Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-25

NtTpe 1OT TIE 1USuIIN ut OHtrrO Ilut So
ccty. This theory not only supplies an
ample motive, but it also accords fully
with tho method of killing and the over.
whclming evidence pointing to DELHI.
eratcly planned assassination. Moreover
every first-class detective must be familiar
with the fundamental principles of the
great secret organizations, and those Of
the Malta make it certain that language
such as your brother used would have ill.,
falllbly marked him as n victim. The
work was not done, however, by any man
with whom Mr.. Smith had ever been in
communication, much less had trouble.
Tho rule Is that after death has been dc.
creed by the branch before which the case
is tried, notice is sent to some branch To-
Gated at distance, one Of whose mem
bers-an entire stranger TO the matter-is
then selected by lot to act as executoner.
Some member, then, Of the Mafs, was
doubtless in the gang TINT heard your
brothers trade made repoI, vi his words
and the result followed.
"Now let me inform you Of a conclusive
piece of evidence which one of those
chances against which no criminal can
guard has placed in my hands. Otherwise
the task of detection would be well nigh
hopeless; but, as ii happened your niece
and Mr.. RalpS were walking along the
road very early in the morning and met
the assassin coming from the direction of
the house with the tell-tale bundle under
his arm. Mr.. Ralph would doubtless rec.
ognize him again. Miss Smith has recog.
nzcd him. Add to this the fact that the
man is half Italian by birth and spent
much of his early life among the peas.
antry of Sicily, and consider that | have
sufficient evidence in hand to cause his ar
rest.
There are reasons, however, why such
q proceeding is lnaGyisa1le and why diff
fcrent course will serve the ends Of jus.
tice almost equally well. As You know,
| tried by every means In my power to
avoid an assignment to this case, but, sre-
ing the finger of fate in my being com.
PEELED to undertake il, | determined that
my professional standing at least demand
ed that I should pursue Il exactly AZ
would any other. by the same means aud
to It's logical conclusion. do not think
that | allowed myself tn be Influenced by
any knowledge not coming to me as un
investigator, and the result shows that a
clever offender can rarely be n match for
IN equally clever detective. Whatever
else | may have been, my reputation as n
conscientious and able official remains
without spot.
FINALLY. have, by the use Of vegc.
table poison known only to very few
persons in Sicily. administered justice and
avenged the law. Should you ask how n
man of my Intelligence, education aid
calling, could lend himself to such an act,
will only say that l Was a wild boy oi
10 when joined the Malta. and that dis.
obedience 10 it's commands meant certain
death. Then. too, you must remember
my italian blood and that we do not look
at some things as do the northern races.
"JOHN PHILLIPS"
There Is little more TO tell. When In,
spcctor Ransom had read the above paper
wc both concluded thar 1t ought not 10 ,l
made public. unless necessary To clear an
| innocent man: and that contingency did
not arise. My disclosure of the knife
wound and the testimony bearing upon
the time and place of the murder, together
with my neces relation Of the causes aud
details Of John Ralphs movements. serv.
ed to divert suspicion to some ore of the
Italian workmen and there, with the nj j
Of the police. all clues were lost. Ralph
was discharged and, several years later
married my niece.
will only add that | have told you this
story to hasten the hig.t of anxious hou-s
and relying upon you as gentlemen to re.
gard the facts related as strictly confidon.
tial. DO YOU not think me justified in call.
ing 1t "a -.enarkable Case!'
(The end.)