Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-06-11


he not either in fit Of anger or to pre-
vent her from 'peaching,' as they call
it, have cut her throat:"
"You are wrong there, Mr.. Mitchell, "
said the detective. 1.-THE woman was
killed while she slept There was no
struggle. 4"
"Even so, we can imagine the sneak
going into the house and killing her
that he might search for the gems un-
disturbed, and also to rid himself of a
companion for whom he no longer had
any need. At least, that was the view
that took of it, and, more than that, 1
felt convinced that knew the man."
At this moment Mr.. Thauret nervous
ly reached forth his hand toward his
glass of wine, hut before he could get
it Mr.. Barnes had taken it up and
drained it to the bottom. Mr.. Thauret
seemed livid with wrath, and a dramat-
ic incident occurred, unobserved by the
rest of the company. Mr.. Thauret turn
ed toward Mr.. Barnes and seemed on
the point of making demonstration,
when that gentleman just tipped back
his chair slightly, and meaningly ex-
posed to the view Of his neighbor the
cleaning barrel CT revolver, which he
held in his hand below the table. This
only occupied q moment, and immedi-
ately afterward both men seemed, like
the others, simply interested listeners
to the narrative.
"When I say that thought that I
knew the man." continued Mr.. Mitch
ell, ~ make statement which it may
interest you TO have mo explain. In the
first place, l sew the fellow who hid the
satchel at tho New Haven depot. Still
obtained but momentary glimpse of
his face and would not have been sure
of identifying him. Twill call your at
tention now to the fact that very slight
incidents sometimes lead the mind into
a suspicion, which, followed up, may
elucidate mystery. Prior to the train
robbery / had met man at my club one
night, or rather I had seen him playing
q card game, and l conceived the notion
that the fellow was cheating.
"Within a few days of the robbery I
met this man again, on which occasion
Mr.. Barnes was present, and an inter-
esting conversation occurred. I was
standing aside, pretending to be other
wise engaged, but really puzzling over
the face of this man, which now seemed
to me strik lngly familiar. Of course I
had seen him at the club, yet despite
me there was an iutuitive feeling that
had seen him elsewhere also. In mo-
ment herd him admit that he had
been aboard of the train on the night of
the robbery, and that he had been the
first one searched. Awhile later he Of
fered to wager Mr.. Barnes that various
theories WI ich had been advanced as to
the thief's method of secreting the jew
els were all erroneous This one remark
satisfied NE that the thief stood before
me. I had not then heard of the muir
der. Now it mast be remembered that
was insnared in the meshes of circum-
stantial evidence myself, so that, be-
sides any duty that I might owe to So
3iety, it became Of vital Importance to
my own safety that should be in a po-
sition TO preve this man guilty. I form
ed rather bold plan. made a friend
of the fellow. invited him to my room
cra night an6 then accused him of hav-
ing cheated at tie card game. He at
first assumed threatening attitude.
but I retained my composure and per-
haps startled him by proposing to form
partnership by which we could fleece
the rich clubmen. I limited to him that
I really possessed less money than I am
credited with, and that what did have
l had taken at the tables ON the conti
nent. He then admitted that he had
system, and from that time we posed
as good friends, though I do not think
he ever fully trusted me. I learned
from him that his partner in the game
where I caught him cheating was en-
,irely innocent and made him promise
not to play with him again, for had
discovered that the detectives had been
told Of this game, and therefore knew
that they would be watching both men
when playing cards therefore pre-
ferred to be the partner myself upon
such occasions.
Having somewhat won the fellows
confidence, I was ready for my great
scheme in battling the detective so that
I might win my wager and at the same
time entrap my suspect had conceiv-
ed the Ali Baba festival. showed Mr..
Barnes one day the ruby which I after
ward presented to my wife At the same
time told him that if he should come
to the conclusion that was innocent of
the train robbery, he might as we'll re-
member that I would still have to COM
NIT the crime as agreed upon. Then I
arranged that the festival should occur
on New Years night, the very day on
which my month would expire. I knew
that all this would lead the detective to
believe that I meant to rob my fiancee,
a crime for which might readily have
escaped punishment, with her assist
ance. There he misjudged me- Iwould
not for treble the sum have had her
name mixed up in such transaction.
She knew absolutely nothing of my in
tentions; though being at that time in
ignorance of the details of the train rob-
berry, left her mind in condition not
to offer resistance to the thief, who she
might suppose to be myself. Then, after
laying my trap, at the last moment I
baited it by asking my fiancee to wear
the ruby pin in her hair. went to
Philadelphia, and feigned sickness.
Then I eluded the spy and came on my
self. Mr.. Barnes supposed would be
present, and had arranged that if SO
he would necessarily be in one Of the
dominos of the Forty Thieves. I had in
vited my suspect to assume the role of
Ali Baba, but he shrewdly persuaded
some one else to take the costume, him
;