Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-08-24

VT
HOLD on THERE, STURGIS,'
TO build up a solid foundation of facts
before you allowed your Imagination
to run riot
"Well?" inquired the reporter in APP
parent surprise.
well, the only fact you have men
toned is the approximate age Of the
dead man. The rest is pure assump-
ton. How can you know anything
certain about his occupation and the
amount of his salary?"
True; forgot you had not followed
the steps in the process of induction.
Here they are: the dead mans sleeves,
on the under side below the elbow,
were worn shiny. This shows that
his occupation is at a desk of some
kind"
"Or behind counter" suggested
Thurston quizzically.
NO. Your hypothesis is untenable.
\ clerk behind a counter occasionally,
it is true. leans upon his forearms But
incessant contact with the counter
leaves across the front of his trousers
an unmistakable line of wear. at q
level varying according 10 the height
of the individual. This line was not
present IN the case of the man in the
cab. On the other hand. his wastcoat
is frayed at the level of the fourth but
ton from the top. Therefore | main
tain that he was in the habit Of work
ing at a desk. Now the trousers, al
though not new, are. NOT baGgy at the
knees, tnougn Tree from the seams
which would suggest the effect Of press
ing or of a trouser stretcher. Conclu-
sion, the desk is a high one; for the
man stood at his work. Most men who
work standing at high desks are book
keepers Of one kind or another. There
fore. as | said before, this man was
probably bookkeeper. Now, as TO his
salary; | do Lot pretend to know the
exact amount OF il. of course. But
when man, who was evidently not
dude. has his clothes made TO order.
Of imported material, and when his
linen, his hat and his shoes are of good
quality, ii is fair TO infer that the mans
income was comfortable.
II proceed with the arrangement of
my data:
SECONDLY: the man in the cab died
of wound caused by bullet fired at
very close quarters. Indeed, the wcap-
on must have been held either against
the victims body. or, at any rate. very
near 10 it; for the coat is badly burned
by the powder"
ION these points at least" assented
DR.. Thurston, Il can agree with YOU
The bullet probably penetrated the
upper lobe of the left lung"
Yes" added Sturgis, land il passed
out at the back, far below where it
went in
What makes you think it passed
out? The wound in the back NAV
have been caused by another bullet
fred from the rear"
THAT hypothesis might be tenable
were il not for this"
With these words the reporter pulled
out his watch. opened the case. and
with the blade of a penl<nife took from
the surface of the crystal a minute OBJ
ject. which he handed to the physician.
Look NJ IL" said he, pushing over
n magnifying glass.
DR.. Thurston examined the object
carefully.
~ splinter Of bone" he said. at last.
Eyes. | found it on the surface Of
the wound in the back How did itget
there?"
You are right" admitted the physi-
elan; lit must have come from with
in, Clipped from a rib and carried out
by the bullet which enteEed from the
front"
II think there can be no doubt as to
that. Now, the bullet does not seem
10 have been DETECTED in its course by
its contact with the rib, for, as Car as
have been able to Judge by probing
the two wounds with my pencil. their
direction is the same. This is Impor-
tant and brings me TO point three,
which is illustrated by these diagrams.
drawn TO scale from the measurements
l took this afternoon"
As he said these words, the reporter
handed 90 his friend a sheet Of paper
upon which he had drawn some ge-
ometrical figures.
THE first of these diagrams shows
the ANGLE which the course of the bull.