The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-19


seemed 10 have been his own, was crushed
as if his hand had closed convulsively upon
il at [ he instant when the fatal stroke
was delivered. Indeed, little more than
the bottom of the glass remained intact.
His right nand had a hundred small
gashes, bearing out the theory that, as
the usurer had raised his glass TO drink,
the murderer had thrust with his knife
across the table
SO secret had been Kohnfeld's deal
ings that IL was impossible TO learn whose
written obligation was missing after the
crime. she similar documents that were
found upon the floor bore names that
surprised even the police. There must
have been many an unquiet mind in what
we call society just after this tragedy, but
the police were discreet and very little
unpleasant information leaked out.
Former clients of Kohnfeld made haste
TO buy their pledges Of his daughter, II
they were able TO raise the money, for
they feared the inquest and trial. There
had been an inquest without damaging
disclosures, and there seemed TO be no
prospect OF a trial, for such a formality
requires the presence OF the accused.
The police had been at work on many
clews. The newspapers had described
new murderer every day. There had
been two arrests, which had resulted in
the immediate discharge Of the prisoners.
The man most strongly suspected was
recent client, who was known to the
daughter only as Mr.. Erwin. She de-
scribed him as a tall and strong young
man, elegant in manners and dress. 1t
seemed that the woman had noted his
attire more carefully than his face, con-
cerning which she could say no more
than there was not much of IL To be seen,
for the man was heavily bearded and
wore spectacles. She had never seen him
except with his hat on--a fact that i re-
HN..N - Is.-t.N .4V
exceedingly notable. Otherwise her des-
cription fitted Dane only too well, for
boards and spectacles can be put on as
easily as names.
There had been missing from the room
an old overcoat belonging to Kohnfeld.
II was accurately described and l could
not doubt that the garment ! had found
in Danes stove was the one referred TO.
The theory of the police was that the
coat had been taken TO hide the blood
stains on the murderer's clothing. The
medical testimony at the inquest had left
no doubt that the assassin had been
drenched. He could not have passed
through the street in that condition.
Kohnfeld's overcoat had been his saliva
ton.
OF course, from my point OF view there
was no need of further investigation. i
was confronted by clear alternative: to
shield the murderer or give him up.
anu lnOA Bn nau u lull VI
the sacredness OF human life even such
a life as Kohnfeld's-an had never ques-
toned seriously the right of our avenging
laws, there was no hesitation in my mind.
Really / could not ask myself the ques-
lion what would do. L knew as matter
of prophecy, what l should do, and that
was enough. So long as my brain, or my
purse, or my physical strength could in
terpose a barrier between Frederick Dane
and the law, | would not fail him. l
loved him no less murderer, though my
soul loathed his crime. / am aware that
my conduct is indefensible, and | am,
therefore, the more proud of II. Friends
with consciences are but fairw
friends in thin disguise.
Continuing the story of the crime as il
appeared in my notes, found two other
items OF interest. One related to a foot
Or mt of the murderer in his victims s
blood. IL permitted of accurate measure
ment. The other had TO do with some
bonds which had been taken from the
safe. These bonds were really the only
intrinsically valuable article known TO
have been stolen. Miss Kohnfeld could
say no more about them than that her
father had got them from his safe deposit
box on the day of his death. He had ex-
pected 10 sell them 10 a man whose name
she did not know. The purchaser had
not called. The bonds were issued by
Western city, but sne could not tell its
name. They We're easily negotiable, and
were worth about ssi5, 600. A Central
office detective had woven a fine theory
regarding these bonds. He had found a
peculiar mark in the blood upon the floor
and another mark on the blotting pad
that covered kohnfeld's table. From
these, by measurements and shrewd obser
vation, he had evolved his theory that the
murderer had dropped the package OF
bonds upon its edge in the blood, and
had caught il before ii could fall
over. Then he had wiped the edges of
the bonds upon the blotter. 1t would be
necessary, of course, for him to take
further precautions to remove the stains
before he could dare attempt a SALE He
would probably scrape the paper, il he
had succeeded in preventing the thick
blood from fully penetrating IL. BY such
marks the bonds might be identified IL
the officers of the law were fortunate
enough to find them.