Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-02-24
A DETECTIVE CASE
(Original.1

also visiting the son Mark Brainerd, of
the same age. They were all sitting in
the library after dinner except Brain
erd, who had gone to his room for
something. Suddenly the maid entered
all in a f1utter and said that her mis-
tress' room window was open and
ladder standing against it. Mrs. APP
pleby Immediately ran to her room.
opened drawer where she kept her
jewels and found they were gone. She
returned in a few minutes to the IL
brary followed soon after by Brain
erd) and reported her loss. Brainerd
at once started outside. followed by the
others. including the maid and James
Cronan. a manservant. All rushed to
the foot of the ladder, then started in
different directions toward the fence.
Cronan suddenly went sprawling on
his face. and it 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
LAS soon as | had learned these facts
l made the usual examinations. The
ladder had been kept in a 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 Brainerd, 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 outsiders?
's'I have no theory as yet I replied.
not caring to give any information.
"'Alf 1 have to say he continued, is
that any one inside who was fool
enough to take wire from the cellar
for that purpose can't be an expert in
the business. Was the cellar accessible
from without? he asked of young APP
pleby.
"'Oh, yes. The bunkhead was wide
open. and the wire lay on a tool table
beside it.
""That alters the case said Brain
erd.
"Of course l investigated Mr.. Brain
erd. Young Appleby had known him
for several years, and he had been COM
ing to the house occasionally during
that tine 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, espe-
cially the latter, pointed to a purpose.
that purpose being, first, to divert sus-
picion from himself; second, to bring
out the fact that the wire had been
noticed and picked up by the thieves.
Zone thing l learned, not by direct
question, but by observation. The
friendship between young Appleby and
Brainerd, which had been the occasion
of Brainerd 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
u,
very unhappy. This might be Indirect
ly an 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, l was thoroughly
satisfied in my own mind, but could
prove nothing. l asked Mr.. Appleby
senior if l might take up my quarters
in the house, and he aSSented For
several days l watched and waited
while wider grew the division in the
family, father, mother and son being
arrayed against the daughter and her
lover. What was after was the prop
erty, and the thief who had stolen it
was too sharp to give me any cleW as
to what had been done with it. When
detective is sure he is right, but can't
prove his case, be may often do SO by a
sudden and vehement accusation. This
[ resolved upon. l asked Mr.. Appleby
to assemble the household, every per-
son living under the roof, in the library.
when all were present / noted the
expressions on their faces. My sympa-
thies went out to Miss Appleby. I
could understand how, though she had
implicit confidence in Brainerd there
was dread lest she might be de-
ceived. At any rate, since she and all
the rest were expecting a disclosure,
the suspense was intense.
"James Cronan,' | said, you made
one bad blunder. After laying the
wire you should have noticed more
carefully where you had placed it. You
fell two yards before you reached the
line on which it was stretched and
fully yard to the left of it's end
II had my eye fixed steadily on him
as | spoke and saw him turn pale.
"'You have the jewels, and it shall be
optional with you to return them or
serve term in state prison. Which
do you ohoose?'
''The man was not very formidable
one to break down, as his management
of the case had indicated. He begged