The Greatest Thrillers of Edgar Wallace. Edgar Wallace

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СКАЧАТЬ you account for that? — No.

      By the Foreman: What steps did you take when you discovered this? — I had the flowers carefully collected and as much of the water as was possible absorbed by clean blotting-paper: these were sent to the Home Office for analysis.

      Do you know the result of that analysis? — So far as I know, it has revealed nothing.

      Did the analysis include leaves from the rose you have in your possession? — Yes.

      The Assistant Commissioner then went on to give details of the police arrangements for the day. It was impossible, he emphatically stated, for any person to have entered or left 44 Downing Street without being observed. Immediately after the murder the police on duty were ordered to stand fast. Most of the men, said the witness, were on duty for twenty-six hours at a stretch.

      At this stage there was revealed the most sensational feature of the inquiry. It came with dramatic suddenness, and was the result of a question put by the Coroner, who constantly referred to the Commissioner’s signed statement that lay before him.

      You know of a man called Thery? — Yes.

      He was one of a band calling themselves ‘The Four Just Men’? — I believe so.

      A reward was offered for his apprehension? — Yes.

      He was suspected of complicity in the plot to murder Sir Philip Ramon? — Yes.

      Has he been found? — Yes.

      This monosyllabic reply drew a spontaneous cry of surprise from the crowded court.

      When was he found? — This morning.

      Where? — On Romney Marshes.

      Was he dead? — Yes. (Sensation.)

      Was there anything peculiar about the body? (The whole court waited for the answer with bated breath.) — Yes; on his right palm was a stain similar to that found on the hand of Sir Philip Ramon!

      A shiver ran through the crowd of listeners.

      Was a rose found in his hand also? — No.

      By the Foreman: Was there any indication how Thery came to where he was found? — None.

      The witness added that no papers or documents of any kind were found upon the man.

      Sir Francis Katling was the next witness.

      He was sworn and was accorded permission to give his evidence from the solicitor’s table, on which he had spread the voluminous notes of his observations. For half an hour he devoted himself to a purely technical record of his examinations. There were three possible causes of death. It might have been natural: the man’s weak heart was sufficient to cause such; it might have been by asphyxiation; it might have been the result of a blow that by some extraordinary means left no contusion.

      There were no traces of poison? — None.

      You have heard the evidence of the last witness? — Yes.

      And that portion of the evidence that dealt with a black stain? — Yes.

      Did you examine that stain? — Yes.

      Have you formed any theories regarding it? — Yes; it seems to me as if it were formed by an acid.

      Carbolic acid, for instance? — Yes; but there was no indication of any of the acids of commerce.

      You saw the man Thery’s hand? — Yes.

      Was the stain of a similar character? — Yes, but larger and more irregular.

      Were there any signs of acid? — None.

      By the Foreman: You have seen many of the fantastic theories put forward by the Press and public? — Yes; I have paid careful attention to them.

      And you see nothing in them that would lead you to believe that the deceased met his end by the method suggested? — No.

      Gas? — Impossible; it must have been immediately detected.

      The introduction into the room of some subtle poison that would asphyxiate and leave no trace? — Such a drug is unknown to medical science.

      You have seen the rose found in Sir Philip’s hand? — Yes.

      How do you account for that? — I cannot account for it.

      Nor for the stain? — No.

      By the Foreman: You have formed no definite opinion regarding the cause of death? — No; I merely submit one of the three suggestions I have offered.

      Are you a believer in hypnotism? — Yes, to a certain extent.

      In hypnotic suggestion? — Again, to a certain extent.

      Is it possible that the suggestion of death coming at a certain hour so persistently threatened might have led to death? — I do not quite understand you.

      Is it possible that the deceased is a victim to hypnotic suggestion? — I do not believe it possible.

      By the Foreman: You speak of a blow leaving no contusion. In your experience have you ever seen such a case? — Yes; twice.

      But a blow sufficient to cause death? — Yes.

      Without leaving a bruise or any mark whatever? — Yes; I saw a case in Japan where a man by exerting a peculiar pressure on the throat produced instant death.

      Is that ordinary? — No; it is very unordinary; sufficiently so to create a considerable stir in medical circles. The case was recorded in the British Medical Journal in 1896.

      And there was no contusion or bruise? — Absolutely none whatever.

      The famous surgeon then read a long extract from the British Medical Journal bearing out this statement.

      Would you say that the deceased died in this way? — It is possible.

      By the Foreman: Do you advance that as a serious possibility? — Yes.

      With a few more questions of a technical character the examination closed.

      As the great surgeon left the box there was a hum of conversation, and keen disappointment was felt on all sides. It had been hoped that the evidence of the medical expert would have thrown light into dark places, but it left the mystery of Sir Philip Ramon’s death as far from explanation as ever.

      Superintendent Falmouth was the next witness called.

      The detective, who gave his evidence in clear tones, was evidently speaking under stress of very great emotion. He seemed to appreciate very keenly the failure of the police to safeguard the life of the dead Minister. It is an open secret that immediately after the tragedy both the officer and the Assistant Commissioner tendered their resignations, which, at the express instruction of the Prime Minister, were not accepted.

      Mr СКАЧАТЬ