The Washington times., 1901-07-21
MICHAEL POWERS
SCOOP
TEi

ILLLlLLLl.Ll IIL
We We're all smart men on the .Daii,
Record" but beyond d doubt Michae
Power was the smartest of the lot
The most characteristic thing about
him. however. was his colossal impu-
dence, and it was to that, think, that ht
owed much of his really astounding sue.
cess.
The Wimbledon murder mystery is wei
| remembered by most Londoners. for ii Is
not so long ago that 1t occupied Their
minds to the exclusion of all other sub
jects.
The victim was the well-known retired
| shipowner, Thomas Brandt and he was
done to death in his own house, Ravens
worth. Wimbledon
| Mr.. Brandt was only forty-three years
or age and man of powerful build. AS
a young man he had inherited his bust
ness from his father, and after carrying
it on for twenty years had retired a mil
lionaire.
| On the evening of December 6, soon aft
i er O'Clock, he had been found dead in
his study by Arthur Royce, his personal
| body-servant. There was a CHASTITY
wound in his head. and the weapon with
which the deed had been done-merely
| a heavy steel poker from the fireplace
was lying on the floor a few PAGES from
| the body.
The window was open, and there were
footmarks in the flower bed Immediately
beneath it. No article of value was miss
ed from the room. and the dead mans
watch and money were untouched.
News of the affair did not reach us until
past II, and the Record came out next
day with the bare announcement of the
murder and a brief sketch of the victim 8
career. None of our rivals were more
fortunate, however. and we sent a couple
of men to Wimbledon the first thing irf
the morning
Power. who at all times was given a
very free hand and permitted to find his
own copy in his own way. strolled into
tho office about midday. He dropped into
chair and lit cigarette; then after a
characteristic pause for effect, he said,
quietly: -
Il want three columns. Got a story"
'Eh, what?" gasped Paterson.
Wimbledon mystery. It's big thing"
Il put Carter and Dobbs on to that
Have you been there, too?''
mo, but l know all about it."
Mick, you are not drunk?"
''Divil bit. Read that"
He took a bundle of copy from his
pocket and flung 1t on the desk.
Paterson seized it greedily. leant over
his shoulder and read with him:
THE alleged murder of Thomas Brandt,
II. p, at his own residence is the one
topic of the hour. The more the affair Is
examined the more it becomes shrouded
in mystery. The police are utterly at
fault.
Indeed. we are strongly of opinion that
the police, in dealing with this case, are
going entirely in the wrong way to work.
We fully realize the responsibility we
are taking upon ourselves in making this
statement. but what are the facts?
''The criminal entered the extensive
grounds of Ravensworth soon after s
O'Clock on Tuesday evening; he boldly
made his way to the house. Did he wait
until all was quiet. and then break into
one of the parts of the building least like
ly to be occupied? Not at all. He per-
ceived light in Mr.. 'Brandts study. The
window was open and the curtains drawn
aside. Within Mr.. Brandt could be seen
writing at desk. The criminal enters
this window. murders Mr.. Brandt-a man
of very powerful physique-and decamps
the way he came. This much, we think,
undeniable.
ITO our minds 1t seems plain that the
man who slew Thomas Brandt was no
common criminal. He sought his victim
out for some special purpose and with
probably no intent to murder. Had he
meant murder he would have committed
it with pistol or dagger.
Again, the man came into the presence
of Thomas Brandt when the latter was
sitting wide awake in well-lighted room.
What for? Evidently he had something
to say.
Probably. therefore. the two men were
known TO each other. What secret in
their past brought them together on the
fatal night of December 6? What passed
between them during that terrible inter
view?
"Reproaches, angry words, a bitter
quarrel, violence, death?
That at least seems plausible theory.
and if the police really want to solve the
mystery let them leave the notorious
criminals alone. and make enquiries lnto
the private life of Thomas Brandt.
. Let them enquire if at any time in his
life there was man who wronged him
or who was wronged by him. Finally we
would ask one question. 1t is this:
WAS Mr. Brandt in the habit OF keep
ing loaded pistol in his desk? If so.
why did he not use it?'
That substantially was Powers. story,
except that he had spun it out into three
columns.
"M'yes." said Paterson, mot badly
done But you don't expect that to go
into the news page. do you? Gut it down
to three STICKS, cast it in the form Of a
letter, and sign it Sherlock Holmes H."
Power leapt to his feet, all the muscles
of his face working with anger
Look here" he cried. IF you throw
away this chance. I've done with the
Record forever"
But, my dear Mick, the things bare
faced fake. Suppose they catch the man
and find him to be some Bill Skies or 9TH
err"
"A fake! What do you take me for?
It's Bible truth. We can run this thing
for a fortnight. 1 will bring cut the
fresh facts every day, and what's more,
the police in the end will have to admit
we are right
Patersons S whole manner changed.
Look here. Mick he said sharply, |
what do you know? Come. man. out |
with it"
That's Just 1t. do know something. |
[ know a good deal of Brandt's past life, |
but you'll have to trust me can nnlv