The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-22
A Detectives True Story,
.Euery Other Saturday.

II have lost faith in some detective
methods and have learned to be very
careful" said Detective James X.
Price, of the Twenty-ninth Precinct.
Eyes, I've been looking a little grave
for the last few days, and I've had an
experience. There's nothing very
startling in it. but it's an interesting
story. if it's not the first I've told about
a crime. I like it because there's
nothing vulgar or rankly criminal
about it, and no police officer ought to
disregard the lesson I was taught.
But no names, mindl No, it must be
what you call anonymous all through,
although at least half a dozen persons
in this city and two in a western city
will at once recognize the principals
and side actors in it.
"The starting point is the we'll fur
nished bedroom of one of New-York's
most celebrated operating surgeons.
vt won't do any harm to say it's in a
house In Fifth-avenue not far from
the Hotel Brunswick. The surgeon
has been, bedridden for some time.
owing to an injury to his knee, but his
practice and patients are so important
and solid that for some time he has
received those who absolutely declined
treatment at other hands at his bed
side. The other day he was very busy
He possesses a fine Jurguensen watch
which, with the chain, is worth $3.50.
In the msrning he called his page, told
him to give him the watch, and the
doctor wound it up and saw the page
put it on the mantelpiece: Then he
devoted himself to his patients, enter
ing the name of each on a slate as he
II she went away. Hours passed by
and when leisure came and the doctor
wanted to know the time his watch
could not be found. l was sent for
and the facts for me to handle were
simple. Thirteen patients and the
page were the only persons who had
been in the bedroom from the time
that the watch was wound Up - of
them was a thief.
How about the boy?' I asked.
"'Out of the question, Price, said
the doctor; 4 have tested his honesty
and have the utmost faith in him.
"'Then -2' I began.
"'Then,' said the doctor, you must
look for the thief among my patients,
and do your duty al an officer
"Of course the Doctors slate was
consulted, and IL of the persons who
called were vouched for by him as
absolutely beyond suspicion. The
thirteenth patient was the child of a
lady from Cincinnati. The mothers
name I should have remembered, as it
is that of a man whose position in
social circles both in Cincinnati and
other cities is among the highest Mrs.
- came to this city with one of the
most famous physicians Of the West
to have DIR. 49, treat her child, FIVE
years old, for hip trouble and occ upied
q suite of rooms at the Sturtevant
House. Dr.. - knew the physician
but did not know the lady. At first
Dr.. $3.50 would not allow himself to
believe that the watch ought to be
looked for in that quarter. But there
were the other 10 patients and the
page acquitted and he had to bring
himself down to stern facts. The first
move was to send for the physician.
He told who the lady was and was
agitated and alarmed when the sug-
gestion was ~delicately made that she
was 9 kleptomaniac. Confronted
with the facts, he admitted that affairs
must take their course, at the same
time declaring his belief in the lady's
Innocence. Dr .t told me to probe
the affair to the bottom, and was .
little influenced by q member of his
household, who saw The lady from Gin.
cinnati ID the surgeons parlor, and
did not like her looks
* naanosuvered % be Ia tho suspect,
psSspnss presencs without bstrayine