Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-23
JOHN SAUNDERS HIATUS
By DAVID A. CURTIS.
CHAPTER V.
THE INSPECTORS STATEMENT.

met nm as IL lSpOlbel Ol lie Item, DG-
cause then had reason to believe that
he was trying TO reform. i watched him
closely for Il year or two and took pains
10 inform myself thoroughly of his hab-
its Of living, when suddenly | changed
NY mind about him and concluded that
he was leading d double life.
knew him, or thought | did, as
CONSCIENTIOUS reporter, n gentleman of
excellent attachments and irreproaCh-
able habits, and also knew him as
gambler and adventurer, against whom
no criminal charge had ever been
brought. but whose associates were GER
tuinly less than questionable-a man
whose frequent and prolonged absence
from the city was generally accounted
for on the supposition that he was one
vi the gamblers who make business of
travelling across the Atlantic and fleece
ing their fellow travellers on the ocean
steamships and i'll the European capitals
This was an interesting study to NE,
ana took some pains to cultivate his
acquaintance i'll his capacity as news
paper reporter. OF course | knew that
lie knew me as u gambler, and was
SUI III lotNl litil Ilc ClIOiIh MS
character as gentleman so imperturb
ably when he met Inc i'll the way of
business as reporter.
About three months before the famous
Gregory murder | discovered accident
ally that he knew Mrs Gregory, or at
least that he presumably did, for saw
him step up to her as she was getting
out Of her carriage, near midnight, and |
heard her after exchanging a few words
say impatiently, "Well, come in the
house. then" And he followed her in.
Again. | saw him speak to her at the
Charity bail, and could see 10y her face
that she was angry with him. / rather
thought she was afraid OF him This
struck me as being remarkable and a
thing to remember. Some complication
was likely to arise.
Then came the murder, and recalled
what had seem and all that | thought
| knew about Mr.. Saunders. and | sus-
pected that lie had been matchmaking
her. and that some violent quarrel or
threat on one side or the other had led
10 hi, killing her, either Intentionally or
accidentally.
! determined to see if | could trap
him into some admission, and | sent
him note at once asking him to call ON
me. OF course | sent an officer also to
see that he should come anyhow, wheth-
eli willingly or not.
He came; but, as had expected, he
seemed to he ON his guard and pretend
ed at least not to understand why sus-
picion should attach to him, denying
that he had more than passing ac-
qUaintance with Mrs. Gregory.
] had heard of his having "gone
broke il a heavy game in Washington
afew months before. when in his person.
ality of Robert Leyinson lie had played
against bank and had played the limit.
That strengthened my theory of black
mail, and | referred casually to his hay
ing lost all his money. To my surprise
he did not even then say word ac-
lnowledginS his identity with Levinson,
and he also persisted in denying his init
mate acquaintance with the unfortunate
lady.
While all this tended to confirm my
Wspicions it decided me not to arrest
him at that time. but to let him 90 and
keep him under surveillance in the hope
that he would do something to betray
himself.
Nothing had occurred either to dispel
or TO confirm nv su.picions for two or
three DAYS. when Mr.. Saunders called ,t
my office in comnanv with his counsel
Mr.. Fairloch. do not hesitate to saw
that the story they told me SURPRISED me
preatly. although | am seldom s1rnrised
al ANYTHING any more.
would certainly have reparded the
entire story as preposterous if had NOT
recopnized at once that Mr. Saunders
and Robert Leyiusou were two mon in
stead of being one and the same. os
had ALWAYS believed. That WAS indis.
nutable, as Miss Julia Fairleob had
clearly demonstrated. That fact ov-
plainci a ercat deal. lut did not care
~ aclnowledge NV surprise or my beIjaf
in what they said without dine consider
alton.
therefore told them that tbe story
,,-,.. ,,,.,..,,;, L.. ,.,,.,, H. L. - =: