The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-01-24

Ihere is no doubt that wheeler was
seen and recognized by one person. All
the rest of them coolly and calmly per-
jured Themselves. II you are surprised
at my declaration. let me add that one
of the greatest Instructions in the path
of the professional detective is the too
willing witness. A certain class of men
and women want a certain notoriety
They want it said that they furnished a
clew, and they glory in being called as
Witnesses. AT least half the failures of
the police TO capture criminals may be
set down to false information furnished
w those who want to be mixed up in
the case. l may safely go further. Let
10 houses be robbed, and the inmates
OF at least eight of them will declare
their loss to be double what it really is.
AS matter of fact, the robbers may
have been seen at only one house, and
vet the inmates of five or six Of them
will give personal descriptions of at
least two midnight visitors. When |
saw the web being woven around Wheel
err set out to find the guilty party,
believing the young man who came
down on the car with me that morning
[ have spoken of to be the man. You
will say had an advantage over the
professionals. 1t would have been an
advantage had | not gone to the super
intendent and related every incident.
My dear sir, y he replied as reach
ed the end Of my story, the theoretical
detective is as numerous as the leaves
ON tree and about as worthless. Bill
Wheeler and no one else murdered that
woman, and we shall convict and hang
him. Please don't trouble yourself
about the matter. !"
Iexpected just what got, but went
to work just the same. The Berdan av-
enue car line passed the 0. and o. rail
road depot. The Boston express came
in at Z 80 q. N. 1t was O. clock when
entered the street car and saw the
young man. | remembered that he
yawned occasionally like one who was
still sleepy put in two days of hard
work and secured the following point
ers: He had come in on the Boston ex-
press; he had occupied upper 10 in
sleeper; he was without any baggage
he had taken a light breakfast at the
depot. Where he had passed the day in
the city could not ascertain, but as 1t
was summer | believed he spent most Of
the time in one Of the public parks. He
had come from Boston-that is, he had
taken the night train there, but might
live anywhere in New England. went
to Boston with q clew to work on. |
had sized him up as more or less OF
society young man. His dissipated look
and good clothes went to show that he
was high roller. He had solid
watch chain, fine diamond pin, costly
sleevebuttons and silk hosiery. That
signifed plenty Of money. 1t was no
task at all to strike the trail OF my
young man. got track of him in a
hotel billiard room, and before l o clock
at night found him lunching with two
other young men at swell cafe. With
in two minutes after | set eyes on him
had satisfied myself that the second fin
ger of his right hand was missing.
To satisfy myself as to the young
mans identity l had taken a seat at
nearby table. 1t did not occur to me
that he might remember my features as
well, and if made any mistake in the
case it was right there. It was perhaps
10 minutes before he looked over at me.
He was drinking heavily and in reck-
less mood. | saw him give start and
turn pale, and then | knew he had rec
ognized me. He doubtless believed that
was a professional detective and there
to arrest him. His first tQ9a, as saw
by his demeanor, was fight, but he in
stantly abandoned that as useless. His
face took on naughty, defiant look as
he gazed at me, and all Of sudden out
came a small revolver the muzzle was
pressed to his temple, and before hand
could be raised he had pressed the trlgr
ger and sent a bullet into his brain.
Who was he? The son of a broker, as
you may remember. The newspapers
said he had been disappointed in love
and was temporarily insane. Why did
he murder Susan White? Because he
was libertine. and she was one OF his
victims. He had hired her to go away,
not caring where she drifted, but she
loved him and was jealous Of him and
was threatening his peace OF mind He
had killed her to be rid OF her.
| had all these facts, just as | have
stated them, and yet Bill Wheeler went
to the gallows. My facts were facts,
but not proofs. The professional detect
ives laughed at me when stated them,
and | could not go upon the stand and
prove single point. Wheeler was as
innocent of that crime as the judge who
sentenced him, but the police still boast
of the unbroken and indisputabIe chain