Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-05-20

correctly ABOUT some aDStfuSe legal
topics and to avoid the shoals of libel.
The lawyer had the utmost confidence
in the young man and knew that
when he unbosomed himself frankly,
but privately, no public use would
ever be made of his opinions.
81 came to see you about the
Wright case" said Irving. 81 have
just learned that you will defend him,
md want to tell you what / know"
The lawyer expressed his willing
ness to listen. Irving gave him an
account of the striking incidents with
which the reader has already been
made familiar.
I'm addition" he said, "to the I'M
explained features of the circumstan-
tial evidence, you can readily estab-
fish the fact that the pistols were
changed. 1t is generally understood
that Herbert Wright has II story to
tell which will place new phase on
the murder and possibly implicate
some one else. So an attempt is made
to poison him. I have announced my
intention of working Mt the puzzle,
and have made some important dis
coveries. What is the result? I am
lured into den of crime and tumble
into carefully laid plan to assas-
sinate me. All these things prove to
my mind, Mr.. Everett, that there is
n powerful organization at work. At
first the life of John T. Wright stood
in the way of it's accomplishing some
great end. He was put out of the
| way, but not without some telltale
evidence being left behind. Herbert
Wright having in some way come
across these evidences is marked for
death; and the attempt made on my
life satisfies me that was on the
right track. Mr.. Wright's death was,
I am convinced, but part Of some
far-reaching enterprise, some great
undertaking that had been planned
with commercial nicely. His death
was not matter of passion, but
business, and the interest that de-
manded it now wish to close Her
| bert's mouth, and put period to my
Investigations"
Il can hardly believe it," said the
lawyer. because it implies the pos
session of power almost unlimited,
not to speak of the money necessary
to hire all the agents."
At this juncture the door opened
and Detective Fenton entered the
room.
81 am glad to find you both here"
he said.
you've struck something new in
the Wright case?" asked Irving.
yes; ] have been discharged from
the police force on account of my ac-
tivity in the case"
"How do you know that?" said Mr..
Everett. do you mean to say that
the chief of police has lent himself to
u plot to prevent the truth from COM
ing out?"
Not at all. The chief is my friend,
and he did not want to see me go.
| have been on the force Is years and
have never had u complaint lodged
| against me. The chief has no more
power to retain me than have my.
SELF"
Perhaps it was politics?"
Couldn't haven't been. happened
to have been one of the most active
supporters of the present mayor"
What causes you to think that
your activity in the Wright case
brought about your dismissal?"
Il first asked the chief on what
grounds l was retired. He replied
very warmly that he had received a
peremptory note from the mayor to
| discharge me from the service. I
looked up the mayor and put the
same question to him. He replied
that 10 fault was found with me
whatever, and he could give me no
reason at all. Now, while the mayor
controls the chief, he is in turn con-
trolled by the boss"
"The boss?"
pat Kernigan, you know; the man
who can vote the slums as he pleases,
who knows every wharf rat, every
den keeper and every criminal that
haunts the Rest and other places of
the same order, and who can make
and unmake mayors. This man vir-
/ aPPoAAAto PolSSs AG 40
shrewd enough not to abuse his pow
er. He knows that there must be
good men on the force, but he draws
the line at any interference with his
followers. Last night Billy MCGEE
resumed his place behind the bar at
Peters Rest, and the place is now in
full blast again. This morning I saw
MCGEE in close consultation near the
| mayors office. At noon came my dis
\ misSal."
"That is only case of circumstan-
tial evidence" said Everett, "but /
believe am getting infected with the
theories of you two. If there is any,
thing in it, however, some other in
tluence than Billy McGee's must have
persuaded Kernigan to this step, and
it must have been a pecuniary or
very peremptory influence. MCGEE
would have stopped when he secured
permission to reopen his dive. There
is something beyond"
"There always is in this beastly
case" said Warde.
IF this organization can, in adj
dition to it's power to commit crime,
discharge ut will members of the po-
lice force, why Observation-Disclosures
safe from it. I can hardly imagine
any cohesive power that can bind to-
gether such diverse elements"
"A great prize must be at stake,
for which some one is willing to
spend vast sums of money, and to
take very ticklish risks"
Il see that it will be necessary to
have some detective work done in
this case, and if you are willing to
continue in the line you have begun,
l will pay you enough to keep you
going, and if the result of the Wright
estate settlement is favorable you
shall have a handsome fee beside"
''That will suit me-" said Fenton,
"for to tell you the truth, I have be-