Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-27
mere was anything the matter. the po-

tnere was anything the matter, the po-
lice would enter the house."
Fetridge thereupon urged the official
to obtain permission from Thornton
Stackhouse to make search of the
premises He was unable to give any
direct reason, and unwilling to put
into words any definite suspicion, but
he showed by his conduct that he had
both. Eventually a messenger was dis
patched in search Of Stackhouse, who
thereupon responded in person. He
seemed little surprised to see Fet-
ridge, and the official noted that there
was constrainedness and lack OF
cordially between the two men. Their
opinions, however, conceded upon the
matter in question.
"By all means" said Stackhouse,
search the house in Marlboro street.
1t is my residence as we'll as North's,
and l authorize you-if the men sent
are discreet and trustworthy.
The official arose.
"Then I will send word at once by
telephone to Station 4. You don't hap
pen to have a key to the house about
your
why, no." returned tho partner.
"My keys are in my wife's care at
swampscott, or l should have gone to
the house myself"
The message was sent, and while the
police of the fourth division were act
ing in accordance Herewith, Stack
house and Fetridge sat waiting at
headquarters, the quiet broken only
by the scratching Of the busy pen of a
| clerk
No. - Marlboro street was broad,
brown house, the counterpart of half
a hundred other dwellings within a
stones throw Of Paul North's town
| residence.
AS the sergeant and patrolman OF
| the fourth division neared the place
they observed the outer door at the en-
trance and saw that all the windows
in the basement and first story were
barred or shattered. Curtains, closely
| drawn, lent cherries and deserted
appearance to the windows above.
"And yet" remarked the sergeant
as he went up the steps, somebody
has been here. The outer door is
open; the vestibule door unlocked"
It was indeed true, and led at once
to the conclusion that Paul North was
within.
The officer rang the bell Bu
though the summons was repeated
again and again it awoke no re
sponsive life inside the darkened
echoing house. The sergeant calmly
came to the conclusion that an en-
trance must be forced, and after {
brief inspection Of the premises sen
Johnson, the officer, in quest of a lad
/ der. The ladder was obtained from
the nearest depository of the fire de
partment; and the officers were sool
in the rear Of Paul North's residence
It took but minute to open tn,
door of the yard. In another minut
the ladder rested against a brick wall
and Officer Johnson, with curiou
piece of flexible steel in his grasp, ha
pushed back the lock Of curtaine
window in the second story.
"a bedroom" said the sergeant, pull
!, ing up the curtain with some difficulty
. when they were both inside; "bed un
touched, however. Door open int
that dark room in front Other doc
, open-to the corridor, no doubt"
, The sergeant led the way through
door diagonally opposite the windo,
by which they had gained entrance.
, 1t was the corridor, as he had ex
pected. He set out methodically t
/ peer into the rooms as he went along
but he met with an obstacle at tn
very outset.
At the head of the broad front stall
case the door refused to yield to hi