Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-10-22
ON HIS TRACK.
A Chance Discovery Which Led
to Important Results.


Over twenty years ago. said Mr.. Whit
mire, detective, with whom | recently
had an interview, | was on the police
force of New York. One summer
night few minutes past twelve l was
pacing my beat in quiet part of c.
street, when a man called from Sec
Ond story window:
II say, sir, are you policeman"
"Yes," said. whats the mat
ter?''
Il heard heavy jar in Mr.. Brad
ley's house, next door, and he may
have fallen and hurt himself. He just
came in few minutes ago. If l were
you I'd ring the bell.''
Mr.. Bradley was wealthy old bach
elor who had lived entirely alone for
years IN an old-fashioned brick house.
His riches We're subject for frequent
gossip, and it was said that in his
house, to which no outsider was ever
admitted, he kept a lot of silverware
and money. rang the bell, but there
was no response.
'.Are you sure you saw him 90 imp
l asked.
..YeS. sure of it. He hadn't been in
half minute before | heard heavy
fall. | have heard nothing since"
There must be something wrong"
/ said, after ringing the bell second
time and receiving no response. tried
the door. but it was locked.
eff | were you l would force the
door," suggested the man at the VIM
dow.
Il don't like to do that Is there any
other entrance?"
"Ycs, that alley just beyond the steps
leads to a back yard, but the gate is
probably locked, as well as the rear
door"
Il will 60 and see" said 1; and walk
ing up the narrow alley 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 faint light
shone out. All was perfectly quiet. 1
returned to the street and said to the
man:
1.-The gate and back door are open.
Come down and Wen 60 in"
In half a minute he joined me on the
sidewalk, when recognized him as an
acquaintance named Henry Collins.
..Ah, is that you? 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; 80 We'll 90 in
T. We went into the yard and entered
the house. The rear room had evil
IDENTITY been used for kitchen; and
guided by dim light We passed into a
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 candlestick. At
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 number of drawers
in the second-story back room had teen
broken open and ransacked, and on the
floor Law half of fresh looking news
paper Knowing that the old bachelor
was not in the habit of spending money
for newspapers, it struck rue that the
robber might have had it in his pocket,
and probably used the other half to
wrap up some of his plumber. leaving
behind him, in his hurry, what might
prove a most valuable clew. l there
fore folded up the fragment and put it
in m. pocket A moment later Mr..
Collins returned accompanied BY sew
eral officers and a surgeon.
To make this part of the story brief,
1 will state that the usual formalities
followed, the body being handed over
TO the Coroner, and the case was put in
the hands of detectives. l at first in
tended to give up the bit of newspaper
had picked up. but had some ambi-
ton to be a detective myself, and con-
cluded to keep it, at least day or two.
to see if | could find clew from it. 1t
was lucky did.
ION the following afternoon. while off
duty, and walking around in ordinary
dress. paused opposite well-known
hotel to watch some painters who were
at work on scaffold under the caves,
and my eyes happened to light on
man who sat by third-story window,
apparently packing valise. The win
dow was open. and, as he lifted some