THE SAME.
The evidence of Theophilus Binjoy:--
"I am a medical man; and in my early manhood, I practised in the
village of Damington. I was present at the birth of Edward Fielding,
and of Gregory Fellenger. I know about the mark on the arm of the real
heir. Madaline changed the two children, and I said nothing as she
promised to marry me. I was madly in love with her. She left the
village, and deceived me. Afterwards I held my tongue lest I should
get into trouble; also I hoped when the false Sir Gregory grew up, to
have a hold on him. I was prevented from doing this by Madaline (whom
I had discovered in Tooley's Alley, under the name of Mrs. Boazoph).
She threatened to reveal the name of the true heir if I meddled with
her son. I therefore did nothing. I saw the poisoned needle which
Louis had made ready for an experiment. It was in a cabinet in the
laboratory. Young Vaud came to Taxton-on-Thames nearly crazed with the
death of Emma Colmer, whom he had courted as Emma Calvert. She had
been driven to her death by her husband, the false Sir Gregory, and
had killed herself in Paris. Vaud asked me about poisons. He said
nothing to me about killing Sir Gregory, or I should have dissuaded
him from doing so wicked and rash an action.
"I swear I did not wish the death of the young man. What I said to him
in the laboratory, was purely without ulterior motives.
"I admit I showed him the poisoned needle. I was interested in the
experiment, and, being full of it, I spoke of our intention of trying
the poison on the dog. When Vaud left the laboratory, I did not miss
the needle; I did not miss it until Louis spoke to me about it. As
Turnor had lately been in the laboratory, and we had been speaking
about the experiment, I thought he had taken the needle. It never
struck me that Vaud had benefited by my explanation, and had stolen
the needle to kill Gregory. With Louis I went up to town on the
twenty-first of June, to see Turnor, and ask him for the needle; I had
no motive in taking Louis to Turnor's. If Turnor attempted to
blackmail Louis, I knew nothing about it. I repel with scorn the
insinuation that I purposely inveigled Louis to Great Auk Street to
entangle him in the crime, and so blackmail him. I never heard of the
murder until I went to the Red Star, according to my usual custom of
an evening. Madaline asked me if I had seen Vaud, who was disguised as
a negro. I said I had not.
"We went into the room; and found the body of Sir Gregory; he was
disguised as a working-man; Vaud had disappeared. I ordered the body
to be taken upstairs, and made an examination. I then saw that Gregory
had been killed by being inoculated with the poison which Louis and I
had discovered. I recognised the cross of St. Catherine, half tattooed
on the arm; and I guessed from that how Vaud had induced Gregory to
let himself be pricked with the poisoned needle. I showed the mark to
Fanks when he came upstairs. But before doing so, I obliterated it
with a cut of the knife. I did this because I thought I might be
inculpated with the crime. I remember advising Hersham (who I did not
know was the real heir) to disguise himself as a negro so as to gain
realistic descriptions of street music. I did not do so with any
wrongful intention of connecting him with the murder. Madaline had
told me how Vaud was dressed as my negro servant; I saw that the death
had been brought about by the poisoned needle stolen from our
laboratory by Vaud; and with these two things in my head I recognised
my danger at once. I gave my feigned name to Fanks; I suggested that
the crime was the work of a secret society. Then I went back to
Turnor, and I was aware that I was being watched and could not return
to Taxton-on-Thames without being discovered.
"I consulted Turnor; he advised the voyage to Bombay, and said I ought
to send Caesar in my place, in order to get rid of him, since the
murderer of Gregory had been disguised in his livery; and also that
Caesar could send letters (already written by me) from India, in order
to keep up the deception, and baffle the police. I adopted the idea,
and, assisted by Dr. Turnor, I carried it out with great success. I
had an interview with Fanks in the character of Dr. Renshaw, and I
told him that I was going to Bombay. I then took a passage to India in
the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana'; and wired to Caesar to meet me at
Plymouth.
"Thither I went and gave the letters (purporting to be written by
myself from Bombay) to Caesar and sent him off in my place.
Afterwards, I took off my disguise, and went back to Mere Hall. I had
no idea that I had been followed by Mr. Fanks, and thinking that I had
destroyed all links with the crime in Tooley's Alley, likely to
endanger Louis and myself, I advised him to offer a reward so as to
still further avert suspicion.
"This he did, and I thought all was well, till Madaline came from Mere
Hall to warn me against Fanks, and to threaten to put the real Gregory
in the place of Louis. I stopped her doing this, and defied Fanks. How
he over-reached me; how I was betrayed by Louis, has been told by
others. I can swear with a clear conscience that I acted throughout in
the interests of Louis, who has treated me with the basest
ingratitude. I have no more to say, save to express my pleasure that
Mr. Hersham has recovered his real name in the world. I hope he will
remember that it was indirectly through me that he was re-instated in
his estates; by my confirming the statements of Madaline, and that of
the late Sir Francis, his father. I think that he should reward me. In
this hope I take my leave.
(Signed), Theophilus Binjoy."
The evidence of Anne Colmer--
"I am the daughter of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, the sister of
Emma Colmer, who died in Paris under the name of Emma Calvert, and the
niece of Madaline Garry, better known as Mrs. Boazoph. I saw the
letter--or rather the envelope--which she directed for my mother, to
get back the photograph of my sister from Sir Gregory. It was taken
out of our house by Herbert Vaud, and I believe he sent it to Sir
Gregory with the cardboard star, making the appointment in Tooley's
Alley. I had no idea that Vaud contemplated revenging the death of my
sister on Gregory. I knew that he hated him, and that he would do him
harm if he could, but I did not know that he would go so far as
murder.
"I wired to Ted Hersham on the twenty-first, as my mother told me that
she suspected that Vaud had taken the envelope, and that he
contemplated harm to Sir Gregory. I wanted Ted to get back the
envelope. Afterwards, I thought that I would see my aunt in Tooley's
Alley, as I knew she had great influence with Vaud. I sent the
telegram, and immediately, without returning to the house, I went up
to town. I was detained by the train breaking down, and I did not
arrive in town till nearly seven o'clock. I went to the Red Star,
where I saw Mr. Fanks; and then heard of the crime. I fancied that
Vaud might have committed it, but I was not sure. I was afraid lest my
mother should be implicated in it; as she informed me that she had
told Vaud about the substitution of the false Sir Gregory, and about
the tattooed cross. This story had been related to her by Mrs.
Boazoph, when we learned that Sir Gregory had caused the death of his
wife, my sister.
"I determined to recover the envelope, in case my aunt should get into
trouble, and to obtain the photograph, lest the police should trace
the connection of the so-called Emma Calvert with myself and my
mother. I went up to the chambers in Half-Moon Street. There I saw Mr.
Fanks, and I recognised him as a detective. I had seen him and heard
his name when I had been at the Red Star, shortly after the committal
of the crime. I was afraid we would all get into trouble, therefore, I
took advantage of Robert's faint to leave the room. I got into a cab,
and told the man that I was being followed by a gentleman. He assisted
me to escape by dropping me in Piccadilly, and afterwards--as I
learned--he misled Mr. Fanks, who followed me.
"I know nothing about the poisoned needle, or how the crime was
accomplished. I heard afterwards about the tattooed cross from my
mother. It was with no intention of getting Ted into trouble that I
told him to assume the dress of Caesar. When the detective suspected
it, I advised him to make a clean breast of it, which he afterwards
did. I did not tell Mr. Fanks what I knew, as I was afraid of getting
my mother and aunt into difficulties. All this is true, I swear, and I
know no more about the matter.
(Signed), Anne Colmer."
The evidence of Mrs. Colmer:--
"I told Vaud about the substitution of Gregory for Edward Hersham. My
sister, Mrs. Bryant, had confessed it to me. I was mad with rage and
grief at the way in which my girl had been treated by Gregory, and I
thought Vaud might see about getting him turned out of the place he
wrongfully occupied, and so punish his wickedness. I had no idea that
Vaud intended to kill Sir Gregory. Bad as he was, I did not wish to go
that far. I only wanted him to be deprived of his estates and title,
so that he should suffer. I gave the envelope, which had been written
by my sister, Mrs. Bryant, with the address in Half-Moon Street, so
that Vaud should call on Sir Gregory, and tell him the truth, and
should get back the photograph of my poor girl.
"I knew nothing of the murder, which took place in a low hotel in
Tooley's Alley, and which was kept by a notorious woman called Mrs.
Boazoph. I also told Vaud that Ted Hersham was writing articles on
street music, and that, to study the subject, he was going about
London in the guise of a negro. I only told him this in the course of
conversation, and without any motive. This is all I know about the
affair.
(Signed), Jane Colmer."
The evidence of Dr. Turnor:--
"I did not take the poisoned needle. I knew nothing of such an
instrument. Louis and Binjoy came up to me on the twenty-first to ask
me about it. I denied having it, but Louis did not believe me. When I
was called in by Mrs. Boazoph he would not let me go out of the room.
Binjoy went under the name of Renshaw. He used that name and a
disguise in order to enjoy himself in London. After he left, Louis,
finding, that I had not the needle, returned to Taxton-on-Thames.
Binjoy came back; he told me that Gregory Fellenger was dead, and that
he was being watched. I saw his danger, and advised him to keep up his
fictitious character so as to deceive the police. I suggested the
voyage to India; I helped to carry out the plan.
"He got away to Mere Hall safely, as we thought. When Fanks asked me
questions, I did my best to baffle him for the sake of Binjoy. I had
no other motive. I was ignorant of the tattooed cross, of the changing
of the children. I saw Sir Louis when he succeeded to the estates by
the death of his cousin. I did not blackmail him. The sum of money he
gave me was a reward for my helping Binjoy to escape. I know nothing
of the murder save what I read in the newspaper. I consider that I
have been ungratefully treated by Mr. Louis Fellenger, and most
insolently by the man who calls himself Fanks. I have nothing more to
add.
(Signed), Walter Turnor."
The confession of Herbert Vaud:--
"I killed Gregory Fellenger. I am glad that I killed him. When I found
out in Paris how he had deceived and slain the woman I loved, I
determined to make him pay for his wickedness. 'An eye for an eye,'
that is Scripture. I wished to kill Gregory without harm to myself;
and an opportunity soon occurred. I was at Mrs. Colmer's, at
Taxton-on-Thames, commiserating, with her on the death of her daughter
and my affianced wife. I did not tell her I wished to kill the
scoundrel; I told nobody. She related to me the history of the
changing of the children, which had been told to her by her sister,
Mrs. Bryant, whom I knew as Mrs. Boazoph. She wanted to avenge the
death of her daughter on Gregory by depriving him of his title and
estates. Also, she gave me the address of Gregory, written on an
envelope by Mrs. Boazoph, and asked me to call upon him for the double
purpose of telling him what he really was, and also, to get the
photograph which had been seen and written upon by Mrs. Boazoph, in
Gregory's chambers.
"I took the envelope, but at that time I did not design the murder. I
wanted to kill Gregory, but I could not see how to do it with safety
to myself. I afterwards went to Mrs. Boazoph, and learned from her
that she had told her son about the tattooing, and the falseness of
his position. She implored me not to see him about his relationship to
her. I agreed; for I wished to kill him, and make him suffer. The
taking away of his property was not good enough in my eyes to punish
him for his wickedness.
"Afterwards I went to Taxton-on-Thames to see Binjoy. I knew that he
was a chemist, and I desired to ask him about a poison to kill
Gregory. He told me about the poisoned needle, and showed it to me.
Whether he did so in order to put the idea into my head I do not know.
I did not tell him that I intended to kill Gregory; so far he is
guiltless; but he certainly showed me the way--innocently, perhaps--to
kill Gregory. When I came back from Taxton-on-Thames I had the
poisoned needle in my possession, and saw how to carry out my plan. I
remembered the tattooed cross on the arm of the rightful heir, and I
resolved to make use of that to induce Gregory to let me tattoo his
arm with the poisoned needle.
"I placed the advertisement in a paper, which I knew he took in. I saw
his answer, and I then sent him the cardboard star appointing the
meeting-place in Tooley's Alley. I imitated the writing on the
envelope when designing a star, so that, if necessary, the blame might
rest on Mrs. Boazoph, his mother. For the same reason I chose the Red
Star as the meeting-place. To make things doubly sure, I made use of
Hersham's masquerade as a negro; and I adopted his disguise to
implicate him. Moreover, I thought that, failing Hersham, I might be
able to throw the blame on Binjoy and his negro servant. In every way
I thought that I was safe.
"I went to the Red Star on the twenty-first; I met Mrs. Boazoph, and
made an excuse to her for my disguise (which she penetrated) that I
was about to play a trick on Binjoy. She thought that I was mad, and I
let her remain in that delusion. But I here state that I am quite
sane; that I killed Gregory with the greatest deliberation, and that I
do not regret what I have done. I went into the room; I met Gregory.
He took me for the negro of Dr. Binjoy, whom he had never seen. The
lights were low, and I said little; also I disguised my voice. Gregory
was a remarkably stupid creature, else I should never have succeeded
in my plan; also he was rather drunk. I counted on his density in
coming into his presence. At all events he did not know me; and when I
told him that the rightful heir must have the cross pricked on his
arm--a fact which I said I had heard from Binjoy--he let me tattoo it
in his arm. I did so with the poisoned needle, and in a short space of
time he became insensible; afterwards he died. Then I pulled down his
sleeve and left the hotel. The gunpowder scattered on the table was
used by me as a device to make Gregory think that I was really
tattooing him.
"Afterwards I left a parcel containing the poisoned needle at his
chambers, to rid myself of all evidence of the crime. Well, I killed
him and went away. No one else is guilty of the crime but me. I
conceived it without assistance. I alone committed the crime in
Tooley's Alley and killed Gregory Fellenger, or, rather, Edward
Fielding, the son of Madaline Garry and Sir Francis. I am not sorry. I
glory in having punished a villain. I am sorry that I was found out,
but I was not surprised when Mrs. Boazoph betrayed me. I wondered that
she did not do so long ago. When this is read I shall be dead.
(Signed), Herbert Vaud."