Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-13
3 e q q : E. q = 8 3. 9:


Adcock, recalled, identified pair Of
dlapidated shoes and the mutilated
elements of a beaver as having belong
ed to the accused. Bassett had no idea
what point the prosecution designed to
make, but at once he gave a taste of
his quality. He pressed the witness
and shook her as to the hat, but to
the shoes she stood firm; she had
cleaned them often enough, so she
ought to know. Then she cleaned the
lodgers' boots herself? Well, not ali.
And an adroit question or two reveal
ed the fact that Erichsen had been her
pet and "One it was pleasure to do
for" against whom she had appeared
with profound reluctance. Indeed. she
left the box and rejoined the husband
who had brought her there in tears.
And so the defense made 4 first mere
tricious point.
Nor was 1t the last. Jonathan But
terfield, unlike his relatives. had not
been called at the previous examina-
ton; but he was now. and his feelings
were worked upon in the same deft
fashion. AS, however, there was no
jury to he simultaneously touched. all
this was wasted deXterity. but it look
ed neat in the newspapers and, what
was better, but unintentional. imposed
upon poor Tom and gave him momen-
tary heart.
Meanwhile the shoes and hat had
done real damage. and this evidence
was the more deleterious from being
new to all. Guilty fight and ultimate
capture had been fully dealt with on
the previous occasion. but the equally
discriminating interim was only now
filed in by the officers who had chased
and lost n desperate housebreaker in
the small hours of Saturday. but only
afterward connected him with the
Hampstead murderer. The connection
was established by the beaver hidden.
but discovered. in the empty house and
by the shoes left on either side of the
nursery garden gate. Only two off,
GERS appeared: the third was in hos
pital. and one of the two had a band
aged head
The medical evidence had been taken
on the Monday morning. so had that of
the crafty householder of Kew. yet his
powdered head was again in court. and
his humorous. sly smile looked as be
nevolent as ever, only broader and
more subtly droll Tom heard this
public bcnefactOr taking snuff in ev-
cry pause.
The other new witness was one Rich
ard Vale. who brought a Whit of cog
nae into the crowded court His words
ran into one another, but his evidence
Was all too clear. Witness described
himself as very old friend of the de-
ceased. He swOre that deceased had
frequently told him he went in fear
of the prisoner. who had repeatedly
threatened him by letter. and to whom.
in fact, the deceased owed a sum of
money. The letters were now put in.
They all related to a worthless check
for f35, the sum in question, and with
out a blush witness explained about
| the check. The check book was an
old one of his own. He remembered
the deceased telling him he had made
use of it in the manner alleged In the
letters, but he could not himself de.
scribe the incident. as. to the best of
his belief, he was intoxicated on that
occasion. And the witness stood down.
having supplied the motive of revenge
to a case strong enough, in all con-
science, as it was.
Bassett hurried to the dock.
II suppose you lost that check" he
whispered.
mo; gave 1t him back with the re-
ceipt."
Bassett turned abruptly and stated
that the prisoner reserved his defense.
A minute later he stood formally COM
mitted for trial at the next sessions of
the central criminal court.
''I'll see you down below" said Bas-
sett, nodding airily to trembling Tom,
but the latter pulled himself together
on his blessed release from the public
gaze. and the subsequent interview In
the bowels of the police office was
businesslike on both sides.
"When are the sessionsT asked Tom
"They begin next Monday. No time
to be lost"
Give days more. Well, it's better
than waiting. So you won't give me
my benefactor's name?"
81 am pledged not to reveal it to q
soul"
Tom was carried in the prison var
to Newgate and consigned to chape
yard.
CHAPTER x.
~LAIRE HARDING had now adj