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

ud'h III bOStOu, Dut as tnHt was I'M
possible his curiosity urged him to ac-
cept Mr.. Mitchcl's invitation, and CON
scquently he entered the cab.
~ presume that you are astonished
to find me wearing n suit OF Matthew
Moras clothing?" said Mr.. Mitchell,
opening the conversation.
Il am not surprised that Mora should
use that method, for he has done it
before" said Mr.. Barnes, "but that
you should consent to be his dummy
confess does seem strange to me"
"Ah! Now you are allowing your
chagrn to cloud your intellect You
know me better. | am no mans dunn
my. If | disguise myself, it is to fur
Their purpose of my own"
We'll, let 1t go that way. I would
like to know what purpose of your
own Is of sufficient importance to JUS
tify your aiding in the escape of a
murderer"
None. But have / done that?'
"Unqucstionably. Mora had taken
passage in Il ship sailing for Europe
early this morning. fear now that it
will be too late for me to stop him"
Il sincerely hope So"
Then you admit that your ruse was
to lead me astray and so prevent my
arrcsting this manT
81 admit that much. Yes"
"Do you not know that this Is a
state prison offenseT'
mo. What statute specifies that in
reference which prevents usually
astutc detective from making an ass
of himself by arresting an innocent
man is punishable by imprsonment?'
Mr. Mitchell, your words are insult
ing"
They are not meant Extensively, Mr..
Barnes. Sometimes ii is as necessary
to use strong language to bring man
to his senses as 1t is to administer
drastic drugs to an i'll patient. You
have been troubled throughout this
case with an affection of your mental
eycsght which has contorted all forms
into single image. Seeking the muir
derer of old Matthew Mora. you have
been able to recognize no one as posi-
bly, guilty except the son. You have
perslstently followed your ancient
methods of spying upon the suspected
man. and you have converted every act
of his into one thread of your fabric
of evidence Let me direct your atten-
ton right here to the great fallacy of
such course. If you watch n man.
any man, all acts Of his not ineligible
to yourself become suspicious If the
man happen to be a criminal, this fact
is more conspicuously true. If, more
over, he knows that he is watched, his
very efforts to escape from constant
espionage only emphasize the probabil-
ity of your preconceived theory. But
you overlook the important feature
that, though a man may be a criminal.
he is not necessarily guilty of the Spc-
cial crime for which the detective is
seeking him. 60 it is with young Mo-
ra. He has acted criminally, but new
ertheless he did not Kill his father"
"All that you say is true in theory,
Mr.. Mitchell. but be assured it is only
theory in this instance. 1t does not
apply to Mora. For once in -FOUR life
you have Numbered. The man did kill.
his father. ! have indubitable evidence
of that fact"
"Oh, if you are so certain, Of course
must listen to you. 1t will be the
shortest way. Proceed with your evil
dence. How do you prove your charger"
Since | last saw you have discov.
cred several important facts. In the
first place. there was serious quarrel
between father and son on that very
night at Apollo hall"
Il know that"
you do" exclaimed Mr. Barnes, sur.
prised. He had counted upon this as a
telling point. However. he added:
"Well, did you know that the two men
son, whose cause you espouse so warm.
ly. struck his father blow which
knocked him DOWN."
NO" admitted Mr.. Mitchell. Il did
not know that"
IL have two competent and trust.
worthy witnesses to that fact. After
striking his father Mora then returned
to the dancing hall, while the old man
went off breathing vengeance and
swearing that he would kill his son if
the latter should dare to return home
What do you say to that"
"Of course quarrel is frequently the
antecedent to a killing, but the bare
fact that there has been a quarrel does
not prove that murder was conse.
quent result. From your own state.
ment ii was the father who uttered the
threat Had the son been killed your
evidence would have more point
you are not easily made to yield UP
your own opinions. Let me give you
my best proof. You recall the valet
who put on his masters clothing in
order to tempt me to follow him."
mo, no, Mr.. Barnes, Give the devil
his due. The clothing was put on the
valet merely as a pretended ruse. You
were expected to detect this and to
deduce therefrom that the master him
self did not wish to be tracked. AS
was planned, you did not follow the
valet, and therefore he was enabled
to carry out his masters wishes"
THAT is of no consequence now.
have learned that this man is himself
well known crook"
II know that"
"You seem to know everything" said
the detective testify, "but you cannot
know this-I have had that man ar
this case. He has given important