. He summoned the remaining police- man from the outer room and im- parted directions for communicating with the manufacturer. "Now, Mr, Trumbull," Rankin' con- tinued, after the officer bad gone, "how long before the meeting began today did you arrive with, Mrs. Keith? Mir. Trumbull shook his head. "I didn't bring her at all, Mr. Rankin; I came here alone and MIr. Rowland accompanied her into town. It was arranged that he go for her to her residence in Chesnut Hill, and join me here. I ,reached here about two - twenty -five; they drove in with Mrs. Keith's chauffeur five minutes after- ward." "At half past two, eh? And at what time did you leave her in that office to, wait until you were ready for ker testimony?' ' "About ten minutes later, I should judge," the other replied. "Then Mr. Rowland went down to the street - to dismiss the chauffeur, who was park- ed outside the building. 'She had ord- ered him to stay, Rowland suggested we let hunt go and use my car to get hone." "Are you certain," the detective probed, "that he really went down- stairs to speak to the chauffeur? The lawyer replied vigorously, in tones that brooked no doubt. "Pos- itive, Mr. Rankin; in fact, I walked into the hall with him and saw him take the elevator. He was gone only a few' minutes, less than five; I, was phoning iix, the outer office when he returned," "Then two -forty was the last thne either of you saw her alive?" Rankin eyed him searchingly. "Yogi didn't en- ter fifteen-o•five again, through either this library or the door from the hall, while you were out there?" "Hot until 1 foundher dead," he returned, ."We left her completely alone, Mr. Rowland and l went into 1/fr, Dawson's private office for the Thursday, July 4th, 193S. next ten minutes, where he could dis- cuss today's strategy without be- ing disturbed I can vouch that lie never left the the entire time, nor •I him, Then 'Mr, Dawson arrived, and we assembled for the hearing." The detective bent forward, toying with a ,pencil he took froth the table, "Why was it arranged, Mr. Trum- bull, that Mrs. Keith wait apart in. there, instead of 'outside in fifteen -o - seven? Had you some special reason for that?" "It was done for privacy, and to. spare her all possible distress," the lawyer explained. "She was doing us a service in offering her evidence, but naturally, in her position, she desired no publicity, She even dressed incon- spicuously, In the main office, under the eyes of employees and casual vis- itors, she would have felt uncomfort- able. And she couldn't stay in the library with Mrs.. Rowland and Mr. Williard; that would have been even more embarrassing." "Then they had already arrived be- fore you?" "Yes, I suppose so since they came earlier than I and waited for Mr.. Dawson here.. In fact, they were here when Mr. Rowland entered fifteen -o - five with. Mrs. Keith; he carne .out at once and closed this door between the rooms. So they saw us leave her at two -forty" ' Rankin nodded. "Had they any idea in advance that it was she who would be Mr. Rowland's leading wit- ness against them? That is, before she arrived today? Was her name mentioned, for instance, in your writ- ten defense?" Mr. Trunibull's forehead wrinkled i.n a frown of uncertainty and reflec- tion. "No, the answer I filed was purely formal and withheld all the essential details. And considering the nature of Mrs. Keith's evidence, I don't be- lieve his wife was in a position to learn her identity." (Continued Next Week) t 1935 SPRING LAMB Spring meat is here as young baby lamb in increasing quantities from week to week. Lamb dinners are now the order of the day and special men- tis at conference banquets are not considered up to the minute unless 1935 spring lamb is the neat served for such occasions. Roast leg of lamb, lamb chops and lamb stew are all popular because of tenderness, juiciness and flavour which is so distinctive of meat from young lamb at this time of the year. Probably the main reason why roast lamb, lamb chops and lamb stews are so popular is because this meat solves the problem of variety during warm weather when the digestive system of r LINDBERCI-I TURNS SCIENTIST .‘1'., — ---- : __Ii.„. -- .--- ___, , i'.:1 - 'S ,t .;, I Gas •outlet: -Coll' Reser':me' Gas pressie'e' eivalizer, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, turned scientist, has teamed with Dr. Alexis Carrel of Rockefeller institute to make an artificial heart and lungs in the institute laboratories, bringing to success a 123 -year-old quest of medi- cine to cause whole parts of the body to live and grown in glass chambers, where they are placed and revived af- ter surgical death. The diagram shows - the mechanism devised by Lindbergh., in 1981. A simple coil of glass is set`, on a round table that revolves an& rocks causing . a coil to wave round' and round. The waving motion caus- es the blood to circulate. Lung effect is obtained by admitting oxygen through the tube. many people demands a change to a lighter, more healthful and tender as well as richly flavoured meat. Suggeeted• Dinner Menu Tomato Cocktail Vegetable Salad 1935 Roast Leg of Lamb with dressing Mashed Potatoes Green Peas Strawberry Shortcake Tea or Coffee., The following recipe is recommend- ed for dressing for Roast Lamb: Dressing for Roast Lamb 1 pint stale bread crumbs Ila cup crackers Ya teaspoon sage 2 tablespoons butter , 1 teaspoon sweet marjoram Salt and pepper Few drops onion juice. Moisten the bread and cracker crumbs with cold water and mix thor- oughly with other ingredients. "You're driving me out of r! mind!" "That's no drive—it's a putt." rofessional Directory J. W. I3USHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham Successor to Dudley Holmes. R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office Morton Block. VIP atlit0M111111•11111k VIMIZINES at H. W. COLBORNE, M.D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Medical Representative D. S. C. R. Phone 54. Wingliam I A.R.&F.E.DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street — Wingham Telephone 300, 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 am, to 8 p.m. nalIMISMEM ADVERTISE IN THE ADVANCE -TIMES THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD A Thorough knowledge of 'Farts Stoat, P1i+ ne 231, Wirighatt, mem J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS TTIERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Hours by Appointment. Phone 191. Wingham Irectory Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840. Risks taken on all classes of insur- ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Ont. ABNER COSENS, • Agent. Wingham. • It Will Pay Yon to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER tri conduct your gale. ' See T. R. BENNETT At The Royal ,dei -vice Station. Phone 1.74W, HARRY FRY Furniture and Funeral Service C. L. CLARIt Licensed Embalmer and Ftiieral Director Ambulance Service.' Phones: Day 117. Night 109, THOMAS E. SMALL LICENSED AUCTIONEER' 20 Tears' Experience inityrna Stock: an Y pleme� ts. d Moderate ttirices. Plume 381.