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April 21, 1910: The Times publishes an update in the curious death of Morgan Shiveley (or Shively), in which an examination of bloody fingerprints merely deepens the mystery.Charges against the Stones were eventually dismissed and the case was abandoned. |
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ladailymirror.com 
Wow! I wonder, did anything ever come of the case? “Loose-joined, shambling Nebraskan,” indeed.
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Here’s my theory:
Shively and Stone lived together in Nebraska before Stone married. I believe they were lovers, and remained so after Stone’s marriage (a marriage, perhaps for appearances and convenience. The marriage is a sham–no husband publicly refers to his wife as “like a sister,” and the three apparently frequently share a bed). Stone moves on to Seattle, Shively to California, but eventually they are reunited in San Gabriel and all move in together. Again, for appearances, Shively’s “room” is in the kitchen, even though there are 2 bedrooms upstairs. It is not Mr. Stone who kills Shively, it’s Mrs. Stone. Perhaps she has had enough of the threesome, or something else has altered the relationship. Shively has undressed and is asleep. She goes downstairs in her slippers, takes the razor from above the sink, and attacks Shively in his bed/couch, where blood is later found. Mr. Stone comes downstairs and fires a shot in the hall, either deliberately or accidentally. Shively, already wounded, struggles with both Stones, and leaves his bloody finger marks on the window as he tries breaking first the smaller window and finally the oblong window to escape the attack. The door is blocked by the couch, and a window is the only way outside. Shards of glass fall into Mrs. Stone’s slippers during the struggle, and Mr. Stone gashes his toe. Shively finally throws his valise (or sink) through the window, jumps out, and starts to run. He is chased by both, with Mr. Stone using his gun to head him off and forcing the change in direction (indicated by bare footprints). He escapes, and collapses a quarter-mile from the house. The police arrive and Mr. Stone is so overcome by the crime that he can barely look at the body of his lover; Mrs. Stone just remains tight-lipped and stops talking when she gets into a “tight place.” The Stones stick together and get away with it, but not without first throwing out the “Mexican robbers” red herring.
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It’s like a James M. Cain novel!
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