The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-30
Caught at Last.

noeral supply OF money about him: ana
given to wearing expensive jewelry.--
He occupied ali elegant suite of bachelor
apartments, where he was found MUIR
dered in his bedroom one morning.
The manner of the crime was as little
mysterious as It's motive. The victims
skull had been beaten in with some
blunt instrument, and'his money, jew
els and watch had been taken.
Any brutal ruilian might have done
such deed. There was no particular
clew to follow and even Orville Thoms
confessedly the shrewdest man on the
force, whose scent on the trail Of Grim.
inal seldom proved at fault, was obliged
to acknowledge he didn't see his way.
Mr.. Thoms had won his spurs year
before, as an amateur, in ferreting out
formidable gang of forgers around whom
he succeeded in weaving web of cir
cumstances that left not a loophole for
escape; and when the whole band after
their conviction, wagged their tongues
against him, denouncing him as their
ringleader, who had betrayed them for
price, there was general smile of de-
rision and, as q mark of the public
confidence in Mr.. Thoms, he was given
place on the detective force, of which
he was member at the time of Mr..
DANES murder.
The mayor offered large reward for
the apprehension and conviction of the
murderer. Mr.. Thoms noticeably prick
ed up his ears at this. He was not the
man to let such an amount of money
slip through his fingers.
He'll get it - more than one of us
whispered.
And sure enough, on the third morn
ing when we met again for consultation,
Mr.. Thoms sauntered in, with smirk
of satisfaction on his face, and took a
seat at the table.
The rest of us had nothing new to tell
whereat Mr.. Thoms smiled contemptu-
ously.
al have report to make" he re-
marked quietly.
Proceed, sir,'' said the chief, eyeing
him rather sharply.
"At an early hour this morning, ''Mr.
Thoms continued, /" noticed shabbi-
ly dressed man enter pawnbroker's
office. His manner was lurking and
suspicious. l followed him in, making
pretext of wishing to pawn ring L
had taken from my finger. Whilst hig-
Cling with one of the clerks, L kept a
keen eye on the man had followed, who
was offering handsome gold watch to
another clerk.
Let me see it," said, turning up
my lapel and displaying my official
badge; and placing myself between the
customer and the door, took the watch
from the counter and examined it. In
side the case was the makers name and
the number No doubt was possible 1t
was the murdered man watch of which
had full description.
1.-THE man gave no satisfactory ac-
count of himself, or his possession of
the stolen property, and of course, ar
rested him at once. The case is very
simple one. The murder, it is conceded,
was committed in the preparation of
robbery. Part of the property taken is
found in the possession of the prisoner,
circumstance which he fails to ex-
plain. What proof, could be any
stronger ?'
Bravo ~ we exclaimed. I" The re-
ward is yours, Mr.. Thoms. It's for
tune you might afford to retire on, and
give the rest of us q chance"
Mr.. Thoms beamed benignantly, and
the meeting broke up.
was on the point of leaving with the
others, when the chief touched my arm
and desired me to remain for few min
utes.
Our brief conference was strictly con-
fidential, and it would not be proper to
reveal it here. AT the end of it, 1 hur-
ried out. My way and Mr.. Thoms' lay
along the same street but he had so
much the start that 1 was barely in
time to see him enter his own door.
Bright and early next morning I was
met by our chief at the principal rail-
road depot, whittier had cautiously fol-
lowed a gentleman in an iron-gray wig
and blue goggles, whom lost no time
in pointing out to the chief,
The latter approached and touched
the gentleman's shoulder.
" A word with you, If you please sir, /"
said the chief.