The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-20

ahu l nave no doubt that some OF the
old officers OF the old corps of my time
will remember the case.
Private Nolan was an actor. How bo
got the strain in him don't know; Int
there was no doubt about It, The
quiet retiring man ia public or on
duty became rollicliing farmer, or a
Joyial step dancer, once you got him on
the boards, And as | was stage man.
ager / ought to know Naturally he
/ had his detractors, and those who were
jealous of his renown.
1t was among those that settled in
my own mind to prosecute my re.
searches and inquiries first.
long, loose. limbed Scotchman
named Macdougall was my primary
essay knew him to be, as are most
of his race, an intensely Jealous indi-
vidual But he did not seem to me to
fit the position of murderer for such
Il mere triilc as occasional professional
jealousy.
Then, again, there was an hishnan.
He might have loose principles on the
tenure of life and the advisabillty of
eclipse
his own talents; but didn't think even
he would go so far us cold bloodcd muir
der.
short, the more l Owed into the BUSH
ness, the more puzzled became; and, I
think, SO would anyone else
Most folks who love their Shakes.
peare land am onel remember that
scene, so effectively rendered by Irving,
of Hamlet and the players.
determined, finally, to test the diff
ferent men whom l suspected by n
similar trick. l chose the play of
"The Bells" and ! cast the man on
whom my suspicious had conferred for
the principal role-that of the Jew,
Matthias insisted ON his coming to
my quarters to receive certain hints
and certain stage promptings. He
was quick enough at picking these up,
but try as | might-in quiet away
/ could discover no trace of guilt in
him.
Time drew on, and was still as much
at fault us ever There is particular
ly thrilling part in THE Bells" when
the Jew, Matthias, is mesmerized, and,
while in state of hypnotic uucon-
seriousness, relates the story OF his crime
in every detail, thrilling the court with
the intensity and evident veracity OF
his statements | had cast myself for
the role of the hypnoti1er.
Never once did my Subject" and my
self 60 through an entire rehearsal OF
our respective parts, and on the night
of the actual representation, when
there was full-dress rehearsal was,
unfortunately (but very OPPORTUNITY
for the SUCCESS of my plot, taken i'll
suddenly and obliged to ask that my
part should be read.
The next night I was quite well
again, and the play proceeded smoothly
enough until the court scene was
reached.
had leenly observed Macdougall
all along and imagined that the ex-
citement and the surroundings gener-
ally appeared to have reused him, yet
not so much us to be noticed, except by
a close watcher.
His excitement seemed to increase as
1.-THE" scene drew nigh. had spent Il
good deal of time and trouble over il
with him and thought he had graspcd
its perception. He certainly did JUS
tice to my anticipations.
As he told his ghustly story under
the hypnotic influence he really worked
himself up uncommonly well; and as he
related the actual details of the mur'
der he seemed to put himself actually
in the nurdcrcrs place.
He approached the end of his thrill
ing confession. His eyes were fixed
firmly on my own and l was returning
the steady stare as intently
l noticed slight faltering in his
speech; and ms the last word dropped
from his lips, bent forward, still hol d
ing his gaze, and whispered sternly,
but in accents too low to be audible to
the audience
"Murderer!'
With piercing shrek he threw mp
his arms and fell TO the floor as il