The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-14

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NJ de Bullion did not like to be dis
turbed. l had no idea then OF disturb
ing M. de Bullion, but the rascals who
wanted my life still hung about, and
while four OF them were there I saw the
watchman returning, drunk. knew he
would betray me and hurried away.
thought OF M. de Bullion. / resolved to
wake hi mand ask his protection.
knocked on his door, but received no an
swer. opened the door with the brass
key and found M. de Bullion dead. Then
the police came, and was arrested"
Remarkable! A remarkable COM
bination OF circumstances" exclaimed
the prefect. do you not think so. mes
sieurs?"
II could reply better II / understood
this peculiar commission you gave him"
said the chief OF detectives. What was
it?'
The professional jealousy OF the chief
was aroused. He smelIed a rat. II was
clear that the prefect had attempted to
carry on an important case that should
properly come under his hand.
II simply did that to satisfy the man."
said the prefect. He came to me, as
he says. with strange story OF a plot
against certain prince now visiting in
Paris. i did not believe the yarn, be-
cause the prince is neither French nor
Russian and could not nave so many
enemies in Paris. However. / allowed
he was TO report TO me. This ending Of
4 the affair was entirely unexpected"
ITO you and TO him also. / imagine" Z"
said the commissaire," dryly.
THE question is.'' said the chief OF
detectives, "if he did not murder M de
Bullion, who did murder him? II was
done for robbery, no doubt"
Certainly, for robbery. Commissaire
| Perraud OF that district is making the
examination of the premises. i expect
him in at any moment"
Il must go there myself" said the
chief of detectives. II have already
sent two men, but this case seems des-
tined 10 become celebrated. 1t involves
the liberty of an American. I will take
charge OF IL myself"
lis there anything further to be done
with this man? What do you think OF
his story?"
We'll, you yourself corroborate a por-
tion OF it. But he should certainly be
held pending the investiga ton. And. as
In all other cases, IL would be wise to
examine his person now"
Buckford was ordered to take OF the
leather Jacket. This revealed his own
neat fitting coat, slightly wrinkled from
the Jacket.
II will see what he has I'm his pock-
cts" said the chief OF detectives.
A few letters were brought to light and
turned over TO the prefect. His watch
and chain were scrutinized. They were
not particularly valuable. pocket
knife, small bunch OF KEYS. a hand
, kerchief. fountain pen and some loose
change followed
well. you don't carry all your money
In one pocket, then" said the detective
as he brought out the pocketbook that
the conspirator had given Buckford the
previous day
THAT pocketbook was given to me by
the man / met at NJ. jacques"
The detective said nothing, but took
the pocketbook 10 a table and turned
out its contents.
Here is a pretty sum of money--115
francs" he said. And here are some
more papers-what--what is this? Ha.
messieurs we have the murderer of NJ.
de Bullion."
The commlssaire and the prefect
sprang to their feet.
See this! exclaimed the chief of de-
tectives handing them two folded pa
pers. They opened them. They were
rceipted bills. They bore the name Of
Alphonse de Bullion.
"Well. so instead OF being interested
in defeating crime, you commit it!' said
the prefect. Now / believe your story
was a hoax all the way through. Remove
this man to the depot. The Jude dim
struction will have to take up this case.
I am through with IT,"
Without ceremony poor Buckford was
hustled away and in very short time
was locked in a cell in the detention bu-
reau Of the Palais dc Justice.
Certainly his interest In protecting an
unknown prince had led him into pretty
scrape.
The affair became known In the city
The name OF NJ. de Bullion was well
known for his wealth and eccentric
ways. A murder with so much of the
mysterious element In IL was novelty
even In Paris, where one breatheg mys-
| terry with the microbes in the street
The investigating magistrate was NJ
SENEGAL. His interest I'm his work was su-
preme. He strived at all times to take
up a case absolutely without prejudice
His name was synonymous with fair
play. IL seemed to he the one fortunate
thing of Buckford's mishap that NJ. Sene-
cal had charge Of the case. 1t insured
a rigid and impartial investigation.
Different magistrates have different
ways OF going to work. Many would,
believing IL TO be I'm the interest of JUS
tice, have had an interview with the
prisoner first. Others would have learned
the known facts from the police records.
NJ. SENEGAL did neither OF these. His
experience had shown him that the po-
lice records at that stage Of the case,
or of any case, werealmost certain 10
| he incorrect I'm some important details.
and having learned a thing which proved
20 be false. he then had the Difficulty 10
unlearn IL and begin over again. He also
had discovered that n prisoner exclaimed
in the first heat OF his capture invariably
made statements that were controverted
at the regular examination.
NJ. Senecal's motto was, Let them all
get their wind. and then ! can tell you
J who is lying the most"
This method OF NJ. Senecals was re-
| sponsible for n couple OF very bad days
/ for poor Wallace. lie remained I'm the
depot. frettiing. chaflng at what he con-
/ sdered an injustice and wondering II
| the investigation would ever take place
and what the result OF Il would be.
for II the police still refused TO be-
lieve that he had received the purse
from the plotter. he saw no way OF es-
Gaping the charge Of numbering NJ. de
/ Bullion.
Now II so happened that this delay was
! a good thing In more ways than one for
Buckford on the afternoon OF the sec
ond day, while he was fretting in his
cell. a visitor had come to see NJ. sene-
cal
The visitor was evidently person Of
some importance. for he arrived before
NJ Senecals door I'm fine carriage