Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-01
lcopyrlght. By Tho cassell Publishing Coz

1
And that is, to your mind, most
valuable, a most important, piece of
evidence? In conjunction with Mr..
Fetridge's conduct and course, you
would consider it certainly very sig
nifcant?"
$50 significant" returned Stack
house, that but for the fact that l
want to have the criminal SO tangled
in the mesh when he is caught that
there can be no possible escape,
should before this have given the In
formation to the police"
Then your theory is-?" suggested
the detective.
What theory could man have un-
der the circumstances? Richard Fet-
ridge gained my partners confidence
got into the family on friendly foot
ing-saw it was of no use to keep up
his scheme of working poor Mr..
North any further, enticed him to this
interview and subsequent conference at
his house and there murdered him"
Murdered him." echoed Mr.. Lamm,
with not shade of difference in the
|
pected just such a revelation
Mot only murdered him." Stack
house went on, his voice now full and
strong under the stress of excitement;
"but tried to fasten the guilt of the
crime upon me. Richard Fetridge
wrote my name there in the blood of
his Northumberland Fetridge, and no
other. l leel as certain of it as if l
had been witness of the deed. He is
my enemy; l have felt it for a long
time, and In the hostility, and no
doubt his dread lest his scheming with
North should come to light through
my examination Of his affairs, he has
done his utmost to discredit and dis
honor me. Now you see why l want
Richard Fetridge watched; why want
him followed at every step; why l
want his guilt established by incon-
trovertible proof"
BY this time Stackhouse, with his
fists clenched, was pacing the floor
First of all" said the detective,
quietly observing Stackhouse under his
eyebrows-'first of all, let us look at
your own interests here. Perhaps you
over-estimate the influence Of that
word written on the wall-your name
as you declare No one else has as
serted this openly, Mr.. Stackhouse;
but there have, no doubt, been whis-
perings to. that effect, and it is the
part of wisdom for you to silence, al
once and effectually, any such charge
uttered, insinuated. or limited at. You
can, OF course, prove your whereabouts
at the time when the murder must
have been committed"
Mr.. Lamm said this in tone Of
business-like Indifference.
| you mean-an alibi?" asked Stack
house. with something more of hest
fancy than had characterized his state
ments hitherto.
Certainly"
Well, Mr.. Lamm, as we are on con.
fidential terms, talking as man to man
| see no reason for concealing the fact
that my position as regards an abb
is little peculiar"
"Indeed?" Mr.. Lamm gave his pen
another twill.
Il went to Vercelli's about half-past
six o'clock for dinner with Mr.. Spar.
hawk, one of my business friends. He
was obliged to take a train out of town
on the Providence road, and after the
dinner walked up and down the Pub.
lie Garden, smoking a contemplating
cigar"
"Alone?"
yes. Just how long this might
have taken I really cannot say"
About what time did you finish
your dinner?'
Somewhere about half-past sever
o'clock. After this little walk, to helr
digest my dinner, went towards
Washington street again. Then-bu
why should beat about the bush.
The evening was on my hands, ant
l dropped In for quiet little game
with some friends at a house In Ayory
street."
Eyes; I've heard Of the place." sale
the detective, dryly.
There stayed until it was gettins
nearly two o'clock, when walked into
the Adams house, and slept til, break
fast"
"Umha!" Mr.. Lamm seemed to b,
considering point. about what time
did you visit the Avory street house.
It may be important as bearing on the
question of alibi."
Not until after nine. can be sure
Of that, for I distinctly remember hear.
ing the bells ring at that hour while
was In the street."
"At all events" said the detective
your friends can testify, if it should
be necessary, through any complica
ton of circumstances, when you 1oinec
your party, and how long you remained
there?"
Undoubtedly Mr.. Stackhouse sal
moment thinking in his turn. 81
suppose no reliable opinion las 70,
been given as to the time when Pau
North came to his end" He looked
a trife uneasy as he put the cues