The Press., 1902-10-23

morning, and while the two men took
n cab and drove away for Hoke street
/ called one and drove direct to Scot
land Yard. was snubbed as soon as
I arrived. An official to whom l was
directed asked me If horse had fallen
down or chimney caught fire that
came into his presence in such hurry.
allow no man to rub my fur the
wrong way and therefore gave this Of
fetal better than he sent. We used up
ten minutes in passing compliments,
and then detective was called to
hear my story. He heard 1t under
protest AS soon as | mentioned the
fact that was not deaf he Indignantly
demanded:
'aThen why carry that ear trumpet?
Your carrying the trumpet is gross
deception ON the public. sir"
s"The public is not affected one way
or the other" l replied, las it is no
ones business whether l am deaf or all
right. In this case my pretense of be-
ing deaf has served the public good
turn, unless you stand here and let
murder and robbery be DONE"
"Sir," he continued, II believe you
can be arrested for carrying an ear
trumpet when your hearing Is per-
fectly good. l believe such thing
comes under the head Of misdemeanors.
Tom, will you look in the book?"
The book was consulted, and much
to the detectives disappointment my
ear trumpet was not mentioned along
with pistols, knives and slungshots.
"But you can be detained as a sus-
picious person." he said as look Of re-
lief came to his face. Eyes, that is the
charge, and I shall detain you until
the inspector arrives"
eff you let those two men carry out
their plan, 1 will make London too hot
to hold you!" / shouted in my anger.
In reply was locked up. An hour
later the inspector on duty strolled in
from his dinner, and my case was laid
before him. 1t began with the trumpet.
II understand, sir" he said as he
fixed me with a glare, that you carry
an ear trumpet to deceive the public"
"Well, what if do?" yelled at him.
"Speak respectfully, or it will be the
worse for you. l take it that man
| who will deceive the general public
| will also deceive the police. You can
tell your story, however"
told it in a straightforward way,
but when l had finished the inspector
smiled in derision and shook his head
and replied:
TOO thin, my man. You want to
lead us off on a jolly, but you've fallen
over your own feet. think it will be
| safe to detain you until morning"
| At that hour of the night l could not
hope to find one of my few friends ir
London to identify me and therefore
| submitted with as good grace as possi
BILE. almost begged of the inspector tt
send men to Pudding lane. He gave
me a look of pity and disdain ant
turned away.
But / was not held all night. A
midnight a report reached the yart
1 that the pawnbroker at IL Pudding
lane had been murdcr6d and his room
plundered, and when l was taken ou
Of my cell into the presence of the in
spector l found him both abject ant
agitated. He begged my pardon in tn
most servile way and entreated me no
| ~ HUME HJ sloAy pupAlc anu 1uAA Alh
I refused to make any promises. I hat
not described the men to him in tellin,
my story, and now l absolutely re
fused to give him a clew. I had beer
humiliated and treated with contemp
while trying to serve the police, ant
you may be sure bore them no goo(
will. Before I got satisfaction l ha(
the inspector, the detective and anOth
er man bounced, and it was through
my description of the murderers that 1
private detective agency ran then
down in Germany and secured a biz
| reward