Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-19
HIGGINS
ATHE WRONG MANI
y BY 81 Il
WILLIAM II. OSBORNE
~ , -
oepyrigh., iscs. By Daily Story Pub. Co,

Of bills around with him again. He
has learned his lesson, one that he will
never forget On the day in question
ne had drawn the bills from the bank
On the afternoon before pay day, for a
appetite ressor-he wanted to get oil
early on the next day, and 1t took a
considerable amount OF time to go to
The bank His idea was to take the
bills home, count and arrange them
Cor the men and save himself pile
Of work the next morning. 1t was
dusk when he started from his Office.
He failed to notice the burly indi-
tedual who logged his footsteps on
the way home, but that burly indi-
vidual had not failed to notice him.
AT particularly dark spot In the
street, something suddenly doomed I'D
before Mr.. Bogg's vision-that some
thing was the burly individual. He
didn't waste words. No sooner was
ne aware that Mr.. Boggs had seen
hin than he hit Mr.. Boggs first on
one side Of the head and then on the
other.
Il guess you won't remember much
after this, me buck" he muttered to
himself. as he helped himself to the
roll of bills. He did so hurriedly, for
: Mr.. Boggs uttered a stifed cry for
help. The cry was heard, and unfor-
cunately for the robber, two police
men med into view. They saw the
thieS Rust as he was rising from a
STOPPING posture above the PROSTATE
man They levelled their revolvers.
Haiti" they cried in unison. The
roober laughed and started off at an
easy gait, that became faster as he
ran One OF the policemen followed
the other pulled Mr.. Boggs over to
place OF safety and then Joined in the
chase The thief led them on, first
up one street, then down another,
CONSTANTLY doubling on his tracks.
Occasionally citizen would Join In
the pursuit Suddenly when the fore
most officer had almost grabbed him
both had long since emptied their
revolvers-he darted hastily around a
corner and disappeared. But the DO
lice were close on his heels and cs
hey turned the corner they heard n
door suddenly slam. They located the
sound, and crossing to the house, at
tempted to force their way In. They
did not try long. A man appeared
at the door and opened 1t with such
Willingness that an officer, whose
shoulder had been pushing it too hard,
tell hat within the passageway.
Gentlemen." said the man who had
opened the door what can I do for
Your AS he spoke. he appeared to
20 slightly out OF breath. The officers
grabbed him. I'VE want you!" they
exclaimed
The man gasped with surprise.
What for?" he asked. You're the
fellow that robbed a man in Quimby
street, they said. He gasped again.
Robbed man." he went on, i'm
possible. Why. / have just come
home from work" You've been run
ming. said one officer. Exactly" re-
sponded the man, for / was late. In
fact L reached the house Just before
. you came" This conversation occu-
pied several minutes. There was
clock on the mantel. IT was Just eight
O'CLOCK An officer took out his watch
and verified the time. The other one
haa taken note OF the time of the
robbery. 1t had occurred at 25 min
uteS aIter seven.
They searched the house, but they
did not find the bills. The man OF
the house, Higgins as he gave mis-
name, was quite amused at the little
episode. but he was not so much
amused when they took him around
10 the station house and locked him
up He was held for trial. The trial
came on. The police went on the
stand and proved their case. Thew
had chased a man to the corner IN
question, and they had heard this
uoor slam, they went in, the man ad-
mitsed that ne had been running-the
case was clear to their minds.
The prisoner was nonplussed. He
LOOK the stand and protested that he
was innocent. Dear met" he ex-
claimed, 'if the law would only allow
me to call Mr.. Humbert, the clock
maker. Why, your honor, l was in his
place for one whole hour, from 6; SIS to
100. and l was due at my home at
eight o'clock, so I ran. II the law
would but let me call him, could
prove what I say" The Judge looked
over his glasses. 1.-THE law allows Won
70 call him. sir" he said. "Whv DOM
yoS call him?" The prisoner hest
sated. Il have no counsel. your hon
he explained, land l could not
Mr. Humbert here. How can get
nr The court called an officer and
scid him to take the address of this
ran Humbert and get him here AZ
cnce- The officer went around n q
ufngy little store that he had never
seen before. In front of it there WAC
man with bare head, taking a sun
Dsan- he was good-sized man
Mr- Humbert," asked the officer The
stner nodded. You're wanted down
court he went on. Get your
bat. Me?" said Humbert, nuI,Ine
akullcap from his pocket ..Tndoas1
WHAT for?' Prisoner in that RE-.
sDbery case says he was in your store
bat night. Was hep" The man yvhr,
allied himself Humbert scratched hi0
ead. "Ridicuousi" he said "o,
l.