Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-24


II thought for minute and then
spoke up. Look here, Barnes. If in
the face of this cock and bull story
Guide persists in his innocence, there
may be something in it after all, and
If by any thousand to one chance VIC
could bring him clear 1t would be a
red feather in the caps of both Of US.
Do you object to my seeing the man
personality
cts a bit Irregular said Barnes
doubtfully.
"T know 1t is bang in the teeth Of
etiquette. But suppose we compro-
mise and you come with me?'
"'No, won't do that. My times
busy just now, and, besides, don't
want to run up the costs of this case
higher than necessary. But If you
choose to shove your other work aside
and waste couple Of hours just go
and Interview him by yourself, and
We'll waive ceremony. I'll get the
necessary prison order and send 1t
around to you tomorrow
Next afternoon went down to see
Guide In the waiting room at the Old
Bailey. He was middle aged man,
heavy faced and evidently knocked
half stupid by the situation in which
he found himself. He was perhaps as
great fool to his own interests us one
might often meet with. There was no
getting the simplest tale out Of him
except by regular question and answer
cross examination. What little he did
tell seemed rather to confirm his guilt
than otherwise, though, Strange to say,
I was beginning to believe him when
he kept on assuring me between every
other sentence that he did not commit
the murder. Perhaps it was the stolid
earnestness of the fellow in denying
the crime which convinced me. One
gets to read good deal from facial ex-
preston when man has watched
what goes on in the criminal dock as
long as have done, and one can usu-
ally spot guilt under any mask.
But tell me- said, what did you
quarrel about in the first instanceT
Money said Guide moodily.
That's vague. Tell me more. Did
he owe you money!
"'No, sir; 1t was t'other way on
"sWages in arrear2'
No; it was money he had advanced
me for the working Of my business.
You see, Walker had always been a
hard man, and he'd saved. He said he
wanted his money back, he knowing
that I was pinched bit just then and
couldn't pay. Then he tried to thrust
himself into partnership with me in
the business, which was a thing /
didn't want. I'd good contracts on
hand which expected would bring me
in matter Of $4,000, and didn't want
to share 1t with any man, least of all
him. told him SO, and that's how the
trouble began. But 1t was him that
hit me first
"'But,' persisted, Walker couldn't
very conveniently have murdered him
SELF
No, sir; no, no, he couldn'tl /
thought Of that myself since been in
here, and said to Mr.. Barnes that per
haps somebody come into the carriage
when was knocked silly and killed
him, but Mr.. Barnes he said that was
absurd. Besides, who could have done
itY
"'Don't you know anybody, then,
who would have wished for Walkers
deathY
There was them that didn't like
him said Guide drearily.
THAT was all could get out of him
and went away from the prison feel
ing very dissatisfied. was stronger
than ever in the belief that Guide was
in no degree guilty, and yet for the life
of me did not see how to prove his In
nocence. He had not been q man Of
any strong character to begin with
and the shock of what he had gone
through had utterly dazed him. 1t was
hopeless to expect any reasonable ex
planntion from him. He had resigned
himself to puzzlement. If he had gone
melancholy mad before he came up tc
trial, should not have been one whit
surprised.
II brooded over the matter for 9
couple of days, putting all the rest OF
my practice out of thought, but didn't
get any forwarder with 1t. hate tt
give anything up as bad job, and II
this case felt that there was on my
shoulders huge load of responsibility
Guide, ! had thoroughly persuaded my
self, had not murdered Andrew Wal
ker. AS sure as the case went into
court on its present grounding the
man would be hanged out Of hand, ant
persuaded myself that then 1, and
alone, would be responsible for an in.
nocent mans death.
Eat the end of those two days only
one course seemed open to me. 1t was
foreign to the brief held. but the only
method left to bring in my clients in
nocence.
II must find out who did really muir
der the man. must try to implicate
some third actor in the tragedy.
ITO begin with, there was the rail
way carriage, but little thought
showed me that nothing was to be
done there. The compartment would
have been inspected by the police and
then swept and cleaned and garnished
and coupled on to Its train once more
and used by unconscious passengers
for weeks since the uproar occurred
( in it.
"All that had to 60 upon were the
notes and relics held at Scotland Yard.
.The police authorities were very
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