Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-09-06
HIS DEATH-WARRANT

l
years ago." remarked the city editor,
'that was holding down the city,
desk on daily for the first time.
We had man on the paper who was
simply crank on homicideS: and he
was more than a mere reporter for
he had detective talent OF the high.
est order He didn't care much for
the common crimes--burglaries, lar
cenies, and such-but give him Il
good mysterious murder, and he was
splendid. Not only did he have the
history of all the famo.;s murders at
his fingers ends, but he delighted in
ferreting out the most my sterious
crimes that came within our prov.
ince In every case, except the one
] am telling about-and there were
good many killings in that town
ne traced out the murderer before
the detective even dreamed of his
identify.
II have since thought the secret
Of his success was that he put himself
mentally in the pla'e of the muir
deier, and reasoned i out from mo-
tives rather than from the clews' Of
the ordinary detective.
/" There is seldom much method
in murder, he once said to Me, when
10 rarely communicative mood.
Most men would commit IT in about
the same way under the same circum-
stances 1t is only when murderer
goes about it Systematically, Us do
the Thugs of India, that murder
becomes truly mysterious
IL once asked him why he did not
become regular detective
81 was born and bred a newspa per
man, he said, and habit is too strong
to b eak.' That was literally true in
his case, otherwise l might not have
TO tell this story.
Zone morning, the body Of IA fine
looking man was found in an allev
| ad Joining the electric light works, in
| the very heart OF the city. The after.
noon papers had chance at
it, bit didn't make much
| out OF it, SO ! at once as.
signed it to .lones-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.
The victim was identified as a
| travelling man who had just arrived
and as far as known. h. had no friends
or ac cluaintauces ia the city. 1t was
not case of robbery for all his
money and valua les 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 a crime could have
been committed in public thorough
fare, 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 of the af-
fair. I was therefore somewhat sur
prised when he came sneak1ng in
about 6 O'Clock In the evening to see
what his assignment. was He looked
worn and haggard, but denied that
he was Ill, so gave him the murder
assignment thought l saw a
startled look ia his eyes, but he main
tanned his outward composure, and
went out without word.
II did not see him again that eve-
ning About midnight l began to
wonder why l had not heard from
him, but only speculated on the DOS.
sibility Of something having hap
pened to him. for the idea that he
could lossibly 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, aAd
that Jones had not been there. Send
ing two men out to hunt him up, l
set to work myself to make up a
story Of the murder from the after
noon papers Just then Jones came
in. His step was unsteady and his
face flushed. He had evidently heen
drinking Notwithstanding never
knew him to do befCre-but he was
not drunk: rather, he seemed at high
nervous tension, although outwardly
as calm as ever.
~ decided TO let this breach of dis.
cipline pass, and merely ask him for
his murder sto.y. He replied that he
hadn't written any.
"'Well. get to work ut once,' I
said, rather sharply.
Then he really surprised me by
saying that he had nothing to write
beyond the bare facts already known.
the police had developed nothing
new, and he supposed that l had
worked up the story from the eve
ming papers
"'And has 1t come to pass that
you wait for the police to develop a
murder case for you?' l exclaimed.
angrily. AS for the reports in the
evening papers, you can fake etter
stoly than they had..'
HE sat down, 10 apparent despair,
at his desk. Then relented and
cajoled him a little. begging him not
to spoil his great record. by falling
down on such an assignment There's
q starter for you,' said !. throwing
him the article ! nad commenced
Now 60 ahead and Ill that out with
q column description OF the scene.
| ~ haven't even visited it, he re.
piled Nevertheless, he picked up
the pages and read them as II Inn.
PEELED by some hateful fascination.
Then he took up his pen 10 make
| few minor corrections Then, as Ii
| totally obliyious OF my presence. he
began to write.
! ..As sheet after sheet fell from un-
der his fingers. snatcbel them VI.