The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-10-04

city editor, that / was holding down
the city desk on daily for the first
time. We had a man. on the paper
who was simply a crank on homicides;
and he was more than a mere reporter
for he had detective talent of the
highest order He didn't care much
for the common crimes-burgla
1arcenies and such--but give him
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 | am
telling about-an there were a good
many killings in that town he traced
out the murderer before the detectives
ever dreamed of his identity
II 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
ordinary detective.
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 circum-
stances. 1t is only when a murderer
,oes about it systematically, as do the
hugs of India, that murder becomes
5ruly mysterious
Il once asked him why he did not
become a regular detective.
- L was born and bred 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 adj
joining the electric-light works in the
very heart of the city. The afternoon
papers had a chance at 1t, but didn't
make much out of it, SO at once as
signed tito 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 1T was as
mysterious case as even he could de-
sire.
THE victim was identified as a tray
cling man, who had just arrived, anti,
acquaintance in the city. 1t was not
a case of robbery, for all hrs 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. 1t was especially strange that
such crime could have been com
mitted in a public thoroughfare. while
there was absolutely no clew to the
murderer or his motive.
But these difficulties were only such
as would ordinarily put Jones on his
mettle, SO | did not doubt that he
would have good account of the af-
fair / was therefore somewhat sur
prlsed when he came sneaking in
about six 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 as
signment. l thought l saw startled
look in his eyes, but he maintained
his outward composure and went out
without word.
II did not see him again that even
ing. About midnight began to won
der why | had not heard from him.
but only speculated 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, | telegraphed 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 story of the murder for tn,
afternoon papers. Just then Jones
came in. His step was unsteady and
his face flushed. He had evidently
been drinking heavily-something |
never knew him to do before-but he
was not drunk; rather, he seemed at
high nervous tension, although out
wardly as calm as ever.
II decided to let this breach of dis
cipline pass, and merely asked him for
his murder story. He replied that he
hadn'. written II.
Well, getto work on it at once,''I
said. rather sharply.
Then he really surprised me by
saying that he had nothing. to write
w ChN' AhS OoA e ldCuo dlICduy kHOWn.
The police had developed nothing new,
and he supposed that had worked up
the story from the evening papers
And has it come to pass that you
wait for the police to developa murder
case for you,' i exclaimed, angrily. AS
for the reports in the evening papers,
you can fake a better story than they
hadp
He sat down, in apparent despair, at
his desk. Then relented and caioled
him little, begging him not to spoil
his great record by falling down ON
such an assignment There's start
er for you said i, throwing him the
article | had commenced. Now go
ahead and I'll that out with column
description of the scene.
81 haven't even visited it, he re-
piled. Nevertheless, he picked up the
pages and read them as if impelled by
some hateful fascination. Then he