Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-10-29
AN EDITORS STORY.

sit was in a western city some years
ago." remarked the city editor, "that
Twas holding down the city desk on
daily for the first time. We had
man on the paper who was simply
crank on homicide, and he was more
then a mere reporter, for he had de-
tective talent Of the highest order.
He didn't care much for the common
crimes-burglaries, larcenies and such
but give him a good, mysterious
murder, and he was splendid. Not
only did he have the history of all the
famous murders at his fingers ends
but he delighted in ferreting out the
most mysterious crimes that came
within our province. In every case,
except the one l am telling about
and there were good many killings
in that town he traced out the muir
derer before the detectives even
dreamed of his identity.
s'I have since thought the secret of
his success was that he put himself
mentally in the place Of the murderer
and reasoned it out from motives
rather than from the cleWs Of the ord
mary detective.
6 There is seldom much method in
murder he once said to me when in
rarely communicative mood. Most
men would commit it in about the
same way under the same circnm-
stances. It is only when murderer
goes about itsystematically, as do the
thugs Of India, that a murder be-
comes truly mysterious
''I once asked him why he did not
become regular detective.
{" Il was born and bred a newspaper
man. he said, 'and habit is too strong
to break That was literally true in
his case. Otherwise [ might not have
TO tell this story.
zone morning the body of fine
looking man was found in an alley ad-
Joining the electric light works in the
very heart of the city. The after
noon papers had chance at it, but
didn't make much out of it, SO 1 at
once assigned it to Jones, as we will
call him Although he did not show
up at the usual hour, had no doubt
that he was already at work on it, as
it was as mysterious case as even he
could desire.
ssThe victim was identified as trav-
cling man who had just arrived, and,
as far as known, he had no friends or
acquaintance in the city. It was not
a case of robbery, for all his money
and valuables were left on the body.
There was slight confusion on the
back of the head and a small needle
like hole directly through the mans
heart. It was especially strange that
such crime could have been COM
mitted in public thoroughfare, while
there was absolutely no clew to the
murderer or his motive.
ssBut these difficulties were only
as would ordinarily put Jones on his
mettle, SO I did not doubt that he
would have good account of the af-
fair I was therefore somewhat sur
prised when he came in about 6
O'Clock in the evening to see what his
assignment was. He looked worn
and haggard, but denied that he was
i'll, SO gave him the murder assign
ment. I thought 1 saw startled
look in his eyes, but he maintained
his outward composure and went out
without word.
81 did not see him again that even
ing. About midnight began to won
der why had not heard from him,
but only specialized on the possibility
of something having Happened to him
for the idea that he could possibly fail
never occurred to me. Finally, after
an hour had gone by, telephoned to |
the police station. Word came back /
that there were no new developments
in the case, and that Jones had not /
been there. Sending two men out to |
hunt him up, set to work myself to |
make up a story of the murder from |