The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-03-23
Select STORY.
how no PROvE AN ALaBI.

A DETECTIVES STORY. rCEr
One Sunday, about ten. years ago, !
found myself at Carlisle l was consider
ably acquainted there, and been there Oft
en- on business; but my being there at
this time was the result of an accident
merely. l had been three hundred miles
west of this. trying IN vain TO find clue
to the whereabouts of an absconding de-
faulter; and coming back to take fresh
start, found that food had submerged
the track for several miles east Of Carlisle.
and that there would be no getting away
until Monday. at the least So made q
virtue of necessity, and telegrsphed my
detention and its cause TO my family. l
went up town.
After dinner at the hotel, dropped in
at the Office of the district attorney with
whom was well acquainted. found him
arranging tie details of q number Of
criminal cases, which were to be tried at
the court which began on the following
Monday:
"Anything of importance?" ] asked
rather carelessly.
'One, at least, !" he replied. "Jos Slifer,
a notorious scouRdrel, Is to be tried for
highway robbery The victim was drag
ged out of his buggy on lonely road,
| beaten insensible, and robbed of thou
sand dollars. He identifies Slifer positively
as one of the rufians.' rr-r.
whats the defense %
Ican't imagine. don't think there is
/ any IN reality.
MAYBE he'll prove an alibi," joeosely
| suggested. He shook his head.
They'll hardly try that, he said "Th6
facts are too clear"
sation with him, 1 returned to the hotel
where spent the remainder of the day.
The next day was Sunday. awokC
quite early, and found the promise of {
beautiful summer day so good, that
dressed myself and sailed out for walk
Nobody was stirring yet about the hotel
and the streets were perfectly still. walk
ed around several squares, and returned
TO the hotel. meeting only one person OF
the way.
That person was standing in the door
way Of a basement saloon as l passed
looked around casually, and saw him stan
ding there in his shirt sleeves. His hai
was tamhled and he was Gaping, as
lust awakened did not discover that b
was doing anything particular there;
thought afterward that it was quite likell
that he had been lett in a drunken fit oi
the floor, or on the bench IN the bar tn
night before, and that waking up at thi
early hour, he had taken the wrong dOo
in seeking for his lodgings, and had gon
out of doors instead Of going to bed
NV look at him was merely side glanc
but that was enough to photograph hi
face in my mind. 1t was a thin, biliou
face, perfectly smooth, with a long nose
much twisted to one side, and red sea
over the left eye l marked it Instant,
as the face of rascal.
How I could do that / can't explain
our business learns US to read faces a
most other men read books, and the glane
l had at that face told me that the MAJ
was a lawless fellow His actions con
frmed the opinion. Sleepy as he lookei
and acted, no sooner had he seen me pass
ing than he drove back through the doc
and slammed it TO-
instantly understoodhi "a scamp
on some lay or other and don't want 4
be seen" was my thought And I waikeS
on with his Photograph 10 my miads bu
ceased to think anything of him or thr
circumstances before Ireached the hotel.
The day, passed, and bright and earll
Monday morning took my satchel anS
went down to the depot. But 1t was 4
no purpose; the office was closed, and !
Il