Wichita eagle., 1889-11-10
ne man was with last develops some

brought fOrth anytMng, tney were al2ent
for a short time, when the sergeant put
in feeler.
"What could have been the motive?.'
The coroner returned the ball.
sit could not have been robbery, evi-
IDENTIFY"
eat all events there was no attempt
made"
'sUnless after the blow the man was
frightened by the cry Of Wessing."
''That's one view of it, certainly"
This having brought forth nothing, the
coroner made lead.
"Still it could not have had robbery
for its purpose. You see both Holbrook
and Messing say the man was about to
pass when ne stopped short and said, 1T
is you, is it. that shows he knew the
man Templeton. No, it was not rob
berry,"
''That was what I was thinking; if it
had been robbery, even if he had known
him he would have said nothing. As a
matter of fact it seems to me that it was
an accidental meeting-that is, the man
was HOt way Idly ing HILL.
ooh, do you think so? That would
make it all the more difficult"
'sUnless Messing was in the job and
gave the signal from the other corner"
81 shouldn't wonder if you had hit it
straight now" This was what the coro-
ner said aloud; what he thought was,
sMy friend the sergeant has gone off on
the wrong tack; so this is his theory,
eh!'
The sergeant thought, eff he won't
talk he can't pump me, and 80 I'll give
him that little misleader."
This game of verbal chess might have
long continued, if it had not been inter-
rupted by the arrival of the reporters.
who had been aroused by the receipt of
the news at the Central Office.
Among them was one reputed to be
very shrewd, and who was credited with
having tracked more than one crime
home, where the police authorities had
failed.
He was known as Tom Bryan.
When the others hurried off with their
information he remained, asking permits
sion to write his report at the desk.
He wrote hurriedly; the coroner, who
had been detained by the reporters, pro-
posed to go home for the night.
As he was about to leave, Bryan
asked:
do you think Messing to be connect
ed with this crime!'
NO" replied the coroner unguard-
edly.
The sergeant said to himself, "Hang
it, didn't give him stiff after all.
The coroner could have bitten off his
tongue for his carelessness.
''Why do you hold him them" said
Bryan.
Because he refused to tell his bust
ness in New York city" replied the ser
geant.
''That's hard" commented the report
err. at isn't everybody who wants to
make his business public. It would be
very tough on me if had to tell my
business every time l entered a strange
town."
This increased the uneasiness of the
sergeant, who doubted the wisdom Of
OBTAINING the man, and it was he who
had taken the responsibility, not the cor
oner.
'sOh," said the coroner. eve have the
right to detain him as q witness-'
The sergeant felt better; the RESPONSE
bility now rested on the coroner as well;
nevertheless he proposed another visit to
their prisoner.
81 do not know why should not tell
you," said Messing; 81 do not want to
get into the papers. Why, you will ap-
preciate it when tell you. Here is the
reason Of my visit: A short time ago a
gentleman, one Charles Pierson, a veal
thy man, died in this city leaving large
property, but neither children nor will"
81 know the case" said the sergeant.
'sMy mother, for certain reasons, be-
lieves she is the nearest heir, if not the
sole one-that is, she thinks she is rela-
tive. | have come to New York at her
request, first, to identify the deceased
man with our relative if can, and, hav
ing established the Identification, to de-
termine whether my mother is an heir.
have so little faith in the enterprise
myself, don't want any publicity; and
again, publicity would not help my
search, if there was anything in it.
These facts you can verify by telegraph
ing to my mother or the lawyer we con-
suited. He is man Of high standing at
the Philadelphia bar. I'll give you the
addresses whenever you want them"
The sergeant and the coroner consulted,
and the coroner said:
'Mr. Messing, your statements will be
verified, and if found to be true, we shall
not detain you; but we shall exact the
promise that you will not leave the city
until after you have given your test.
mony at the inquest"
The promise was readily given.
The coroner left, and the sergeant
found Bryan waiting for him.
This will turn out to be a mysterious
case, sergeant" said Bryan.
Il hope to have track Of it by to-mor-
row night"
Il don't think you viii. know some
thing of this man Templeton. He was
an upright man. not given to dissipation,
or to having alliances which would bring
him into trouble. He was a real estate
broker, doing fair business. hvingquiet-
y, going into society somewhat and into
he best, fond of the theatre, but not OF
the actresses. A reputable man. No,
you will have TO look deep for the mo-
i've of this crime"
The sergeant stood somewhat in awe