Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1907 — Page 6

Martin Hewitt, Investigator.

The Affair of the Tortoise.

By ARTHUR MORRISON.

Published by Arrangement With Harper A Brothers.

OERY often Hewitt was tempted by the fascination of some particularly odd case to neglect his other affairs to follow up a matter that from a business point of view was of little or no value to him. As a rule, he had a sufficient regard for his own Interests to resist such temptations, but In one curious case, at least, I believe he allowed It largely to Influence him. nothing In this world that Is at all possible,” 1 have often heard Martin Hewitt say, “that has not happened or is not happening In London." The case I havo referred to occurred some time before my own acquaintance with him t>egan. He had called one Monday morning at an office In regard to one of hts cases, when he was Informed of a most mysterious murder that had taken place In another part of the same building on the previous {Saturday afternoon. The building was one of a new row

In a partly rebuilt street near tho National gallery. The "whole row had been built by a speculator for the purposes of letting out In flats, suits of chambers and. In one or two cases on the ground floors, offices. The rooms had let very well and to desirable tenants an a rule. The least satisfactory tenant, tho proprietor reluctantly admitted, was a Mr. Rameau, a negro, single, who had threo rooms on tho top floor but one of tho particular building that newltt was visiting. Ills rent was paid regularly, but hls liehavlor

had produced complulnta from other tenants. He got uproariously drunk and screarfaed and howled In unknown tonguos. Ho fell asleep on the staircase, and ladles were afraid to pass. He bawled rough chaff down the stairs and along the corridors at butcher boys and messengers and played on errand boys brutal practical Jokes that ended In police court summonses. He once had a way of sliding down the balustrade shouting "Ho! ho! ho! yah!” as he went, hut as he was n big, heavy

Ktan and the balustrade had been built "‘for different treatment, he had very soon and very firmly been requested to atop It. He had plenty of money and spent It freely; but It was generally felt that there was too much of the tight hearted savage about him. How much lpnger the landlord would have stood this sort of thing, Hewitt’s Informant said, was a matter of conjecture, for on the Saturday afternoon in question tho tenancy had come to a startling full stop. Rameau had been murdered In his room, and the body had disappeared In the most unaccountable fashion. Tho strongest possible suspicion pointed to a man who had been employed In shoveling and carrying coals, cleaning windows and chopping wood for several of the buildings and who

bad left that very Saturday. The crime bad, In fact, boon committed with tills man’s chopper, and the man himself had been beard again and again to threaten Rameau, who In his brutal fashion had made a butt of him. This man was a little Frenchman, Victor Goujon by name, who hud lost his employment as a watchmuker by reason of an Injury to his right hand. There was a tortoise living In the basement of which Goujon had made rather a pet, and the negro would sometimes use this animal ns a missile, flinging It at the little Frenchman’s head. On one such occasion the

tortoise struck the wall so forcibly us to break Its shell, and then Goujon •eteed a shovel and rushed at his tor mentor with such blind fury that the latter made a bolt of It Goujon, after correspondence with n relative In France who offered him work, gave notice to leave, which ex plrod on the day of the crime. At about 8 that afternoon a housemaid proceeding toward Rameau's room met Goujon ns ho was going away. Gou Jon bade her goodby and, pointing lu the direction of Rameau’s rooms, said exultantly, “Dere shall be no more of the black pig for mo; vit ’im I ’ave done for." And be went away, t* The girl went to tho outer door of Rameau’s rooms, knocked and got no reply. Concluding that the tenant was out, she WSi About to use Kef keys when she found that the door was tin locked. She passed through the lobby and Into the sitting room and there fell in a dead faint at the sight that met her eyes. Itameau lay with his back across the sofa and his head drooping within an Inch of the ground. On the bead was u fearful gash, and lielow Tt was a pool of blood. The girl must have lain unconscious for about ten minutes. When slw came to her senses she dragged her •elf, terrified, from the room and up to tho housekeeper's apartments, where, being an excitable and nervous creature, Bhe only screamed "Murder!” and Immediately fell in a lit of hysterics that lasted three-quarters of an hour. |When at last she came to herself, she told her story, and, the hall porter having been summoned, Rameau’s rooms were again approached. lhe blood still lay on the floor, and the chopper, with which the crime had evidently been committed, rested against the fender, but the body had vanished! A search was at once made, but no trace of it could be seen anywhere. It seemed impossible that It eould have been carried out of the

building, for the ball porter most at once have noticed anybody leaving with so bulky a burden. , When Hewitt was Informed of these things on Monday, the police were, of course, still In possession of Rameau’s rooms. Inspector Nettings, Hewitt was told, was In charge of the case. '* Nettings was pleased to see Hewitt and invited him to look around the rooms. “Perhaps you can spot something we have overlooked,” he said, “though It's not a case there can be much doubt about"

“You think It’s Ooujon, don’t you?" "Think? Well, rather! Look here! As soon as we got here on Saturday we found tills piece of paper and pin on the floor. We showed it to the housemaid, and then she remembered—she was too much upset to think of It before—thut when she was In the room the paper was lying on the dead man’s chest—pinned there, evidently. It must have dropped off when they removed the body. It’s a case of half mad revenge on Goujon’s part, plainly. See It You read French, don’t you?” The paper was a plain, large half sheet of note paper, on which a sentence In French was scrawled In red Ink In a large, clumsy hand—thus: “Punl par un vengeur de la tortue.” “Punl par un vengeur de la tortue.” Hewitt repeated musingly. " ‘Punished by an avenger of the tortoise.’ That seems odd.”

“Oh, he’s mad—mad with Rameau’s coutlnual ragging and halting,” Nettings answered. “Anyway, this is a pluin Indication—plain as though he’d left hls own signature. Besides, It’s In hls own language—French. And there’s hls chopper too.” “Speaking of signatures,” Hewitt remarked, “perhaps you have already compared tills with other specimens of Goujon’s writing?" “I did think of It but they don’t seem to have a specimen to hand, and, anyway. It doesn’t seem very Important Handwritings are easily disguised.” “Have you got ’Goujon?"

"Well, no. Wo haven’t There seems to be some little difficulty about that But I expect to have him by this time tomorrow.” Hewitt's Interest In the case was roused, and be determined to examine the rooms. By the side of the lobby was a bathroom, and lu this was fitted a tlpup washbasin, which Hwwftt Inspected with particular attention. Then he called the housekeeper and made Inquiries about Rameau’s clothes and linen. The housekeeper remembered

Harru nu Uiy with hie hack acroes the so/a. one heavy black ulster, which Rameau had very rarely worn—only la the coldest weather. The ulster had disappeared. At this moment a clerk from the landlord’s office arrived and handed Nettings a paper. “Here you are,” said Nettings to Hewitt. “They’ve found a specimen of Goujon’s handwriting at last, If you’d like to see It. I don’t want It. I’m not a graphologist, and the case Is clear enough.” newltt took the paper. "This,” he said, “Is a different sort of handwriting from that on tho paper. The red Ink note about the avenger of tbe tortoise Is lu a crude, large, clumsy, untaught style of writing. This Is small, neut and well formed—except that It 14 a trifle shaky, probably because of the hand Injury.” “That's nothing," contended Nettings “Handwriting clews are worse than useless, as a rule. Say now yourself, enu any fiddling question of handwriting got over this thing about ’avenging the tortoise’—practically a written confession? To say nothing of the chopper und what he said to the housemaid as he left"

sttid Hewitt, “ix>rbnps not, but we’ll see. Meantime”—turning to the ItiUillord'A^olerk—“possibly you will be good .enough to tell me one or two tblnps. First, what wus Ooujon’s character?” “Excellent, «o far as we know. We never had a complaint about him except ton little matters of carelessness—leaving coal scuttles on the staircases for people to fall over, losing shovels, and so on.’’ “The tortoise is dead now, I understand?” ‘‘Yea* " , "Have you a Uft In this building?" “Only for coals and heavy parcels; 11 goes Into the basement.” “And.are the coals kept under this building?" “No. The store for tbe whole row la under the next two houses. The basements communicate."

| "Do you know Rameau 1 * other name?" “Cesar Rameau he signed In ear agreement.” “Did be ever mention hls relations?” “No. That Is to say, he did *ay something one day when he was very drunk, but of course It was all rot. Some one told him not to make each a row—he was a beastly tenant-Hmd he said he was the best man in the place and hls brother was prime minister and all sorts of thlngß. He came here on a banker’s reference.” “Thanks. I think that’s all I want to ask. You notice,” Hewitt proceeded, turning to Nettings, “the only Ink in this place Is scented and violet, and the only paper Is tinted and scented, too, with a monogram—characteristic of a negro with money. The paper that was pinned on Rameau's breast Is In red Ink on common and rather grubby paper, therefore It was written somewhere else and brought here. Inference, premeditation.” “Yes, yes. But are you an Inch near er with all these speculations? Can you get nearer than I am now wlthopt them?”

“Well, perhaps not,” Hewitt replied. “But you don’t offer an opinion aa to who removed Rameau’s body.” “Who was It?” “Come, try and guess that yourself. It wasn't Goujon; I don’t mind letting you know that But It was a person quite within your knowledge of the cose. You’ve mentioned the person’s name more than once.” Nettings stared blankly. “I don’t understand you in the least” he said “But of course you mean this mysterious person you speak of as having moved the body committed the murder?” “No, I don’t Nobody could have been more Innocent of that” "Well,” Nettings concluded, with resignation, “I’m afraid one of us is rather thick beaded. What will you do?*’ “Interview the person who took away the body,” Hewitt replied, with a smile. “Probably the person will be a most valunble witness.”

“Do you mean you think this person, whoever it Is, saw the crime?” “I think It very probable Indeed.” “Well, I won’t ask you any more. I shall get hold of Goujon; that’s simple and direct enough for me. I prefer to deal with the heart of the case—the murder Itself —when there’s such clear evidence as I have.” “I shall look a little Into that, too, perhaps," Hewitt said, “and, if you like. I’ll tell you the first thing I shall do.” “What's that?” “I shall have a good look at a map of the West Indies, and I advise you to do the same. Good morning.” Nettings was better than his word, for within two hours of his conversation with Hewitt Goujon was captured and safe In a cab bound for Bow street. He had been stopped at Newhaven in the morning on, his way to Dieppe and was brought back to London. But now Nettings met a check.

Late that afternoon he called ou Hewitt to explain matters. “We’ve got Goujon,” he said gloomily, “but there's a difficulty. He’s got two friends who can swear an alibi. Rameau was seen alive at half past 1 on Saturday, and the girl found him dead about 3. Now, Goujon’s two friends, it seems, were With him from 1 o’clock till 4 In the afternoon, with the, exception of five minutes when the girl saw him, and then he left them to take a key or something to the housekeeper before finally leaving. They are men employed near tiie place and seem to have good characters. I wish you’d explain a bit as to what you meant by looking at a map." “See, now,” quoth Hewitt “you remember what map I told you to look atr * “The West Indies."

“Right! Well, here yon are.’’ Hew'tt reached an atlas from his book shelf. “Now, look here: the biggest Island of the lot on this map, barring Cuba, la Haiti. You know as well as I do that, the western part of that Island is peopled by the black republic of Halt! and that the country is In a degenerate state of almost unexampled savagery. Perhaps the very worst of tho presidents in recent times has been the notorious Domlngue, who was overthrown by an insurrection, as they all are sooner or later, and compelled to fly tbe country. Domlngue and its nephews, one of ivhoin was chief minister, while In power committed tbe eruelest bloodshed, and many members of the opposite party sought: r £- uge In a small island lying Just to he north of Haiti, bnt were sonpbt outthere and almost exterminated. X v, I will show you that Island on the i .p. What Is its name?” “Tortuga.”^— “It Is. 'Tortuga.’ however. G ly the old Bpnnlsh name. Tho V ■ :s speak French—Creole French. ’ is a French alias—now see the ham of that Island.” “La Tortue!” " * “La Tortue It Is—tho tortoise. rtuga means the same thing h. But that island is nlwnyn s; in .Haiti ns La Tortue. Now. do j «j| tho drift of that paper.Th . , 1 ameau’s breast?" “Punished by an avenger of—or fr m —the tortoise or La Tortue <■’ ir enough. It would seem that the -do idman had something t<< do with the massacre there, and somebody frotn the Island is avenging It" “And now listen. The name of Lomlngue’s nephew, who was chief minister, was Septimus Rameau.” “And this was Osar Rameau—Ms brother, probably. I see.” "I think the relationship probable. Now you understand why I was inclined to doubt that Goujon was the man you wanted.” “Of course, of course! And now I j suppose I must try to get a nigger—tbe chap vrbo wrote that paper. I wish

hadn’t barn such an Ignorant nigg*. If he’d only have pat the capitals to the words ‘La Tortue,\ I might have thought a little more about them, lastead of taking It for granted that they meant that wretched tortoise In the basement of the house. Well, I’ll be after that nigger.” “And L as I said before," said Hewitt, "shall be after the person that carried off Rameau’s body.” [TO B* CONTINUED]

LEARN TO EAT Few People in Reoaaelaer Really Know flow. Slow eating will solve pne-half the problem of ill health. Those who suffer already with indigestion and weak atopiaoh can with care and the use of Mi-o-na stomach tablets restore their digestion to a healthy condition, so that they can eat what they want at any time without fear of distress or suffering. After a few days’ use of Mi-o-na stomach tablets, the headaohe, dizzy feeling, drowsiness, bad taste in the mouth, ooated tongue, nervousness, sleeplessness, distress after eating—all these symptoms of a weak stomach —will disappear, and perfect digestion and a good akin will show that the vital machinery iB once more running smoothly. Take a little Mi-o-na tablet before each meal so that it will stimulate the digestive juioes and give strength to the stomach, and then it will take care of the food that is eaten, without indigestion and the unpleasant full feeling with which so many suffer after meals. B. F. Feudig has so much confidence In the power of Mi-o-na to cure indigestion and all atomaoh ills that he gives a guarantee with every 60-cent box to refund the money if the remedy fails to give satisfaction.

PAY HIGHEST POULTRY PRICES. We are now ready to receive your poultry, eggs, hides, for which we will at- ail times pay the highest price justified by the market. We want you to give us a chance in everything you have to sell in our line and we shall at all times justify your trade by square dealing. We are conveniently located just west of the Makeever Bouse, in the old Cline stand. Give us a call. Phone 425. Will Murray. Tbe Democrat and Cincinnati Weekly Enquirer .eaoh a full year for only $1.50; The Democrat and St. Louis Twice-a-Week Republic $1.50; or all three papers for $2.00.

TO FRIENDS OF THE DEMOCRAT. When you have a legal notice, such as notice of appointment as executor or administrator, final settlement of estate, nonresident notice, notice of ditch or highway petition, or any other legal notice that the clients themselves control, be sure to instruct your attorneys to have the publication made in the Democrat, otherwise they will take it to papers of their own political faith. Remember The Democrat is fighting your battles and using its best efforts to keep down taxation, and it is your duty to assist it, at least when it costs you nothing to do so, as our prioes are usually much less for publishing legal notices than other papers, because they are set compactly, and are not “padded” out to make them as long as possible. Any favors shown us in this way will be greatly appreciated, and we want again to urge you to be sure to instruct your attorneys to have such publications made in The Jasper County Democrat.

THE PUBLIC SALE SEASON. The season for public sales is now here and The Democrat desireß to inform its farmer readers that it will be still better prepared this season than ever before for'printing said bills. New type faces, new stock cuts, etc,, enables us to turn out a bill that is artistically correct and that will attract attention anywhere. Auctioneers and others accustomed to seeing a large number of sale bills all over the country tell ns that The Democrat gets up the handsomest and best sale bill have ever saw, and the fact that people frequently come 15 to 25 miles to get The Democrat to print the bills for their sale indicates that onr taste and care in getting qnt an artistic and typographically perfect bill is generally known and appreciated. Oar prices for a bill of this character is no more than others charge for an inferior job. Remember that a free notice (in fall) of the sale is published in this paper with eaoh set of bills printed, and as “everybody reads The Democrat” yonr sale is bound to be well advertised if we print yonr bills. Oall and see samples and get prices if yon contemplate having a eale. %

The Leading Question The qaeetion paramount of importance to thoee who have eye trouble le "Where ahatl I go to gat relief aad comfort?” Ninety per cent of all eye trouble le caused by defeats which may be relieved by properly fitted glasses. The correct fitting of glaases la my exclusive business and I guarantee satisfaction In every case I undertake. You ean’t do better than to put your eyea In my care. You might do worse. Eves examined free by latest methods. Office over Murray’s Store. The well known and reliable Graduate Optician A. G. CATT, Optician.

Edward P. Honan, ATTORNEY AT LAW. I-aw, Abstracts, Real Estate, Loans. Will practice In all the courte. Office over Fendig’s Fair. RENSSELAER, INDIANA .

Wm. B. Austin. • Arthur H. Hopkins. Austin & Hopkins, Law, Loans and Real Estate. Loans on Arms and City property, personal security and chattel mortgage. Buy, sell and rent farms and city property. Farm and city fire inaurance. Attorneys for American Building, Loan and Savings Association, Office over Chicago Department Store, RXNaSBLABR. IND.

J.F.lrwtn 8. C. Irwin Irwin & Irwin, Law, Real Estate and Insurance. 5 Per Gent Farm Loans. Office In Odd Fellows’ Block. £ RENSSELAER. INDIANA.

RftAHK POkTSa O. «. IMUIR. NAiRT R. RURHII Foltz, Spitler & Kurile, (Successors to Thompson A Bro’.) ATTORNEYS AT LAW Law, Real Estate, Insurance Absracts and Loans. Only set of Abstract Be oka In tbe County., RENSSELAER. IND.

Ira W. Yeoman, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. Remington, - Indiana. Law, Real Bstate, Collections, Insurance and Farm Loans. Office upstairs in Dnrand Block.

E. C. English, Physician & Surgeon. Office over Imes’ Millinery store. Rensselher. Ornei Phomk 177. Huidinoi Phori?ll9i

M. D. Gwin, M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office opposite Postoffice, in Murray's new building. Phonx 305, day or night.

W. W. Merrill, M. D. Eclectic Pim dm sum RENSSELAER, ’ - • INDIANA. Chronic Diseases a Specialty.

A. N. Lakin, n. O. Physician and Surgeon DeMotte, . . . Indiana. ’Phone DeMotte, Day or Night.

H. L. Brown, DENTIST. Qffioe over Larsh’s drug store

MONEY TO LOAN We have money to loan at any time, and in any amounts to suit borrowers. Our specialty is loans cA farms and city real estate for one, two, three, four or five years, with interest payable semi-annually, to suit' borrower, and with tbe most liberal terms as to payments bn part of principal. We snso loan on personal security and chattel mortgage. •®F“Doa’t fall to see us before borrowing elsewhere. AUSTIN & HOPKINS Fob Sale: —Two good building lots in good residence location in Rensselaer, each 67x150 feet, well drained and set out in frnit; oaeh or oh time. Enquire at The Democrat office.

Chicago to Northwoot, Indl.napollo, Clnofnnatl and thoßouth, Loulsvlllo and French Lick Spring*. Rensselaer Time-Table, in Effuot Fob. 25,1806. South Bound. _ 2'‘-*•«»“»•, (d ,iw .... taJES No.M—Fast Mall* £ „ m North Bound. No. 4-Mail, (daily).... 4 . 41 - _ No. 40—Milk aooomm., (daily) 7-31 .'5? No. 89—Fast Mall. (daiiW_.... "V. (dalta)... 9:31 p!u No.-|t:BiS:^te ) !r.^ ,u - Sites {Sunday only, will stop at Rensselaer for passengers for Lafayette and South. vassenNo. 4 will stop at Rensselaer to let off passengers from points south of Monon. _ Frank J. Run, G. P. A W. H. MoDorl, President and Gen. M’g’r, Chas. H. Rockwall, Trafflo M } g’r, OHIQAQO. W. H. Bxam Agent, Rensselaer.

jimp TRirems' ami, Jordan Township. SBLS SliSSi JWK & sons having business with me will please govern themselves accordingly. Postoffice address, Goodland, Ind. R-F-D * CHAS. E. SAGE, Trustee.

Newton Township. -uT he eudereigned. trustee of Newton town•hip, attends to official business at his residence on Thursday of each week. Perrons having business with me will please govern themselves accordingly. Postoffice address Rensselaer, Indiana. Phone 36-A Mt. Avr Exchange. W. B. YEOMAN, Troatee.

Union Township. The undersigned, trustee of Union township, attends' to official business at hit residence on Friday of each week. Persona having business with me will please govern themse ves accordingly Postoffice address. Rensselaer, Indiana, R. F. D. 9. HARVEY DAVISSON, Trustee. CUT. TOWISBip lIP COIIIT pibictobt. CITY OFFICERS. Mayor. J. H.S. Ellis Marshal . w. S. Parks Clerk Charles Morlan Treasurer. Moses Leopold Attorney .. Geo. A. Williams Civil Engineer _H.L. Gamble Fire Montgomery Fire Warden C. B. Steward OOUKCXLMXK. Ist ward ... H. L. Brown Jd ward J. F. Irwin 3d ward Eli Gerber At Large C. G. Spltler. Jay W. Williams

COUNTY OFFICERS. Clerk Charles C, Warner Sheriff. John O'Connor Auditor J, N. Leatherman Treasurer. S. R. Nichols Reoorder J. W. Tilton Surveyor Myrt B. Price Coroner... ....Jennings Wright Supt. Public Schools Ernest R. Lamsou County Assessor John Q. Lewis OOMMISSIOHXBS. Ist District ........John Pettet 2nd District ..Frederick Waymire 3rd District Charles T. Denham Commissioners’ court—First Monday of each month.

COUNTY BOARD CF EDUCATION, TBUSTKKB. TOWNSHIPS. Washington Cook Hanging Grove M. W. Coppess >. Gillam Grant Davisson Barkley Charles F. Stackhouse Marion Charles E. Sage .Jordan W. B. Yeoman Newton George L. Parks :. .. Milroy Fred Karch. Walker Henry Feldman ...Keener Charles Stalbaum... Kankakee Robert A. Manuan . Wheatfleld Anson A. Fe 11....... Carpenter Harvey Davisson : "Union Ernest Lamson Co. Supt Rensselaer B. C. English Rensselaer James EL Green v Remington Geo. O. Stembel.,i._ .Wheatfleld Truant Officer John Barce, Rensselaer

JUDICIAL. Circuit Judge Charles W. Hanley Prosecuting Attorney R. O. Graves Terms of Court.—Second Monday in February, April, September and November. Catarrh To prove unquestionably, and beyond any doubt, that Catarrh of the nose and throat can be cured. I am furnishing patients through druggists, small free Trial Boxes of Dr. Shoop’s Catarrh Cure. Ido this because I am to certain, that Dr. Shcop’s Catarrh Cure will bring actual substantial help. Nothing certainly, is so convincing as a physical testotany article of reel, genuine merit. Butthst article must possess true merit, else the test will condemn, rather than advance it. Dr. Shoo p i Cktarrh Cure is a snow white, healing antisepi <• balm, put up In beautiful nickel capped glass )a r* at 50c. Such soothing agents as Oil Eucalyptus. Thymol, Menthol, etc., are incorporated Into a velvety, cream like Petrolatunvim ported by Dr. Shoop from Europe. If Catarrh of the noss and throat has extended to the stomach, then by all means also use Internally, Dr. Sboop’s Restorative. Stomach distress, a lack of general strength, bloating, belching, biliousness, bad taste, etc. surely call for Dr. Sboop’s Restorative. For uncomplicated catarrh only of the nose and throat nothing else, however, need be used but Dr. Shoop’s Catarrh Cure a. f. long:

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