Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17

hair. 1t was hanging in its usual place be-
hind tie stove. The significance of this
last fact was great in Mr.. Pinkerton's
opinion; from 1t he concluded that the
crime had been committed by a railroad
man, his reasoning being that the poker
could have been restored to its usual place
after such a use only mechanically and
from force of habit and that an assailant
who was not a railroad man would have
left it on the floor or thrown it away.
Coming to the safe, Mr.. Pinkerton found
that the 81 600 Were missing and that
other papers had been left behind as value
less. Among these was bundle of can
celed drafts that had been roughly torn
open and then thrown aside Mr.. Plnkerton
scarcely noticed at the moment, but had
occasion to remember subsequently,, that a
small piece of one of these drafts was miss
ing, as If a corner had been torn off.
All the train hands were Immediately
questioned, but none of their stories was
In any way significant. except that of New
ton Watt, the man In charge OF the second
car He said that while busy counting over
his way bills and receipts he had been
startled by the crash of broken glass in
the yentilator overhead and that at the
same moment heavily built man. wearing
a black mask. had entered the car and
said: IF you move, the man up there
will bore you" Looking up. Watt said
further, he saw hand thrust through the
broken glass and holding revolver. Thus
intimated. he made no attempt to give an
alarm and the masked man presently left
him under guard Of the pistol overhead,
train reached Morris. when it was with
drawn. He was able to locate the place
where the crime must have been com
mitted as he remembered that the engine
was whistllng for Minooka when tho
stranger entered the car. This left about
thirty minutes for the murder. robbery and
escape.
Returning to Chicago. Mr. Pinkerton In.
yestigated the character OF the man Watt
and found that he had a clean record was
| regarded as trusty and efficient man. and
yet there was something questionable In
his story OF the mysterious hand For
one thing, no footprints were found In the
snow on the top of the car.
Brakeman Schwartz, the only man on the
train who had not yet been questioned
"deadheaded'' his way back from Daven-
port the following night and reported to
Mr.. Pinkerton the next morning. He was
| a tall dne-looking young fellow. about
| twenty-seven with thin lips and face that
showed determination. He was rather dap
per in dress, and kept on his gloves during
the conversation. Mr.. Pinkerton received
him pleasantly. and. after they had been
smoking and chatting for an hour or So he
suggested to Schwartz that he would be
| more comfortable with his gloves of.
Schwartz accordingly removed them, and
revealed red marks on the backs of his
hands, such as might have been made by
| finger nails digging into them
How did you hurt your hands,
Schwartz" asked Mr. Pinkerton
"Oh, I did that handling baggage night
before last, exclaimed Schwartz; and then
he related Incidentally that on his way back
! to Chicago the conductor of the train, Com
ductor panforth, had discovered a vaIise
in one of the toilet rooms Later IN the day
Mr.. Pinkerton summoned the conductor
who said that the valise was an old one of
no value; and. having nc contents. he had
thrown 1t out on an ash pile The emily thing
he had found In the vaise was piece or
paper marked with red lines
Examining this piece Df paper carefully
Mr. Pinkertou saw that 1t had been forsA
from q money dra Il, ard at once thauEht