Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-07

puclty he soiVeu the riddle of the
celebrated Sykes robbery case. The
story was printed from one end OF the
country to the other. and 1t made a
hero of Green, especially as he received
slight wound from stray bullet In
the fracas that took place when Sykes
and his confederates were arrested.
HIS injury won him months vaca-
tion, which he resolved to spend at his
home In Kent. Ashford was not a very
lively place in the winter. but Green
was not looking for recreation.
He wanted to sec Ethel Watson, who
An his opinion, was the sweetest and
smartest girl in the world.
Z. On the afternoon of his seventh DIV
IN Ashford Green drove up to the Wet.
son house to take Ethel for drive.
There had been a fine fall of snow the
night before. Ethel was standing by
tne gate talking to Joe Sawyer, who
also was in love with her. but didn't
dare to shy SO openly. Joe was a law.
yer, and the only one in Ashford who
had any practice.
Hello, Sherlock Holmesv' said the
lawyer. "Have you heard the news?"
No." answered Green, sourly.
I'm really surprised" said SAWYER.
"You should have deducted 1t from the
state Of the atmosphere and the price
of potatoes"
4 haven't" responded Green.
/ Justice Hawkins house has been
robbed" said Ethel, "and think it's
positively providential that you're
here"
Green looked at Ethel and he saw
that she expected him to perform great
miracles. He looked at Sawyer and
saw something quite different.
Get in here. both of you." said
Green, and We'll see what we can
do
They drove to the Justices house.
The robbery had been discovered by
old Mrs. Gubbins. a lifelong dependent
OF the judges family, who went
through the house three or four times
week to see that all was well, but did
not live there. She had reported the
case to the local police-a day and a
night watchman--and these function
aries were present. with dozen of tie
neighbors, when Green and his com
panions arrived.
Green consulted his watch, and then
he slowly walked into the hall, where
the old-fashloned safe built into the
wall gaped emptily He glanced around
with listless eye, while everybody
watched him. Then he walked into the
parlor and stood for half n minute by
the Innntelpiece.
From this room he passed through
NIL the others in the house, n slow pro-
cession following him. Finally he led
thcm to the starting point, the broad
hall. and there lie sat down upon the
stairs and looked at his watch which
he had consulted occasionally In the
course of his stroll.
Nineteen minutes and half" suid
Green. MIR. Jones, l believe you are a
deputy sheriff of this county rs well as
constable Of the yilfnge. l will make
my report to you. sir. This robbery
was committed by two men who do
not live in Ashford, and who are not
here at present. Where they are
we will consider later.
zone OF them is about six feet tall
and rather slender. He has red hair,
but is bald on the front part OF his
Uranium. He wore long black over.
coat and heavy rubber oyershoes. The
little finger of his right hand has been
broken and is bent almost double.
ut may interest you to know how
discovered this. fhe thief is tall be-
cause he bumped his head OH the
swinging lamp in the parlor, and that
is about six feet from the floor. He
left upon it small portion of his scalp
and one red hair. If he had not been
bald In front he would have left more
hair and less scalp.
.'The prints Of his overshoes show In
the dust on the floor Of the kitchen
closet. The print of his little finger is
in the dust on top of that table, or was
before Joe Sawyer sat down on it."
''There wasn't any dust here--not n
speck!" exclaimed Sawyer, jumping off
the table.
ut depends on the eye" responded
Green, calmly.
TO continue: The other robber was
short, thlck-set and dark. He wore n
pea jacket and n fur cap. He had a
heavy black beard. which may, how.
ever, be false. cannot tell from tile
single hair which found upon a piece
of bread in the kitchen until have
examined 1t with microscope. He
was an Irishman."
Great Scott!' exclaimed the con
stable. "How do you know thnt?p
From his method of knocking out
the ashes from his pipe" replied
Green. "lrishmen have peculiar way
Of doing It.. l have not time to explain
in detail"
.'The tall man walked on this side,"
said Green. mark the longer stride
and the prints of the overshoes. With
out doubt they walked across the men-
dows to Chartham and took the 7:1O
train for London"
"Why not the $50 for Doyer:" ask
ed Sawyer.
Thieves with plumber always strike
for the big Cities" said Green. "Mr.
Jones, If you telegraph to London, Civ
ing description Of the men and their
plumber, I think the police can catch
them for you before tomorrow morn
ing. Now, Ethel, If you're ready, wen
go for drive"
At 0 o'clock the next morning Jones
received this message from Scotland
Yard:
Have your men. Description per-
feet. Most of goods recovered. Will
send men in charge of Detective Gun,
10 o'clock train"
TN give 1t up" said Joe Sawyer.
And he gnawed his knuckles till they
bled. Green walked away from the