The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-09
reporters pencils flying, rs Mrs. Dean

reporters pencils flying, rs Mrs. Dean
answered.
mo, I noticed nothing unusual about
the place, except that the lamps had
not been lighted"
did you meet any one who might
have come from here?' he asked.
81 met no one on this street." she an
swered, and then went on with her
story. "After lighting the lamps went
into the kitchen and found the outside
door open"
"Ah. hap calculated the chief, know
ingly. "'Outside door open.' Was it
wide open?' he asked.
The bank president frowned at the
interruption.
"Yes," said Mrs. Dean. SIT was wide
open; that was strange, and felt that
something was wrong. I called Mr..
Dean several times, but got no answer.
so l ran out into the back yard and
found him stretched out on the
ground" she faltered little at rec
objection of the dreadful sight, but raj
lied Immediately.
'It was lighter on the west side Of
the house, and Mr.. Dean had on his
gray clothes, and so I saw him quite
plainly at once. He was lying on his
back, the blood had streamed down
dead-and l began to scream-and to
try and lift him up. He was so limp
and helpless that l grew more fright
ened at touching him, and l thought
would faint before any one came. 1t
seemed so long that called and called
for help before anybody heard me. Just
for an instant l couldn't think what
had happened, and then l knew that
some one had murdered him, or tried
from her eyes.
eff you had been obliged to search
the back premises for Mr.. Dean you
would very likely have discovered some
trace of the assassin, but coming upon
him at once in that condition the shock
and excitement would, Of course, rem
der it impossible for you to observe the
surroundings carefully" said the chief.
''It is my opinion that the murderer
heard you coming and made off down
the alley"
"And l am sure he ran up the alley,
as he could. more quickly get In hiding
behind the business houses" said the
bank president positively and added:
every likely he slipped around and
came down into the crowd"
The chief shifted a little as he re-
piled:
"He would have to have a great deal
of nerve to do that Anyhow, 1t is plain
that he was frightened away before he
accomplished his object, as the contents
of Mr.. Deans pockets were not dis
turbed."
."His object was to obtain possession
of the keys, of course" said the bank
president, twirling the bunch In his
| fingers.
The servant girl, when she was ex-
amined, stated, with much incoherence,
| that she had stepped out to see friend
a couple of blocks away for few mo-
| ments; stayed longer than she meant
to and was still away when Mr.. Dean
came in; that as she was hurrying
| home she saw a man come out Of the
| alley and cross the street and a few
seconds after she heard Mrs. Deans
screams.
The chief rubbed his hands and cast
| triumphant glance at the bank presi.
dent, as he said:
"The very man! He ran down the
alley and was making for that string
of old sheds and stables. am seldom
mistaken in my surmises, and the man
whom / sent out to search in that di
rection will probably bring him In"
| The girls testimony was very impor
tant and she was looked at with inter
est as one who had seen the murderous
villain. Questioned closely, it was
found that she could not give a de
scription of him; that he was almos
on run and held his head down; tina
he made across the street diagonally
and was at least half block from her
and she could tell nothing as to ths
color of his hair, eyes or clothing.
The men, presently returning, did no
bring him in; had found no trace OF
him, and nothing had been discovered
to give them a clew, though the whole
place and the alley behind the store
buildings had been very carefully
searched.
The bank president grew impatient
1t seemed to him that the miscrean
might have been found at once had
been rightly managed.
1--WE must have a strong guard at tn,
bank tonight" he remarked to one o
the directors as they wended their wa.
thither, the chief accompanying them
81 am satisfied that the fellow who at
tackled Mr.. Dean was only one of
gang who have planned to rob tn
bank, and they may try it yet, although
he failed to get the keys. He ought t
have been taken before this"
| Tho chief was nettled and internose,