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The Evidence in the |
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"College Mystery."
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By Thomas Winthrop Hall.
(1862-1900)
THE
facts in the "college mystery"
were simple. The bodies of Sylvester
Thompson, a freshman, and of
Professor Henry Blake, the professor
of ethics in the college, were found, Monday,
November 14th, in the apartments of the
professor, side by side upon the professor's bed,
lying in almost identically the same position,
each with a common carving-knife in the heart.
To all appearances the bodies had been lifeless
for about two days. This length of time
accorded with the date the men were last seen
alive.
The evidence in the case, when produced, was
altogether documentary. It was quite sufficient,
however, to explain the remarkable case. It
was as follows:
EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY
OF SYLVESTER
THOMPSON.
October 8th. — Cane rush to-day. Sophomores
won the cane. Was rather badly hurt.
Professor Blake, with the assistance of one of the
upper classmen, carried me to his rooms and
brought me to consciousness. Nothing serious
the matter. The professor insisted on my
remaining and taking dinner with him. He had
it served in his sitting-room. After dinner we
had a long talk. Found him to be a most agreeable
and most remarkable man. Although but
about forty years of age, I take it that he has
seen a great deal of life. His ideas on philosophy
are startling, and I fancy very original.
All his ideas centre on the subject of sensation,
which he says is the sum-total of life. Retired
early after writing a line or two to mother.
*
*
*
*
* *
October 10th. — Accepted an unexpected
invitation to dinner with Professor Blake. It
gratified me immensely, as I understand that he is
considered one of the ablest men in the faculty.
I hope I have made a good impression on him,
and think I have. I am sure I shall enjoy
myself immensely. He is the most interesting
man I ever met.
October 11th. — Returned rather late from the
professor's. I am sure that he is pleased with
me. In fact, if I were vain enough to believe
it I would say that he has taken a strange liking
to me. He talked to me very much as a father
would to a son. Gave me much instruction in
the line of my present studies and promised me
more.
*
*
*
*
* *
October 15th. — Saturday. Wrote father, telling
him my standing. I am sure he will be
pleased. Professor Blake wrote me that he
was greatly pleased with the reports concerning
me, and predicted that I would stand very nearly,
if not quite. at the head of my class. Although
I would not say it where it would or could be
repeated, I think I shall be able to stand in the
first three. Wheeler and Barrows are the only
men I fear. Am invited to spend the evening
with the professor again. I shall go, of course.
I begin to feel that his liking for me is going to
have a great influence over my life.
October 16th. — The professor was bewildering
last night. I could hardly understand him.
His mind seems to be able to fathom the
mysteries of the occult. Some of the things he said
almost frightened me. I thoroughly believe him
to be the greatest thinker and the most logical
reasoner alive. He seemed to become intoxicated
with his own thoughts last night and
talked at times as though he were inspired. I
could not, if I would, repeat his ideas. As I said,
I could hardly understand him. He invited me
to take wine, and I did so. I shall tell father,
although if it were not right I do not think the
professor would have permitted me to drink it,
much less invite me to. I am to dine with him
hereafter every Saturday night.
*
*
*
*
* *
October 23d. — Dined with the professor as
usual last night. Did not return until very late.
The professor was much as he always is. But
some way or other I am conscious that I am
beginning to feel afraid of the man. I suppose
it is only the feeling that any one would have
whose mind is overpowered by one so infinitely
stronger.
*
*
*
*
* *
October 30th. — Did I see the professor put a
powder in the glass of wine he was about to
hand to me, and then as though he were frightened
pour the whole thing out and take a fresh
glass, or was it imagination? I do not know
what to think. I cannot even put my thoughts
on paper.
*
*
*
*
* *
November 6th. — I distinctly saw the professor
aim a revolver at me last night. He laughed
when he discovered that I had seen him in the
mirror, and told me that the revolver was not
loaded. Later in the evening I picked it up
and examined it. It was loaded.
*
*
*
*
* *
November 12th. — I hardly dare to go to the
professor's this evening, and yet I shall. It is
unmanly of me to have this strange fear of him.
I shall go.
Statement in the professor's handwriting and
addressed To Whom it May Concern," found on
his desk:
"Life is sensation. It is not measured by the
years one exists. It does not belong to the
body. It belongs to the brain. Every sensation
one does not experience is a curtailment of
one's life, even though he possesses his faculties
for a thousand years. I know this. I will not
waste time proving it to you, for you can prove
it to yourself, though you be as simple as a
child.
"I have experienced most sensations. It has
been the object of my life to experience as many
as possible. All of the commoner ones were
easy — indeed, I did not have to seek them.
Three of them it seemed possible I should never
know. They were: Happiness, the sensations
of a murderer, and the sensations of a suicide.
I gave up the former in despair — being willing
to experience that sensation again. You will
see that I have satisfied my longings in the
direction of the other two. It took me some
time to make up my mind to commit the former
and to choose the most appropriate means. I
rather regretted having to do it. After it was
accomplished I gave up half a day entirely to
experiencing the sensations. The remaining
half of the day I reserved for the ante-mortem
sensations of the suicide. I killed myself in the
same manner that I killed poor Sylvester,
because it gave me the opportunity of experiencing
some of the sensations also of being murdered.
"HENRY BLAKE."
