The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07

pausing in front of him and opening a
dialogue.
mot going traveling?" said /.
''Yes--a short distance-onlv TO New
Haven
wouldn't il be just as well to 60 to
Trenton?" Iasked, in a significant tone,
eyeing him keenly.
He turned very pale, and in voice
that quivered perceptibly, said:
H'Great heaven, Mr.. Whitmire. what
do you mean?'
81 mean that You and your friend
must go to the station with me-"
With look of despair on his white
face that shall not forget, he dropped
his valise, and staggered stepor so to an
awning post, which he grasped for sup
port.
At the same moment his companion
turned to dart away; but luckily two
men, who had just stopped on the side
walk to talk about something, stood di-
rectly in his path, and his movements be-
ing confused, l reached him with one
bound, and seized him by the collar,
warning him not to resist.
He was thoroughly cowed, while Col
lins had too little strength left him to
attempt to escape.
In five minutes [ marched them into
the station, together with the valise, and
had them locked up in separate cells.
then teld the captain the wiDles
story. He was disposed to think, at
first, that l had made blunder; but on
questioning the two prisoners, and es-
peeially on examining the valise, and
finding a large sum OF money in it, he
concluded that l had caught the right
men, and so distanced the regular detec-
tives.
1t proved TO be 50, ar d the two men
| were duly convicted of murder, on evil
dence that was beyond all dispute In
deed, when Collins lost all hope OF es-
ping the gallows, he Mas so broken
down that he made a full confession,
giving substantially the following ac-
count of the crime.
The stories Of Bradley'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 fastenings by which the back door
and gate were secured. He was not bold
enough TO undertake the task alone, but
he knew q certain bad character named
describing the fastenings OF Bradley's
gate and door, and asking him if he
could force them.
Kevern said he could, and readily en-
tered into the plot. They went to work
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 succeeded in enter
ing whom Bradley came in 1T 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 ransacked the house. find
ing considerable money, chiefly in bank
notes. The latter were in Il disordered
condition, and to make a compact bun
die of them, Collins hastily tore in two
the fatal newspaper, which he CHANGED
to have in his pocket, using one-half to
wrap his spoils in, and in his nervou.
haste, leaving the other lying upon the
floor.
In order to examine their plunder al
leisure, they went to the hotel alluded
to, where one of them engaged room tc
which he repaired. and in which he wa,
soon Joined by the other. Both were
disguised, portion of Collins being {
false beard.
Collins felt so nervous over the awfu
affair, that night, that he would not takt
any of the plunder home with him, anc
so, after counting the money, he intrust
ed it to Kevern for the night, with al
understanding that they should NEE
next day, take trip to New Haven
and there each deposit his share in I
bank in his own name, or any name h,
might choose to assume.
When Kevern made package of tn,
money again, he picked up fragmen
of another newspaper he found in th'
room, leaving that bearing Collins nam
lying upon the floor. 1t was shortly af
ter Collins returned home, that night
that he called my attention to Bradley
house, foolishly thinking that, by so dc
ing, he would never once come With
the range of suspicion.
Collins died from pure terror befor
the day appointed for his execution; bu
Kevern paid the extreme penalty of tn
> law
1t was this case, which / worked u
t on my own account, and IN which l wa
e largely assisted by mere chance, ths
d gave me a place on the detective fore
/ and have been pretty successful eve
: since Many man has worked hardt
and displayed more sagacity than I di
Y on that occasion, without accomplishin
d 30 great an end.
d One Thousand Miles a Day.
Ie The New York Herald of yesterday,