Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-21
A DETECTIVES
ADVENTURE
[Original.1

IOr1g1nal.J
My chief called me into his private
Office and, showing me the following
telegram, directed me to work up the
case:
My son died last night suddenly while
apparently in perfect health. l fear foul
play. Send one of your best men.
PROSPER ARBUCKLE-
Ernest Arbuckle, the murdered man.
was heir to large estate. There was
but one blood relation left, a nephew,
Charles Bimberly, young man con-
sidered beyond any possible suspicion.
knew nothing of Mr.. Kimberly, but
since he had a strong motive for the
crime l concluded to begin with him,
especially as l could not learn of any
one else who had any motive at all. l
examined the body and, finding no slit
in the clothing, brought magnifying
glass to bear on the exposed parts, the
head, neck and hands. On the inside
of one of the fingers ON the right hand
l found minute puncture the size of
the point of pin. There was certain
~ very little in this on which to base a
theory Of murder, but l have been so
long accustomed to count every trifing
circumstance that made note Of it,
a note which l soon forgot, for l con-
fess attached little Importance to it. :
was Informed that Charles Bimber-
~ was a real estate agent This was
all l could learn about him, and as
there were no other facts forthcoming
l disappeared and when returned en-.
tered his Office, prosperously dressed,
and told him of valuable piece of
property I was anxious to purchase
and desired him to sound the owner
as to whether he would sell and, if so,
at what price, l further told him that
II it were known that l wanted the
property an exorbitant price would be
put upon it, and desired to proceed
upon a plan which would develop if
he would dine with me in a private
room at a we'll known restaurant.
Bimberly caught at the bait eagerly.
I gave him good dinner. with plenty
of wine, and made myself so entertain
ing on general subjects that we did
not reach the topic in question till a
late hour. Then l expressed wish to
be in a more comfortable place, as
there were many details to be gone
over which would occupy some time,
whereupon Kimberly invited me to his
rooms in bachelor apartment house.
This was exactly what ! wanted. Ny
object was to gain access to his rooms.
had numerous talks with Bimberly
with reference to the proposed pur-
chase, always putting off the day when
I was to make definite offer for the
property. One afternoon l called at
his office when I knew he had an en-
gagement for the evening and told him
that I would be at his room prepared
to make an offer and, if it were &C.
copied, close the deal at once. He in
formed me that he would necessarily
be away till late, but that l was well
come to pass the evening in his rooms
and he would see me at as early an
hour as possible. went to his apart
ments Immediately after dinner and
found him just going out. He invited
me to make myself comfortable and
left me.
Twas no sooner sure that he was not
likely to return for some forgotten ar
ticle than produced a bundle of skel-
eton keys and proceeded to open every
thing I found locked. There was q
writing case in the voom in which !
found number of private letters. but
not word in any of them to identify
him with the murder, though there
were plenty to indicate that he was liv'
ing fast life. ransacked every cor.
+ ner Of this desk, and, although I read
between the lines, had my pains fol
nothing. 81 !: s: j.
1 was about to give up: the search
when I noticed a small table covered
with cloth. Lifting the cloth, I'M
covered a single little drawer which
was surprised to find locked. Not only