The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-09-11

Ike that with which the present rec.
ord has to do, where early rumor con.
nected persons Of prominence and
wealth with criminal cases and it was
desirable to have a prompt and honest
report as a basis for subsequent action.
In the matter of the murderous at
tack upon Elsie Miller. Elmendorf re-
ceived orders on the morning Of the
day following that upon which the
crime was committed. to "look up"
John Robinson. It appeared that Rob
inson had left the house on Thirty.
, eighth street Immediately after Aiden's
departure, which be had viewed with
every indication Of intense and painful
excitement
40 obstacle was put IN the way OF
his departure when he desired to go;
but an unoLtrusive young man or Cap
tain Neale's retinue walked upon the
other side OF the street. Robinson did
not see this young man-which Is some
times a great misfortune for the per-
son thus attended-but 1t happened, IN
this instance, that after a considerable
amount Of pedestrian exercise OF q
seemingly a!mless sort the young man
| did not see Robinson, and this was IN
doubleday O serious misfortune for the
shadow" He vas rOundly sworn at
By his superior. when, after a fruitless
search, he was obliged TO nnoun
his failure to that individual. He did
MOI do this, Of course. until he had
waited a long time in front OF the
house where Robinson lived. Had Rob
inson returned there the shadow"
would have given, In his subsequent
report, q full statement covering every
detail OF Robinson's movements n
every minute Of the time. and would
| cheerfully have sworn to It n court
had Inter events made such n proceed
ing necessary. But. failing to PICK
I'D" Robinson. there was no escape
from confession
The landlady Of the boarding house
where Robinson lived said that he
was somewhat Irregular IN his habits
and that be did not always come home
to dinner; but when at 2 o'clock In the
morning IL wGs reported that he q
not appeared Captain Neale began to
be uneasy. As he expressed II, III Rop-
!nson las skipped. ther.ll be nothing
doing
Translated this meant that II a hum
bic clerk OF unknown a~ntecedents hau
stained his soul with crime for SJOo
there remained only the profitless task
OF catching him and sending him 10
Jail
Elmendorf had no Idea that Robinson
had skipped" principally ecaus
there was no apparent reason Tor II.
The clerk had delivered the note to
Elsie and Ind then left the house, as
the testimony of the servant. a reliable
woman long in Mrs. Simmons employ
satisfactorily proved. That Robinson
/ had Immediately returned and commit
ted the atrocious crime for a reward SO
small was, In E~lmendorfs opinion. a
wild halluclnatlon. though he bad heard
such n hypothesis stated. But thai
Robinson's extreme agitation when
brought to the scene was due to a
intimate knowledge Of the affair than
he had disclosed was a much more rea'
sonablc proposition
AS TO the money In the note. Elmen-
dorf Wa far from reg3Sdsng It as the
motive for the crime. He believed that
the money had been there. for that was
one Of the few points upon which Elsie
! had made q positive declaration in her
! FIRST RESPONSE to questions. as Elmen-
3 dorf had been Informed by Kendall N
! their earliest interview ut the hospital.
, She had said that she had removed the
money and had laid it. with the note.
upon the table. 1t h.hi been stolen. but
: probably rs a "b.ind." unless. indeed.
some person connected with the police
had comforted an itching palm with II.
I Upon receiving his orders In regard
10 Robinson the detective went down
town to the building in which .Aldfns
offices were situated. lie took up IN
inconsphuous position pear by u
after half an hour Of waiting had the
, pleasure Of wishing Mr.. Robinson good
morning upon the sidewalk Mt a point
about one hundred frer from The bu.hl-
ing. This was unfortunate for Captain
Neale's man. Barnes. who was waiting
In the doorway.
! Elmcndorf made no secret Of his
. identity or Of his errnrd, and Robinson
: seemed quite undisturbed.
Il wos pretty badly upset yesterday
afternoon" he said 1T WIS AL so sud-
den and shocking. OF course had no
special interest In Miss Miller. Proba-
bly, / haven't seen her more than three
o. four times In my life. But to think