West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-11-06
ON HIS TRACK.
a Chance Discovery Which Lee
to Important Results.

Over twenty years ago. said Mr.. Whit
mire, n detective, with whom | recently
had an interview. ! was on the police
fo.ce of New York. One summer
night a few minutes past twelve | was
pacing my beat in a quiet part Of c.
street. when n man called from a sec
ond story window:
IL say, sir, are you a policeman"
Yes" ] said. What's the mat
ter?"
81 heard a heavy jar in Mr.. Brad
lcy's house, next door, and he NAV
have fallen and hurt himself. He lust
came in a few minutes ago. If | were
you I'd ring the bell"
Mr.. Bradley was a wealthy old bach
clor who had lived entirely alone for
years in an old-fashioned brick house.
His riches were Il subject for f%reauent
gossip, and it was said that in his
house, to which no outsider was ever
admitted, he kept n lot Of silverware
"A money. rang the bell, but there
was no response.
Are you sure you saw him 60 imp"
] asked.
Yes. sure of it, He hadn't been in
half a minute before | heard a heavy
fall. | have heard nothing since"
There must be something wrong"
l said, after ringing the bell a second
time and receiving no response. tried
the door, but it was locked.
of j were you / would force the
door" suggested the mar at the win
dow.
II don't like to Go that Is there any
other ~entranceP"
Yes, that alley just beyond the steps
leads to n back yard, but the gate is
probably locked, as well as the rear
door"
Il will 60 and see said /; and walk
ing up the narrow alley I discovered by
the dim light of the street-lamp nearly
opposite that the gate was wide q
] looked in, and perceived that the rear
door was also open, and a faint light
shone out. All was perfectly quiet. |
returned to the street and said to the
man:
The gate and back door are open.
Come down and well 90 in"
In half a minute he Joined me on the
sidewalk, when / recognized him as an
acquaintance named Henry Collins.
All, Is that you? l didn't know you
lived here" - / said.
Yes, and / didn't recognize o when
/ first addressed YOU
well, there may have been foul
work here, said / 80 wen 90 in"
We went into the yard and entered
the house. The rear room had evil
IDENTIFY been used for a kitchen: and
guided by a dim light we passed into a
narrow hall with a stairway. Near the
street door was an old table. on which
was "a lighted candle that had burned
TO within an inch of the candlestick. Al
the foot Of the stairs lay Mr.. Bradley.
quite dead, and a frightful wound up0n
his head convinced me that he had been
murdered.
At my request Mr.. Collins hurried
away to the police station 10 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 ransackcd. and on the
floor lay half Of a fresh looking news
paper Knowing that the old bachelor
was not i'm the habit of spending money
Tor newspapers, b. struck me that the
rODber might have had it i'm bis pocket.
and probably used the other half TO
wrap up some Of his plumber. leaving
behind him, N his hurry. what might
prove n most valuable clew. there.
fore folded mp the fragment and put IL
ln my pocket. \ moment later Mr..
Collins returned accompanied by sew
cral OifiCers and n surgeon.
10 make this part Of tho story brief
] viii state that The usual f%OrmaIities
followed, the body being handed over
10 the Coroner, and the case was put I'm
the hands Of detective. 7 at first fn.
tended 20 give up the bit Of newspaper
B had picked zap. but had somo ambi-
ton 20 hc a detective myself, and con
Guided 10 keep DO. at lea. G DAY or two.
'o 500 Il ! could find % clsw from H. n
wa. lucky did.
On tho following afternoon. while of
duty, and walking around in binary
dress paused opposite % wei. known
hotel 70 watch some painters wh0 were
a. work ON "A scaffoId under the caves
aud my eyes happened to Light gn "a
moan who .at Ir % thIr3-tDrr w udOv.
apparently glct ing % vaIisa The win.
dp" was OPEN and rs ho lifted some
dr'ic.o fO store DO auar. "a piece of ucw..
paufr nu which % had lain came fur
ring down into tHs gutter near MS
foet
might not have aorced this trIfig~
crcumetauco bat for tho 20 I'M
which The paper had t 20 torn that u.s..
NOS Iu % straight line. but almost Iu tho
form of the letter v. rs though IL had
been done in 70 hure This correspond
oi with the piece ia found in the mn--
drred man house. and ] snatchnf 3D.
up and ran into an alley 90 compare
them What % leap my heart gave
when discovered chat the two part. of
The paper ft,rd exactly t4sre wa. DO
doubt OF