Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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f i. » X. r ■v VC. 1* The Barnwell People-Sentinel, Barnwell, S. C, July 5, 1934 The WEDDING MARCH MURDER Scenes and Persons in the Gurrent News CHAPTER XIII—Continued —24— "Yen. We didn't think we'd have touch chance of forgetting what hap pened with a detective following us around,** exclaimed Rylie defiantly. ‘That's the whole story. I took him out in the country and lost him. But t didn’t take him toward Westport, because I didn't want him Stumbling into us again, after I met Cajlls. I oj^ened up the car, after I passed the dry limits. I knew he couldn't keep up in that taxicab. "After he had dropped out of sight, I zigzagged up and down a few side- roads, and then headed for Westport In a wide circle. I was on my way to meet Callls when I had the acci dent. I didn’t want to drag Callls into this. I didn’t want some detective ask ing her personal questions. She had no more to do with the killing of Franklin than—than I had." “What about Webster Spears?” This time Peter turned-to the gW. 1 by MONTE BARRETT Copyright, ItSS. by th« Bobbs-MsrrUl Os. WNU Ssrvlc*. them have visited Franklin’s apart ment or ofl)ce? I can’t make that fit" Not unless CalllsU Shipley la the woman in blue you've been talking The murderer bad admitted hlmaelf to Franklin’s apartment with a key— a key given him by, or taken from, the woman- In blue or Choo Choo Train. We can discover nothing against Choo Choo, so let’s follow up the other lead. If this key came from the woman In blue, the motive for the crime was es- abbutr fcnday perslited doggedly: tahllshed, bat 1 waa atW as far from you came to see me, I thought you were worried about him, too.” “There was no way we could help Web by remaining here,” Rylie an swered for her. Tm asking Miss Shipley.” “Rylie is right We considered Web, but realized that remaining in the city wouldn’t help him.” Until they were dismissed. Rylie to be taken hack to police headquarters by a waiting officer, Callls to return to her home, the young couple stoutly maintained their story. No amount of questioning by Kllday could shake It. “Just the same," growled the ser geant after they were gone. “I know I’ve got the murderer under arrest. It’a either Webster Spears or Rylie Car mody. First I thought It was Spears and that Carmody and the girl were trying to help him. Then I thought It was Carmody and the other two were trying to help him. Now I don't know which it was. except that one of the two is guilty.” “And you think Callls Shipley knows?" Peter Inquired. “Of course." “Weil. 1 don’t” 1’eter spoke with conviction. “Ever since my Interview with her the other afternoon I have been convinced that, personally, she Is innocent, although Carmody and Sj>ears may be guilty. But If they are. she doesn’t know It." Kildny did not share this convic tion. He reviewed the evidence against each. “Spears was In love with Doris Carmody and was moving heaven and earth to keep her from marrying Jim Franklin. We know he told Rylie about Choo Choo Train, hoping that he would stop the wedding. Some one telephoned Ambrose Carmody telling him about the actress. First Spears denied that. Now he admits making the call. Some one telephoned Choo Choo and told her to be at the church. Spears still denies he did that, but I don’t know whether to believe him or not. "lie left the church. Just before the murder, inquiring ai>out Rylie Car- mody and declaring that if he were there, there wouldn't he any wedding, later he dented making that remark but we've since been able to prove that he did. That night Callls Shipley vis Ited Spears’ home. Both she and Spears denied that visit, at first. Now they both admit It. The girl told us what S|*ears said when he left the church. Then she denied It. Now she admits it." The detective was restlessly pacing the floor ns he summed up the case. “You can't tell me Innocent people were trying to deceive us tills way. That isn't natural. They had some thing to conceal. What was it? Well," he smiled significantly, “Spears had a motive for the crime and he can’t ac count for his time at the hour It was committed. "Then take Rylie Carmody. He ad mits trying to stop the wedding, after Spears told him about the actress. We know he quarreled with Franklin In the study. He left, but we know he came back, because Callls Shipley rode home with him. Either the girl told him there had been a murder or he already knew It, apparently, when he returned to the church. If she told him, how did she know? If she didn’t tell him, how did he know? Then ho gives a detective the slip in time to search Franklin's apartment and attack you In that office." He shrugged. “Oh. I know we don’t have any proof of that—yet Bat he escaped In time to do It nnd he can’t five a good reason for shaking my detective the way he did. He tarns up with an alibi full of holes, and tries to explain his bat tered appearance by telling, us he was In an automobile accident Huh, T/e got enough on both of these birds to send them to the chair, and one of them will talk before he takes the trip. The fear of that la the best cure for a silent tongue I know." “Bnt Kllday—" Peter began. “Oh, I fcnow. Ton’re going to hand to# that theory that Spears couldn't have taken the dagger from the wall— at least not while he was struggling with Franklin. Well, perhaps bo couldn’t, but maybe be slipped In there and got the knife before Franklin «hw him. Maybe It was Rylip. He’s taller. There are a lot of things that don’t fit yet and that may be one of them. But they'll all fit before Tm through,” “That wasn’t what I was going to ■ay," Peter again interrupted. “If , either Rylie or Web Speirs committed this crime, the motive seems to be ebrioaa. It waa ta keep Franklin from —njlug Doris Carmody. And If that waa the modva, why should either of I’m sure of that. Think back, Kll day. Our woman in blue went there to prevent the wedding. Dan Bullls heard part of her conversation with Franklin. She only consented to leave the church after Franklin promised her that his marriage was going to make no difference in their relation ship. If Bullis told us the truth shout that conversation, and I see no reason why he shouldn’t, then that woman Is heartbroken over the murder. Does Callis Shipley act or look like a woman who is grieving over Franklin's death? Not to me, she doesn’t Her one throughout the whole affair, has been for Rylie Carmody. No, she is not the woman in blue. And if she isn’t then 1 say Rylie had no reason for visiting that apartment I have another reason for being convinced that he isn’t the man with whom I struggled in the apartment A few minutes ago. the boy lunged at you, here, in a rage over a question asked of Miss Shipley. You caught him by the wrists and held him, easily. I am sure you couldn’t have done that with *1 Took Him Out in tho Country And Lost Him." the man I ran up against the other night. That fellow was far more power ful. Whatever doubt lingered in my mind shout Carmody’s Innocence was dis pelled then. He is innocent I’m as sure of it as I am of this broken leg of mine, and it’s paining me a lot.” “If we accept this theory of yours it looks as though we’re farther from s solution than ever." complained Kll day. He drew moodily on his stogy. “You've made a good point" he ad mitted, "but if we follow your lead we’re right hack where we started. 1 haven’t even got a good guess left. Webster Spears was under arrest the night of your fight in the apartment If that has a place in the crime, then it couldn’t have been him.” "It has a plac^,*’ declared Peter with conviction. “The man I fought was the murderer. I’m convinced of that.” He glanced at Kllday, a whimsical smile playing about his lean lips. “Have you ever had to lie In bed for three consecutive days?" he inquired. “Try It some time, when you have a particularly knotty problem to solve. I recommend it You can do a lot of thinking." . The detective was not misled by the apparent inconsequence of the nov elist’s remark. He leaned eagerly for ward. “Have you doped something out?" he demanded. “I think ( have." “You mean you know who killed Franklin I" . - “Perhaps," declared Peter, “You might call It a guess, because I still lack definite proof, but there’s only one person whe could have done it ft was the same fellow who helped me along when I took that dive through the window the other night “You see. Sergeant" he continued, “we have been hitting pretty close to the truth almost from the first Ever since I’ve been lying here. I've been going over the evidence, trying to make It fit I couldn't get away from that woman In blue who visited Frank lin In Doctor Abernathy’s study. Just before the crime. The very fact that ■he waa the only one of the visitors that we couldn’t locate, in spite of all our efforts, made me doubly anapldona of the part she played in the crime. Still, that waa only supposition, until the night Franklin’s apartment was searched. The prowler passed up a few Jewela of value, while raqaaeking the place. It seemed obvious that "Be waa no ordinary thief and that his search bad some connection with the crime. But we have been over that I need only point out that our pro-, vious search of those rooms made ua reasonably certain that nothing had been found there. I felt sure, then, that the search would be extended to the office. Whatever the murderer wanted, he wanted pretty badly. “That waa a lucky hunch, although It nearly proved the finish of me. And It proved another thing—this was a hot trail patently." Peter brushed his hand wearily across his eyes.. His face showed the strain the events of the afternoon were Imposing upon his limited strength. “Then there Is the matter of the phone to Choo Choo Train, Just be fore the wedding,” he continued pres ently. “She thought It was Fletcher calling, by Franklin’s order. We know that Franklin didn’t tell Fletcher to make such a call, because Nick Royce tells ns of the man’s surprise when she appeared at the church. Fletcher de nies he called. Then who did call?" "Webster SpearsT Peter shook his head. “I think not Spears waa interested in getting,the Carmody family to stop the wedding Besides, he has admitted his conversa tion with Rylie and his anonymous call to the elder C&rmody. But he denies calling Choo Choo. What reason could he possibly have for not telling the truth on that score, as well? No, it wasn’t Spears. The sour derer called Choo Choo. He did It be cauae he knew her relationship with Franklin, of course, and hrfped that her presence at the church would divert suspicion from hlmaelf. I believe that was the only reason she was. called. Of course, this tells us very little. It does reveal that the man knew Frank lin well enough to know his htblts. But half of New York knew of his Infatuation for this actress. Neverthe less, this man was no casual acquaint ance. He had either visited in Frank tin's apartment, or talked to him bj telephone, there.” “How do you know that?” “He knew Fletcher’s name and wai familiar enough with his voice to Imi tate It when he talked to Choo Choo over the telephone," Pater explained “A mere casual acquaintance couldn't have done that Besides that, we have another proof of the fact. When the murderer entered the rear door of Doc tor Abernathy’s study, Franklin turned to meet him. He was not surprised to see his visitor. If he had been. It would have been only natural for him to have made some exclamation that would have attracted the atteotion of Nick Royce, standing only a few feet away. He didn’t. Royce never knew wnen the murderer entered. Franklin Is bound to have considered his mur derer one of his intimate friends.” Peter paused to light a fresh cig arette and Inhaled of It, deeply, sev eral times, before continuing. ‘“There is another very vital clue which we must not overlook. That Is the revolver. Unless we believe that Franklin thought his life was In grave danger, It Is ridiculous to suppose that he carried a revolver to his own wed ding. I prefer to think that he had no warning of his danger. In the first place. If he had. he would never have permitted his assailant to approach him near enough to stab him, without firing. He was stabbed from In front, remember, not from behind. Again let me remind you that Royce was only a few feet away In the next room. “No, If Franklin had been armed. It would have been because he suspected danger. And in that event, he would have used his weapon when the mur derer entered the room. T am con vinced that the revolver was carried to the church, not by Franklin, but by the murderer himself, who intende-l by slaying the man with his own gun, thus td escape detection. You will ar gue, of course, that he used the knife, instead. I believe that was an after thought, suggested when he saw tha knife hanging on the wall as he en tered the room. It suggested a silence, and greater time for escape, that he could not hope for If he used rne gun. “Another point which puzzled me was why the revolver should have been discarded in the shrubbery of the gar den. Of course, the murderer had al ready taken the precaution to leavs Franklin’s own finger-print upon It, but nevertheless, this revolver has been a significant clue in the case, and marka an apparent mistake on tha part of the man we seek. My only explanation for this action Is that tha murderer joined the throng In front of the church, after the crime, seeking safety In the crowd, rather than la flight I think It probable that ha even entered the church. That la qultd likely, as I am sure hla acquaintance with Franklin was such that he had been Invited. That being true, ha coaid not afford to have the marderq0 ' man’s revolver In hla possession. That explain^ this point hut It does not ex* plain how and when he obtained that revolver. (TO BK CONTINUED.) 1—California crew winning the Intercollegiate eight-oared race in the Poughkeepsie regatta, with Washington and Navy close behind. 2—Admiral David F. Sellers (left) on the U. S. S. Pennsylvania with Admiral Joseph M. Reeves who succeeded him as commander of the fleet 8—New York policeman hauling down a red flag that had been mysteri ously placed on the staff of the Eternal Light In Madison Square park. Hanfstaengl Comes, Despite Hostile Reception When Dr. Ernest Hanfstaengl, personal friend and aide of Chancellor Hitler of Germany, landed In New York on hia way to the reunion of bis Harvard class, he was greeted by a throng of antl-Nasls carrying unfriendly banners Th# police were alert, however, and took Hanfstaengl from the boat secretly and put him aboard a train for Boston. Ta ■eportera and camera men the visitor showed the Nail salute. IT WAS NEWS TO him i N ew Norwegian Envoy Is Received & William A. Roberts, who is people's counsel for the District of Columbia, was Informed the other day that he was a candidate for Vice President of the United States in the 19.T2 elec tions on the ticket of the National As sociation Opposed to Blue taws. This was the first he heard of It A letter from Ross E. Black of Paris, Va^ chairman of the executive com mittee of the association, broke the news. He said he thought the candi date for President, Leland Barton, had Informed Roberta, but had learned differently. JOHNNY BROACA The new minister from Norway to the United States, Wilhelm Morgan- stierne (center), with Leonhard a P. Offerdahl first secretary ef the legation; and Frands Irgens, secretary of the legation, photographed shortly after Min* later Morgenstlerne presented hla credentials to President Roosevelt Leonard Calvert Lands Again i Negro Tobacco Pickers Traveling through the tobacco dis tricts of the South one sees many old log eablna, through the corner of which runs a flue constructed of rocks, mud, cement or any other handy material In front opening to the ontald#, la a fireplace or stove of this aame mate- Johnny Broaca, Just out of Yale rial, aaya a bulletin of the American university, has Joined the New Xprk .2 Gas association. When the tobacco learea are cut the negroes hang them in these cabins and Area are main tained day and night until tha tobacco la dry. These cabins are atlll used and the night fires with tho negroes singing and dancing about art aoM picturesque. Yankees as a pitcher and la doing ef fective work, on the mound. Absurd Mabel—Belle’s husband baa taken aut a 20-year endowment poHcy. Edith—What! Baa be tho nerve ta Intend to live as long an that? Beene-during tha celebration of Maryland's lag Leonard Chlrart and tho first Oty tram tha Dora and tho Ark. birthday. H at :