Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-04
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa, MAY 4, 1865

from his hiding place, and handed over tC
Justice Time, however, went on, and Per
kins was still inspecting the premises, while
his character was rapidly falling in the
opinion of the crowd outside.
"He's no cOniuror. | told ye so afore,
said one sturdy countryman, who had been
a skeptc from the first. And this time his
assertion did not meet with the disappro-
baton it had called forth when pronounced
half an hour before The crowd were tired
of waiting.
Perkins, meanwhile, unconscious of hos
tile criticism, had looked over the kitchen
and Mary's bedroom, but without making
any discovery When he came to the cap
tain's bedroom, he stood in the middle of
it, and took general survey. He then pro-
ceeded to the details. He raised the chairs,
and then put them down again in their or
iginal positions, repeating this operation
two or three times, and watching with great
interest how they fell Then he come to
the bed. He looked at it from all points
first full view, then a three-quarters, then
one side view, and then the other side view,
till he had exhausted it, and the patience
Of the inspector. He then stood, and men,
tally threw himself upon it in such posi-
| tion as to make the impression which still
remained on it. There was some hitch, for
he shook his head. He pulled out the
drawers and examined the wardrobe of the
deceased man. A pair of boots lying in
the corner of the room next attracted his
attention He examined them carefully.
Something in the lining of one of them
seemed to interest him, for he brought out
his pocket-book, and referred to something
written in it. lie then examined the boot
again, and seemed satisfied, for he pocketed
! it.
Boots | suppose, are the captains ?"
Yes, his servant Identifies them," said
the inspector, who was rapidly coming
round to the opinion Of the crowd outside
What on earth could it matter whether the
captain had two or three pairs of boots
| At last Perkins finished his examination of
the bedroom, and went down stairs, inspec-
| ting each stair as he went These were
apparently more satisfactory for his face
frightened considerably, and after he had
been shown the traces of blood along the
| floor of the sitting-room, it had expanded
into broad grin.
You see how it was done ~ asked the
inspector, whose opinion of Perkins had by
this time reached the lowest ebb. Perkins
smiled he was not the man to commit
himself. He walked to the table, and
turned over the books and papers till he
found some sheets of blotting paper
These he examined attentively, holding
them up to the light and turning them in
every possible direction. The result seemed
satisfactory, for he pocketed them.
The footprints in the garden, the half
dug grave under the trees, and the impress
sion in the wet leaves seemed to interest
him little. He examined them, but only
like one preoccupied with his own thoughts
They came to the river.
We're dragging the river" said the in
spector, pointing to the two boats which
had now been working unsuccessfully for
some hours.
"Ah, yes I" said Perkins, as if he thought
that the necessity of doing so had never
struck him.
"The mans perfect fool" thought the
inspector
"And now about this captain" said Per-
kins, choosing the clearest footprint he
could find in the soft mud, and pulling the
boot out OF his pocket. I" His name is Vance
you say. What is he captain of"
Nothing that | know of, but they do
say that he has been captain in the China
trade"
China " repeated Perkins, as if the
idea of that country gave him exquisite de-
light.
Yes, China" repeated the inspector,
gruflly He was losing all patience how
on earth did such born idiot ever become
detective?
What sort of a man is he ?"
GGTa11 -bui1t bou+ forty, rrro,, boi
and no whiskers.'
"Deep cut over the right eyebrow" ad-
ded Perkins, quietly, as he stopped and fit
ted the boot into the impression.
Yes" said the inspector, puzzled at
Perkins knowledge.
"He never went by that name here, did
he ?" said Perkins, handing the boot to the
Inspector, on the lining of which was writ
ten A. Compton"
"Never."
He was getting more and more puzzled.
Compton, alias Watkins, alias Crow
der, and now alias Vance Pve wanted
him these two years." said Perkins, cheer
fully "Pve got him now"
Yes," said the inspector, grimly, "he's
| safe enough there"
! And he jerked his head towards the river
Bless you," laughed Perkins, "hes
nearer China by this time He'll die with a
rope around his neck yet. It's plan, man;
don't you see he has murdered himself, and
bolted with the swag? That room some
how looked queer 1t was overdone-too
much blood, and too regular When l
found that boot thought how it was, and
this settled it," said Perkins, pulling the
sheets of blotting paper out of his pocket
and holding them to the Inspector There,
all over them were the words Cowie, Ma
bob Il Co., in a neat clerk like hand with
+ the peculiar flourish at the end which those
who have dealings with the eminent house
known so we'll THAT letter to the Balls
ton Bank is forgery it's not the first
time he has served Cowie, Nabob 4 Co.
this trick. He was in their London count
ing-house for five years, came over with
| them forged character, robbed them to
the tune of $4,000 and bolted He's been
smuggling and thieveing all over the world
ever since then But when's the next train
to town? | wouldn't miss him for any
thing"
Perkins was right The manager of the
Balston Bank found to his astonishment
that Cowie, Nabob & Co, repudiated the