The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-28
: The Crime Of H|e Century !"
CHAPTER Xxx.
PREACHER J1M's LAST SERMON.

p3CN III I5oSlUH Dut lS liltl WAS I'LL
possible his curiosity urged him to ac-
cept Mr.. NIitchel's invitation, and con
sequently he entered the cab.
81 presume that you are astonished
to find me wearing suit of Matthew
Morals 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-
'sAh! Now you are allowing your
chagrin to cloud your intellect, You
know he better. / am no mans dunn
my. II / disguise myself, it is to fur
Their 3 purpose of my own"
well, let it go that way. / would
.ii.A 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?"
"Unquestionably. Mora had taken
passage in a 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
arresting this man?''
81 admit that much. Yes"
sDo you not know that this is a
state prison offense?"
mo. What statute specifies chat in
reference which prevents usually
astute' detective from making an ass
of himself by arresting an innocent
man is punishable by imprisonment"
MIR. Mitchell, your words are insult
ing"
"They are not meant Extensively, Mr..
Barnes. Sometimes it is as necessary
to use strong language to bring a man
to his senses as it is to administer
drastic drugs to an i'll patient. You
have been troubled throughout this
case with an affection of your mental
eyesight 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
persistently 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 a 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 probabAl-
ity of your preconceiyed theory. But
you overlook the important feature
that, though man may be criminal,
he is not, necessarily guilty Of the spe-
seeking him. So 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 your life
you have Numbered. The man did kill
his father. I have indubitable evidence
Of that fact"
ooh, 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
"sSince last saw you / have discoy-
cred several important facts. In the
first place, there was serious quarrel
between father and son on that very
night at Apollo hall"
81 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
came to blows; that this exemplary
son, whose cause you espouse so warm
ly. struck his father a blow which
Knocked him DOWN.
mo" admitted Mr.. Mitchell. 81 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 killing, but the bare
fact that there has been quarrel does
not prove that murder was a conse-
quent result. From your own state
ment it 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 IN
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:"
No, no, Mr.. Barnes Give the devil
his due. The clothing was put on the
valet merely as a pretended ruse. You
We're 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"
L NJ.r,I