The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-24

what I knew to the authorities, by
whom it must be said. nay story was
-eceived with some incredulity. You
see. my special branch Of surgery IS
put little known to the public. and it
vas the opinion of the police that the
murderer had left the country some
time before Mr.. GriH1ths had quilted
my house
But few months ago happening
70 be on a visitto Dresden, whittier i
1ad gone on brief summer holiday
and having ID a way largely succeeded
b disnissing from nay mind lhe events
above related was startled to see.
seated at the table ia the Gowerbe-
haus ia that city. enjoying the strains
IF the talented orchestra, my no
longer mysterious but now dreadful
acquaintance, Mr.. George Grihdths.
Ny duty, decided after a moments
reflection, was plain-to denounce and
deliver him 70 the authorities
Quickly. therefore, lest he should
leave before could have him arrested,
/ explained myself as well as i was
able to the nearest official He
looked and was unbelieving So too,
were the others whom he summoned
to hear my story. That part Of it
which referred to the operation was
received with a sm1es and the upshot
of it was SO far from effecting my exc
patients capture, I was myself lightly
ridiculed as "a mad Englishman
But I could not allow myself to be
baified in what / considered nay clear
duty, viz. to deliver a foul murderer
up to justice. Il determined. there
fore. to renew my acquaintance with
him there and then. to give him no
5s-F-1s.-~, tra II the f-rrf
and to communicate once more with
the English police. while continuing
to keep him under nay own surveillance
in the Saxon capital.
When. with a polite bow, app
preached and spoke to him, ne rec-
ognized9 me at once; j could see that,
though at first he pretended not TO
know me- We had a glass of beer to-
gether. and spoke of many matters Of
general interest. II catering myself
that nothing in my conversation or
bearing gave him the slightest ground
to suspect me-
The same night 7 wrote q long Lett
ter I'd the London police, again stat
ing my certain knowledge that this
man. changed though he was, was
the murderer Of Mrs. Bates and sug-
gesting that they should forthwith
with in formation ais to other distin-
ga shing marks on Mrs Bates person
besides his aQuiline nose and heavy
mustache.
During the next few days I became
very intimate with my ex-patient. and
in pursuance Of scheme I had
formed. invited him more than once
to battle with nae from one of the
floating baths This he cheerfullv
did being an admirable swimmer.
On the fifth dav from my writing to
London an answer arrived ia the per-
son of a stalwart detective from Scot
land Yard who informed nae that the
real Mr.. Bates had. as i suspected the
distinguishing marks which could be
verified; among them an anchor tat
tooed on the left forearm which 7 had
myself, Of course. noted whilst we
were bathing together. To satisfy
himself. before acting on the warrant
he had brought with him. the detee-
tive. Mr.. Hanwav it was agree q.
should join our bathing party on the
morrow simple and not Disagree
able preliminary to the contemplated
arrest
But alasl for the schemes of mice
and men We called together at Mr..
Griffith 's-alias Bates rooms-in the
morning. and found him busy with
some correspondence IF Won viii
wait for me half an hour or So on the
terrace" he said. (which your
friend viii find very pleasant. IN join
you for our swim in about half an
hoar'' Suspecting nothing we took
our leave and waited for him ais he
had directed.
But we waited ID vain. Whether
the features of my friend Mr.. Ham
way were known to him. or whether
there had ia spite of nay care. been
anything in nv manner To excite his
suspicion. I cannot say. Suffice it,
that we remained a full hour on the
terrace. and then returned to find
him-gOnei
Whittier. we could never trace, and
have never seen him since. From
that day t. this he has bafhed the skill
of the police of two countries. and it
is my belief that if he be sti1 alive
he has again pers uaded some guileless
surgeon to operate on him. and once
more alter the outline of his features
beyond recognition