Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-06

m q T e the
city editor. that 1 was holding down
the city desk on a daily for the first
time We had a man on the paper
who Was simply q 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
Tor the common crimes-burglaries
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 1 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.
Il have since thought the secret of
his success was that he put himself
mentally in the place of the murderer.
and reasoned 1t out from motives
rather than from the 'clews' Of the
ordinary detective.
There is seldom much method in
murder he once said to me, when in
q rarely communicative mood Most
men would commit 1t In about the
same way under the same circum-
stances It is only when a murderer
goes about it systematically. as do the
Thugs of India, that murder becomes
truly mysterious
Il once asked him why lie did not
become a regular detective.
I was born and bred a newspaper
man. he said and habit is too strong
TO break That was literally true in
his case, otherwise 1 might not have
to tell this story.
''One morning the body of dne-
looking man was found in an alley ad
joining the electric-light works in the
very heart of the city. The afternoon
papers had a chance at it, but didn't
make much out of it, so l at once as
signed 1t 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 1t was as
mysterious a case as even he could de-
sire.
The victim was identified as a trav-
cling man, who had just arrived. and,
as far as known, he had no friends or
acquaintances in the city. It was not
q case of robbery, for all his money
and valuables were left on the body.
There was a slight confusion on the
back of the head, and small, needle
like hole directly through the mans
heart 1t was especially strange that
such a crime could have been COM
United 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 of the af
fair was therefore somewhat sur
prised 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 thought saw a startled
look in his eyes, but he maintained
his outward composure and went out
without a word.
Il did not see him again that even
ing. About midnight l 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 NE. 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, l set to work myself to
make up a story of the murder for the
afternoon papers Just then Jones
came in. His step was unsteady and
his face flushed. He had evidently
been drinking Notwithstanding l
never knew him to do before-but he
was not drunk: rather, he seemed at
high nervous tension, although out
wardfy 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
hadr': written it
:. Well. get to work on it at once
said. rather sharply.
Then he really surprised me by
saving that he had nothing to write |
beyond the bare facts already known. |
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 develop . murder