The daily Alaskan., 1906-05-14
The Inspectors $ Story
Ioriginal.l

I much affected by those mediaeva methods In vogue, especially with the French, of working the nerves oi guilty people. Indeed, was vel adapted to apply such methods, for have an eye that can look man through and through and an impress i've manner. Besides, consider my self as possessing a good deal of inge nuity in laying traps for the guilty tC fall into.
 One of my first cases after having been appointed an inspector was the Atherton murder. Howard Atherton a bachelor and a well known man about town, was found dead in his rooms in an apartment house shot through the heart by a pistol ball. His own revolver, with one chamber emp tied, lay on the floor beside him.
 The last person seen coming out oi AthertOn'S rooms some fifteen or twen' ty minutes before the murder was his friend, George Bronson. AthertOn and Bronson were inseparable. The lat ters mother and sisters were very much opposed to the intimacy, cOnsid' ering Atherton's influence over Bron' son deleterious. They knew that Ath' erton was indebted to Bronson for borrowed money which was slowly growing in amount. Money matters are the cause of many murders, and ] formed a theory that Bronson in trying to collect from his friend had got into a quarrel with him and shot him.
 I was at Atherton's rooms soon aft CT the murder was discovered and be fore anything was moved. l made up my mind that the murderer had en' tered the sitting room from the hall, Atherton having entered the room from his bedroom, revolver in hand. Ather' ton had fired shot at his asSailant. which had lodged in the door by which the murderer had entered. This was a theory. but well supported by the con ditions.
 I did not arrest Bronson, but sent foI him to come to my office, Ostensibly to get his assistance in ferreting out the guilty person. He came and while he answered all my questions did so as if studying to say no more than was ab. solutely necessary. I asked him if he would oblige me by going over to the rooms where his friend had been shot. and he compiled, but with great re. luctance. As soon as we were in the sitting room l began to picture the scene of the murder as I had conceived It. Fixing my eye on Bronson, l said:
 "AthertOn was doubtless taking an afternoon snooze in his bedroom wheG he heard the sitting room door open, He got up from his bed and saw through the bedroom door what was iD the wind. Do you follow meT'
 "Yes."
 "There were hot words about his in. debtedness."
 "Yes."
 Turning again to his bedroom, he seized his pistol and advanced upon you. You started back for moment irresOlute."
 'I did"
 ',Your friend fired, you sprang aside and. the ball entered the door. There do you see the hole?'
 'sYes."
 ''You then fired andT-
 Shot him through the heart"
 I led Bronson out of the room docle as a lamb and when in the street called to the first policeman l met to go with us to the station, where a charge Of murder was entered. Bronson looked like one in a dream. Never had l seen such a decided effect in getting con fession by acting on the nerves. My first arrest in the case was the sell | confessed murderer.
 Bronson spent the night in a cell, and visited him the next morning, eX pected he would deny having made confession, and he did, Indeed, he pre- tended not to remember having the | conversation with me. was dlsap Dointed at this. for 1t would compel me to prove him the guilty one. In mos ,ases of confession the COnfessor t too broken down to recant In his cast if seemed probable to me that over night he had remembered that th' chances were l had drawn his admis sions without evidence and that haC DO witness to them.
 l worked hard on the case, folowe' a number of clews, only to be banned The sole proof had against him wa his confession, which unfortunatet J was unwritten. On this confession held him for months, while bis heaip was gradually breaking down. wa in a quandary. The man had cor fessed his guilt but I could not COT vict him.
 One day when Bronson had been l fail for eight months and was muc worried to know what to do with hi1 II received an anonymous note tha the AtheFton murder, which had bee committed under circumstances tha would prevent any jury from conyic ing the slayer, would be revealed o condition that the affair be hushed u Tired out with the matter, l gave m consent. 4 man whose wife Atherto had been intimate with went to Athe L. EfTs