The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-01-01
BY VICTOR SMITH.

nj EWSPAPER reporters nave SC
IN many narrow shaveS that they
learn to love danger, What other men
style "heroism" is to them a mere
matter-of-fact monotony of drudgery.
1t is regarded as unprofessional to
dodge an assignment, no matter what
its difficulties or perils. Every duty is
in effect leap in the dark when it
involves the unraveling of mystery,
and there is no happiness greater than
taking ones life in ones hand and
scoring beat"
In my sappy days there were anx-
ious moments, but good luck and some
wit pulled me through. One morning,
being early at the Office, the assistant
city editor informed me that a murder
had been committed in the southern
part of New Jersey.
at may be big story" he said;
"do you think you can handle it?''
No reporter living would have an-
swered in the negative.
'You have never been out on & muir
der, have your"
mo. But I'd like it."
"Well, go down and see what you can
do with this. l want to give you a
chance"
At II o'clock 1 was en- route; at eight
o'clock-nine hours later-I arrived in
a small village 81 miles from New
York. 1t was in the heart of the cram
berry country The place was dark.
At modest inn 1 ran into group Of
villagers who. were speaking solemnly
about the crime. AS usual in such
cases, they eyed strangers with sus-
picion. When their eyes fell on me,
knew was a marked man.
At first no one would give me the
slightest information. I had at best
four hours in which to dig out the
story and put in on the wire. That
meant hustling. A little questioning
here and there soon led the group to
New York paper, and every man shut
up tighter than clam. Other report
ers had been there ahead of me, and
all had gone out into the country three
and one-half miles to interview the
family of the murdered man.
mot a man of 'em got any news
here" said the inn keeper, "and you're
wasting time"
81 suppose every man of you is
friend of the alleged murderer" l ven
tured.
maybe so, an maybe not. What
leads you to say that?"
Because if there were friend of the
victim here he would speak out and
help me to find the murderer Of
course l can't expect you fellows to
talk"
That seemed to strike them. One
took me aside and whispered:
eff you want to find an enemy of
Bradweli, who is suspected of the
crime, why don't you go and see ex-
Sheriff Watts? He's right around the
corner, and maybe he'll fill you full of
CUFF. l guess he's about the only man
in the village who's doin' any talkin'."
The ex-sheriff was easily approached,
and when named the paper for which
worked, he exclaimed:
That's my paper. I've took it nigh
on 40 years, an l don't mind tellin'
you jest what 1 know about this terri
BILE affair. l think 1 know think 1
know-all the parties, the motive, and
when the deed was DONE"
We sat in his Office an hour, and he
did indeed fill me full of one of the
most amazing stories ever told, and
with such minutia of detail that l in
stinctively knew he told the truth. l
soon had two or three columns in my
mind and few notes.
1t was unnecessary to ask him to
leave something to the imagination,
for no imagination could picture an
improvement upon his narrative.
"Now," he said in conclusion, "I've
put you in the way of gettin' at the
whole affair"
81 must see the family of the MUIR
dered man, and, if possible, should
ike to interview the murderax.'