Detective and mystery stories; English fiction -- 19th century
The chain of evidence on which hangs, as I have so often said, the sole
hypothesis by which I can account for the mysterious occurrences that
form the subject of our inquiry, is not only of a purely circumstantial
character, but also of a nature at once so delicate and so complicated
that the failure of a single link would render the remainder altogether
worthless. Unless the case can be made to stand out clearly, step
by step, in all its details, from the commencement to the end, its
isolated portions become at once a mere chaos of coincidences, singular
indeed in many respects, but not necessarily involving any considerable
element of suspicion. It is for this reason that I have, as before
stated, endeavoured to lay before you in a distinct and separate form
each particular portion of the subject. Hitherto our attention has been
entirely occupied with the death of Mrs. Anderton, and with various
attendant circumstances, the bearing of which upon that occurrence
will be more clearly shown hereafter. We have now to consider the very
singular circumstances attending the lapse of the second life--that
of Mr. Anderton--intervening, as we have seen, between Mr. Boleton's
legacy and Madame R**.
For the purpose of this inquiry, I propose adducing pretty much the
same evidence as that given at the inquests held on the bodies of Mrs.
and Mr. Anderton. The final result of the former of these inquests
was, as you are aware, a verdict of "Died from natural causes," though
the case was at first adjourned for a fortnight in order to admit of a
more searching examination of the body, during which time Mr. Anderton
remained in custody in his own house. In the latter case the jury,
after some hesitation, returned a verdict of "Temporary insanity,
brought on by extreme distress of mind at the death of his wife,
and suspicions respecting it which subsequently proved to have been
unfounded." Our present concern, however, being with the conduct of the
Baron rather than with that of Mr. Anderton, I have omitted portions
not directly bearing upon this part in the matter, and have endeavoured
to procure such additions to the evidence of Doctor Dodsworth and
others as might serve to further elucidate the subject of our inquiry.
I now therefore lay before you this portion of the case with especial
reference to its bearing upon the proceedings of Baron R**.
2.--_Doctor Dodsworth's Statement._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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