The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-09-08

V. a., ianxzE<s, s-.As'f-S mark ID the
city editor, that / was holding down
the city desk on n daily for the first
time. We had man on the paper
who was simply crank on homicides;
and he was more than mere reporter
for he had detective talent OF the
highest order He didn't care much
for the common crimes-burglaries
larcenies 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--and there were n good
many killings in that town he traced
out the murderer before the detectives
ever dreamed OF his identity.
~ have since thought the secret of
his success was that he put himself
mentally in the place of the murderer,
and reasoned IL out from motives
rather than from the clews' OF the
ordinary detective
"'.rherc is seldom much method in
murder he once said TO me, when in
a rarely communicative mood. Most
men would commit il In about the
same way under the same circum-
stances. II is only when "A murderer
goes about IL systematically, as do the
Thugs OF India, that a murder becomes
truly mysterious.
II once asked him why he did not
become a regular detective
g" \ was born and bred a newspaper
man. he said, and habit is too strong
10 break That was literally true In
his case, otherwise / might not have
20 tell this story.
zone morning the body OF a fine
looking man was found in an alley adj
Joining the elcctric-light works in the
very heart OF the city. The afternoon
papers had q chance at IT,, but didn't
make much out OF 10, SO at once as
signed it TO Jones as VIC will call him.
Although he did not show up az the
usual hour, | had no doubt that he
was already at work on il, as II was as
mysterious case as even he could de-
sire.
"rhe victim was identified as tfav-
cling man, who had just arrived, sud,
as far as known, he had no fricndH or
acquaintances in che city. IL was not
case OF robbery, for all his money
and valuahles were left on the body.
There was n slight confusion ON the
back Of the head, and a small, needle
like hole directly through the mans
heart. IL was especially strange that
such crime could have been COM
mittcd in 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 a good account on the af-
fair. ! was therefore somewhat sur
prised when lie came sneaking in
about six o'clock in the evening 20 see
what his assignment was. lie looked
worn and haggard, but denied that he
was i'll, 50 gave him the murder as
signmcnt ! thought ! saw startled
look ia his eyes, but he maintained
his outward composure and went out
without a word.
II did not see him again that even
ing. About midnight | began to Won
der why had not heard from him,
but only spcculated on the possibility
OF something having happened 10 him.
for the idcu that lie could possibly fail
never occurred TO ne. Finally, after
!. an hour had gone by. tclegraphed to
the police station. Word came back
\ that there were no new Developments
in the case, aud that Jones had not
been there. Sending two men out 10
hunt him up, | set 20 work myself 10
make mp a story OF the murder for the
afternoon papers. just then Jones
came I'M. Ills 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 rs calm as ever
~ decided 70 let this breach OF dis
ciplne pass, and merely asked him for
his murGer story. lie replied that he
hadn'. written IT,
We'll. get Go work on Il az once.
said. rather sharply.
''rhen he really surprised me by
saying that he had nothing 20 write
beyond the bare facts already known.
The police had developed nothing new,
and he supposed that I had worked up
the story from the evening papers.
"And has IL come 20 pass that you
wait for the police TO devclopa murder
case FOR you, exclaimed angrily. AS
for tho reports in the evening papers,
you can fake a better story than they
hadr
lie sat down, in apparent despair. az
his desk. Then relented and cajolcd
hini n little begging him not 10 spoil
his great record by falling down on
such an assignment There's start
or for you, said I. throwing him the
- article had commenced. Now go
n ahead and iill that out with n column
description Of the scene.
al haven't even visited It. he re-
piled. Nevertheless, he picked up the
t,nffca and t,,.aI fhans "a n ft,t.a1lat IA.