Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-02-14
Was Ii a Dream :?
(Original.]

This story presents one Of those
psychological puzzles that some people
sneer 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 ten years term, was prowl-
ing at midnight on the outskirts of
town looking for IN opportunity to re-
plenish his exchequer. He surveyed
several houses from their back yards
to make selection for burglary when
he espied figure walking in rear Of
a 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
to and fro. keeping an eye on an upper
rear window Of the house he was be-
hind. keenan, found a loose fence
picket and with it stealthily approached
the figure. There was q thud, q muir
dered man, rifled pockets and a 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 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
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 q victim in
whom to hide their stupidity. When
Keenan, read this he chuckled. He be.
lieved that was their object.
Then came reports Of the trial, which
the real murderer read eagerly. So
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 his con-
viction he had confessed. Sturges had
been a sutton for his daughters hand.
Gregory had bitterly opposed him. On
the night Of the murder Gregory had
gone to bed, to awake at midnight
with an unexplainable conviction that
Sturges was prowling 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 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 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 ineficiency,
Que night Keenan, cracked crib and
made a fine haul Of ready cash. Then
he laid a plan. He bought q second
class ticket on steames bound for
Chile. Just before the steamer sailed
he expressed small package to the
Judge before whom Gregory was tried
and at the same time mailed the Judge
a letter. In half an hour after doing
this he was out on the Atlantic ocean
This is the letter he wrote the Judge:
Dere Juge.-7The police is lot o. blokes
] got out from behind the bars wan day,
and that mite was. lookin' fur crib to-
crack. sp0tted q man watchin'. + KILLED
him and took the swag and dragged him
Into the bunker. I'm gfvin' you by ex.%
press the watch Of the man ! killed
The man convicted must q been dreamin'
I'm off orfurin' parts. Yures, &. Il <s TX MI
= h .4S,5ssi35 80 MIKE KEENAN,.
The watch was identified as having
belonged to sturges, and Keenan,, In