The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-23
THE THIRD DEGREE.
HOW 1T WAS WORKED ON SUSPECTS
BY INSPECTOR BYRNEs.

Tho shrewd Catcher of Criminals Had N
Way of Making tho Guilty Ones Confess.
How NIoGloin Was Brought to Time and
Increased the Ropc Collection.
Scenes-intense, dramatic, horrible
beyond conception to tho men who are
compelled by u subtle force, a moral
magnetism, to convict themselves with
their own uncomfortable words-aro not
tnfrequcnt 1t police headquarters.
An interesting case was that of Nc
Gloin, tough who killed French
man. There was little positive evidence
against him. Everything was SUPPOSE
titlous, but Thomas Byrnes' SUPPOSE
lions Ill matters of that kind arc likely
to DO not far from right He was
reasonably certain that McGloin was
guilty, and that there had been three
witnesses of tho crime. The names and
whereabouts of these probable witnesses
he knew. McGloin had also pawned a
pistol. Byrncs guessed that it was the
pistol with which tho crime had been
committed But he had not particle
Of proof of any one of these things.
One day, however, he had McGloin
and the three other men arrested, TAX
ing care that no one of tho quartet
should know that the others had been
captured, giving no one of them an in
king of why he had been taken into Gus
tody. This also occurred during Byrnes'
term rs inspector. He occupied the
room now used by Inspector McLaugh-
lin, and around its walls in those days
were the cases of implements and me-
mentoes of crime now on exhibition in
the museum across tho hall. Into this
room, where, as he entered, tall glass
case full Of tho ropes and black caps
which had figured in the citys execu-
tons stared him in the face McGloin
was led. Neither the surroundings nor
the fact that he was to be closeted with
the famous police official worried him,
however. He was full of the bravado
of tho tough
Ono of the windows of this room
looks out upon the courtyard in the cen
ter of tho building. Inspector Byrnes
placed chair SO that its back was
close aginst this window, and another
facing it, with only room for knees be-
tween it and the casing. To the latter
chair McGloin was led AS no sat
there he had full view of the court
yard. Byrnes sat in the other chair,
with his back to it. Close on Byrnes'
right was Il desk.
Thus arranged, tho plot began to I'M
fold. For 10 minutes tho inspector
talked earnestly to the prisoner without
good result Then he touched n bell.
The door of tho room opened, and an
obscquious jew entered. and approach
ing the desk laid on it pistol. Nc
Gloin's attention was attracted by the
noise of the newcomer and he turned
to see-tho pistol with which he had
s!lled the Frcnchman and the pawn
croker to whom he had pledged it.
Without n word, but keeping his eyes
OH McGloin's, the Jew backed out of
the room. 1t was a good deal of n
shock to McGloin, but not enough to
break down his bravado.
"What in -- does this mean" he
demanded boldly.
"Oh, nothing, replied the inspector
nonchalantly. 1T is merely n pistol
wanted to see." Then he picked it up.
Handsome weapon, isn't it, McGloin?
Might kill man, eh?'
Then, laying the pistol down again,
the inspector went on calmly talking
about the crime. McGloin, beginning
to feel the mystery, the dramatic force
of it all, was getting nervous. He looked
for moment at the inspector, but one
long, steady, searching glance from
those penetrating eyes made him quick
ly turn away and direct his gaze out of
the window into tho courtyard again.
Thus relieved of the strain of seeing
disagrceable things, he began to regain
his self possession. "A man named
Barber saw that crime committed,
said tho inspector quietly. McGloin
started trifle at hearing tho name
Then Byrnes saw his face pale, and his
mouth twitch, and knew that Barber
was being led across the yard between
two officers, and that McGloin was
watching them. Even this did not
break McGloin down, however. Five
minutes later, though, when Flint, the
second witness, was marched between
two bluecoats across the court, he start
ed almost from his chair. "Sit still.
McGloin," said Byrnes impassively.
" Another of those witnesses l spoke
about was named Flint From that
time on McGloin weakened. Then, hav-
ing spoken about Flint's connection
with the crime, Byrnes said, few min
utes later, And tho third witness. Nc
Gloin, was Henry Farley" AS the
words left Byrnes' lips Farley began
slow progress across the yard. Byrnes
had worked the third degree. Meg loin
yielded all at once. With cry Of ter