Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-29

/ On the Sublcct Oh tnlN Dcafu III ulu not AT
/ first occur to he that he might have worn a
false onc but it did finally, and recalled,
very soon alterward, what nov regarded
as most suspicious circumstance.
/ 1t was about midnight that Henry Collins
told me that Mr.. Bradley had been in but a
/ few minutes. now remembered that the
/ body was cold and rigid when first went
/ in, and | FASTENED away to meet the sur
geon who hal made the examination, five
minutes later.
| had the good luck to find him soon, and
| in reply to my inquiry, he stated that Brad
ley must have been dead two hours when ho
was called
"llaye the detectives found any clue ~
/ he asked.
"Not that I'm aware off, replied, and
took my leave.
My first step now was to go to an eStab-
/ lisAmcnt in which Collins was employed and
enquire for him.
On doing so. was informed that he had
| asked ard obtained leave Of absence to visit
| Trenton.
next started for his house, which was
half a mile distant carefully looking up and
down every street | crossed. ! had made
half of the distance wien caught a glimpse
of the very man was looking for.
lie WAS coming towards me on one of the
cross streets, showing that he had not como
directly from his house. lie carried a yalise,
and by his side walked small, rough-look
ing man whom did not know, and with
whom lie was conyersing earnestly. | went
a few steps to meet them, and was within
yard of them before Collins saw me.
"Ah, how are you, Mr.. Collins % | said.
lie started visibly, but on recognizing me,
seemed to regain his composurc, and answer
ed my sautation. lie would have passed
on, but detained him by pausing in front
of him and opening Il dialogue.
"Not going trayc.ing?" said l.
"les-a short distancc-only to New
| Haven
"Wouldn't it he just as well to go to
Trcnton?" | asked, in significant tone,
cycling him kccnIy.
lie turned very pale, and in a voice that
! quiyercd perccptibIy, said
"Great heaven. Mr.. Whtmire! what do
| you mcan?'
81 mean that you and your friend must go
to the station with me-
With look of despair on his white face
that [ never shall forget, he dropped his
yalisc, and staggered step Or 50 to an
awning-p post, which he graSpcd for support.
/ At the same moment his companion turn
ed to dart away but luckily two men, who
/ had just stopped on the sidewalk to talk
and his movements being confused, reached
him with one bound, and seized him by the
collar, warning him not to resist.
He was thoroughly cowcl, while Collins
1 had too little strength left him to attempt
! to escape.
In five minutes | marched them into the
station, together with the valisc, and had
them locked up in separate cells,
then told the captain the whole story.
He was disposed to think. at first, that
had made 4 bIundcr; but on questioning
the two prisoners, and especially on cxamin-
ing the valiSr, and finding large sum of
money in it, he concluded that | had caught
tie right men, and 50 dstancel the regular
/ detectives.
/ 1t proved to he 50, and the two men were
/ duly convicted Of murder, on evidence that
was beyond all dispute, Indeed when Col
lins lost all hope of escaping the gallows,
he was so broken down that he made a full
/ confession, giving substantially the follow
ing account otthc crime:
/ The stories Of bndicy's great wealth had
first put it into his head to rob him. BY
Watching Il long time from Il back window
/ he had discovered the nature OF the lnstcn-
| ings by which the back door and gate We're
secured. lie was not bold enough to under
| take the task alone, bat he knew certain
bad character named Keycrn, to whom he
coniided his scheme, describing the faStcn-
ings of B.adlay's gate and door, and asking
him if he could force them.
| Kcvcrn said he could, and readily entered
into the plot. They went to work Il little
after dark, one night, when they knew that
Bradley had gone out, but the fa>tcnings of
! the rear door resisted much longer than
they had expected, and they had iarely sue
| bccdcd in entering when Bradley came in
at the front door, locked it and lighted his
/ candle.
| Determined not to be toilcd 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-notcs.
| The latter wers ina d!sordcrcd 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 plundcr at eis-
ure, they went to the hotel alluded to,
/ where one of them engaged room to which
/ he repaired, and in which he was soon
joined by the other Both were disguised,
I n portion of Collins being false beard.