Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-15
ON HIS TRACK.

WhitMlre, q detective with whom
recently had an interview), l wa
on the police force of New Yorl
One summer night, few minute
past twelve, l was pacing my bea
in q quiet part Of C-Street, whe
u man called out from a second. .stOr
window: t
~ say, sir, are yon policeman I
"Yes," l replied. "What's til
matter ~
~ heard heavy jar in Mr.. Brad
ley's house. next door, and he ma,
have fallen and hurt himself. FL
mat cnma il. - -r--- ...inuUcs sgU. I
l were you l would ring the bell"
Mr.. Bradley was wealthy oil
bachelor, who had lived entirel!
alone for years, in an old-fashionet
brick house. His riches were a sub
ject Of frequent gossip; and it wal
said that in his house, to which NJ
outsider was ever admitted, he KEEP
a large amount of money and silver
ware. Irang the bell, but there
was no response.
"Are you sure you saw him &C
in ~ I asked
eyes sure of it. He hadn't been
in half a minute before heard a
heavy fall. l have heard no sound
SINCE"
"There must be something wrong9'
said, after ringing the bell sec
ond time, and receiving no response.
tried the door, but it was locked.
eff I were you / would force the
door," suggested the man at the
window.
~ don't like to do that. Is there
any other entrance
eyes, that alley just beyond the
steps leads to u back yard /; but the
gate is probably locked, as we'll as
the rear door," ..
W will 90 and see," said l and
walking up the narrow alley, I dis
covered, by the dim light of street
lamp nearly opposite, that the gate
stood open.
looked in and perceived that
the rear door was open, and faint
light shone out. All was perfectly
quiet. l returned to the street, and
said to the man at the window.
1.-The gate and back door are
open. Come down, and we'll go in"
In half minute he joined me Oh
the sidew ak, when l recognized
him as an acquaintance, named Hen
ry Collins.
"Ah, is this youY I didn't know
you lived here," l said.
"Yes, and l didn't recognize. you
when l first spoke"
"Well,' said I, "there may have
been some foul work in this house,
and we had better both 60 in."
We went up the alley, into the
yard, and entered the open door.
The rear room was evidently used
as kitchen and guided by the
dim light, we passed through an
other open door into q narrow hall
with a stairway. Near the street
door was an old table, on which
stood lighted candle, that had
burned to within an inch Of the
candlestick. At the foot of the
stairs lay Mr.. Bradley, quite dead,
and frightful wound upon his head
convinced me that he had been muir
dered.
AT my request, Mr.. Collins hurri-
ed away to the police station, two
hundred yards distant, to inform
the captain, while 1 took the candle
aud made hasty examination of
the premises. A number of draw
ers in the second-story back room
had been broken open and ransack-
ed. and on the floor lay half of a
tresh-looking newspaper. Know
ing that the old bachelor was not
in the habit of spending money for
newspapers, it struck me that the
robber might have had it in his
pocket, and possibly used the other
half to wrap up some of his plum
der, leaving behind him, in his hur-
ry, what might prove q valuable
clue. therefore folded up the frag-
ment, and put it in my pocket. A
moment later Mr.. Collins returned,
accompanied by several officers and
a surgeon. (
TO make this part of the story
brief, l will state that the usual
formalities followed, the body being
over to the coroner, and the
case was placed in the hands of the
1 at first intended to
give them the bit of naYsnaner