Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-09

onceP" asked Mr.. Smith.
tNo, sir" was the reply; 1--WE have not
yet sufficient evidence"
The disguised officer soon so won on
young Austin, by his engaging address, that
they became inseperable, and the young
man, with great apparent frankness, opened
himself freely 10 to his companion, seeming
TO not dream of the terrible use that might
be made of his remarks.
To the questions of Smith and the lady,
the officer replied that proof was accumu-
lating in his hands, and that he had no
doubt Of convicting the offender.
I Meanwhile, as if to give color to their
suspicious and afford a motive for the deed,
the will of Mr.. Austin was read, which,
! while leaving the bulk of his property TO
| his wife, left his nephew a considerable
| legacy, and, as said nephew was somewhat
extravagant, with but little means of sup
porting it, knowledge of this legacy might
have urged him to the murder
Smith, all this time, was ingratiating
himself with the widow, probably thinking
pretty wife and large fortune something
well worth winning.
A few days after, as they all sat in the
parlor conversing, Mrs Austin casually al
luded to a card-party, in which they had
been engaged, on the evening preceding the
day of the murder.
"By the way" she continued, ''that was
my first initiation in the ancient mysteries
of gambling. Mr.. Austin insisted on put
ting up a stake, and we fell into the whim
with all the excitement of old gamblers"
"And you, as usual, had the luck to win
every thing said Smith.
"Not So" she replied; ayou pocketed
some Of the winnings. / remember your
winning silver dollar, on which Mr.. Aus
tin had scratched the representation of an
eagle, calling it a double-eagle.'
"You are mistaken answered he;
"Charles here won the eagle"
"Not |" answered Charles; ~ do not re-
member the circumstance. 1t must have
occurred after left"
Exactly" replied Mrs. Austin; "Mr.
Smith was undoubtedly the lucky man.
Pray, sir, what did you do with the prize?
You promised to keep it."
"Then 1 have broken my promise" he re-
piled; "for 1 certainly have no such article
at present. Intact had forgotten the cir
cumstance"
81 am ashamed of you," said she, play
fully; "is it thus you keep your promises ?"
"The next 1 make you will [ be more care
full to keep" he answered, with a meaning
! in his voice that called o slight color to the
| lady's cheeks.
At this juucture Wilson, the detective,
rose and left the room. Shortly after, he
re-entered while they were still conversing
on the murder, and wondering how the cul-
prit had been able so completely to hide his
track.
''Do not imagine 50" said he 'justice is
not go blind as she is painted"
Opening the door, he called in brother
officer, and, exhibiting a warrant bade him
to arrest his man. At this there was vio-
lent start of surprise among those present,
while their eyes went from one to another,
in amazement at the thought that the MUIR
derer was among them. Those in the secret
bent their eyes on Charles,lw lwho sat in per-
feet composure, with smile on his lips.
The officer, however, walked by him, and
deliberately laid his hand on the shoulder
of Smith That worthy started as if SER
pent had stung him. .-..
"Take off your hand, fellow" he cried
"there is your man."
"No, you are my man." replied the other;
"eh, jack ?"
"You have struck the right game" said
Wilson.
At this assertion, Smith became pale as
death, and strove, by series of indignant
remonstrances and threats, to escape from
the stolid officer. Mrs. Austin beheld all
this with complete amazement. So unex-
pected denouement entirely overpowered
her.
"What means all this ?" she exclaimed,
at length; "why do you accuse Mr.. Smith
of this horrible deed? On what grounds
can you base such an unlooked-for accusa-
tion?'
"No doubt, Mrs. Austin, replied Charles,
"that hypocrite has succeeded in deceiving
you, but our friend here was something too
sharp for him. 1t was a keen game of his,
to attempt to lay his own crimes on me- and
to bring skillfully arranged proofs to bear
against me. But such a game, when dis
covered, Immediately becomes transparent
and his schemes have returned on his own
head"
at is a base conspiracy" exclaimed
Smith, with the appearance of violent indig-
nation. "What one suspicious circum-
stance can you bring affainst me?' Has
not proof after proof been collected against
him2 Was not his button found in the
dead mans hand?"
81 can only say replied Wilson, "that
that part of your scheme has failed. There
was no button there"
"Whatw cried Mrs. Austin, II saw it
taken from his hand"
"And saw it put there" returned Will
son. "AIr Smith held the button in his
own hand, merely pretending to take it
from that of the dead man, as l and my
friend here can testify. 1t was evidently
his aim to direct suspicion against Charles
Austin, and, if possible, commit a second
murder to hide his first. So his well framed
remarks about meeting him on the night of
the murder were manufactured for the same
purpose, for Mr.. Austin can prove a COM
plete alibi. Are you acquainted with this
article, Mrs. Austin?' and he took silver
dollar from his pocket and handed it to the
lady.
Smith grew paler than ever at the sight
of this, and bent forward in trembling at
tention.
"Why this is the very dollar that wa
, scratched by Mr.. Austin" replied she; 9th
, one that he called double-eagle, and tina
Mr.. Smith wonn
"Are you sure of all this2" asked Will
Y son.
4 Perfectly" she replied.
4 81 found this on the floor of the murdere
f mans chamber" said he. 'Remove you
= prisoner sir"
Smith, struck dumb by this concentrate
: of proof where he believed his track to |
. completely hidden, suffered himself to
quietly removed, leaving oil behind in
e state Of the utmost astOnishment.
HWhat nnssihle motiye could he hava {,