Griggs courier., 1891-06-19
A PEACH-STONE CLEW.
It Brought the Murderer Of Horace
Temp,eton to Justice.

''Five Thousand Dollars Reward!'
This heading of a poster attracted my
attention as l was wheeling toward
the place where purposed enjoying a
needed and hard-earned vacation, and
stopped to read the poster in it's en-
tirety as follows:
"Thc above sum will be paid to anyone who
will furnish information that shall lead to the
apprehension Of the person or persons respon.
sible for tho murder Of Horace Tcmpleton, :of
this town, on the evening Of August7.
"SELECTMEN OF STAND1sH.
"standish August s. 1881"
1t was the first that I had known of
the crime, as those in my vocation sell
dom care to read the criminal news in
papers, having enough to do with such
things in the regular routine of duty.
resolved, however, to strive for the
reward, and, changing my course.
wheeled my way to Standish, about
twenty miles distant.
Preached Standish late in the after
noon and in the evening went to the
residence of the chairman of the board
of selectnen, to whom l said:
II am detective" showing him my
credentials, land wish to work on the
Templeton case.''
''Two detectives are already at work
upon it, and do not think it necessary
to employ another one, he replied, "at
least not until they have proved them
selves unable to ferret out the crime"
he added.
II will pay my own expenses and
charge you nothing for my services un-
less they are successful, in which event
the reward of five thousand dollars
shall be given me-" ]. rejoined. "And,"
I continued, 81 will not even claim the
reward if the two in your employ base
their operations upon the same clew."
''Under those conditions see no OBJ
lection to allowing you to do as you
wish.''
''Where are your detectives from?" I
asked.
''Albany."
s'And their names are"
'Thomas Burns and James Perrin"
81 am not acquainted with any de-
tectives thus named, and, probably
they do not know of me. So can
prosecute my investigation without
arousing their suspicious that l am
competing with them. will assume
the name Of William Dean.'
So far our conversation had been
carried on while was standing out
doors. Now he invited me into the
house, and when we were seated I
said:
''Please acquaint me with all the
facts in the case"
''Mr. Tcmpleton," he began, twas
about forty-fve years of age, the
wealthiest man in the town-his native
place-universally esteemed by all who
knew him, without known enemy in
the world.
Last Sunday evening his wife, on
her return from prayer meeting,
entered the library, to find him on the
floor dead, his head in pool of blood.
'The physician declared that his
death resulted from blows inflicted
upon his head with blunt imple.
ment in the hands of some unknown
person.
There had been heavy shower
early in the evening, and as there
were mud tracks on the CARPET in the
library from window-which was un.
fastened-to the easy-chair which Mr..
Templeton occupied when in the
library, the theory is that the murderer
gained an entrance to and made an
exit from the room by way of this
window while Mr.. Templeton was doz.
ing, as he was won't to do when alone" !"
"Wil anyone be pecuniarily benefited
by his death?" inquired.
''Thc sole heir to his property is his
widow
suspicion attaches to no one?"
1T does not"
II presume that I should be per-
mitted to visit the library?"
Certainly. Many from far and near
have visited the scene of the tragedy
out OF mere curiosity, and your visit
thereto would be attributed to the
same motive. l will accompany YOU
there tomorrow morning, where. atthe
request Of the detectives, everything is
exactly as 1t was when the crime was
perpetrated"
'.Thank you," said, and, bidding
him ''good evening"" I went to the
hotel
The following morning Mr.. Ames,
the chairman of the board of selectmen.
and went to the library of the late
Mr.. Templeton, where, doubtless owing
to the earliness Of the hour, there were
no other visitors, and prosecuted a
vigorous examination.