Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-08

later.
I had the luck to find him soon.
and IN reply to my inquiry he stated
that Bradley must have been q Lad
two hours when he had been called to
the spot.
Have the detectives found any
clues" ne asked.
mot that am aware Of" I replied,
and took my leave.
Ny first step was to go to an estab~
lishment in which Collins was en-
ployed and inquire for him. I did so
and was told that he had asked and
obtained leave of absence to visit
Trenton. I next started for his house
which was half a mile distant, care
fully looking up and down every
street I crossed. [ had made half the
distance when l caught a glimpse of
the very man was looking for.
He was coming toward me on one
of the cross streets, showing that he
had come directly from his house. He
carried valise, and by his side walk
ed small, rough looking man whom
[ did not know, and with whom he
was conversing earnestly. went a
few steps to meet him, and was with
In few yards of them before Collins
saw me.
''Ah, how are you, Mr.. Collins"
said.
He stared visibly, but on recogniz-
ing me seemed to regain his compos-
ure and answered my salution. He
would have passed On, but I detained
him by passing in front Of him and
opening conversation.
Going travelling" said I.
Eyes; to New Haven"
''Wouldn't it be just as well to 90
to Trenton?' I asked, significantly.
He turned pale, and in voice that
quivered percepribly said:
Great Heaven, Mr.. Whismire,
what do you mean now?"
ST mean that you and your friend
must go to the station with me-"
With d look Of despair on his white
face that shall never forget, he drop
ped his valise and Staged q few steps
to an awning post, which he held to
fer support.
At the same moment his companion
turned to dart away, bat luckily, two
men, who had just stopped on the side
walk to talk, stood directly in his path,
and his movements became confused.
[ reached him in one bound and seized
him by the collar, warming him not to
resist. He was thoroughly cowed,
while Collins had too little strength
left him to escape
In five minutes I marched them in
to the station, together with the valise,
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 blunder; but
on questioning the two prisoners, and
especially on examining the valise
and finding a large sum Of money Ia
it, he concluded that I had caught the
right men, and SO distanced the regu-
lar detectives.
It proved to be SO, and the two men
were duly convicted of murder on ev>
idence that was beyond ali dispute.
Indeed, when Collins lost all hope of
escaping the gallows, he was so brok
en- down that he made full confess
SAc1S S1SlbS Ltl6 lOllON
ing account of the crime:
The stories of Bradley's great wealth
had first put it into his head to rob
him. By watching for a long time
from back window he had discover
ed the nature of the fastenings BY
which the back door and gates were
secured. He was not bold enough to
undertake the task alone, but he knew
certain bad character named Kevern,
TO whom he confded his scheme, de-
scribing the fastenings on Bradley's
gate and door and asked him if he
thought he could force them.
Kevern said he could, and readily
entered 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 re-
sisted much longer chan they had ex-
pected, and they had but fairly sue
ceeded in entering when Bradley came
in at 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 9 and 10 o'clock.
Then they ransacked the house,
finding considerable money, chiefly
in bank notes. The latter were in a
disordered condition, and to make a
compact bundle OF them, Collins
hastily tore in two the fatal newspa>
per, which he Glanced to have in his
pocket, and in his nervous haste leav-
ing tie other on the floor.
In order to examine their plumber
at pleasure they went to the hotel al
luded to, where one of them engaged
room to which he repaired, and in
which he was soon Joined by the
other. Both of them being disguised,
a portion Of Collins being a false
la,.l