The Markenmore MysteryFletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
General
The Markenmore Mystery
Fletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
Detective and mystery stories; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
The first stages of the enquiry yielded little that was new or
exciting. Harry Markenmore identified the body as that of his elder
brother, Guy, who, he said, was thirty-five years of age. He was not
aware if Guy was married or not. Guy had left Markenmore Court seven
years before, and had never been seen or heard of by his family
since, until the evening before the murder, when he had turned up
unexpectedly. He detailed the doings of the short visit, and said
that his brother had left the house at about half-past ten. He had
spoken of having an appointment in the neighbourhood, and had
mentioned that supper would be awaiting him where he was going. He
had no idea whatever as to where Guy then went. He did not return to
Markenmore Court—no one there ever saw him again until his dead body
was carried in, early next morning.
Hobbs, the ploughman, gave evidence as to finding the dead man, whom
he had at once recognized, and detailed what he had done to get
assistance. He had seen no one about in that part of the downs, nor
noticed anything suspicious near the scene of the crime.
The village policeman spoke as to the investigations made round about
Markenmore Hollow: there was no sign whatever of any struggle, and
there were no footprints—the turf, thereabouts, he said, was very
wiry, close-knit, and full of spring: there had been no recent rain,
and the closest examination had failed to yield anything in the shape
of such prints. No weapon of any sort had been found near the place,
nor in the adjacent undergrowth. This witness, too, gave evidence as
to the examination of the dead man’s clothing, made when the body was
brought down to the Court. There was a considerable sum of money in
notes, gold, and silver. There was a gold watch, chain, and locket.
There were three rings—two of them set with diamonds. There were
several small items—a silver cigar-case, silver match-box, and so
on; and there were two pocket-books. All these were now in possession
of the police. He was sure that, when he was brought to the Hollow by
the last witness, the body had not been interfered with in any way,
and that the clothing, and the various objects he had just mentioned,
had not been touched. From these facts and from the additional fact
that the dead man had a large sum of money on him, he had at once
formed the impression that the murder had not been committed for the
sake of robbery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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