The Delawarean., 1900-07-21
TWO TIGHT CORNERS.
EXCITING CHAPTERS IN THE LIFE OF
A POLICE CAPTAIN.

A Hard Struggle For Life with n
/ Stnlvvart Murderer and n Narrow
Escape From Death at the Hands of
Armed Maniac.
Yes, we have to deal with some
queer people and some dangerous peo-
pie" said police captain, land | must
say, but not boastfully, that we now
and then have to use judgment that
is at once quick and reliable. l re-
member several years ago we had a
highwayman in the station house who
had shot man and robbed him. He
was a dangerous criminal and a
mighty powerful man, and he was in
n good position to go down for life or
be executed, for his victim was at the
point of death. One night he asked
that be sent to his cell. had arrest
ed him and had tried to get a confess
sion from him, but all my efforts had
been vain. He had taken a violent
dislike to me, and he had laughed at
all my endeavors. The deduction
made when l heard he wished to see
me was that he had changed his mind
and intended to confess, so l went to
the cellroom and talked with him.
Captain, said he in a confiding
way, I want you to come in here and
sit down. This secret Is making a
wreck of me. and l want to tell you
everything
He seemed quite penitent, and with
out any hesitation l opened the cell
door and sat down on the bench beside
him.
g Is Mr.. - going to die? was his
first question.
The doctor says he cannot liye,'
replied.
"'Then the chances for my going to
the chair are better than good? asked
he.
II replied that they were. The pris-
oner lapsed apparently into deep medi-
tation, and while the spell was upon
him he paced up and down the cell.
Suddenly he slammed the door Of the
cell, placed himself before me and said
in a rather fearsome voice:
"I've finished one, and if 1 do two
can get nothing worse than the chair
Saying which, he leaped at me, lead
ing out powerful blow as he did so.
| was, of course, up and ready for
him and had billy in my hand. He
had nothing but his big fists, feet and
teeth, any of which he was ready and
anxious to use, but he was twice a
match for me even up. I don't know
how | did it. If he had got the best Of
me just for a second, 1 would have
been pounded to death; there is no
doubt of that. 1 raped him on the
head time and time again with my
billy, felt his blood flying over me,
heard him snarl and also felt the i'm
print of his powerful fists. 1t took me
five minutes to lay him out and
must say that 1 never spent five buster
minutes in my life. Oh. he's in prison
now. He's doing 90 years.
Il remember another little expert
ence had that is not easy to forget.
l was sitting in my private office one
afternoon when we'll built, stylishly
clad young man entered, bowed pleas
antly and sat down on the edge of the
sofa.
"T never was down in this part of
the city BEFORE he said, and, being
here, l thought I'd stop in and visit
with you.'
"'That's right l rejoined. I'm al
ways glad to receive callers
Il looked closely at the man. l
couldn't place him at all. 1t seemed
that l had seen him some place too.
He was about 30 years old, was stall
wart and had an attractive face that
bore slight traces of dissipation.
beg pardon, my friend said |,
but really can't just place you. l
know we've met. but where?
"'No, we haven't met before.
never saw you before today in my life.
Pm from Baltimore. I've heard of you
a lot of times
"The dialogue Jagged for a few mo
ments, and in that time | scrutinized
the stranger. He mystified me in a
small degree, and l was interested in
him. He broke the silence:
"'Say, captain, I've got something
very important to see you about. Ill
just close this door, and it's just as wen
that no one knows what we do or say.
Now, | wish first to impress you with
the Importance Of this meeting 1t is
the most momentous occasion of my
life, and on its success or failure de-
pends my future. Captain (the stran-
ger leaned over and whispered in my
earl, I'm going to cut your throatv
Il was sitting with my profile to the
stranger, and he was leaning toward
me. Casting my eyes sidewise. l saw
that he held an opened razor in his
right hand. did not move immedi-
ately.
$50 you're going to cut my throat?
| said, quietly turning part way
around.
"'Yes, captain. | have been COM
manded by God TO do so. I'm sorry,
but it must be done. Get ready
"Thats all right, my friend. Pm
perfectly willing you shall carry out
your mission; but, to tell the truth,
hate to get blood all over my furniture
here. 1t wouldn't be nice to dirty up
the office, would it? Suppose we 90 in