As he dropped the last grisly fragment of the dismembered and mutilated body into the small vat of nitric acid that was to devour every trace of the horrid evidence which might easily send him to the gallows, the man sank weakly into a chair and throwing his body forward upon his great, teak desk buried his face in his arms, breaking into dry, moaning sobs.

Holtsmark
Edgar Rice Burroughs by Irwin Porges
Edgar Rice Burroughs by Robert B. In the film (as in the book) Edgar is the nephew of John Carter who after passing left him his belongings including a journal with his adventures on Mars. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame inducted Burroughs in 2003.

Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1 1875 – March 19 1950) was an American writer best known for his creations of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter although he produced works in many genres.