Show r. r I IV j I f L' L Lo 1 N C arOlyn 1 U tAT v e n nJ S I J C J JO 1927 INS j WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE Death stripes Garrett Folsom while swimming at Ocean Town N. N J. J After being perfunctorily examined examined ex- ex by a doctor the bOdy is brought to the Hotel where an inquiry is started Folsom's bathing companions had been Roger Neville Mrs Its lIel Helen n Barnaby and Carmelita Valdon It ItIs Itis is established that Folsom just before before be- be fore his death had been standing next to Ned Barren Barron known as the copper king V Then the startling announcement announce announce- meat ment Is made that Folsom had been stabbed to death in the water Ross his valet is questioned as are Barron and his wife but no light is shed on the mystery Anastasia Folsom eccentric and ond masterful sister of the dead man arrives and takes C At the Inquest it is established the death weapon was a an knife and that it and Its It's saab seab- bard had been n the NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY CHAPTER XVI Then said the coroner our next step IS Ia to rind find out who did buy this particular weapon W at atis is the address of t tile le shop Mr 11 Meeker V It isn't exactly hop it t is an auction room A place where auctions auctions are are held of various stocks s or consignments carried there for that purpose V Yes I understand Well Vell doubtless doubt doubt- less the proprietors can give us the information we want Jepson you'd better gO gd there yourself and now and learn all you can of the matter The detective went off at once and the coroner with a sigh returned returned re- re turned to his Investigation I am in rather a stra strange predicament predicament pre pre- he said frankly Never before have I had to conduct an inquiry with so little evidence to work vork upon The question before us is how did Mr Folsom come to his death What weapon was used and who used it Those are the only matters that affect us With the private life of the gentleman gen gen- tieman we have no concern unless it can be shown t that at it has to do with his tragic death There Ther is nobody under suspicion sos sus- In the case but it is undoubtedly undoubtedly edly murder and was apparently committed with premeditated in- in tent There is little question of motive or opportunity which are usually the first matters to be taken up But as you can readily see everyone in tile the the time ot of Mr 11 Folsom's death may be said to have had opportunity and so far faras faras as we have been able to learn nobody nobody no- no body has shown any evidence of having had motive This makes maltes the affair most mysterious for men are not murdered without motive And so gentlemen of the jurY I call callon callon on those who knew Mr Folsom Personally personally Per Per- and yO you may gather what knowledge you may from their depositions Hubbard was naturally a little verbose and stilted of diction but butin butin in this case ho was more so by reason ot of hi own uncertainty how to proceed It seemed absurd to ta call on tile the people who knew Garrett Garrett Gar Gar- rett Folsom for they were the ones most interested In learning the truth and the ones least likely to tobe tobe be implicated in the crime However it was the only thing to be done and Miss Folsom as the nearest relative of at the dead man man was wag called next Her testimony was of course Only to the effect that she had been summoned to Ocean Town by the telegram announcing her brothers brother's death This mess message ge had been sent to her Chicago o g-o but as she was In New York it had been forwarded forwarded for for- warded to her hel there and she bad llad immediately started for the seashore seashore sea sea- shore resort V She answered readily the coroners coroner's to her brothers brother's business and habits of Ufe but nothing she could tell had any bearing on the subject of his death In addition to the Information required of her she reiterated her determination to bring murderer to justice and declared herself willing to spend as much of her fortune as might be necessary in order to succeed in her quest S There was something about Anastasia Anastasia Anas- Anas tasia Folsom that made her hearers hear hear- ers era respect ct her though none of them would have cared to make any effort to become better acquainted with her She was not attractive she rather repelled people yet none could say she was not sincere and determined in her effort to solve the mystery of her brothers brother's death The next witness was Ross the dead mans man's valet But he had no more of tance to communicate than had Miss Folsom You have been with Mr Folsom sOme time Hubbard asked a bit perfunctorily V Four years sir replied Ross lie He was a good master In every way sir He was kind always though to please him everything everything every every- thing had to be in strIct accordance with his orders And you came here with him when Day before yesterday that Is to say Thursday sir sirVe We Ve arrived in inthe inthe the afternoon and went to the Hotel And what did Mr 11 doon dolon Thursday after reaching here As soon as we arrived he left me to put away his clothing and belongings and he went out for tor a stroll on the boardwalk I didn't see him again until he came in to dress for dinner After he was dressed he told me I could have havethe havethe the evening to myself He advised me to go for a stroll stron on the boardwalk board board- wall walk or to take a rIde in the chairs or to go to a movie show Which did you do I did all three The gay scenes were most interesting and I had a pleasant evening Youre wasting time talking to toRoss toRoss Ross Miss Folsom put in with an annoyed shake of her head Ive known the man for years he was my brothers brother's trusted assistant Get what he can tell of Garretts Garrett's doings the morning he died and then get at some moro more important wit wit- nesses Coroner H Hubbard was not accustomed accustomed tomed to receiving advice from his audience as to how to proceed but Miss Folsom's suggestion was sensible sensible sen- sen sible and ho he showed no resentment Tell us then Ross he said what Mr Folsom did the morning morning morn morn- ing that he met his death Tell the story of f the day l He rose early as he always oes sir I mean about 8 earlier er than most men on holiday lie He went downstairs and breakfasted in inthe inthe the dining room Mr Folsom was never one to have meals in his room Then he came back to his rooms about maybe 10 o'clock and told me to get out bathing suit and the bag of toilet things that he always carried with him to the I did this and very V soon he picked up the bag and started off He turned back to tell me that I could go for tor an ocean dip while he was gone but to be back by 1 o'clock as he would return about that time And you you went Into the ocean 0 then Yes sir for a short time 1 In long because I 1 wanted to be sure to be back in Mr 11 Folsom's Folsom's Fol- Fol som's rOoms by L And you were Oh yes some time before 1 By past half twelve or thereabouts You saw or heard nothing of the commotion caused by Mr Folsom's death while you were in the water or on oil the beach Oh no I was told Mr 11 was was-was hurt at about past half 12 At that time I 1 was in his rooms or just going there Your own room Is on the same floor with Mr Folsom's Yes at the back of th tho J ho Mr l ol I FolSom's oms om's rooms are V on ocean front S Yes Now Ross think Do you know of anybody wh have any reason or any wish for Mr Folsom's death No sir Not anybody Who 10 will benefit by hIs hs cease S I fit Benefit sir Yes financially r I mean Im sure I dont don't l know now sl si H Dont ask those questions Ross Mr Hubbard Miss Folsom with asperity tell you of my brothers brother's business fairs Though I dont don't see what have hav to do with the inqui y his death They might have a gr great at atto to do with it it Miss liss FOlsom then will receive the l. l Folsom's fortune That I can tell you in ag way Phe will of my brothel some r minor inor bequests but main part of his estate Is div di approximately into thirds On which will be my portion and d will go to a nephew of ml min 1 the other to Mr Ir Roger Neville brothers brother's friend and business elate Who ho is this nephew Who he His name Is Pelton Dan el ton He is just now In Ne City I was with him the eve V I before I came down here J Thursday evening that V Yes night before last Hubbard get on with your for tor I want to learn an all I can of matters before I engage m detective to ferret out the tery S STo I To Be Continued Neville benefits financial Folsom's death Does that but Neville read d wh what t follow rea c |