The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-08-28

then told the captain the whole story.
He was disposed to think, Mt first, that |
had made blunder; but on questioning
the two prisoners, and especially on examin-
ing the valise, and finding a large sum of
money in it, he concluded that had caught
the right men, and so disianced the regular
detectives.
1t proved to be so, and the two men were
duly convicted of murder, on evidence that
was beyond all dispute. Indeed, when Col
iins lost all hope of escaping the gallows,
he was so broken down that he made full
confession, giving substantially the follow
ing account Of the crime;
The stories of Bradles's great wealth had
first put it into his head to rob him. By
watching long time from back window
he had discovered the nature Of the fasten-
ings by which the back door and gate were
secured. He was not bold enough to under
take the task alone, bat he knew a certain
bad character named Kevern, to whom he
confided his scheme, describing the fasten-
ings of BIadley's gate and door, and asking
him if he could force them
Kevern said he could, and readily entered
into the plot. They went to work a little
after dark, one night, when they knew that
Bradley had gone out, but the fastenings of
the rear door resisted much longer than
they had expected, and they had farely sue
beedel in entering when Bradley came in
at the front door, locked it and lighted his
candle.
Determined not to be foiled now, they
rushed upon the old man and struck him
down with the tools they had been using
This, it seems, was between nine and ten
o'clock
They then ransackcd the house, finding
considerable money, chiefly in bank-notes.
The latter were in n di>Urdered condition;
and to make a compact bundle OF them.
Collins hastily tore in two the fatal news
paper, which he CHANGED to have in his
pocket, using one-half to wrap his spoils in,
and in his nervous haste, leaving the other
lying upon the floor.
In order to examine their plunder dt leis-
ure, they went to the hotel alluded to,
where one of them engaged a room to which
he repaired, aud in which he was soon
ioined by the other. Both were disguised
a portion of Collins being a false beard.
Collins felt 50 nervous over the awful af-
fair. that night, that he woIld not take any
of the pluuder home with him, and so, after
counting the money, he intrusted it to Kew
crn for the night, with an understanding
tha; they should meet next day, take trip
to New Haven, and There each delso-it Lis
share in a bank in his own name, or any
! name he might choose to assume.
When kcvcIn made q package of the
money again, he picked up q fragment of
another newspaper he found in the room,
leaving that bearing Collins name lying
upon the floor. Ii was shortly after Collins
returned home, that night, that he called
my attention To Eraiieys houses fooltshly
thinking that, by 50 doing, he would never
once come within the range of suspicion.
Collins died from pure terror before the
day appointed for his execution; but Kew
ern raid the extreme penalty Of the law.
1t was this case, which | worked up on
my own account, and in which was largely
assisted by mere chance, that gave me a
place on the detective force and | have
| been pretty successful ever since. Many a
man has worked harder and displayed more
-ugucity ttnn did that oecs,si,,1a, vithou I
accomplishing SO great an end.