The Lambertville record., 1910-10-25
MYSTERY SOLVED

mo. We went to his house. ana ne
wasn't there. Then we followed him
down the valley, for If he had gone up
1t would have led him back to the
mines. Meanwhile we had posted men
on the hilltops on either side and know
that he didn't get out that way"
"H'm! Keep up your efforts to find
him. Search every bit of territory
where he may possibly be-"
Tom Murphy had been murdered
down in the mine in pocket where he
had been alone with Jim Dugan. Du!
gan had succeeded in getting out, pass
ing men who had not yet heard Of the
murder.
Dugan was not found, and after sew
eral days search it was believed that
he had got out of the valley. His wife
declared that she knew no more Of his
whereabouts than those who were
hunting him. The matter was left
with the police.
A month after the Murphy murder.
as gang of men were quitting work,
Hans Schmitt remained behind, and,
going to heap Of coal near by, he be-
gan to turn over loose pieces with his
pick. AS soon as his companions had
gone up in the cage he suddenly stop
ped, listened and, hearing the sound of
single pick, went toward the worker.
Presently, putting out his light,
Schmitt moved more stealthily, paus-
ing now and again to listen, starting
at some sound in distant part Of the
mine and, when assured that there
was no one near, moving on again. At
last, coming near the place, a sort of
pocket, where a man was working
alone, Schmitt stole up behind him,
raised his pick and was about to bring
it down on the skull Of the victim
when suddenly hand grasped the
pick from behind. At the same mo-
ment a voice cried:
"Jacobv'
The workman turned, the light in his
hat revealing Hans Schmitt standing
with his upraised pick. A moment
later the man behind, moving from the
shadow cast by the would be MUIR
derer, was also recognized.
carl Foegel," exclaimed the work
man, what does this mean?"
"That had l not been on the watch
and saved you you would have been
murdered"
Schmitt, loosening his hold on his
pick. made move to get away, but
Foegel caught him around the waist,
and Jacob Schuster pinioned his arms.
In this condition they dragged him to
the foot of the cage and gave the Sig
nal for it to ascend. In ten minutes
more they had their captive between
them in the Office Of the superintend-
ent.
Had it not been for Foegel," said
Schuster. this man, Hans Schmitt,
would have murdered me. | was doing
up behind me and raised his pick to
strike when Foegel held it."
'How did you happen to be there?"
asked the superintendent of Foegel.
Before I tell my story" said Foe
gel. II would like to have Schmitt's
room searched"
The superintendent ordered the search
made, and in few minutes the search
ers returned with some money and a
watch that had belonged to the mur-
dered Murphy.
"How is this?" said the superintend-
ent. surprised. This man was not
suspected of killing Murphy. Jim Du-
gan did that job and proved that he
had done it by running away"
"Shall tell my story?" said Foegel.
"Yes; proceed"
ION the evening of Murphy's mur-
der l was working with my gang
when felt thirsty, and, going for
some water. 1 saw a man ahead of
me skulking along as though bent on
some villainy. kept back. following
him to where Murphy was working.
and saw him raise his pick and strike
Murphy. For moment l was para
lyzed and gave him time to rob the
body. then rushed forward. but not
before the murderer had gone. lift
ed Murphy up and saw that he was
dead 1t then occurred to me that If
found there with the body would be
suspected of the murder. especially as
could not identify the real murderer.
so got out. AS was leaving l was
seen by man who was passing the
place."
The superintendent looked dazed.
my good man." he said. "hOw long
since you began to work hereY
"Since the day after the murder"
Take him away" said the superin-
tendent. Hes gone daft"
Zone moment" continued Foegel. Il
have been watching many men. in
cluding Hans Schmitt. and today
when the men quit work and he did
not go with them l believed he was
bent on mischief. l stayed behind,
followed him and this time prevented
murder"
But the Murphy case"-
After Murphy was murdered went
to nv home shaved off nv rod heard