St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-12
FOUND DROWNED. /"
The Story of a Detective.

''See here, Mr.. Herron," said my old
chief, ''as you are doubtless aware,
hardly day passes without the notice,
Found Drowned" is in one or another
of the daily papers, and notwithstand-
ing the fact that the coroner stamps
them all as Suicides" l begin TO doubt
his Judgment. The evening papers an
nounce that another person has been
''Found Drowned"
Suicides. eh? Oh, yes, they're
plenty; or, if not all suicides, perhaps
something else," l answered.
TOO true" he returned; ''but would
it not be we'll to trace the mystery OF
these floating bodies, so as to know the
truth, rather than to allow pig-headed
coroner to class them as self-slain? l
also notice that many of the victims are
branded unknown indicating them to
be trangers in the city-strangerS who
come here to drown themselves, eh?"-
and he laughed. "No. Heron. The
fact probably is that one-half of these
unknown dead are thrown into the river
even if the other half do jump in"
Il think you are right" l replied.
The result of that interview was, that
/ received special commission to ferret
out, if possible. the source or sources
whence came these unknown dead. The
task set before me was difficult one.
Two days later the papers announced
another mysterious death. The article
was headed
"WAs IT SUICIDE OR MURDER"
1t ran as follows:
This morning the dead body of
Brace Cloyd, we'll known gambler,
who occupied r DOM No. 5 in the c.
hotel, North street, was found dead in
his bed on the third floor of the
house. He had retired late in pretty
sober condition and apparently in
excellent health. His window was
secured, and his door was not only
searched by the coroner no trace was
found upon him. in his bed, or in his
clothing, of roll of bank notes which
he was known to have had the day be-
fore, but it is naturally supposed that
ne had lost it in run Of bad luck at
some gaming table before going to his
ROOM"
Something in the article prompted me
to visit the locality which was in an I'M
fashionable ana rather tough part of the
city.
Accordingly, at o'clock that night,
went to the suspected house, disguised
as boyish-looking person, with silky
black curls falling over my neck, and
my face was so artistically painted that
the ravages of disease could be plainly
traced.
What shall it be, my friends?" said
l, as | stepped up to the bar connected
with the hotel. ''Life'S too short not to
make it merry when we can, and as i'm
thrown into your company for tonight,
ChnW Unn6 fAXV1
stranger, order your drinks"
The heart of the crowd was touched,
and l was taken into general conf
dence when they saw what generous
bumper" | tossed off on the heels of
distressing cough which followed my
speech.
MY friends" said /, after a pause,
1--WE been a wild sort of fellow in my
time, but I've weakened, and have set
out TO undo the wrong I've done to
certain party. and have got together
what coin | can raise, and am trailing
him up to give back the money. OF
course, it amt the half Of what l took,
but | had streak of luck at cards over
at Squire's that sWelled the sum COLI
siderable"
Lets have little game. then. just
to help you OH your way" suggested one
OF the men.
OF course | was willing.
From the time | entered the room and
now, as sat down at the gaming table,
that racking cough-which tiatter my
self l initiated very cleverly- had run
its distressing accompaniment, and |
made it noticeable that when | put my
handkerchief to my lips it came away
with a crimson stain-the stains, how
ever, were paint.
"Yes," said l, carelessly, answering
the look detected in the surrounding
faces. Pm booked for the next
world"
Finally the game began, and. for
little, l won; but as the night advanced
and the liquor which l appeared to
drink, but did not, apparently rose to
my head, saw that my luck had turned,
until at II O'Clock had lost a consider
able amount.
When this point was reached l re-
fused to play more, although / an
nounced | had twice the sum [ had lost
yet remaining, and swOre that [ would
go to my bed and try it again when
blessed with better luck.
Presently a servant appeared who was
to show me to my room.
'Take the gentleman to room No. 5,
said the man l had played against.
Hell sleep sound there, and there's
good lock on the door, SO that he will
feel safe when once inside"
Growing a reply, followed my guide.
a Misunderstanding negro, to the third
floor and through long hall to a room
at the end of the house.
| closed and bolted the door behind
him.
1t was rather small room. with two
windows and a cupboard.
The cupboard had evidently at one
time afforded way for ingress and
egress by means of door communicate
ing with a narrow back stairway. but
now that was tightly fastened by few
nails driven through its edges into
frame.
pulled out several of the nails, how
it is needless to state.
| observed that there were cobWebS in
such positions as to show conclusively
that the door could not have been
opened for long time.
And the door between the room and
the cupboard had stout lock upon it,
with a key in the lock that worked per-
fectly.
Nevertheless. l explored that STAIR
T2y beyond the cupboard, and there l
discovered another door that was loose
ly nailed.
l readily drew the nails. opened the
door aud went down more stairs.
At the foot there was another door,
also hastily nailed which, upon being
opened, revealed small iron balcony.
| took up the carpet of the room-the
cupboard had none-and searched the
floor and sounded the walls for trap
door, but there was none.
I Suddenly began to be aware of
strange odor floating in the air. Little
by little it grew stronger, and then saw
waving Wreaths of smoke arising to
float in and out and drift at last over my
head through the window.
Was the house on fire?
3 A sudden fear shot through me. when.
with a more dense puff of smoke, there
came a sutfocating fume, and at that
very instant, even as l heard the sudden
batter and crash of my men, whom had
stationed outside before entering the
den, the truth shot through me.
They were trying to poison me-to
suffocate me with the deadly fumes Of
oh arnOaI blown into the room nv some