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

Over twenty years ago, said Mr..
w hltnire, detective, with whom ]
recently had an enterview, was on
the police force of New York. One
summer night, few minutes past IL,
was pacing my beat in q quiet part
Of c. street, when q man from a
window called
81 say, sir, are you policeman"
eyes, [ said. "What is the mat
ter?o
81 heard heavy Jar in Mr.. Brad
ley's house, next door, and he may
have fallen and hurt himself. He Just
came in minute ago. If were you
I'd ring the bell"
Mr.. Bradley was a wealthy old
bachelor who had lived entirely alone
for years in an old-fashioned brick
house. His riches were a subject for
frequent gossip, and it was said that
In his house, to Which no outsider was
ever admitted, he kept q lot of silver
ware and money. l rang the bell, but
there was no response.
Are you sure you saw him go in!'
I asked.
Yes, sure Of it. He hadn't been
in more than half a minute before ]
heard heavy fall. have heard moth
ing since"
'There must be something wrong, y
said, after ringing the bell a second
time, and receiving no response. ]
tried the door, but it was locked.
IF / we're you I would force the
door" suggested the man at the wind
ow
81 don't like to do that. Is there
any other entrance?"
Eyes, that alley just beyond the
steps leads to back yard, but the gate
is probably locked, as well as the rear
door"
II will go and see," said I; and
walking up the narrow alley I dis
covered by the dim light of the street
lamp nearly opposite, that the gate
was wide open I looked in, and per>
ceived that the rear door was also
open, and faint light shone out. All
was perfectly quiet. Ireturned to the
street and said to the man:
1.-THE gate and back door are open.
Come down and Well go in"
In half a minute he Joined me on
the side walk, when I recognized him
as an acquaintance, named Henry
Collins.
''Ah, is that you? T didn't know
you lived here" said.
Eyes, and | didn't recognize you
when I first addressed you"
"Well, there may have been foul
work here" said I; so Well go in"
We went into the yard and entered
the house The rear room had evi
IDENTIFY beed used for a kitchen; and
guided by dim light We passed into
narrow hall with a stairway. Near
the street door was an old table, on
which was lighted candle, that had
burned to within an inch Of the cans
dlestick. At the foot of the stairs lay
Mr.. Bradley quite dead, and fright
full wound upon his head convinced
me that he had been murdered.
At my request Mr.. Collins hurried
away TO tie police station to notify
the captain, while | made an examin-
alton OF the premises. A number OF
drawers IN the second story back
room had been broken open and ran
sacked, and on the floor lay hall OF a
fresh looking newspaper. Knowing
that the old bachelor was not ia the
habit Of spending money for news
papers, it strbck nae that the robber
might have had it in bis pocket, and
probably used the other half to wrap
up some of his plumber, leaving be-
hind him in his harry, what might
prove most valuable clew. | there
fore folded up the fragment and put
1t in nay pocket. A moment later Mr..
Collins returned accompanied by sew
eral officers and a surgeon.
To make this part of the story brief
will state that the usual formalitles
followed. the body being handed
over to the Coroner, and the case
was put IN the hands of detectives.
at FIRST intended to give up the bit OF
newspaper I had picked up, but I bad
some ambition to be detective my
self, and concluded to keep it, at least
day or two, to see if could find 8
clew from it. It was lucky did.
On the following afternoon while
off duty, and walking around in Or
binary dress, [ paused opposite 6
Wellknown hotel to watch some
painters who were at work on a scaff'
old under the caves, and my eyes
happened to light On a man who sal
by a thira story window, apparently
packing a valise. The window was
open, and, as be lifted some article tC
store it away, piece of news paper
on which it had lain came hutterine
down into the gutter near my feet.
| might not have noticed this trif,
ing circumstance but for the manner
in which the paper had been torn-
that is, not IN straight line, but al,
most In the form of the letter Y, al
though it had been done in hurry
This corresponded with the piece II
found in the murdered mans house
and I snatched it up and ran into a,