Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-09-24
A Bit of Detective
Work
BY c. L. DAYTON.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association
Maggie, we're ruined"

"Mr. Brant has been murdered, and
shall be accused Of the murder"
How? Why"
1--WE were together tonight since 8
o'clock In the bank, he to do some
work on the statement to be made to
the directors tomorrow, | to post my
books. The janitor saw us go in to-
gether. Brant worked in his private
office, at my desk. When | finished
1 went to him to ask If he was ready
to 60 home. found him lying on
the floor dead, the carpet covered with
blood"
And you came away without noti-
flying any one?"
Eyes; the murderer will doubtless
never be known. l will be arrested
and made to suffer for his crime"
The wife, trembling the while,
thought what was best to be done and
thought quickly. Presently she said,
speaking rapidly:
whether you were right or wrong
In not calling the police, you have made
a step which is irrevocable. You must
get away. Go and shave off your beard
while l get some of my clothes ready
for you"
Half an hour later Henry Hunt left
his house disguised as a woman. He
carried in suit case male attire which
he designed putting on as soon as he
felt it best to do so. He was to notify
his wife from time to time by code
as to his address.
The murder was not discovered till
the next morning, and, as Hunt had
been with the cashier the night before
and was missing, there was no doubt
as to his being the murderer
Great sympathy was manifested for
Mrs Hunt, who had been left not only
with the obloquy of her husbands
crime resting upon her, but without
support for herself and her children.
She had had the night before the muir
der was discovered to think over the
matter and decided that it would be
best, when questioned, for her to say
that her husband had come home at 10
o'clock, that he had gone out and she
had not seen him since. Under exam
ination nothing more than this was to
be got out of her.
Mrs. Hunt at once began the study
of bookkeeping and in a few months
applied to the president of the bank
where her husband had been employed
for position. Her request was
granted.
The new bookkeeper, on account of
her inexperience-so she told the Of
ficers of the bank-found it necessary
to work nights. She was given per-
mission, and the janitor was instruct
ed to admit her whenever she desired
to enter.
Now, in all this there was a method.
The more Mrs Hunt thought over her
husbands flight the more she was sat
isfied with the course he had taken.
Not a scrap Of evidence came up to
incriminate any one else. 1t was be-
lieyed that no other person could have
entered the bank during the limit of
time and the murder could not have
been done for the purpose Of robbery,
for no funds were taken. She saw no
possible escape for her husband had
he remained and faced the charge of
murder.
Detectives were for a time secretly
put on the case by the president Of the
bank with a view to ascertaining a
motive for the killing Of the cashier.
But, no such motive being discovered,
the matter was dropped. There was
a detective at work on the case of
whose efforts not n person connected
with the bank was aware. Mrs. Hunt
felt sure from the first that some one
connected with the institution had
committed the murder and that the
murderer had a motive. The most
reasonable theory was that there was
a secret between the cashier and the
murderer that would explain the mo-
tive.
Mrs. Hunt had been working but
q few evenings when Horace Tiff.
head bookkeeper, found it necessary to
work nights also. He offered to help
Mrs. Hunt on her books, but she de-
clined. One evening when they were
with her a sandwich and a bottle Of
milk, offered Tiff a glass Of the milk.
He drank it and for several days after
ward was laid up with an illness.
When he recovered he resumed his
night work on his books. He found
Mrs. Hunt there and said to her:
There was something in that milk
you gave me to make me ILL.,"
Certainly there was. l put it
there"
What for?" asked Tiff, turning pale.
Mrs. Hunt raised the skirt of her
dress, unslung a revolver and laid it
on her desk. Then she said:
ITO work on your books. You are
covering up a large deficiency"
Tiff stood looking at her in terror.
my husband Is a fugitive for your
crime" added the woman.
Tits head fell on his desk.
I'll tell you what I'll do" pursued
the woman. I'll let you. change places
with him. Sign a confession of the
murder and you may go into hiding"
The man took ten minutes to con-
slider. then accepted the terms.
The next morning Tiff was missing
Mrs. Hunt suggested that his books be
fciency Of 100000 discovered. Then
she produced the defauter's confes-
sion.
Tiff was never caught. Hunt was re-
called and put in his place an1 Is now