St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-15


vestigations on that basis. The result was
the arrest within twenty-four hours and in
the immediate neighborhood of West Thir-
teenth street of man with gray hair, dark
whiskers and prominent nose, who was
quietly engaged in obtaining subscriptions
10 certain book and who made
no attempt to conceal the fact
that he had made an Intellectual
effort to enroll Mrs. Mannering among his
subscribers. He professed great surprise at
his arrest, and great CONSERVATION when in
formed of its cause; but presently seemed to
recover his self-possession, and remarked
quietly that. as he would prove he didn't do
it, he regretted his detention only on account
of the loss of time it would occasion. Evil
IDENTITY he was hardened and audacIous
criminal.
1t was at this juncture that my connection
with the case began. The man gave his
name as Peter Warton, and mentioned a
well-known firm of New York publishers as
his employers. Upon inquiry his name was
found upon their books, and the book agent
clerk admitted, not without visible reluct-
ance, that he had engaged the man several
weeks before and had found him an able
canvasser. Now, it so happened that,
for several. years past, have had
the charge of the firms legal business;
and as they felt it to be to their interest to
vindicate Mr.. Peter Warton if possible, it
devolved upon me to act as his counsel.
lost nc time in having an interview with the
man, and he told me very straight story.
cannot say that l was very agreeaby i'm
pressed with Peter; he was not neat in his
person and his language and behavior lacked
| refinement and sweetness. Nevertheless 1t
struck me that in this matter he was telling
the truth. His defense, as have said, was
an alibi, and he appeared to have the serenest
confidence in his ability to substantiate it, A
strong point in his favor with me at least)
was my inability to conceive how anybody
even Broadway salesman-could ever have
mistaken Peter, under whatever disguise of
finery, for a fashionable gentleman; and l
| fully anticipated that the salesman would fail
to identify him.
| As to that, however, I was mistaken. The
ceremony took place on the evening of the
same day--Jan. g. Peter was placed in
line with score of other prisoners on
one side of the room. The salesman en-
tered, and almost instantly pointed his
| finger at my poor client, and exclaimed
loudly and decidedly, ''That's him!'' He
added in reply to inquiries that ':he amt
dressed like he was; and he looks older and
smaller somehow; but, bless you'll Tll
know that face again anywheres, and moth
ing can't deceive me on that!'
This looked badly for Peter, and he was
himself put out of countenance by it, and
| seemed for the first time to realize his
danger. And yet when the dagger was
suddenly and unexpectedly shown to
him, not so much as the culver
of an eyelid betrayed the consciousness Of
guilt; he looked at the thing with a pre-
occupied air, and looked away again with in
difference. When he was informed that it
was with that weapon that the murder was
committed, he replied quietly, 'Then faint
got nothing to do with it, and relapsed into
silence. The police were astounded at his
brazen impudence; but 1 could not help
thinking that innocence is the greatest i'm
pudence of all.
| Peter was remanded to the Tombs, whittier
I accom- panied him, and saw him safely
locked into his cell for the night. When
| said goodnight, he put out his hand, and
| took it.
"It'll be all right tomorrow, sir,wont it?"
said he.
~ hope so,'' said I. ''Your alibi will be
tried tomorrow, at all events.'
''pm solid on that, guess" was the re-
ply, "but I'd like to know what that shop
keeping fellow could have been thinking OPP
''If you are innocent, that needn't worry
you,' l said; but perhaps did not feel quite
the confidence that my words implied. II he
bought the dagger it would be difficult to
make jury believe that he had not commit
ted the murder; for he made no attempt to
deny his identity with the man who had
called at Mrs. Mannering's.
1t was about 7:30 in the evening when
left the gaol, and, as the weather was clear,
determined to walk up town. The summons
of the witnesses had been issued, and there
was nothing further to be done in the case
until the next morning. 1 had met with
many perplexing incidents in my legal
career, but never with one that
perplexed me more than this. I did not be-
lieve that Peter Warton was guilty, and yet,
had 1 been the judge of the case l should
have felt many misgivings in the face of the
evidence against him. THAT shop-keep-
ing fellow was an awkward stumbling
block.
Meditating on these matters made my
way up Broadway, the lower part of which
was tolerably free from pedestrians at that
hour, and walking quickly, was soon within
sight of the Metropolitan hotel. There was a
joying an intermiuable run at Niblo's, and
yielded to sudden whim and went in. 1t
was the first thing of the kind l had seen
since my college days, and it had the good
effect of making me forget for the time,
the troubles of Peter Warrior. The house
was filled to its full capacity, and
the audience was in excellent hui
NOR My seat was on the side aisle
to the left, the third from the cor
ner, and five rows back from the orchestra
laughed and applauded with the rest, and
allowed my fancy to carry me away to the
regions of good fairies, evil magicians, inno-
cent lovers, and misunderstanding clowns.
When, at length, we arrived at the realms Of
golden bliss, garnished with innumerable
pretty rainbow drapery. | could hardly
believe three hours had passed. But it was
IL o'clock when the curtain fell, and the
audience rose in its seats and began putting
on coats and wraps, and moving to depart.
also stood up, but was obliged to wait for
my neighbors, one of whom, stout lady,
was long time in getting into her CLOAK
and protecting her throat with q muller
Meanwhile, my eyes rested idly on the mass
of people in front Of me, who were slowly
filing out.
All at once my attention was attracted by
the back of gentleman who stood in the
front row of seats, out to the orchestra. l
was distant from him not more than fifteen
feet and could see him distinctly. There
was nothing especially noticeable about him,
and yet, for some reason, / could not take
my eyes of him. He was rather tall, and
slightly built, and his bearing had an almost
youthful alertness, though l could see that
his whiskers were gray. He had put on his
hat aud the back of his head was in shadow:
but it seemed to me, nevertheless, that his
hair was darker than his beard.
"What is It that puzzles me about that fell
lowl'' said l to myself. ''Do l know himl
Have ever seen him before!''