Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-07-01
A MODEL DETECTIVE,

VIC llao uCSA tSo uhyS DIT WOEk Oh Tic
case, and had not even found a starting
point. In fact, when We met to COM
pare notes On the second evening, that
the sum total Of our knowledge was pre-
cisely what it was before.
The difficulty was, it was such a com
mon-place crime. 1t was when crimin.
ais do something unusual that their
detection becomes comparatively easy.
There is something then to work upon
The experienced detective is at once able
to limit the field of his inquiry. "Who, -
he asks himself, twas able to contrive a
plan like thls!' And often the very in
genuity exercised to conceal the author.
ship of crime most clearly points the
way to its discovery. But when i: is
a thing any one of thousands might have
done, it is easy to see how greatly the
difficulty of laying your hand upon the
real perpetrator is increased.
That is just what made the case in hand
so hard to unravel. Mr. Dame, rich, re-
tired merchant, in the habit of carving q
liberal supply of money about him, and
given to wearing expensive jewelry. He
occupied an elegant suit of bachelor
apartments, where he was found murder
ed in his bed one morning.
The manner of the crime was as little
mysterious as its motive. The victim s
skull had been beaten In with some blunt
instrument, and his money, jewels and
watch had been taken.
Amy brutal ruffian could do such a
deed. There was no particular clue to
follow; and even Orvilie Thoms, confess
edly the shreWdest man on the force and
whose scent on the trail OF criminal sci.
dom proved at fault, was obliged to &C
knowledge he didn't see his way.
Mr.. Thoms had won his spurs a year
before, as an amatl ur, in ferreting out q
formidable gang of forgers, around whom
he succeeded in weaving a web of cir.
cumstances which left not loophole for
escape; and when the whole band, after
their conviction, wagged their tongues
against him, denouncing hlm as their
ring-leader, who had betrayed tEem fol
price, there was a general smile of de.
rls1on; and, as mark of the public Goa.
tidence in Mr.. Thoms, he was given o
place on the detective force. of which he
was member at the time of Mr.. Danes
murder.
The Mayor offered large reward fo
the apprehension and conviction of tn,
murderer. Mr.. Thems notlceably prickel
up his ears at this. He was not the maj
to let such an amount of money sill
through his fingers
"He'll get It'll" more than one of u
whispered.
And sure enough, on the third morn
ing, when we met for calculation, MI
Thoms sauntered in, with smirk of sal
isfactlon on his lace, and took St at a
the table.
Thu rest of US had nothing new to tel
whereat Mr.. Thoms smiled contemptu
ously.
81 have areport to make,' he remarked
quietly.
Proceed, sir" said the chief, eyIn
HIM rather sharply.
eat an early hour this morning. NJ
Thems continued, noticed a shabbily
dressed man entering pawnbroker
office. His manner was lurking and sui
picious. / followed him in, making
pretext Of wishing to pawn ring / ha
taken from my finger. Whilst higglin
with enc of the clerks | kept keen ey
on the man had followed, who was O
fering handsome gold watch to anoths
clerk.
"sLet me see it. I said, turning up m
lapel and displaying my official badge
and placing myself between the customt
and the door, took the watch from tn
counter and examined it. Inside tn
case was the makers name and the nun
Der. No doubt was possible. It was Il
murdered mans watch, of which had
full description.
"Thc man gave no satisfactory accoul
of himself, or his possession of the stole
property, and. of course, arrested hi
at once. The case is very simple on
Tne murder, it is conceded, was comm
ted in the perpetration of a robbery. Pa
of the property taken is found in the po
session of the prisoner, circumstan,
he fails to explain. What proof coul
be stronger9''
J is yours, Mr.. Thoms. It's fortune VI
: might afford to retire on, and give Il
rest of us chance"
Mr.. Thoms beamed benignantly, al
the meeting broke up.
! I was on the point of leaving with Il
others, when the chief touched my ar
, aud desired me to remain for few mi
: utes.
Our brief conference was strictly co
fidential, and it would not be proper
: reveal it here. At the end Of 1t, / hr
|. RED out. MY way and Mr.. Thon
8 lay along the same street; but he had
|, much the start, that I was barely in tir
to see him enter his own door.