The Heart of a Mystery

by T. W. Speight

The evidence of Constable Jeremy was to a similar effect.

Chief Constable Mace deposed that in consequence of a message sent him by the last witness, he hurried to the Bank, calling on Dr. Barton by the way, and taking that gentleman with him. He then went on to describe the finding of the body, and produced the knife which last witness had picked up and given him. He told how he had found the door of the strong room open, as was also the door of the bullion-safe inside; and that, as Mr. Brancker would tell them, there was little doubt the safe had been robbed, and notes and hard cash to a very large amount made away with. He then went on to describe how he had made a thorough examination of the premises, but without finding any clue to the mode by which the perpetrator of the crime had obtained access to the Bank, and had afterwards been able to get clear away with his booty, unseen and unheard by anyone.

There was, however, one circumstance, Mr. Mace remarked, to which it would be necessary to call the attention of the jury. On the floor of the office usually occupied by Mr. Brancker and Mr. Judd were several stains, apparently quite recent, which had all the appearance of blood-stains, Dr. Barton, who had examined them at his request, would no doubt be prepared to give the jury his opinion about them. In addition, the outside of one of the drawers--Mr. Brancker's drawer, he believed it to be--was smeared in a similar way, as were also some portion of its contents. He believed Mr. Brancker would tell them that he was utterly at a loss to account for the existence of the marks in question. Before proceeding further in the case he would respectfully suggest that the jury should be requested to examine the stains for themselves.

This course was agreed to; but it was first deemed advisable to take the evidence of Dr. Barton.

[CHAPTER IX.]

THE INQUEST.

Dr. Barton, having been sworn, deposed to the fact of deceased having met with his death by violence. His chest had been pierced by some sharp instrument which, in all probability, had penetrated the tissues of the heart; but that was a point as to which he could not speak positively until after the post-mortem examination. Death, in that case, would have been all but instantaneous. He had examined the weapon produced and compared it with the wound, which it exactly fitted. In his opinion, there was little doubt that the knife in question was the one with which the fatal blow had been inflicted. There had been a certain amount of hemorrhage from the wound, but scarcely as much as might have been expected--a little on the floor, rather more on the clothes of deceased. Death had taken place several hours before he, witness, was called in. He was not prepared to state how many hours before: it might have been five, or it might have been eight or nine; it was impossible to speak with exactitude. The clothes of the deceased were, to a certain extent, disarranged. His vest was unbuttoned, the ends of his cravat were hanging loose, his collar had been violently wrenched from the button which had held it, and the wristband of one sleeve of his shirt had been nearly torn away--all indicative of a struggle, however brief, with his assailant. The idea of suicide was one which had never entered his--witness's--mind; had any such theory been advanced, it would have seemed to him altogether untenable.

When the jury had reassembled after their visit to the Bank, Dr. Barton was recalled, and, in reply to a question by the Coroner, stated that, to the best of his belief, and speaking from a merely casual examination, the stains on the floor of the office usually occupied by Mr. Brancker and Mr. Judd had been caused by blood.

John Brancker was then recalled. In answer to various questions, some of which were put by the Coroner, some by the jury, and some by Mr. Prestwich, he deposed as under:

He left the office about nine o'clock, without having seen Mr. Hazeldine after his return from London, although he had understood from Sweet that he was at work in his office. When he, witness, left the office, Mr. Judd was still there. All the other clerks had gone before. On quitting the Bank, he went straight home and did not stir out again till past ten o'clock. He then decided to go and call upon William Strong, the man who blew the organ bellows for him at church. He had heard that Strong was ill, and he wanted to ascertain whether he would be well enough to attend to his duties on Sunday next. He had hardly left home when a few drops of rain began to fall, and he then remembered that he had left his umbrella at the Bank, and determined to call there and get it. On his way to the Bank he encountered Mr. Judd, whom he told what he was going to do. On reaching the Bank he saw that Mr. Hazeldine's office windows were still lighted up. This did not surprise him, knowing, as he did, that Mr. Hazeldine often worked till a late hour. Having let himself in with his pass-key, he went into the inner room and there found his umbrella in the corner where he had left it. He found it in the dark. He did not go near Mr. Hazeldine, but left the Bank at once without seeing anyone, and went on his way towards Strong's cottage.