Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-08
cob. easy enough" I answered.


with me, or it would never have come
to this"
had no idea to what be referred;
but seeing that he was ready to talk, and
being anxious to take advantage of the
moment [ asked:
''Do you think he is dead ?''
"Dead as herring, and the old wo-
man with him. However, they can't
punish me any more tor two than for one.
| was after nv own, and when they
wouldn't give it to me [ determined to
take ALL"
'What weapon did you use ?''
Got the axe from the backyard"
"AnG when you had finished off the
old couple you robbed the house, eh ?'
"Well, took what / wanted, and if
l hadn't been the biggest fool on earth
you wouldn't have nabbed me-"
Chow ?''
"Why, boarding the train at that lit
tie station. It was the act of lunatic,
but after [ left the farmhouse [ got
frightened. | ran across the fields, fell
d0wn, imagined that [ was pursued,
and bore Off to the station and hoisted
the signal myself for the train to stop.
suppose Rider gave you the tip and
put you onto me ?''
Yes
"Well, I'll kill him on sight. That is
with little laugh), | will if get the
chance"
I knew Rider to be a Milwaukee
pletely in the dark as to what crime my
prisoner had committed. 1t was prob
ably murder, and near the station
| where he got on, and from his state
ments [ Inferred that it was an old
| couple. he had pumped himself, and it
was certain that had made a big catch.
When We reached the station, however
my troubles began. There is always an
ill-feeling between police and private
detectives. This feeling comes almost
entirely from the police. They look
upon the private detective as a sort of
guerilla, ready to break up the happi-
est homes or sell out to the highest bid
der. This, unfortunately, is true in
many cases, but not in all. AS l entered
with the prisoner the captain in charge
roughly demanded by what right [ had
made an arrest.
''The right which any man has to ar
rest a murderer" [ replied.
"a murderer ? Bosh ! Where did
you get him ?'
cat the depot"
"Well, l shan't lock him up. Let's
see ito the man), but your face is famil-
lar to me-"
''I am Charlie. Short, bartender in
Harrigan's saloon"
All so you are. Well, what story is
this about a murder ?''
"All nonsense, sir" replied Short,
who saw how things were drifting and
sought to take advantage. ''I was on
spree last night, and this bloke saw me
at the depot and wanted to play smart"
"Well, you can make it cost him dear
if you will
II propose to. Here, take these
irons off my wrists -
The satchel was on the floor at my feet.
Lifting it up said to the captain:
can old couple living about forty miles
from the city were murdered by this
man after midnight last night. Examine
this satchel if you want proofs.
There's nothing in there but laun-
dry work." boldly replied Short. Il
set out with it in my hand last night and
didn't get drunk enough to lose it.
Open her up and let the captain see"
''Take the irons off this manW COM
manded the captain as he waved the
satchel down. eff he doesn't capias
you before dinner he's not the man [
take him to be"
AYE he shall pay for putting the
irons on me. Why don't you take 'em
off ?"
Was I dreaming. Had I made fool
of myself? Had this man confessed
murder to me / was staggered for the
moment. Then l tore at the satchel and
bursted off the poor old lock, and as the
receptacle flew open [ emptied the con-
tents on the floor. Gold, greenbacks,
silver, bonds and ieWelry
Course you !" growled the prisoner,
as he turned away.
The captain turned as pale as death.
There were the proofs, and he stared
at them for a full minute before he
could say:
"Well' this is a 60 I shall lock you
up, Short"
The man was registered and taken down
stairs, and then we counted up the con-
tents OF the satchel and made out value
of over $4,000. When this had been
completed I went out after Rider, and
inside of an hour he was behind the bars.
He went all to pieces as soon as | charged
him with having put up the job for
Short to carry out, but denied it In the
most vigorous maner.
''Short had been telling for a year."
he said, 'Ewhat his uncle out in the
country was going to do for him. A few
weeks ago the old man found out what
bad pill his nephew was, and since
then Short has been up tree. He told
me week ago that he'd have some of
their money one way Or another, and
when he talked about killing and rob-
bling, did my best to put the idea out
of his head. He softened up a bit and
supposed he had given over. If Charlie
Short says l ever advised him to murder
and rob, or thatI have had eyes on him
for week past, he's the biggest liar on
earth
Well, curiously enough, we had MUIR
derer on hand without a murder
That is, no crime had yet been reported
| had secured the murderer without a
hunt. 1t was not SO easy to find the
murder. A telegram was sent to the
agent at the station where Short had
boarded the train. And he replied
that he had heard of no crime. It was
4 o'clock in the afternoon before he
sent dispatch, saying that an old
couple, living about three miles away,
had been found in their house with
their heads chopped to pieces with an
axe. That was the crime of which Short
was guilty and for which he was tried.