The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-01-14
Leaves From a
Detectives Notebook
[orIgInaI.l

NuIhtAS itnAuthCc VI my iliehu Noiouei
Peterson till danper was cast upon
the festivities by the announcement
that one of the guests had lost vaIu-
able diamond ring. There was not
servant in the house but had been in
the family for years and thus far had
been perfectly honest. There was no
evidence Of the house having been en-
tered from without Everything point
ed TO suspicion that some one of the
guests was the thief
As l had fancy for amateur de-
tective work, asked the host to put
The case in my hands. He did so, and
i commenced my observations at once.
All asked Of Colonel Peterson was to
prevent any guest from leaving If he
could possibly do so without making a
scene. This he promised, but none OF
the guests would leave until the thief
was discovered.
1t is well known that detectives usu-
ally get their clews from observing
minutia. / began systematic entry
in a notebook, Il 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 feeling the servants
more layishly than is proper In the
house of host. Saw him hand the
butler silver dollar today.
3. Another gem missing.
4. Hovey keeps the tip end of the
forefnger of his right hand covered
with kid. Keeps his nails well pared
and says he cut the nail OF this finger
too closely.
5. Wilson is the man. I have Just
heard that his money was made in or
ganizlng schemes, getting In other peo-
pies funds and selling out. So says
Barker, but am not sure that Barker
is not prejndiced against Wilson.
9. Miss Ives is very conscious every
time l look at her. Caught her wills
pering with Miss Martin, and when
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.
Z. 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 box marked by the name of
its owner.
S. 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.
8. Miss Ives came TO me this evening,
with tears in her eyes, to say that the
guests all act us IL they suspected her.
She explains it all in this wise. She
says that she left hat pin in Miss
Burton's room and went for 1t. When
she came out and saw me looking Mt
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 beer talking to the others. who
have caught false impression. Poor
Miss Ives Is heartbroken over the mat
ter. i am thoroughly convinced that
she is innocent. / would give my head
to prove her so.
10. Am watching Wilson like hawk.
He has passion for jewelry and wears
a great deal of it The thefts having
usually been committed at night, am
going TO watch Wilson's bedroom door.
Fortunately II is directly opposite mine.
ii. Last night revealed the thief, Sin
gularly enough, 1t was Miss Ives who
led the way to the discovery.
About u midnight Wilson's door
opened cautiously, and | heard him
leave his room in his slippers. Slipping
on a dressing gown, followed him.
He went 10 the dining room and
straight for drawer in the buffet
where the silverware is kept. He open
ed the drawer and took out spoon.
He then opened door below and took
out n bottle. He poured some liquor
into a glass, put in some sugar with
the spoon he had taken, poured in wa
ter, stirred the mixture and drank 1t.
He then went back to his room. | re-
manned below till heard his door shut.
was greatly disappointed.
Starting back TO my chamber, l felt
AOuSh VII my SnOulupr. Inc gas,
turned down, is kept burning in the
dining room, and by its dim light
saw Miss Ives in loose gown and slip.
pers. ] looked at her astonished.
zone of the guests is at work at the
SAFE" she said.
1You don't mean itg'
II heard footstep and followed it.
Come"
We both stole softly to rear part
of the house on the floor above. At the
end Of hall opposite where stair.
case goes TO the floor above the safe is
kept / led the way up front stair
case, and. going along the upper hall.
we took position at the head OF the
back staircase. where we could watch
the safe. Some one was working at 1t
"a man. He had a light. which was
shut Off by screen. We could see him
distinctly.
He was Hovey.
Holding the tip of his forefinger (the
finger he had kept covered) against
the lock, he was turning the knob back
and forth. He worked half an hour.
Finally there was click, and he open
~