The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-10-30
ON HIS TRACK.

| over twenty years ago, said Mr. Whifmtre,
detective with whom l recently had an inter
view, was on the police force of New York
One summer night few minutes past II, wal
pacing my beat In a quiet part OF C street
when a man called from a sccondstory win
dow:
81 say, sir are you a policeman 7"
| eyes" / said. 'What's the matter :"
IL heard heavy jar in Mr. Bradey's house
next door, and he may have fallen and hus
himself He just came in a few minutes ago
| II were yoa I'd ring the bell."i
| Mr. Bradley was wealthy old bachelor who
| had lived entirely alone for years in an OH
fashioned brick house. His riches were SUBJ
ject for frequent gossip, and it was said that in
his house, to which no outsider was ever I'D
mitted, he kept lot of silverware and money
rang the bell, but there was no response.
"Are you sure you saw him go in Z" asked.
ayes, sure of it, He hadn't boen in half a
minute before / heard heavy fall. have
heard nothing SINCE"
"There must be something wrong" l said ,af.
ter ringing the bell second time and receiving
no response. tried the door, but it was lock
ed.
"If were you would force the door," sug-
gested the man at the window.
81 don't like to do that. Is there any other
entrance !"
"Yes, that alley just beyond the steps leads
to back yard, but the gate is probably locked
as well as the rear door,"
81 will go and see," said l and walking up
the narrow alley l discovered by the dim light
of the street lamp nearly opposite, that the gate
was WIDE open. l looked in, and perceived that
the rear door was also open, and a faint light
shone out. All was perfectly quiet. I return
cd to the street and said to the man:
"The gate and back door are open. Come
down and we will 81 in"
In half minute he joined me on the sidewalk,
when recognized him as an acquaintance
named Henry Collins.
"Ab, is that youi" didn't know you lived
here" said.
eyes, and didn't recognize you when first
addressed you"
"Well, there may have been foul work here"
said l; $50 we'll 60 in
We went into the yard and entered the house.
The rear room had been used as kitch-
en-; and guided by a dim light we passed into a
narrow hall with a stair way. Near the street
do ar was an old table, on which was lighted
candle, that had burned to within an inch of
the candlestck AT the foot of the stairs lay
Mr. Bradley, quite dead, and a frightful wound
upon his head convinced me that he had been
murdered.
AT my request Mr. Collins hurried away to
the police station to notify the captain, while l
made an examination of the premises. A num-
Der of drawers in the secOnd-story back room
had been broken open and ransackcd, and on
the floor lay half of fresh looking newspaper.
knowing that the old bachelor was not in the
habit of spending money for newspapers, it
struck me that the robber might have had it in
his pocket, and probably used the other half to
wrap up his plumber, leaving behind him, in his
hurry, what might prove most valuable Clue
l therefore folded up the fragment and put it in
my pocket. A moment later Mr. Collins re-
turned accompanied by several officers and
surgeon.
To make this part of the story brief, will |
state that the usual fOrmalities followed, the |
body being handed ever to the coroner, and the |
case was put in the hands of detectives. at
irst intended to give up the bit of newspaper l
lad picked up, but had some ambition to be
/ detective myself, and concluded to keep it at
east day Or two, to see ii l could find clue
rom it. 1t was lucky did.
On the following afternoon, while off duty,
nd walking around in ordinary dress, paus-
opposite Unknown hotel to watch some
ainters who were at work on scatfold under
he caves, and my eyes happened to light on a
ian who sat by third-story window, appar.
atty packing valise. The window was open.
nd, as he lifted some article to store it away, a
iece of newspaper on which it had lain came
uttering into the gutter near my feet.
might not have noticed this trfing circum-
lance but for the manner in which the paper
lad been torn-that is, not in straight line,
ut almost in the form ofthe letter V las though
| had been done in a hurry. This correspond
d with the piece I'd found IN the murdered
mans house, and snatched it up and ran into
n alley to compare them. What a leap my
eart gave when discovered that the two parts
# the paper fitted exactly-there was no doubt
bout it
"On bis track" muttered. "He must not
et off with that valise."
Being familiar with the hotel, crossed the
treet, went in, and was soon rapping on the
DOR of room twenty one, from whose window
be paper had just blown.
"Come in said voice.
opened the door and recognized, still seated
y the window, the man had seen packing the
alise, task he had completed. He was
Muscular man OF forty, with clean shaven
ice that wore an expression of craftiness. He
,emed confused when entered and said:
"Ah! thought it was the porter. Haven't
on made mistake !"
Without replying / deliberately locked the
DOR an, put the key in my pocket, while he c
AIRED amazedly. I
81 see You are getting ready to leaye," re-
arked sarcastically. {
eyes" s
"Suppose you stay in New York little lon /
er," said. c
"Why, what do you !" he exclaimed, /