The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-11-30
out with . column description q the

scene
81 haven't even visited it, he re-
piled. Nevertheless he picl.ad up the
pages and read them, as if impelled by
seine hateful fascination. Then he
took up his pen to make few minor
corrections Then, as If totally Obliv-
JUS of my presence, he began to write.
"As sheet after sheet fell from under
is fingers | snatched them up, read
lbem hurriedly and shot them up to the
composing room. | read rapidly, TAX
Ing but small account Of the matter SO
long as 1t ran smoothly while l had
too much confidence in him to question
the accuracy of his statements. l only
realized that he was writing great
account-the greatest he had ever writ
ten. He seemed inspired with the very
innermost thoughts Of the murder, and
under his touch every trivial incident
came out with distinctness and CO.
herence that made the cause and meth
cd Of the crime perfectly plain.
First he described the scene with
accuracy and detail that would have
been impossible for one who had not
studied 1t closely. The selection of the
spot was explained by the fact that the
bright electric light streaming through
the windows Of the engine house made
It impossible for the passerby to see
into the shadows. Thus, while impen-
etrable darkness screened the assassin,
the rattle and roar Of the machinery
near by drowned all sounds Of the
struggle of the falling body.
"The blow on the head, he demon
strated, must have been from a stick,
while the wound through the heart
could only have been made by one Of
those long line bladed stilettos Of ltal
ian make. Furthermore, the fact that
this peculiar weapon was driven home
with firm hand after the victim had
been stunned by blow on the head
Indicated premedtated and deliberate
murder, while the theory of robbery
was disproved by the fact that the
! mans valuables had been untouched.
The only reliable theory, therefore,
| was that the motive Of the murderer
| was revenge.
"a more mastery analysis of case
| J never read, but here he branched off
into what | at first supposed to be
purely imaginary speculations as to
the wrong which had led the murderer
to seek the life Of the unknown man.
These seemed purposely vague at first,
but gathered in strength and certainty
| until | concluded that he must have
some good foundation for them. Start
ing with hypothesis, he soon began to
| state them as facts. He described how
the dead man, a once trusted friend,
had entered the home of another, how
by subtle wiles and deceit he had stolen
the love of his wife; then followed an
elopement and the breaking up Of that
once happy home.
"He told with the bitterness Of truth
| how the scOundrel had deserted the
erring woman and left her to perish
alone; how the idea of revenge had
filed the mind of the wronged bus
band; how, himself unseen, he had
followed every movement Of the in
tended victim for months and carefully
plotted his distinctions how he had de
coyed the doomed man to the town anC
to the very spot where the murder was
committed, and how he had destroyed
the only clews-a couple Of letters II
the pockets Of the dead mainland final
ly made his own escape. the secret SAFE
In his own heart alone.
las read this remarkable tal'
through the conviction forced itself up
on me that this was the absolute truth
If the writer himself had committed
the deed. he could not have described /
more graphically. Suddenly the though
flashed ove- me, Could he describe sucl
crime thus without having In fac
committed it?
1--WE were alone In the room.
glanced at Jones apprehensively. III
was writing rapidly. fiercely. His eye
were fixed, but he seemed to be lookin,
through and beyond the paper across
which his pen flew at something fasci
mating. terrible. When he finished, |
was with start. as If waking from
trance. glanced at the last page
where was final confirmation of m!
fears.
"'Good heavens. Jones. Is this truei
! managed to say.
Every word of it, as ! live he re
piled firmly, If family.
"'Then you have written the war
rant for your own arrest l said.
Ills head dropped on his desk. blu
he said not word.
Jones' said |, finally shaking hin
by the shoulder to arouse him to al
understanding Of my meaning, 'enougl
to hang you is in type. In an hour TIT
papers will be on the streets. In an
other hour the police will be after you
Go; make the most Of your start
1T was as | predicted" said the cit!
editor after n pause. Before daylight
detective called on me to ascertain
the source of that story. simpl!
pointed to Jones' name on the book
and they went after him."
Did they catch himT asked thu
other eagerly.
They found him in his room with {
stIletto through his heart."-St. Loui!
star.
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