"I've
already told it, more than once, to the police and Mr. Multenius's
relatives--I'll tell it again, as plainly and briefly as I can. I went
into one of the compartments just within the side-door of the place. I saw
no one, and heard no one. I rapped on the counter--nobody came. So I
looked round the partition into the front shop. There was no one there.
Then I looked round the other partition into the back parlour, the door of
which was wide open. I at once saw an old man whom I took to be Mr.
Multenius. He was lying on the floor--his feet were towards the open door,
and his head on the hearth-rug, near the fender. I immediately jumped over
the counter, and went into the parlour. I saw at once that he was dead--
and almost immediately I hurried to the front door, to summon assistance.
At the door I ran into Mr. Ayscough, who was entering as I opened the
door. I at once told him of what I had found. That is the plain truth as
to all I know of the matter."
"You heard nothing of any person in or about the shop when you entered?"
asked the Coroner.
"Nothing!" replied Lauriston. "It was all perfectly quiet.
Pages:
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91