“Suicide?”
“I am expressing no opinion, just stating facts,” quietly remarked Nick, as the coroner took a pistol from him and examined it.
The weapon was of Smith & Wesson make, had six chambers, was peculiarly mounted, and on a silver plate inlaid in the handle were the initials “E. L.”
One of the chambers contained the empty shell of a cartridge. The other four were loaded.
The coroner stooped, and inspected the wound in the head of the victim.
“I see no powder marks on her face,” he said, looking up at Nick.
“There are none. Besides, I call your attention to the condition of the right hand.”
The coroner’s eyes turned quickly to the hand of the corpse, which hung at the side of the body.
“Ha! I see. She was putting on her glove, and couldn’t have handled the pistol herself.”
“Not unless she fired the shot with her left hand.”