Mostly they related to Whitmore's business affairs, which apparently were in a healthy and flourishing condition.
With a shrug of disappointment the detective flung the last of the documents from him.
"Wasted labor!" he observed to the chief.

"Might as well return them to Beard." "Here is one we haven't examined," said Manning, offering a long, white envelope to Britz.

"I don't know whether we are justified in opening it." The back of the envelope had been sealed with wax in three places, and the seals were still undisturbed.

Across the front of it was written,-- "Last will and testament of Herbert Whitmore." Britz regarded the envelope with covetous eyes.
"There is no law which prevents the police from examining a murdered man's will," he remarked.

"I suppose the proper thing would be to open it in the presence of the attorney for the deceased.