Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-14

mat.
I related briefly the incidents of the
preceding evening and of the morn
ing.
Godfrey" | added impulsively. 'if
yOu knew Tremaine personally | think
you'd realize what a poor case we've
got against him. Why. it's no case
at all, Thcorizing'S all very well. but
what Il jury wants is evidence-plain.
out. direct evidencc-and we
haven't enough of that to build a cob
web. | thought I'd found some yes
terday afternoon. but ii was all the
effect of self induced hypnosis" and l
told him of my visit to Sing Sing.
He listened with intent face.
I'm mot so sure it wis hypnosis"
least. I'll have Il look at those photo
graphs myself before accept that
theory. In fact. | rather think it's
Tremaine who has hypuotized you.
not l."
Il don't believe he's guilty" re-
peated.
Then who is:''
''Cccily" l said bluntly. 4 taIieve
she's the one who killed Thompson.
anyway
'Wher2'S YOUR evidcnce:~
II hGven't any" | said helplessly:
only a kind of intuition"
We'll. I've the same kind of intuition
it was Tremame"
Pat we haven't any evidence
against him. either; not sired of real.
direct. convincing evidence"
Perhaps not" he agreed. but we're
going to get it-enou@h to convict him
and some II spare"
Convict him OF what?''
''Of two murders and one robbery"
Then You believe he's implicated in
This EdSemere AFFAIR.""
I'm sure OF it,
But there isn't Il shred Of evidence
against him." ] protested again, com
Ing back to ny old objection. Really
Godfrey was allowing his prejldices
to carry him too far.
Not Il shred. apparently" he assent
cd readily.
We'll then. how
Here's the landing" he interrupted
we can talk it over on the train"
We left the boat and FASTENED across
to the station. The train was waiting
the word to start and was in motion 4
moment after we stepped aboard
There were not many passengers. foI
the morning travel is toward the city,
| not from it, and we had no difficulty
in finding n seat where we could talk
without fear of being overheard.
Now" began Godfrey. "as you say,
there isn't Il shred of evidence. appar-
| entity. against Tremaine. How abou,
yOur CLIENT
Against Drysdale," / answered
the evidence seems to lie unusually
| complete"
You might have used stronger
phrase. It's not only complete: it's
conSummately perfect. Not a link is
missing. He was on the spot: his re
volver is found near by with blood on
| it: button from his coat Is in the
| dead mans hand; when he returns t.
| the house he is visibly disturbed; ri
| the moment of his arrest he was pre-
| pairing to escape; he refuses to eX
plain where he was at the time the
crime was committed; he $ involved il
steel speculation and presumably needs
ready money"
| "Well:"
We'll" said Godfrey earnestly, tina
| very perfection is IFS greatest weak
ness It's too perfect. Any one OF
those things might have happened
perhaps any two of them: but tina
they should all have happened out
RACES the law Of probabilities. Tha
every link of the chain is complete
means that it has been artificially pro
duced. like Il stage storm. where The
lightning flashes at just the right in
slant The fellow who arranged i
wanted to he too sure He overleapet
himself"
That may all he true / said slow
ly, after a moment. but it would b.
worse than folly TO use that argumen
with a jury To say that a man ism
guilty because the evidence agains
him appears to be conclusive
:. We're not going to use it to a jury
We're using it between ourselves. in al
effort TO find working hypothesis
And here's another argument whicl
would carry no weight with jury, We
which with me, personally, is conclu
sive: | know Jack Drysdale. w
known him for long time. and l know
that it's utterly impossible that h
should have committed such crime
| He's not a very original fellow not a
all a genius. He's never done any
thing, perhaps. which either of u
would think really worth doing; bu
he's kind and honest and gentle am
honorable. I repeat that a crime lik
; this is as far beyond his horizon as it i
beyond yours. farther. I'm sure. thai
it is beyond mine, and vet l don't be
lieve you'd think me guilty, no matte
what the evidence against me SCENE
; to be-
Il shouldn't" l said. but if Drys
dale isn't guilty who is?"
/ IF Drysdale isn't, there's only on
other person who can be-that's Tire
, maine. As I'm sure Drysdale's nc
guilty, I'm correspondingly sure tina
'rreInaine is -