The Problem of Dead Wood Hall

A gentleman, bearing the somewhat curious name of Tuscan Trankler,
resided in a picturesque old mansion, known as Dead Wood Hall,
situated in one of the most beautiful and lonely parts of Cheshire,
not very far from the quaint and old-time village of Knutsford. Mr.
Trankler had given a dinner-party at his house, and amongst the guests
was a very well-known county magistrate and landowner, Mr. Manville
Charnworth. It appeared that, soon after the ladies had retired from
the table, Mr. Charnworth rose and went into the grounds, saying he
wanted a little air. He was smoking a cigar, and in the enjoyment of
perfect health. He had drunk wine, however, rather freely, as was his
wont, but though on exceedingly good terms with himself and every one
else, he was perfectly sober. An hour passed, but Mr. Charnworth had
not returned to the table. Though this did not arouse any alarm, as it
was thought that he had probably joined the ladies, for he was what is
called "a ladies' man," and preferred the company of females to that
of men. A tremendous sensation, however, was caused when, a little
later, it was announced that Charnworth had been found insensible,
lying on his back in a shrubbery. Medical assistance was at once
summoned, and when it arrived the opinion expressed was that the
unfortunate gentleman had been stricken with apoplexy. For some reason
or other, however, the doctors were led to modify that view, for
symptoms were observed which pointed to what was thought to be a
peculiar form of poisoning, although the poison could not be
determined. After a time, Charnworth recovered consciousness, but was
quite unable to give any information. He seemed to be dazed and
confused, and was evidently suffering great pain. At last his limbs
began to swell, and swelled to an enormous size; his eyes sunk, his
cheeks fell in, his lips turned black, and mortification appeared in
the extremities. Everything that could be done for the unfortunate man
was done, but without avail. After six hours' suffering, he died in a
paroxysm of raving madness, during which he had to be held down in the
bed by several strong men.

The post-mortem examination, which was necessarily held, revealed the
curious fact that the blood in the body had become thin and purplish,
with a faint strange odour that could not be identified. All the
organs were extremely congested, and the flesh presented every
appearance of rapid decomposition. In fact, twelve hours after death
putrefaction had taken place. The medical gentlemen who had the case
in hand were greatly puzzled, and were at a loss to determine the
precise cause of death. The deceased had been a very healthy man, and
there was no actual organic disease of any kind. In short, everything
pointed to poisoning. It was noted that on the left side of the neck
was a tiny scratch, with a slightly livid appearance, such as might
have been made by a small sharply pointed instrument. The viscera
having been secured for purposes of analysis, the body was hurriedly,
buried within thirty hours of death.