The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-29
cATBERwooo,s FLATmuRDEsER

After all is said and done. said Kel-
~. the old detective, quietly hailing the
latest listener, after all, the commonest
weakness Of the best policeman is his
anxiety to force the evidence against his
prisoner. The Law regards all men as in
nOcent till proved guilty. but copper
is dead anxious TO convince himself and
everyone else that his catch is right.
Sometimes it's easier TO fasten q crime on
the first suspect than to catch the real
criminal, and few policemen can resist
the desire 70 make a ease against their
man. Known crooks are always paying
one anothers' debts to the law, and it's
"A cinch more men are falsely arrested
than escape the long arm OF the law.
The queerest experience l ever had
was a murder that was pulled off right
under my nose. / was detailed on one
of those long-winded embezziement cases.
and in order to get next my man 1 had
taken room in pretty swell apartment
house near the park My landlord room
ed next to me in the fat. but he was out
of town most Of the time. and as the
rest of our family was made up of an
old creole hoUsekeeper and her cats, /
had the place pretty well 10 myself. In
the fat right under mine lived q man
and his wife named Catherwood-a fine
looking, prosperous couple. I couldn't
quite make them out, didn't try very hard
for that matter but knew enough about
them to believe that she was the best
half of the partnership and at least held
her own as a money-maker. She was an
artist-a miniature painter, gave lessons
to a lot of the 400 and, I understood.
got fancy prices for little likenesses on
porcelain. He olassed up as a broker.
which doesn't always mean much, and
he wasn't past sitting in at some pretty
mixed poker games in the tenderloin.
But they were both stunning lockers, and
seemed to live in peace and happiness.
We'll, to get back TO my story. 1 got
home one dark night about y, and, COM
ing into my dark room, noticed that the
light from Catherwood's window. below
mine, was glaring on the opposite dead
wall of the adjoining building. There
wasn't a sound in the narrow court. and
/ guessed Mrs. Catherwood was alone. 1t
was a fine autumn night and my windows
were open. l was turning around to make
a light when l heard a hoarSe scream, a
crash as of breaking dishes and then the
fail as of a body in the room below. /
stuck my head out and listened. but saw
and heard nothing. But 1 was not salts
fed. l went down to CatherWoOds door
and rang once, twice, three times. No
answer. I tried the door; it opened, and
l went in. She was on the floor, her
face staring at the lighted chandelier. /
could see the cut across her neck. 1 got
out my pistol and then latched the door
on the inside. 1t was the only outlet to
the rooms. and 1 thought the murderer
must be inside. 1 noticed that the one
open window was just next the fire es-
cape, and 1 went there first to take
quick look. I didn't see anyone in the
court below, but 1 didn't get a very
good look, for, hearing a noise behind
me, I whirled round in time TO see
man making for the door. In two jumps
I had my gun against his head but he
didn't make any fuss at all. I put the
bracelets on him and examined the body.
It was quite dead. 1 took my man out
without making any noise and had him
at the corner where I was notifying the
patrolmen Of the crime. when Gather
wood went past toward his home. 1 sent
the policeman after him and took my
prisoner to headquarters.