Detective and mystery stories; England -- Fiction; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
A final witness was Stephen Marsh. He was a tall slight young man with
bowed shoulders, and a pensive face. He stated that he had called on
the evening of the murder for his mother at the rectory. She had been
up at "The Pines" in the afternoon, and as she drove home told him,
that Colonel Carr had expressed his intention of living for many a
long day.
Coroner. "Why is Mrs. Marsh not here to give evidence?"
Marsh. "My mother is seriously ill in bed and could not come."
Coroner. "Her evidence must be taken. Did she say how the conversation
came about to induce the deceased to make such a speech."
Marsh. "Yes! My mother wanted the Colonel to lend her some money. He
refused. She said that he might as well, as when he died the estate
would come to me. It was then that my uncle expressed his
determination to live for many a long day. I merely give this evidence
to show that my uncle had no thought of committing suicide."
Coroner. "Have you seen your uncle lately?"
Marsh. "No! Not for six months. We were not on good terms."
Coroner. "How was it then that Mrs. Marsh called to see him on the
afternoon of the murder?"
Marsh. "She was determined to go. I asked her not to, but she
insisted."
At this reply there came a smile upon the faces of those of the jury
who lived at Beorminster. Afterwards Herrick learned that Mrs. Marsh
was well known as possessed of a violent temper, and there was no
doubt (as some one remarked) that she had given the Colonel a good
talking to.
However the evidence of Marsh did not point to who had killed Carr. At
the time there was no more available evidence. Bridge insisted that
Frisco was guilty. He had left the house in the clothes he stood up
in, evidently driven forth in a panic. He had made inquiries, and had
heard from the police at Southberry, that Frisco--or a person
answering to the description of Frisco--had gone to London by the
morning train. At this moment Herrick asked to be allowed to give
further evidence. He had just recollected that he had seen such a man
as was described.
"I was stopping at Southberry," said Herrick, "waiting for my friend
Mr. Joyce who had gone to London. He went up on Tuesday morning. I was
stopping at an inn near the railway station. I got up early--about
seven--to send a wire to my house in London. I had to go to the
telegraph office at the station. On the platform I saw a stout man
with a soft hat pulled over his face. He was dressed in a blue serge
suit with a red tie, and looked like a sailor. I waited until the
London train went, and saw him get into a third class carriage."
Coroner. "How is it Dr. Herrick that you recollect this only now?"
"Because I never thought of the matter before. Since Inspector Bridge
has given a description of the dress and especially the red tie. I am
sure the man was Frisco. I did not see his face."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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