Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-04-14

while Collins had too little strength left
him to escape
In five minutes / marched them into
the station, together with the valise,
and had them locked up in separate
cells. | then told the Captain the whole
story. He was disposed TO think, at
first, that had made blunder; but
on questioning the two prisoners, and
especially ON examining the valise and
finding n large sum of money in ii. he
concluded that | had caught the right
men, and so distanced the regular de-
| tectives.
1t proved to be SO, and the two mon
were duly convicted OF murder on
evidence that was beyond dispute. In
deed, when Collins lost all hope of es-
Gaping the gallows, he was so broken
down that he made a full confession,
giving substantially the following ac-
count OF the crime:
The stories of Bradley's great wealth
had first put II into his head to rob him.
BY watching for II long time from q
back window he had discovered the
nature OF the fastenings by which the
back door and gates were secured. He
was not bold enough to undertake the
task alone, but be knew q certain bad
character named Kevern, TO whom he
contided his scheme, describing the
fastenings on Bradley's gate and door
and asking him If he thought he could
force them.
Kevern said he could, and readily en-.
tered into the plot They went to work
a little after dark one night, when they
knew that Bradley had gone out; but
the fastenings of the rear door resisted
much longer than they had expected
and they had but fairly succeeded in
entering when Bradley came in at the
front door, locked 1t, and lighted his
candle.
Determined not to be foiled now,
they rushed upon the old man and
struck him down with the tools they
had been using. This, it seems, was
between nine and ten o clock.
They then ransacked the house, find
ing considerable money, chiefly in bank
notes. The latter were in disordered
condition, and TO make compact bun
die of them. Collins hastily tore in two
the fatal newspaper, which he CHANGED
to have in his pocket, using one-half to
wrap his spoils in. and in his haste
leaving the other on the floor.
In order to examine their plumber al
leisure they went to the hotel alluded
to, where one of them engaged room
to which he repaired, and in which he
was soon joined by the other. Both Of
them were disguised, portion of Col
Inns being a false beard.
Collins felt so nervous over the awful
affair that night that he would not take
any of the pluuder home with him, and
so, after counting the money, he in
trusted it to Kevern for the night, with
the understanding that they should
meet next day, take a trip to New
Haven. and there deposit his share in
the bank in his own name, or any name
he might wish to assume.
When Kevern made a package Of the
money again he picked up q fragment
of another newspaper he found in the
room, leaving that bearing Collins
name lying upon the floor. 1t wa:
shortly after Collins return home that
night that he called my attention tc
poor Bradley's house, foolishly think
ing that by so doing he would not come
within the range of suspicion.
Collins died of pure terror before tho
day appointed for his .eXecuti on, bu
keyern paid tho extreme penalty of the
law.
1t was in this case which l worked
upon my own account, and in which
was largely assisted by mere chance
that gave me place on the detective
force, and Ihave been pretty successful
ever since. Many q man has worked
harder and displayed more sagacity
than did on that occasion without &C
complishing so great an end Chtcagc
Herald.