The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-14
EPISODE OF THE TELLTAI.E
THUMB.
CHAPTER II.-Continued.

have given a good deal just then to
have been able to translate M. Godin s
thoughts. His face was study. Matt
land Immediately resumed:
cit has been positively stated by
n. Latour that he gambled with Mr..
lst and 10th day of March: This is
false. In the first place, it can be
shown that, while Mr.. Darrow occasion
ally played cards at his own home, he
never gambled, uniformly refusing to
play for even the smallest stake. Eur
testify that Mr.. barrow was confined
to his bed from the 25th day of Feb
ruary to the 18th day of March, and
that he visited him during that time
at least once. and often twice. every
day. - IT,.
never saw M. Godin till the day of his
mover entered NJ. Latour's rooms until
that day: have. photograph and
here a photographic record. The pic
ture shows NJ Latour g rooms, with
that gentleman and NJ. Godin sitting at
a table and evidently engaged in ear,
nest conversation: This cylinder is
that conversation Godin will please
not leave the room!'
This last was said as NJ. Godin start
cd toward the door. The officer to
whom Jenkins had recently spoken laid
his hand upon the detective and de.
tanned him. ''We may need M. Godin, -
Maitland continued, "to explain things
to US.
~ invite your attention to the fact
that M. Godin has testified that: he was
assisted in his search for Mr.. Darrow s
murderer by certain library slips which
he saw M. Latour make, out in two DIFF,
ferent names. He has also testified that
be did not know even the names of any
and that one Of them, entitled. 'Poisons,
Their Effects and Detection he not
only never read, but never even heard
Of I shall show you that all these books
were procured with M. Godin's knowl-
edge, and that most of them were read
doubt that he has not only heard of this
particular work on poisons, but that he
has read 1t and placed his unmistakable
signature on page 469 thereof, beside
the Identical paragraph which sug-
gested to Mr.. Darrow's murderer the
manner Of his assassination! M.
Godin started as if he had been
stabbed, but quickly regained his self
control as Maitland continued: -"Here
please note the thumb-marks in the
margin Of page 469. There is but one
thumb in the world that could have
made that mark, and that is the thumb
you have seen register itself upon this
letter. It is also the thumb that made
this paint smutch upon this slip of
glass;
All eyes were turned upon NJ. Godin.
He was very pale, yet his jaw was
ant smile played about his handsome
mouth. To say that the audience was
amazed is to convey no adequate idea
of their real condition. We felt pre-
pared for anything. l almost feared
lest some sudden turn in the case might
cast suspicion upon myself, or even
Maitland. Without apparently noticing
M. Godin 8 discontinue, George con,
tinued:
"M. Godin has testified that he
sometimes plays cards. but only for a
make it interesting. shall show you
that he is professional gambler al
well as detective.
"The morning after the murder wal
committed | made most careful ex
animation of the premises particularly
of the grounds near the eastern window
AS the result of my observations, ! in
formed Miss barrow that / had reason
to believe that her father had beer
murdered by a, person who had SOM
good motive for concealing his foot
prints, and who also had hating gait
THE weight Of this person was abl
to estimate at not far from one hundred
and thirty-fve pounds, and his heigh
as about five feet and five inches. =.
also stated it as my opinion that tn
person who did the deed had the habi
Of biting his fngerpails, and a part1cu
lar reason for sparing the nail of tn
little finger and permitting it to grow t
an abnormal length. This was no
Soil beneath: the eastern window
found perfect impressio ion Of a close
hand. Here is the cast Of that 5hanc
Look we'll at it. Notice the wart upo
the upper joint of the thumb, and tn
crook In the third finger where it ha
evidently been broken. M. Godin say
q he never entered the yard of the Da1
row estate, except on the night OF tn
murder in company with Messrs. o.
4 ~ passed up and down the front wal
on his way to and from the house, ye
the paint-mark on this slip Of glass wa
made by his thumb, and. the glas
the EASTERN %as win ds q the Darr o1
house-the window through which tn
murder was committed. This plaste
cast was taken from an impression !
the soil beneath the same window o
the morning after the murder. Th
B hand is the hand Of NJ. Godin. Yo
will note that one of this gentleman
feet is deformed and that he habitua
s84 ly halts in his walk 3"
We all glanced at M. Godin to verif
these assertions, but that gentlema
folded his arms in way to conces
4 his hands and thrust his feet out {
sight beneath the. chair in front
him, while he smiled at: us with til
utmost apparent good nature. H
& would be game to the last, there We
no doubt of that. zs-
Maitland: recalled our attention b
OFFICER, you will please arrest n
Godinl'. .
# An excited whisper was heard fro
every corner, and many were the hal
audible comments that were broken Q
by the imperative fall Of the erier
gavel. So. tense had been the stra
fs that It was some time before compile
Is order could be restored. When it w,
again quiet, Maitland continued
Your Honor and Gentlemen Of ii
Jury We will rest our case here Fl
M today. Tomorrow, or rather on Mo
day, we shall show the strange infuen
which NJ. Godin exercised over M. L
M tour, as well as M. sLatour's reason
FOR his confession. We shall endeav
NO make clear to you how NJ. Lato
as actually led to believe he had mu