Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-12-15

Two men at Ina Secluded corner ~
the Ebbltt IIou.. lobby last night snd
enjoyed qulci chat over their sfisr.dln-
ner cigar. That va. not q remarkable
fact bat Que ~ the men \. Que ~ the
h..i.snosn m.mbcrs ~ HI. profession,
and N h. weF~ Inclined Ia tell q history
~ hi. experience u would oil volumes.
The smooth shawn gentleman With the
auI.t dsmcanot 4. an. 20 the kerncst
criminal caiChsr., a.. VI. Fletcher ~
chicago. Mr.. Fletcher I. not on thief
hunting expedition this time, but he ~
lais,i what b. call. the 'tsngc.t aud
lnckI..i piece ~ trailing In hi. life, and
III. rnd "a. In Washington, "slthoagh, "
aid Mr.. Fletcher, III "a. only luck on
NV part that did it.
FIFTEEN year. ago. Va III. early fall IL
iSsG, wealthy old farmer nam~i VII
.on 80. found murdered iu.t outside hi
house near Evanston. ~. ia. old man
had that dsy conclud~i the AL. of q
pl.c- 70 property, aud "a. returning
9TH nearly -l,Dp IN hl. pocket, s "
"a. grosing DARK, the ca.h having ben
paid over after banking hour. Ia ENsn'-
too, and Wilson incautlously allowed ~.
remark Ia drop that be- wish~i b. had
not made the ale until nsst day. lie
| dld me-, Ike the idea II carrying so mech
| wealth to hi. home, nSe mile, distant.
Ihe.s facts, b~.llc. N. murier hs.lf,
Il and tile knoN ledge that . notofious gam
bier named Eimoni.nn had overheard
the .p~-ch, w-rr all the clue offered 10"
detrti,.., Who vcr- AZ work on the
case With a r-sari 10 i,Dp held cat q.
an induccment for running down the
murderer ot muri.rrts. Months passed.,
bat NO further trace 70 the gambler Who
"a. suspected could 4. found any sh"fr.
Daring the early .pring ~ lS!' fl-'ci-
~ wa. sent east GA a mission by 10"
agency 10 which b. I. q member, and Ia
the course ~ the trip concluded in sTrud
day 90 tso In Washington h"fof- ~
turning to the Lake city. While pass
ing up rcnn.ylyanla avenue, near sixth
street, Nth a friend, hi. attention "a.
attracted "a q small visiting card, which,
.ftsi IA. manner IL hi. profession, be
picked az aud examined.
II ss.nt thinking ~ bu.lne.. just
then" ..d Mr.. flrtch~r, "but ] .upPo."
Instinct lei me 60 de- a.. dbl. aud What do
| you .upI,o.. the plstrboard Contsln.i'
III. autograph 20 tho very nan ! hal
h~,n looking for for months. az c"ur."
| the signature "a. no, familiar to me,
bat 10. nr.i thought to suggest ii."lt
sa., Hos dii the card ct tb-r-f an !
could answer u only Que Nay fimoni-
.on had dropped it-but hos did he hap.
| ron tO r-tain tho same name, II h~ sss
guilty, unlc.. b. did not fear detection
Well, "a cut long story short, ] deter
mlB-,i Ia stay In Washington awhile and
a.. shat could b. s--n. found out the
| most notabl. hou.~. where gambler 81
al. tyI- naturally held forth, sni after
ten day.' .hsiowing found him Ia an
| old frame house on four sni Hall
.tr.~t. EimOnd.ou e enc siih me With
out rrlul.iiion. ani m ,i- no nsht. In
fact, b. Va. tired 70 leading hunted
life. and confessed the crime. IL aid
d. Away. had an Idea that the Ni.liins
card would pru,r hl. doom, bat some
hon ~ Other he could not destroy u. aud
knew al Que. when b. miss-d " from
hl. case that Il would BE- q clue, for b.
had been travelling under an assumed
name .lnc. "a. murder. The card va.
the last link % hl. former life.
"Edmond.on "a. hanged few months
later, aud that ended th. mo.t curioa'
episode Ia my tsenty.hye ye,r.' rSP"-
rienc- q. detective" - Washington
Post.