Next, as to the manner in which the crime was committed.

On examination of the room (which is only seven feet high), a trap-door

in the ceiling, leading out on to the roof of the house, was discovered

open. The short ladder, used for obtaining access to the trap-door (and

kept under the bed), was found placed at the opening, so as to enable

any person or persons, in the room, to leave it again easily. In the

trap-door itself was found a square aperture cut in the wood, apparently

with some exceedingly sharp instrument, just behind the bolt which

fastened the door on the inner side. In this way, any person from the

outside could have drawn back the bolt, and opened the door, and have

Advertisement..

dropped (or have been noiselessly lowered by an accomplice) into the

room--its height, as already observed, being only seven feet. That some

person, or persons, must have got admission in this way, appears evident

from the fact of the aperture being there. As to the manner in which

he (or they) obtained access to the roof of the tavern, it is to be

remarked that the third house, lower down in the street, was empty, and

under repair--that a long ladder was left by the workmen, leading from

the pavement to the top of the house--and that, on returning to their

work, on the morning of the 27th, the men found the plank which they had

tied to the ladder, to prevent anyone from using it in their absence,

removed, and lying on the ground. As to the possibility of ascending

by this ladder, passing over the roofs of the houses, passing back, and

descending again, unobserved--it is discovered, on the evidence of the

night policeman, that he only passes through Shore Lane twice in an

hour, when out on his beat. The testimony of the inhabitants also

declares, that Shore Lane, after midnight, is one of the quietest and

loneliest streets in London. Here again, therefore, it seems fair to

infer that--with ordinary caution, and presence of mind--any man, or

men, might have ascended by the ladder, and might have descended again,

unobserved. Once on the roof of the tavern, it has been proved, by

experiment, that a man might cut through the trap-door, while lying down

on it, and that in such a position, the parapet in front of the house

would conceal him from the view of anyone passing in the street.

Lastly, as to the person, or persons, by whom the crime was committed.

It is known (1) that the Indians had an interest in possessing

themselves of the Diamond. (2) It is at least probable that the man

looking like an Indian, whom Octavius Guy saw at the window of the cab,

speaking to the man dressed like a mechanic, was one of the three

Hindoo conspirators. (3) It is certain that this same man dressed like

a mechanic, was seen keeping Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite in view, all through

the evening of the 26th, and was found in the bedroom (before Mr.

Ablewhite was shown into it) under circumstances which lead to the

suspicion that he was examining the room. (4) A morsel of torn gold

thread was picked up in the bedroom, which persons expert in such

matters, declare to be of Indian manufacture, and to be a species of

gold thread not known in England. (5) On the morning of the 27th, three

men, answering to the description of the three Indians, were observed

in Lower Thames Street, were traced to the Tower Wharf, and were seen to

leave London by the steamer bound for Rotterdam.




Most Popular