Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-09-18
Conclusive Evidence.
[Original,l


Warren Murdoch, one Of the best am
pteur photographers in New York, had
been taking some views in Central
park. He was leaving the park when
he was aocosted by woman respect
ably dressed, to all appearances lady.
'Tll trouble you for q hundred dol
lars" she said.
"a hundred dollars! My dear lady,
why should l give you hundred dol
arsF"
ITO save yourself from the conse-
uucnces of having annoyed me-"
Il annoy you? / never saw you be-
fore"
"You have been following me ever
since l entered the park. Do you see
that policeman over there by the ODE
lisk? 1t is an easy matter for me to
| call him, have you arrested and taken
to the station. There 1 shall state that
YOU have been annoying me in the
park. If you cannot get bail you VIII
spend the night In cell. The informa-
ton of your despicable conduct Will be
read tomorrow morning by every New
Yorker who takes newspaper. Your
wife, If you have one, will never be
quite sure whether you are guilty or
innocent. Even If you are acquitted on
trial you will ever afterward suffer an
unpleasant notoriety. Some will be-
lieve you innocent, but the majority
will believe you guilty. VIII 1t not DO
worth hundred dollars to you to
avoid all this?"
Murdoch was so stunned by this
proposition, so convinced Of Its truth,
that for few minutes he made no re-
ply, staring at the woman In wonder
ut her effrontery.
GLOW will you prove your caseT
81 don't need to prove 1t. It's the
notoriety am relying on. Even If
could prove 1t you would suffer no
punishment except small fine.
Proved or not, your name will be pub
lished as one charged with a con-
temptible crime and you will never
live down the smirch."
"Do you expect people you spring
your game on to carry so much about
themT
mot usually. The matter may be
kept from the public by the accused
giving fictitious name. The money
may he paid at any time before the
trial, and so to the police and con-
TESS myself as having been mistaken.
Then they will release you. But you
look like a man who would not go
about without being well supplied
with money"
Murdoch saw by this that the wo-
man considered q bird In the hand
worth Two In the bush. He happened
to have plenty to meet the present ne
cesslty.
Suppose we compromise" he said
"In give you $50"
The woman gave him a scrutinizing
glance.
-"If the matter is settled here be-
tween US now" he continued, ut Will
be better for us both. You run no
risk. l don't have to go to the police
station"
every well. I'll take $50"
Murdoch pulled out his pocketbook
and counted five of the bills. The wo-
man held out her hand.
"The policeman is looking this way"
said Murdoch. ut may be he knows
YOU as an old offender and is watching
you. If he sees me give you money
he'll arrest you for practicing your
game, and I'll have to go with you to
testify against you. In that case
won't be much better off than II l
refuse to pay you anything. Now
suppose I go and drop the money at
the foot of that tree yonder and you
go and pick 1t up"
The woman looked suspicious, but
after some thought, seeing no way by
which her victim could trick her, she
consented. Murdoch rolled the bills,
holding them in his fist, walked to the
root of the tree and dropped them.
Then he sauntered away. The woman
advanced, keeping one eye on Muir
dock, the other on the bills, half hidden
In the grass. She had nothing to fear
unless he might have dropped some
thing of no value in place Of the bills,
but IN that case there was the police
man, and she had only to call him to
carry out her threat. Selling the bills,
her face took on an avaricious look as
she saw that they were really bank
bills. The only remaining question was
were there five Of them. And this Is
the most important feature Of this
story. She counted them, and while
she was counting them she heard a
click.
Starting, she turned to look at Muir
dock, expecting to see q revolver lev
eled at her She saw him looking up
from his kodak, which he had swung
in. front OF him and turned In her di-
rection.
F. "Policew he cried at the top of his
voice.
The policeman heard and came to-
ward him.
ARREST that woman
"What forf" asked the cop.
"She has $50 on her person just given
her by me for blackmall. Take her to
the station and watch her to see that
she doesn't get rid Of the bills"
"You come along" said the police
man. Il don't make arrests without
holding the witness"
"All right" said Murdoch. "Tll go
with you with pleasure"
At the station the accuser gave a
bond for his appearance at the exam
ination of the woman the next morn
ing, then went home to develop the
plates he had taken during his sojourn
In the park. The next day he went to
court, was sworn as a witness and told
his story. When called upon for evil
dence to substantiate his charge he
draw a nhOfoOrnnh which he handed |