The daily Alaskan., 1908-07-02

forward to 1t as part and parcel of the seasons programme.
 "There has been a murder commit ted in a city, a village or out in the country, and the murderer has got away. The murder may have been for revenge, robbery, jealousy or what not. The first thing the police do, fail lng to find the guilty party within a few hours, is to lay the crime to tramps. Their own records would show them that the tramp class is more clear of capital crimes than al- most any other, and yet the first in- stlnct is to go for It. The call goes forth in city and village to round 1t up and country constobles for fifty miles around are warned to be on the lookout.
 T am plodding along a country high way or taking a nap under a tree be- side the road when the heavy hand of the law is laid upon me. The constable may have five or six men at his back, all armed and all regarding me as a most desperate character. I am bound hand and foot. There is much rejoic- Ing. The constable feels that he will be nominated for sheriff next time, and those with him know they will be regarded as heroes for some time to come. l am told that I am q red handed murderer and that if so much as raise a finger shall have my brains blown into the next county.
 "The procession heads for the county jail and makes q triumphal entry into the town. Everybody turns out to see and to ask questions. The constable and his assistants are almost carried around on the shoulders of the mob. A boom sets in, and real estate jumps 9 per cent. It is hours before the excite ment abates. The telephone and the telegraph spread the news all over the country that the murderer has been ar- rested, and the jancr wouldn't trade places with the president of the Unit ed States.
 "Of course there is mob of newspa- per men, and of course I am pictured and described as a villain and all that. Our reporter may not even get in to see me, but that makes no difference with his writing two or three columns about the affair and giving my per sonal description. People are let in to gaze on a wild beast. Not a man has the slightest doubt that am guilty.
 If l have been captured for mur- der outside the county I am taken away after three or four days. If 1t is In the county I am kept In Jail until the examination comes or. In either event l live like a fighting cock. The officials all defer to me. I get extras with my meals for being a murderer, get cigars for being a hero. Ministers call to see me, and now and then a bouquet comes in. am informed by the detectives and others that they have got a straight case against me and then advised to own up and throw myself on the mercy of the court. That's where the laugh comes in.
 One of Two Things Sure to Happen.
 "In the course of a week one of two things is sure to happen. The officers either get the right clew and 1 am set at liberty or I am arraigued for exam nation. In the former case the sheriff comes to my cell ard calls out:
 "IIere, you miserable old tramp, get out of thisr
 "What for?
 Because say so. You are dis charged from custody. Why in the devil didn't you say you weren't guilHT
 "'But did.'
 "Dout lie to me! Get out of this Jail! A nice mess you have made of It! People are calling me the biggest ass in the state! Get a hump on your. self?
 And two years ago in an Ohio jail, where L had lain for a week under charge of double murder, the sheriff kicked me as I left the fail. l went straight to a lawyer and had him ar-