The North Shore Mystery

This etext was transcribed by Les Bowler
BY HENRY FLETCHER
LONDON SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO., LIMITED PATERNOSTER SQUARE
1899
On August 15, 188–, the public of Sydney were aroused to unusual excitement by the following announcement in the Evening Times of that date—
CRIME OR SUICIDE?
SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINED DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN SPORTSMAN. STABBED TO DEATH IN HIS BED.
HOW WAS IT DONE?
“The usual quiet of North Shore was this morning rudely dispelled by the alarming rumour that a crime of an unusual kind had been committed in the house of Mrs. Delfosse, Lavender Bay.
“An inquiry proved the report only too well founded.
“Mrs. Delfosse, it may be stated, is a widow lady of the highest respectability, who keeps a boarding establishment of the better kind in a stylish mansion near the Lavender Bay steps. Amongst her boarders was, till this morning, the well-known sportsman, Alexander Booth, more widely known under his nom de guerre as ‘Newmarket.’
“Mr. Booth was married, and shared with his wife a spacious bedroom on the second floor, the window of which has a fine harbour view. At seven o’clock this morning the other inmates of the house were aroused and startled by a succession of loud shrieks coming from this chamber. In haste they rushed to the landing, but in response to calls and knocking on the door there was no reply. The room was as quiet as the grave.