Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-10-22
ON HIS TRACK.
a Chance Discovery Which Led
to Important Results.

Over twenty years ago. said Mr.. Whit
mire, detective, with whom | recently
had an interview. was on the police
force Of New York One summer
night few minutes past twelve / was
pacing my beat in quiet part of c.
street, when n man called from a sec.
ond story window;
al say, sir, are you policemanp"
"Yes." said. "What's the mat
tcr?"
II heard heavy jar in Mr.. Brad
ley's house, next door. and he may
have fallen and hurt himself He Just
came in few minutes ago. If i we're
you I'd ring the bel"
Mr.. Bradley was wealthy old bach
elor who had lived entirely alone for
years in an old-fashoned brick house.
His riches were a subject for frequent
gossip. and 1t was said that in his
house, 10 which no outsider was ever
admitted, he kept lot of silverware
and money. rang the bell. but there
was no response.
"Are you sare you saw him go imp
asked.
"Yes. sure of it. He hadn't been in
half a minute before / heard heavy
fall. | have heard nothing since"
There must be something wrong"
/ said. after ringing the bell a second
time and receiving no response. / tried
the door. but it was locked.
"lf | were you / would force the
door," suggested the man at the win
dow.
81 don't like to do that Is there any
other entrancepn
Eyes, that alley just beyond the steps
leads to a back yard, but the gate is
probably locked. as well as the rear
door"
81 will go and see. " said /; and walk
ing up the narrow alley / discovered by
the dim light of the street-lamp nearly
opposite chat the gate was wide open.
i looked in. and perceived that the rear
door was also open. and faint light
shone out. All was perfectly quiet. L
returned to the street and said to the
man;
'The gate and back door are open.
Come down and Wen go in"
In half n minute he Joined me on the
sidewalk, when | recognized him as an
acquaintance named Henry Collins.
'.Ah, is that you?' / didn't know YOU
lived here" said
Eyes. and didn't recognize you when
first addressed YOU"
swell, there may have been foul
work here, said L; $50 Wen 90 in"
We went into the yard and entered
the house The rear room had evil
IDENTITY been used for kitchen; and
guided by dim light we passed into a
narrow hall with stairway. Near the !
street door was an old table, on which |
was lighted candle that had burned |
TO within an inch of the candlestick. At |
the foot OF the stairs lay Mr.. Bradley, |
quite dead, and a frightful wound uDon |
his headconvinced me that he had been |
murdered.
At my request Mr.. Collins hurried I
AWAY TO the police station to notify the !
Captain, while made an examination
Of the premises. A number of drawers
in the sccond-story back room had been |
broken open and ransacked, and on the |
floor lay half of fresh looking news
paper Knowing that the old bachelor
was not in the habit Of spending money
Tor newspapers il struck rue that the /
Fobber might have had It In his pocket,
and probably used the other half 10
wrap up some of his plumber, leaving
behind him, in his hurry, what might
prove a most valuable clew. / there
fore folded mp the fragment and pat il
in my pocket A moment later Mr..
Collins returned accompanied by sew
eral officers and a surgeon.
To make this part OF the story brief.
1 will state that the usual formalities
followed, the body being handed over
10 the Coroner, and the case was put in
the hands Of detectives | at first in
ended 70 give up the bit OF newspaper
had picked up, but had some amhi-
ton TO be detective myself, and con
cluded 10 keep II. at least a day or two.
to see II could find n clew from it. Ii
was lucky did
= On the following afternoon, while of
duty, and walking around in ordinary
dress. / paused Opposite a well- known
hotel TO watch some painters who we're
AZ work on scaifold under the caves.
and my eyes happened TO light on a
man who sat by a third-story window,
apparently packing q yalise. The win
dow was open, and as be lifted some
article TO store Il away, piece OF news
paper on which II had lain came fut-
tterlng down into the gutter near my
feet.
might not have noticed this triHino
circumstance but for the manner M
which the paper had been torn-that Is.
not IN straight line but almost In the
form OF the letter V, as though II had
been done IN hurry. This correspond
cd with the piece I'd found in the muir
dered mans house, and snatched II
mp and ran into an alley to compare
them What lear my heart gave
when discovered thAt the two parts of
the paper Fitted exacIly-there was no
doubt OF Il.
f"0n his track" muttered. .I4e
must not get on with that yalise."
Being familiar with the hotel /
crossed the street. went Ia, and was
soon rapping on the door OF room
twcnty-one, from whose window tho
paper had just blown.
''Come Ia. said a voice.
opened the door and recognized.
SIN seated by tho window, the man / ! I
Ind seon packing the galise, task he
had completed. lie was a muscular 4
nnn Of forty with cloan-shaven face
hat wore an exprossion Of craflinoss. ,
ie seemed confused when entered
.na snIdi
An I thought Il was the porter i
''fen : Yop maa' o m'rlAkeFf Il