One October night Sir Peter Elsworthy left the Euston Station, London, by a late train for Birmingham, in the neighbourhood of which town he resided. Sir Peter was a little over seventy years of age, but was a well-preserved, hale, hearty man. He was a constant traveller between London and Birmingham, and was well known on the line. He was a wealthy man, being largely interested in various commercial enterprises, including collieries, shipping, and the like. He also owned extensive property both in London and Birmingham. On this occasion he had paid a hurried visit to the Metropolis to transact some business with his lawyers, and on leaving their offices in Gray’s Inn, he carried with him a despatch-box containing some very important documents and securities, which he said he wished to loo
