Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-17

He then produced the iciU itself.
Waterman saw him wear them in and
out of the house. The valet cor
roborates the statement of the watch
man. Preacher Jim here advanced
the theory that the murderer might
have been half dressed and the plaid
suit might have been put on afterward
This would account for all the stains
and fit the theory that the murderer
wore the suit over his own garments
Mora would benefit by the loss Of his
fathers will. Mora. therefore, having
killed his father, distracted the docu-
m"nt, which he finally thrust into his
pocket as he left the house. Then he
he leaves this suit at the Essex street
house, knowing that Slippery Sam oc.
cupied n room there and half design
ing to throw the burden of his own
guilt upon the shoulders Of a known
crook Later he finds you, Mr.. Mitchell.
following up the case and that you are
Oh intimate terms with Slippery Sam.
1t became necessary to his safety to
remove Sam. He did So"
"Tsta % al yacy ne, Up 20 the last
statement. He did so, you say But
how do you prove IT,"
You may recall that came upon
the scene almost as soon as you did.
had been following Mora. He had
been acting most suspiciously all the
evening-that is, | was sure that he
was endeavoring to discover whether
he was followed or not. Perhaps he
did so. At any rate, he gave me the
slip by entering hotel which had
several exits. | waited long enough to
be sure that he was not coming out
again at the door which | was watch
ing and then gave up the job. | start
ed for your house, wishing to inform
you of the death of Preacher Jim's
mother. l had only a few blocks to
go and was near to your street when a
man hurriedly brushed by me. | only
saw his face for an instant, but it was
Matthew Mora
Matthew Mora?"
Yes. | gazed after him. undecided
whether to follow him or not. | looked
around, on an impulse, reckoning how
near | might be to your place, and then
! observed man leaning over another
who lay on the pavement. l went for
ward and saw you bending over Slip
perry Sam, whom Mora undoubtedly
had just killed"
NO. no. Mr.. Barnes. l am sorry.
very sorry. that your fine castles must
fall, but Mora is not guilty of murder.
ing any one, certainly not of killing
Slippery sam"
How can you be so sure of that?'
Have | not told you? | know who
killed old Mora. and | know who killed
slippery Sam. They are one and the
same, but the man is not Mora"
did you witness the murder Of Slip
perry SAM
"No."
"Then you cannot be certain. There
must be doubt"
Not shadow of doubt"
"Wcll, then. who is the guilty man."
"Ah, that | prefer not to tell you
"Do you mean that you will conceal
your knowlcdge; that you will protect
the criminalY'
MY knowledge is not absolute in
the sense that l have been witness or
the recipient OF confession. 1t is
ton, Under those circumstances | do
not feel bound to make a charge of
against a man"
Mr.. Barnes was silent, and Preacher
Jim, who had been listening attentive
ly, now spoke.
Il would be much interested 10 hear
you tell the steps by which you have
reached this conclusion" said he.
"even though would not ask you to
divulge the name against your will"
Mr.. Mitchell looked NJ him sharply
before replying but he did not finch.
Very we'll" said Mr.. Mitchell. II
will grant your request | will tell
you how | know who killed these men.
In the first place. discussed this case
with the man who committed the
crime. though | did not suspect him at
that time. During our thcorizing | re-
peated Mr.. Barnes argument that the
murderer must have been acquainted
with the internal arrangements of the
house, because the weapon Il warclub,
had been taken from a case in the hall
below. This man in replying argued
that the murderer did not need to
know of the collection Of weapons. be-
cause Matthew Mora had taken the
club to bed with him. That was
fact which could not have been known
TO any one except the murderer Con-
sequently | knew at once that the man
with whom | was speaking had him
self committed the crime. What say
you. Preacher JIM
Il say that the man made a slip of
the tongue and that you were very
shrrwd. Now, tell us how you con-
meet that man with the killing of Slip
perry Sam"
MIR, Barnes, you will recall the cir
of your finding my match
box near the body Of Slippery SAM
YES. | returned il to YOU
Very well. had lent that to the
murderer of Matthew Mora. and he
had not returned 1t to me. What say
you to that Preacher JIM"
Il say that you are clever in this
also. But n question or two more.
Why do you hesitate to name this
man? Why do you not give him up to
justiceT'
because have given a promise to
shield him if he should ever be in the
in which he now is"