CHAPTER XLIV.The NotesJuly 7. Saw body in crematory late to-night. Cause of death, strangulation. Probably work of expert. Look for Japanese on ranch. Broken fingers on right hand. Beautiful, costly gown, lingerie, etc., indicating wealth and good taste.July 8. Rose, who has shadowed twin sister reports nothing verging on suspicion. She attended services at crematory. Evidence of genuine grief. Returned to hotel. One telegram sent to Desert Moon Ranch. Received no company. Mailed no letters. Did no shopping.I received telegram from Desert Moon Ranch engaging me on case. Explicit directions concerning train probably due to inconvenience of meeting trains in rural community, and not due to a desire to have me on the same train with Miss C. However, note.Telephoned to coroner and undertaker, requesting them to give me conference in Telko. Also, had coroner verify list of names, as published in “Examiner” of all persons present on ranch at time of murder. Note—absence of all ranch employees at the time. Note—extreme reluctance of both coroner and undertaker to give information, or to meet me in Telko.July 9. Spent day in shadowing Miss C. myself. R’s observations, as usual, excellent.Rose’s research through back files of Nevada papers provided following information.Samuel Stanley, ranch owner. Very wealthy. Exemplary character. High standing throughout state of Nevada. Philanthropic.John Stanley, adopted son of S. Stanley. Distinguished himself on University of Nevada football team, 1916, 1917. Enlisted in air service for war, 1917. Mather’s Field when armistice was declared.Hubert Hand. Winner of chess tournament held in Reno, 1914, 1915.Mrs. Ollie Ricker. No report.Chadwick Caufield. No report, except mention as guest at Desert Moon Ranch.Mary Magin. No report.Danielle Canneziano. No report, except mention of her arrival with sister, Gabrielle, at ranch last May.Inspection of Miss C.’s room in hotel after she had turned in her key revealed no clue. Unusually neat and orderly person. Wastebaskets empty. Newspapers folded on table. Magazine, “Ladies Home Journal” on table. No heavy perfume. Hotel soap unwrapped. Fastidious. Silver dollar left on table for chambermaid.Rose reports: Miss C. went from hotel to Ferry Building in taxicab. Crossed alone on ferry. Spoke to no one. Boarded train at eight thirty o’clock and went at once to her berth.July 10. Afternoon. Breakfasted with Miss C. this morning. No conversation. All the evidences of good breeding.Had conference with coroner and undertaker. Think that they strongly suspect John Stanley because of their repeated efforts to keep me from sharing the suspicion.Information gained from them: Girl murdered on attic stairway. Position of body and marks on throat prove an attack from the rear. Members of household declare that rigor was complete when body was discovered at eight o’clock the night of the fourth of July. Amateur testimony, however. If fact, death must have occurred at least three hours before discovery of body.July 10. Night.Allowed sudden “hunch” to betray reason and common sense. Usual silly mistake at beginning of case. Set a trap to catch hawk. Got caught myself. Luckily, no harm done.Met members of household. First impressions, before hearing history of case other than gained from newspapers, coroner and undertaker.Danielle Canneziano. Impressions previously noted sustained. Charming, lovable character. Innocent.Samuel Stanley. Honest. Likable. Kindly. There is a slight chance that he might be involved, unwittingly. He is not stupid; but, decidedly, he is not clever.Mary Magin. Intelligent. Imaginative. Honest. Innocent.John Stanley. Too handsome, but unconceited. Bashful. Likable. Judgment suspended.Hubert Hand. Egotistic. Clever. Judgment suspended.Ollie Ricker. Life has treated her badly. She has put on armor against it. Stupid. Perhaps sly. Judgment suspended.Daniel Canneziano. Criminal type. Alibi proves him not guilty of the murder, but he is probably involved. Why did he come here?July 11. Evening.Heard case history to-day from Mr. S. and Mrs. M.Tempted to destroy all first impressions as recorded. Remember, however, the value of mistaken impressions is usually important.Multiplicity of clues most amazing in my entire experience. Would seem to indicate that many of them are false clues.Most Important Clues. (Definite.)John’s unnecessary errand.Length of time gone.Victim’s evident fear as she walked through room.Unusual costume for short walk on the place.Miss C.’s calling after her sister.Caufield’s suicide and confessional note. (Probably most important of all clues.)Victim’s note to Danielle Canneziano.Proof of her fear.Death of Martha Stanley.Missing box containing sleeping powders.Canneziano’s presence on the ranch.Clues of Less Importance. (Definite.)Contents of beaded bag.Empty purse.Missing bill-fold.Crumpled handkerchief.Broken cigarette holder.Note from Hubert Hand.Cigarette case with two cigarettes missing.Empty matchbox.Code letter.Destroyed caps for typewriter.Pipe ashes on bag and carpet.Not necessarily Mr. Stanley’s.Probably fixed false clue.Tatting shuttle. (Doubtful.)Clues of Most Importance. (Indefinite.)Entire story concerning the money from robbery being hidden on Desert Moon Ranch.Victim’s peculiar actions after receiving code letter.Quarrel with Mr. Stanley.Mrs. Ricker’s story.Her reason for telling it.Did she believe it?Mrs. Magin’s desire to remove pipe ashes.Miss C.’s reluctance to tell of them. Her final complete confession of her suspicions concerning Mr. Stanley.Hubert Hand’s unnecessary confession concerning his past life.Clues of Least Importance. (Indefinite.)C. Caufield’s powers of ventriloquism.Probably greatly over-rated by members of household.Playing of radio between two and four o’clock that afternoon.Martha’s reference to a surprise in which she and Chadwick Caufield were involved.Possibly untrue.Mrs. Magin’s evident antagonism toward the victim.Mr. Stanley’s prompt action in locking the attic door and his refusal to have the body touched until the arrival of coroner.Reason for victim’s having given bracelet to Martha Stanley at that time?Negatives.No clues of any sort discoverable in victim’s room.No clues of any sort discoverable in attic.Lack of motives for crime by persons at present instinctively suspicioned.No dogs on a ranch of this size.Now, as I read over these notes, my good opinion of myself rises until it runs over the pan. I declare to goodness, the list of clues made out by Lynn MacDonald, Crime Analyst, is not much better than the list made out by Mary Magin, Cook and Housekeeper. She has done hers in better form, and she has included a few things that I left out. But, most of the included things were unknown to me at the time I made my list. Many of the other included things did not amount to shucks. For instance, we have no dogs on the ranch because the dogs in northeastern Nevada have a habit of running out and associating with rabid coyotes, contracting rabies, coming home and biting whoever is conveniently to hand. For instance—but never mind. As I said before, poor girl, no wonder she was discouraged.
July 7. Saw body in crematory late to-night. Cause of death, strangulation. Probably work of expert. Look for Japanese on ranch. Broken fingers on right hand. Beautiful, costly gown, lingerie, etc., indicating wealth and good taste.
July 8. Rose, who has shadowed twin sister reports nothing verging on suspicion. She attended services at crematory. Evidence of genuine grief. Returned to hotel. One telegram sent to Desert Moon Ranch. Received no company. Mailed no letters. Did no shopping.
I received telegram from Desert Moon Ranch engaging me on case. Explicit directions concerning train probably due to inconvenience of meeting trains in rural community, and not due to a desire to have me on the same train with Miss C. However, note.
Telephoned to coroner and undertaker, requesting them to give me conference in Telko. Also, had coroner verify list of names, as published in “Examiner” of all persons present on ranch at time of murder. Note—absence of all ranch employees at the time. Note—extreme reluctance of both coroner and undertaker to give information, or to meet me in Telko.
July 9. Spent day in shadowing Miss C. myself. R’s observations, as usual, excellent.
Rose’s research through back files of Nevada papers provided following information.
Samuel Stanley, ranch owner. Very wealthy. Exemplary character. High standing throughout state of Nevada. Philanthropic.
John Stanley, adopted son of S. Stanley. Distinguished himself on University of Nevada football team, 1916, 1917. Enlisted in air service for war, 1917. Mather’s Field when armistice was declared.
Hubert Hand. Winner of chess tournament held in Reno, 1914, 1915.
Mrs. Ollie Ricker. No report.
Chadwick Caufield. No report, except mention as guest at Desert Moon Ranch.
Mary Magin. No report.
Danielle Canneziano. No report, except mention of her arrival with sister, Gabrielle, at ranch last May.
Inspection of Miss C.’s room in hotel after she had turned in her key revealed no clue. Unusually neat and orderly person. Wastebaskets empty. Newspapers folded on table. Magazine, “Ladies Home Journal” on table. No heavy perfume. Hotel soap unwrapped. Fastidious. Silver dollar left on table for chambermaid.
Rose reports: Miss C. went from hotel to Ferry Building in taxicab. Crossed alone on ferry. Spoke to no one. Boarded train at eight thirty o’clock and went at once to her berth.
July 10. Afternoon. Breakfasted with Miss C. this morning. No conversation. All the evidences of good breeding.
Had conference with coroner and undertaker. Think that they strongly suspect John Stanley because of their repeated efforts to keep me from sharing the suspicion.
Information gained from them: Girl murdered on attic stairway. Position of body and marks on throat prove an attack from the rear. Members of household declare that rigor was complete when body was discovered at eight o’clock the night of the fourth of July. Amateur testimony, however. If fact, death must have occurred at least three hours before discovery of body.
July 10. Night.
Allowed sudden “hunch” to betray reason and common sense. Usual silly mistake at beginning of case. Set a trap to catch hawk. Got caught myself. Luckily, no harm done.
Met members of household. First impressions, before hearing history of case other than gained from newspapers, coroner and undertaker.
Danielle Canneziano. Impressions previously noted sustained. Charming, lovable character. Innocent.
Samuel Stanley. Honest. Likable. Kindly. There is a slight chance that he might be involved, unwittingly. He is not stupid; but, decidedly, he is not clever.
Mary Magin. Intelligent. Imaginative. Honest. Innocent.
John Stanley. Too handsome, but unconceited. Bashful. Likable. Judgment suspended.
Hubert Hand. Egotistic. Clever. Judgment suspended.
Ollie Ricker. Life has treated her badly. She has put on armor against it. Stupid. Perhaps sly. Judgment suspended.
Daniel Canneziano. Criminal type. Alibi proves him not guilty of the murder, but he is probably involved. Why did he come here?
July 11. Evening.
Heard case history to-day from Mr. S. and Mrs. M.
Tempted to destroy all first impressions as recorded. Remember, however, the value of mistaken impressions is usually important.
Multiplicity of clues most amazing in my entire experience. Would seem to indicate that many of them are false clues.
Most Important Clues. (Definite.)John’s unnecessary errand.Length of time gone.Victim’s evident fear as she walked through room.Unusual costume for short walk on the place.Miss C.’s calling after her sister.Caufield’s suicide and confessional note. (Probably most important of all clues.)Victim’s note to Danielle Canneziano.Proof of her fear.Death of Martha Stanley.Missing box containing sleeping powders.Canneziano’s presence on the ranch.Clues of Less Importance. (Definite.)Contents of beaded bag.Empty purse.Missing bill-fold.Crumpled handkerchief.Broken cigarette holder.Note from Hubert Hand.Cigarette case with two cigarettes missing.Empty matchbox.Code letter.Destroyed caps for typewriter.Pipe ashes on bag and carpet.Not necessarily Mr. Stanley’s.Probably fixed false clue.Tatting shuttle. (Doubtful.)Clues of Most Importance. (Indefinite.)Entire story concerning the money from robbery being hidden on Desert Moon Ranch.Victim’s peculiar actions after receiving code letter.Quarrel with Mr. Stanley.Mrs. Ricker’s story.Her reason for telling it.Did she believe it?Mrs. Magin’s desire to remove pipe ashes.Miss C.’s reluctance to tell of them. Her final complete confession of her suspicions concerning Mr. Stanley.Hubert Hand’s unnecessary confession concerning his past life.Clues of Least Importance. (Indefinite.)C. Caufield’s powers of ventriloquism.Probably greatly over-rated by members of household.Playing of radio between two and four o’clock that afternoon.Martha’s reference to a surprise in which she and Chadwick Caufield were involved.Possibly untrue.Mrs. Magin’s evident antagonism toward the victim.Mr. Stanley’s prompt action in locking the attic door and his refusal to have the body touched until the arrival of coroner.Reason for victim’s having given bracelet to Martha Stanley at that time?Negatives.No clues of any sort discoverable in victim’s room.No clues of any sort discoverable in attic.Lack of motives for crime by persons at present instinctively suspicioned.No dogs on a ranch of this size.
Most Important Clues. (Definite.)
Clues of Less Importance. (Definite.)
Clues of Most Importance. (Indefinite.)
Clues of Least Importance. (Indefinite.)
Negatives.
Now, as I read over these notes, my good opinion of myself rises until it runs over the pan. I declare to goodness, the list of clues made out by Lynn MacDonald, Crime Analyst, is not much better than the list made out by Mary Magin, Cook and Housekeeper. She has done hers in better form, and she has included a few things that I left out. But, most of the included things were unknown to me at the time I made my list. Many of the other included things did not amount to shucks. For instance, we have no dogs on the ranch because the dogs in northeastern Nevada have a habit of running out and associating with rabid coyotes, contracting rabies, coming home and biting whoever is conveniently to hand. For instance—but never mind. As I said before, poor girl, no wonder she was discouraged.