The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-03-07
From a
Detectives Notebook
lOriginal.l

peterson TIL a dampcr was cast upOI
the festivities by the announcement
that one of the guests had lost u valu
servant in the house blu had been il
the family for years and thus far ha,
been perfectly honest. There was II,
evidence of the house having been EN-
tered from without. Everything point
ed to a suspicion hat some one of III,
guests was the thief.
AS ! had a fancy for amateur de
tective work, ! asked the host to pur
the case in my hands. He did SO. anC
| commenced my observations at once
All ! asked of Colonel Peterson was {,
prevent any guest from leaving if ht
could possibly do so without making =
scene. This he promised, but o OF
the guests would leave until the thief
was discovered.
1t is well known hat detectives usu
ally get their clews from observing
minutia. ! began a systematic entry
in a notebook. ii copy of which | give:
!. Saw Miss Ives come out of Miss
BentOn's room. When she discovered
me looking at her she started.
2. Wilkins is fleeing the servants
more lavishly than is proper in the
house of a host. Saw him hand the
butler a silver dollar today.
3. Another gem missing.
4. HOvey keeps the tip end of the
forefinger of his right hand covered
with kid. Keeps his nails well pared
and says he cut the nail Of this finger
too closely.
). Wilson is the man. | have just
heard that his money was made in or
ganizing schemes. getting in other peo-
pies funds. and selling out. So says
Barker. but | am not sure that Barker
is not prejudiced against Wilson.
6. Miss Ives is very conscious every
time | look at her. Caught her wills
they saw me they stopped and walked
away from each other. Wouldn't have
Miss Ives turn out to be the thief for
the world. | am half in love with her.
{. Another gem missing today. The
colonel insists on all the Jewels of his
guests being placed in his safe. He
alone knows the combination. The jew
els were put in the safe this morning.
each in a box marked by the name of
its wne
8. Have been approached by several
persons today saying they suspect Miss
Ives. They declare she has been acting
queerly. but they have not caught her
doing anything peculiar.
9. Miss Ives came to Inc this evening.
with tears i'm her eyes. to say that the
guests all act as if they suspected her.
She explains it all in this wise: She
says that she left a hat pin i'm Miss
Burton's room and went for it. When
she came out and saw me looking at
her. remembering that any one of us is
liable to suspicion. she felt embarrass
ed. She consulted Miss Martin to knOw
what she ought to do. and Miss Martin
has been talking to the others. who
have caught Il false impression. Poor
Miss Ives is heartbroken Over the mat
ter. | am thoroughly convinced that
she is innocent. | would give my head
to prove her so.
10. Am watching Wilson like a hawk
He has a passion for jewelry and wears
a great deal OF it. The :hefts having
usually been committed at night. | AIN
going to watch Wilson's bedroom door
Fortunately it is directly opposite mine.
II. Last night revealed the thief. Sin
gularly enough. it was Miss Ives who
led the way TO the discovery.
About - midnight Wilson's door
opened cautiously, and | beard hin.
leave his room in his slippers. Slipping
a dressing gown. | followed him
He Went to the dining room and
straight for a drawer in the buffet
where the silverware is kept. He open
ed the drawer and took out a spoon.
He b opened a dOor below and took
a bottle. He poured some liquor
into a glass. put in some sugar with
ter. stirred the mixture and drank it.
He then went back to his room. I re
manned below till | heard his door shut
/ was greatly disappointed.
Starting back to my chamber. | felt
a touch OF my shoulder. The gas.
turned down, is kept burning in the
room, and by its dim light I
Miss Ives in loose gown anh slip
pers. | looked at her astonished.
zone of the guests is at work at the
she said.
You don't mean it,"
Il heard a footstep and followed it.
Come"
We both stole softly to a rear part
Of the house on the oor above. AT the
end of a hall opposite where q stair
goes TO the floor above the safe is
kept. | led the way up a front stair
case. and. going along the upper hall.
took position at he read OF the
staircase. where we could watch
the safe. Some one was working at il
"a man. He had a light. which was
of by a screen. We could see him
He vas Hovey.
Holding the tip of bis forefinger 1.-THE
a.-or 10 h4l Io-k 4oxnJl aDofncf