Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-06-13
THE DETECTIVES STORY.

am about to relatc--began the detective
police -olliccr-my first prol2s~ioual cXpar-
fence. Perhaps, however. | should call it
an amateur rather than professional cNpcl-
icnce, for I was not then a member Of the
force. and took ho Of the case merely be-
cause it had interested me deeply. 1t was
my success in this case and the reputation it
gave me that aite. ward decided me in the
choice of our really glorious profession.
One evening the papers were fall of hor
riblc murder, committed up town the night
before. The parties concerned We're first
class people, and of course the affair made
quite stir. The circumstances, as briefly
as | can state them We're as follows:
Michael Howe, the mnrlcred man. was
wealthy merchant. fifty Years old. OF there
abouts His nearest relative was Il beautiful
niece, Miss Ellen Howe. who ii,cl with
him, and woud, it was understood. inherit
hi, property. People acquainted with the
family were aware that Mr.. Howe VA, Of
narrow and tyrannicaI disposition. and
though he loved the girl well and spared no
expense to crafty her, yet was often very
harsh and cruel to her. Ellen WAS not only
dependent upon her uncle lor support, but
she had, it seems, contrary to his expressed
wishes. engaged herself to a young bank
clerk as poor as herself.
This young nm. Ellis by name. was
really very fine fellow. with an unspottrl
reputation. Old Howe had. in Years past,
had business relations with Ellis father.
and had. it was sid, been the cause of hi,
ruin and suicide.
However this may have been, it was ccr-
tain that Michael Howe entertained feelings
of the most violent hatred toward the Young
most abusive Language forbidden his holding
any communication with Miss Howe FL
lis, on his part, cordially dclcstci the uncle
hut he loved the niece, and determined to
marry her, in spite of her guardian. and
upon the night Of the mur,lcr he had called
to tell him 50.
The interview between Michael Howe
and Frederic Eli, no human eye had wit
messed. All that waS known of it was
gathered lrom the account given by the
young man himself. Strange to say. this
account, though it positively denied all
knowledge of the murder, was fatally dam
aging to the young man : case. He had, he
said. called on Mr. Howe about ten clock
in the evening. At first he was refused ad-
mittance; but u> he was turning away, the
merchant himself came out Of Inc library
and told him to come in, saying they might
as well have it out then rs any other time.
They went into the library and. as the ser
want also testified, the key was turned and
the two remained together until everybody
else in the house had retired The only ad-
ditional testimony given by the servant was
that in going around short while after to
fasten up the house, she had heard loud
tones in the library and had paused at the
door to listen. The words she caught were
few. She had heard the younger man stop
in his walk up and down the room, and say,
excitedly: by Heaven, you lie, sir! Ny
father never did that and were You not an
old man and Eilen'S uncle, would kill you
this instant for saying So Then she had
heard the old man get up from his chair and
move toward the door, and she mad hurried
away up stairs.
Ellis acknowledged the words and great
many more quite as violent. lie had been
with the old man an hour, he said. He had
at once announced his determination To
marry Ellen Howe ut all hazards, bat he
once more asked permission to do 50. Mr.
Howe laughed at him, calling him names he
did not care to repeat, and finally taunted
him with the crime and di~graceful death
of his father, Then the young nan, >tung
almost to madness, had used the words tcs-
tilted to by the servant. The cid man had
gone to the door, but only to sec that it WAS
secure. lie did not seem to have any fear
for himself; but still went ON with his
taunts. Finally he had said: Young man.
we have had words, enough. | worked
your fathers ruin--ay and drove him to his
disgraceiu death and | glory in it. But
that is not all, hate you rs hated him.
and will work your ruin. too. You shall
not hang your-cll'-oh, no; but the sheriff
shall do it for you. lshH se pa. 7ngr,$--
esg ya4 with rh,a rr----7 ia ,'.....E