The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-11
Was 1t a Dream !?


lOrixinal1
This story presents one Of those
psychological puzzles that some people
sheer at as fraudulent some take
great interest in, and to which most
people are Indifferent
Michael Keenan,, one OF the most
desperate Of burglars, having just been
discharged from state prison after
serving q ten years term, was prowl-
ing at midnight on the outskirts of a
town looking for an opportunity to re-
plenish HIS exchequer. He surveyed
several houses from their back yards
to make a selection for burglary when
he espied a figure walking In rear OF
house that fronted on another street.
keenan, laid low and watched. was
the person bent on the same purpose
as HIMSELF He soon discovered that
the figure was q man and was walking
to and fro keeping an eye on an upper
rear window of the house he was be-
hind. keenan, found loose fence
picket and with it stealthily approached
the figure There was thud, a MUIR
dered man. rifed pockets and q body
thrown In an open bunker Of the
house the figure had been watching
Then keenan, went Off with a gold
watch and chain and a hundred dol
lars in money.
Not long after the murder keenan,,
who was In a distant city, saw it stated
In newspaper that Hugh Gregory,
the owner Of the house in the bunk
er of which the body had been found,
had been arrested for murder. The
article also stated that Gregory was
I past fifty, the murdered man under
TWENTY-FIVE. The young man was Ev-
eret Sturgis and visitor at Gregory's
house. The chain Of evidence connect
/ ing Gregory with the murder was not
given Those sly fellowship police
were too smart to give anything away
before the proper time.
1t was this matter Of the police that
interested keenan, They had once
proved him guilty OF crime he had
not committed, and he was curious to
know how their ingenuity would work
In proving man guilty Of a crime
that he Keenan) had committed So
he laid low, living on the proceeds OF
the murder and taking no great risks
to get more He was absorbed in
what was called the Sturges murder
case Some of the papers sneered at
the police, accusing them of endeavor-
Ing to find in Gregory a victim in
whom to hide their stupidity. When
keenan, read this he chuckled. He be.
Iieyed that was their object
Then came reports OF the trial, which
the real murderer read eagerly SO
convincing were the arguments Of the
prosecuting attorney that Keenan, al
most believed himself innocent OF the
murder and Gregory the guilty one.
But when the prisoners counsel took
up the case he could see no possible
chance OF the prisoners conviction
One thing puzzled him--all the reports
stated that Gregory looked and acted
like guilty man.
The next statement Keenan, read fill
ed him with wonder. Gregory had
been convicted, and soon after bis con-
viction be had confessed. Sturges had
been sutton for bis daughters hand.
Gregory had bitterly opposed him. On
the night OF the murder Gregory had
gone to bed, TO awake at midnight
with an unexpIainable conviction that
Sturges was proving near the house
for the purpose OF clipping with the
girl Gregory for some time thought
he had dreamed that he saw Sturges
walking without, but SO strong was
the conviction that this was really so
that he got up, dressed, went down
stairs, took stout cane from the hall,
went out found Sturges and struck
him q blow, from which he sank down.
He had no remembrance Of putting the
body in the bunker and supposed Stur-
ges must have dragged himself there
and died.
When keenan, read this confession
he gave a long low whistle OF astonish-
ment Then he began to wonder If he
had not been dreaming himself and
Gregory had not, after all, killed Stur-
ges However, he still had Sturges'
watch, which he had not dared to sell
or pawn, and it was convincing proof
that he was the murderer He puz-
zled for weeks what he had better do.
He had no idea Of giving himself up
to save an innocent man, but he hated
the police and burned to show up what
he considered their inefficiency.
One night keenan, cracked a crib and
made fine haul Of ready cash. Then
he laid a plan. He bought a second
class ticket on a steamer bound for
Chile. Just before the steamer sailed
he expressed a small package to the
Judge before whom Gregory was tried
and at the same time mailed the judge
/ letter. In half an hour after doing
his he was out on the Atlantic ocean.
This is the letter he wrote the judge:
Dere Juge.--The. police is a LOT O blokes.
got out from behind the bars wan day,
ind that mite was lookin' fur a crib to
rack. spotted man watchin., I Killed
i'm and took the swag and dragged him
nto the bunker I'm givin' you by eg-
,ress the watch Of the man I killed.
he man convicted must q been dreamin'
m OF for turin parts. Yures,
MIKE KEENAN,.
The watch was identified as having
to Sturges, and Keenan,, in
lame, was traced to the prison from
which he had been discharged. Gregory
vas finally set at liberty, and his fam
" united in trying to convince him be
ad dreamed that he killed Sturges.
his he will not admit, though be con-
- 41.ot ers.o .,.,-.&cT ,.~.a-.-