Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1910 — THE TEAKWOOD CANE [ARTICLE]

THE TEAKWOOD CANE

By Harold Carter.

"Are you going to set this murderer at liberty?” asked the local chief of police. The great detectlye, nodded. He had been placed in charge of the case, partly on account of his deserved re putatlon, partly because he had held office for yeafs in India. “It’s the only thing to do,” he re plied. “Of course, the man Is guilty, but —there have been three deaths and we cannot fasten the guilt upon him.” “Permit me to observe,” said the servant, Surendra Lai, in excellent English, “that your words render you liable to pay me heavy damages in a libel suit.” The detective heeded the man no more than if he had been a log of wood. Surendra Lai smiled and twirled his thumbs waiting for the word which should set him at liberty. ‘What can we dor" continued the Scotland Yard detective. “Consider the facts.” "Old Colonel Lisle was prominent in suppressing the movemefit so rindependence in India. Five times he was shot at —once wounded. He was retired in the fullness of years and returned to England, to country estate, where he lived placidly with his two sons and his native servant —that fellow there —whom he had no occasion to suspect of murderous Intent. Ultimately it was found that the man was a member of the Swadeshi imrty and an associate of notorious Indian anarchists.” Surendra Lal smiled softly and shifted his feet. “Colonel Lisle had brought back a number of native objects, and lived in Indian style, with his sons, pountry gentlemen. One morning he was heard to scream. His sons rushed into his room. The colonel lay dead upon the floor, his hat still upon his head, his fingers g’rasping his cane, of teakwood, which had been presented to him on his departure by native sympathizers. Apoplexy was given as the cause of death. Within two months each of his sons died in the same manner, in each case dressed to go out, in each case grasping the cane. The post-mortem examinations disclosed the presence in their bodies of some powerful alkaloid. “Surendra Lal was arrested. Incriminating letters were found in his possession from the Swadeshi leaders, ordering him to accomplish his job. What job? Murder, of course. But what jury would convict upon such evidence as that? So we judge it is best to ship him out of England under the aliens act.” He ceased speaking and turned to the Hindoo.

“Go, dog,” he cried savagely. “That word is also actionable,” said the native softly, clapping his hat upon his head and going toward the door. “Halt!” cried the inspector in thunderous tones. “Take your cane with The man hesitated and turned deathly pale. His hand hovered over the cane, which lay upon a table. And suddenly the inspector pulled something from his pockets and snapped it over £he native’s wrist. He was too late. Surendra Lal’s hand closed upon the handle of the cane; he raised himself up, smiled weakly, and fell in a heap upon the floor. The local police chief rushed forward to seize the implement from the dying man’s hand. The great detective caught his hand in a grip of iron. He freed the dead man’s wrist and pressed the steel of the handcuff upon the handle, at the same time drawing his revolver. The cane flew into two sections and from its hollowed interior something came writhing and hissing. The detective fired. • • • “As you may know," he explained afterward, “the hooded cobra is the most venomous of reptiles. Its bite is almist instantly fatal, while it is able to exist for months without food di* air. It was a scheme of devilish ingenuity. The snake was undoubtedly introduced by Surendra Lal, and struck its victim through a minute hole in the handle. In this way he succeeded in assassinating three men. I did not mean that he should perish in that manner, but wished to catch him off his guard. Unfortuately he was too quick for us, and he preferred death by his own instrument to perishing upon the gallows.”

One result of a dispute between the Chicago city law department and a master in chancery over the latter’s fees is a demand that all masters be paid salaries and the fees go to the county treasury. There are 26 masters in chancery in Cook county, and while they are in competition for business, they have never been suspected of cutting rates. At the meeting of the Norfolk education committee at Norwich it was recommended that slates should no longer used in the schools, on the ground that their use was not hygienic, but 500 of the county teachers sent a resolution condemning the abolition of slates. Asbestos, which Is said to be of excellent quality, has been found in large quantities in Afghanistan and a native company has been formed to work the deposits.