The daily Alaskan., 1904-03-23
A DEFECTIVE CASE
IOrIrInaI

tectiye, "at the time the jewels were stolen consisted Of Mr. and Mrs Alp. nleby. their son, twenty two, and their daughter twenty ye0e old. There was also visiting the son Mark Brainerd, of the same age. They wero all sitting in the library after dinner except Brain erd. who had gone to bis room for something. Suddenly the maid entered an In hutter and said that her mis tress' room window was open and a ladder standing against it Mrs. Alp. pleby immediately ran to her room. opened a drawer where she kept her Jewels and found they were gone. She returned in a few minutes to the li' brary followed soon after by Brain erd) and reported her loss Bralnerd nt once started outside, followed by 5le others. including the maid and James Cronan. a manservant. All rushed tC the foot of the ladder. then started in different directions toward the fence Cronan suddenly went sprawling on his face, and 1t was discovered that he had tripped on a wire This indicated that the thieves had prepared to get away with the booty by retarding pur suit
 "As soon as l had learned these facts I made the usual examinations. The ladder had been kept in wood shed back of the house. The wire was from a rusty coil that had long lain in the cellar. These circumstances assured me that the robbery had been com mitted from within. was questioning young Appleby about the ladder and the wire. his friend Brainerd standing by at the time.
 "'Your theory is,' said Bralnerd, that some one in the house, knowing all about the ladder and the wire, simply put up the one and laid the other to make us think that the robbery was committed by outsidersr
 "I have no theory as yet replied not caring to give any information.
 "'All | have to say, he continued, ifs that any one inside who was fool enough to take wire from the cellar for that purpose can't be an expert fin the business. Was the cellar accessible from withoutT he asked of young Alp. pleby.
 "'Oh. yes. The buukhead was wide open. and the wire lay on a tool table beside it.
 ".rhat alters the case' said Brain. erd.
 "Of course l investigated Mir. Brain erd. Young Appleby had known him for several years, and he had been com Ing Co the house occasionally during that time. Nevertheless his having been separated from the rest of the family when the robbery was commit ted looked suspicious, and his remarks about the ladder and the wire espc- cially the latter, pointed to a purpose that purpose being first, to divert sus- plcion from himself; second, Co bring out the fact that the wire had been noticed and picked up by the thieves
 "One thing l learned. not by direct question. but by observation. The friendship between young Appleby and Bainerd. which had been the occasion of Buinerd first coming to the house, was no longer the prime reason. He was paying attention to Miss Appleby, and his attentions were not agreeable to any of her family. including her brother. The parents and brother were throwing out hints derogatory to Brain ard. and tbis was making Miss Appleby very unhappy This might be indirect ly am interference with my work and might ruin my chances for success.
 ~The very morning after the robbery was committed ] had found the clew to the thief that is, was thoroughly satisfied in my own mind, but l could prove nothing. asked Mr. Appleby senior if l might take mp my quarters in the house. and he asseuted, Tor several days ! watched and waited, while wider grew the division n the family. father, mother and son being lrrayed against the daughter and her lover What | was after was the prop. ,rty. and the thief who had stolen lt was tco sharp to give me any clew as to what had been done with it. When a detective Is sure he Is right but can't prove his case. be may often do SO by a sudden and vehement accusation. This 1 resolved upon. l asked Mr. Appleby fo assemble the household, every per son living under the roof, in the library
 When all were present ] no,ed the expressions on their faces. My sympa ,hies went out to Miss Appleby. ] ,ould understand how, though she had implicit confidence in Brainerd. there was a dread lest she might be de ,elved. At any rate. since she and all the rest were expecting a disclosure, the suspense was intense.
 James Cronon,' | said, you made one bad blunder. After laying the wire you should have noticed more carefully where you bad placed 1t. You fell two yards before you reached the line on which 1t was stretched and fully a yard to the left of It's end
 "I had my eye fixed steadily on him as I spoke and saw him turn pale.
 You have the jewels, and it shall be optional with you to return them or serve a term in state prison. Which do you choose?
 "The man was not a very formidable one to break down, as his management of the case had indicated. He begged for mercy and offered to return the