The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-02-02

down to investigate the squire was
found dead ON the floor, having been
stabbed no less than five times in tho
body.
House and grounds were searched,
but the murderer had escaped and he
had also taken with him the cash box.
which contained about 500. The muir
der had taken place in the bedroom.
Having finished his work, the squire
had retired To bed and had perhaps
fallen asleep. Some noise made by tho
murderer as he hunted for the cash box
had aroused him. and he had sprung out
of bed and grappled with the unknown.
Any enc of the stahs would have dis
abled him, but 1t appeared that the
midnight intruder had held ON To him
and used the knife again and again, as
if he thirsted for blood. When | heard
men speak Of this next day, the cruel
eyes and thin lips of the man with tho
wooden leg WAS the next thought. Boy
that | WAS, he seemed to be man who
would do just that thing, and | found
myself wondering if he was not tho
guilty party i'll all three instances
Gordan seemed to take a lively inter-
est i'll the murder, which he promptly
declared to he the work of strangers
again. When something WAS said about
getting detective, he opposed the prof.
Get on various grounds, in which he
was backed hy tho local officers No
outside help would have been called in.
and the murderer might have gone his
way but for the arrival of another
stranger. lie WAS, rs it happened. u
first class detective, who WAS just then
employed i'll tracing missing man.
The crime was Il day old when he reach
cd Blissiield. lie heard all the partieu-
lars from the loungers at the inn and
then volunteered to look the ground
over
This was II courtesy ON his part which
the sheriff could not refuse, and after
supper he was taken to tho house
did not see much of his work, but il
was talked about for long months after
ward. The murderer had got i'll by
parlor window, which was six feet from
tho ground. He had used II chiscl to
force up the sash. lie had lighted three
or four matches in making his way into
the sitting room, He had conc ont Inv tho
same window. crossed II newly made
garden and climbed Il fence. He had
used IA regular dagger instead of "A knife
in his work lie had secured the box be
fore the old man wus aroused and had
also taken "A small sum Of money from
the trousers haneinp an thc chair
The tracks in the garden vero still
fresh when the detective tool, hold of
the work, aud in three minutes he had
made IN his mind To something. He had
little to say Ia any Of the men. explnin.
ing TINT he had not vet comnIetad his
investigations. lat as he left tho bopso
to return In the inn. while followed nj
II respectful distance. he turned down
oniet Lane. bec,ond me to folle,y. and
when we were alone he lighted his nine
and asked
"Boy. do Won know any man in town
who is lame IN the left legYn
] did not. Then lac asked if any stran-
ger who was lame had been seen in
town during the last two or three DAYS
| answered IN the negative, hut added
that there was a man with Il wooden
leg at the inn. He ut once began To
question mo about this man. not vet
having seen him himself, and | told
him all | knew and all had heard. OF
course he told me nothing in return,
though | heard him chuckling to him
self, and his face BETRAYED the fact that
he was pleased about something. | acted
as his guide to the jail, and when in tho
presence Of tho sheriff he said:
Il want Won to 20 with mo to over.
haul the man with the wooden leg at
the tavern.
"But he can have done it, " protest
cd the officer. "The tracks you found
showed that the murderer had two feet "
"Just so, aud he was lame in the left
leg"
But this man Gorlan has lost his
left leg at the knee.
81 want to see if hu has. -
The sheriff detective and constable,
with two or three citizens, proceeded to
the inn and to Gordau' u room He sat
smoking and reading and had his supper
brought up to HIM that night, claiming
to be suffering with neuralgia. He was
cool and quiet and offered cigars all
around, but those who were watching
him saw him grow pale as tho sheriff
began by begging his pardon and hoped
no oncnse would bo taken, but would
he let them look at his wooden leg?
Gordan faltered and bluffed and was
reaching for pistol under his pillow
when the detective seized him. He
fought like demon and it took the five
or six men 10 overcome him. When
s.,.,,.,,.I -, ,,.,.,.,l.,, H., ,,,1 L. ~,
left foot was there as right as any