Passaic City record., 1893-01-28

Vicinity OF tDe hOuoc dp euS oAtiiS ~ '.>
murder, the detective went to his room
to interview him as to his knowledge O
the affair, and found him standing In the
middle of the apartment in state OF ex
citement, and holding In his hand thai
same tell tale nugget of gold. So alb
sorbed was he in it that he did not notice
the quiet approach of the officer until he
was close upon MIN. Then he made
movement as if to hide the nugget. II
was perfect case of circumstantial evi-
dence against him. Being arrested ne
1mpetuously defed his accusers, ano
would have resorted to violence against
them, had l not appeared on the scene
and bade him desist. Seeing me ne burst
into food of tears.
81 demanded further investigation
of the case, but the detective informed
me that it would be useless to look further
for the murderer.
"Of course, my first move was to
secure a calm, rational interview with
Frank. This was in his cell. Twill not
repeat his indignant declarations of in
nocence, nor his pitiful appeal to me not
to believe it Of him. How came he by
that piece of gold, aud why was he at
his uncle's house2 Those were the ques-
tions to be answered.
asI can answer the last easy enough,
he replied, sbut about the nugget
know no more than you.'
"sYou were taken with it in your
hands, I said.
"sI know it; I had just taken it from
my pocket"
s.sHow caue.t in your pocketP
"sI don't know
usWell, that's singular, to say the
least said 7. 'Now, how came you
there2'
&C ssMrs. Bland called and said my
uncle wanted to see me. | went, OF
course
s.Mrs. Bland was the housekeeper. !
thought had struck fact that would
help us, and whistled softly. Did you
see her when you got there9' I asked.
g Il saw no one there Frank replied.
my ring was not answered. | tried
the door and it was fast. did not
want to disappoint him after he had
kindly sent for me, so attempted to go
in the back way as I had used to do,
but found that fast also. Then, as |
could rouse no one, I turned and came
away. When I had got back in my
room somewhat nonplussed at not being
admitted after my uncle had sent for
me, happened to put my hand in my
pocket, and found there the nugget. l
knew it was my uncle's for I had often
seen it there, and how 1t came to be in
my pocket was a mystery that excited
me somewhat. It seemed like witch
craft
C Devil craft more likely said I who
was now more mystlfed than ever.
did not doubt the truth of Franks
story in the least. Some one put it in
your pocket to throw suspicion on you;
but how, and when, and where2 Did
Mrs. Bland come. close to you when She
came to say your uncle wished to see
youa'
ssNo. she did not come in. She left
word at the door. But from my window
saw her go by. I'm sure it was her,
but she could not have put the nugget
in my pocket
II may as well say here that the
housekeeper had been Investigated aud
was conclusively proved to be elsewhere
when the murder occurred. 'Was she
an accomplice9' was the question was
pondering. A thought occurred to me.
Did you find in your pocket the little
velvet-lined box, that held the nugget2'
I asked.
{" mo, there was nothing but the
piece of gold, that saw, Frank replied.
~ went straight to Franks lodgings
and made careful search. searched
the Bertrand mansion for the missing
box, but found nothing.
ssMrs. Bland seemed very much dis
tressed over what had happened and was
much concerned for Frank. She de-
clared she didn't believe word of the
story that he was guilty. She said his
uncle called to her from his room, as he
often did, and directed her to call
Frank. As she was going to neigh
boris she stopped on the way for her err
rand. She locked the house behind her
on leaving, as was her custom, and found
it locked on her return. She did not
see Mr.. Bertrand when he spoke to her;
only heard his voice.
81 then went to my office and shut
myself into my private room to quietly
analyze the situation. Who, besides his
housekeeper had motive for numbering
Mr.. Bertranda pondered the question
over and over again. That there was an
answer to it, was sure. But who had
that motive. That once settled fairly in
my own mind, would look further for
the little box. could easily see how
Frank Bertrand had strong existing
motive to keep his uncle alive until he
should make a different will. In his
death he lost all hope. Only sudden
anger under strong p-ovocation could
have moved him to the deed. But he
was already out of my suspicion.
81 am great believer in motive as
the lever that moves human beings in
the commission of all deliberate crimes.
Il