The Green Forest tribune., 1908-12-04

I via?" I asked when the change had been executed,
 No one. I am unofficial and am going solely upon my own hook
 Then you are a sort of Sherlock Holmes?" l ventured.
 Sherlock Holmes is an impossibll- | ity. With all due respect to his liter ary progenitor, Dr. Doyle, l have very | little respect for his methods, all though I admit I employ them at i times. Crime is psychological and must be approached psychologically regarding both it's prevention and it's detection It must be combatted by the study of men, not by the analysis of cigar ashes. It may be prevented by improving the breed of human be- ings rather than that of bloodhounds. 1 But l tire you, perhaps
 No, no, go on; I beg of you"
 "There is scarcely time for further discussion, for if I am not mistaken we are nearing Aurovia. By the way, you | doubtless can procure me an interview with Dr. Homer Smith in the jail, as you have the backing of big news paper
 But Dr. Smith has not been arrest l ed, according to the papers. 1 had the very latest editions"
 He had not when we left Chicago, but unless l am greatly mistaken he is now behind the bars and with pretty black case against him." 1 You certainly have information on the case which the newspapers have not been able to obtain,'' l replied, rather nettled.
 l No, l know no more about the case 1 than you. Perhaps I merely jump at the conclusion as the fnality of a theory which my mind suggested. may be mistaken"
 Further conversation was interrupt ed by our arrival before the little arti- ficial stone building which serves for railway station at Aurora The evi dent topic of conversation on all sides was the tragedy of the night before l scorned unofficial information until l had exhausted the official. However 1 COulQ lOl GSIot lul IllllS lO Ollt Ol tllS groups on the platform and asking:
 What is the latest in the Williams case?"
 Doe. Smith gave himself up about two hours ago. was the answer.
 So my theory was correct" mur mured my companion.
 Yes, and the mystery knocked out of another good story. But let's see what the police have to say
 When we reached police headquar ters we found Chief Darling in his i office and at leisure. As we entered my companion slipped me his card with an apology for having omitted the formality on the train. The name I read was MT Carlton Clarke
 Chief Darling was willing to talk but protested that he had no knowl edge which was not already public property in the city. He had arrested Dr. Smith upon his own request and after conference with the states at torney. The most damaging evidence against him, aside from the known de tails of the tragedy, was a powerful motive. The prisoner had every reason in the world to be the enemy of the dead physician, although there had never been an open rupture and they met as friends in society and lodge work. When Dr. Williams came to Aurora Dr. Smith had a dourishine practice. Within the two years his 1 practice had dwindled to practically nothing, most of his wealthiest pa tients having fallen under the spell oi Dr. Williams engaging personality.
 But it was over an affair of the heart that the most serious clash in their fortunes had occurred. Dr. Smith for years had been keeping company with pretty Lucille Burton. Everybody in the city believed them to be tacitly engaged. The society sensation there fore was sprung when the cards came out about year before announcine the marriage of Dr. Williams and Lu cile Burton.
 Has their married life been hap py?" asked Carlton Clarke, the first words he had spoken during the inter view
 Well, yes. as far as anybody knows Dr. Williams was a hard drinker al times-what you might call periodi cal drinker-but few people knew it as he always rent home and locked himself in the house for three or foul days and it was given out that he was sick. But my men have taken hin home many time just before one o1 those sick spells"
 What is Dr. Smiths bearing?"
 That's just what puzzles me. Ht will make no confession and yet he wanted to be locked up. I said to him Look here, Doc, you're not guilty o this thing, are you? and he said Technically am,' and not another word can I get out of him. But shouldn't be surprised if he makes z full confession at the inquest to-mor row"
 I Now, MT. Darling" continued Clarke, you have of course investi gated fully the history of the pow der?"
 That was the first move I made ] and that's one thing that makes it loo,