The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-06-09

~ Headquarters at 800 Null
8AH berry street In Manhat.
NJ tan. The driver hoped
of his perch in a hurry,
went inside, and inquired
for the detective bureau.
The fellow displayed 50 much agita-
ton that the lieutenant in the front
once sent him right up to the quar-.
tiers OF Inspector Fnney Valentine.
where he told the following strange
story In choice Fourth ward speech:
me names Barney Fogle. l was
on me stand corner O. Lexington and
TIrd avenyer wen a guy-a dago, I
guess he was-comes up t. me an
spiels whether l en- move a trunk
from tn Gran Central. I tells him
Sure thing an he gifts in me wagon,
sayin' he'll 90 wit me.
well. cap. we goes inter tn bag
gage-room, an tn feller hands over
q receipt an claims his trunk. He
helps carry It, an load it on me
wagon, SEEM twas too hefty for one
man Z handle. I notice that he
seems mikhty chico an tender of it.
which made what he says next sound
purity queer. TIL guy hands me a
dollar and says he wants me t take
tn trunk an dump 1t in tn river
east or north would do-'cause there's
nothin' inside but old books an rub
bish.
Before I cud say I'd take tn
Job, he walks of an that's tn last
/ seen Of him. Course it was a
queer order. Why didn't he sell tn
old books t. some junkman fr waste
paper? Then l looks at tn trunk
all new an shiny-an' I says t me-
self: What's a workin' guy like that
doin' givin' away a good trunk fer:
So I hefts It again, an it sure was a
load-packed solid like-an' appended
It { have a look at tn bottom. What
l see there y can see fr yerself, cap.
an I sizes it up that it's up t. me t.
make a quick sneak fr tn perlice."
where's the trunk now?" inquired
Valentine, all alert at this dramatic
story.
"In me wagon outside-less some
guys pinches it since I came in,
which | guess nit"
Fetch it up" commanded the
chief, calling a couple of husky head
quarters porters.
As the trio went out Of the. door,
Valentine signaled quietly to a plain
clothes man to keep the husky ex-
pressman in sight and see that he
didn't get away. Apparently Barney
Fogle had nc wish to escape; he had
told an evidently straight story so
far; but 1t was well to take no
chances.
When the mysterious trunk was
hauled into an inner room It proved
TO be a rather cheap affair, but full.
sized, such as could be bought on the
Bowery or lower Sixth avenue for
three or four dollars. The lock was
fimsy and the construction weak, the
metal corners and bands being more
for show than for service. Around
Il was knotted crosswise a length
Of common clothesline.
Altogether the trunk was ordinary
and innocent-looking-until you looked
at tho bottomt as 1t stood on end
There the thin Eastwood was stained
q dark reddish brown as Of some
liquid which had sluggishly oozed
through the cracks of the boards.
Inspector Valentine reached for a
powerful magnifying lens and studied
the telltale stains closely for some
minutes. Then Strengthening up he
gave the curt order, "Open IT,"
So they united the knotted clothes
line, and from q bunch Of handy keys
Of asserted sizes n was. found
which fitted the lock. As the lid waa
flung back q horrid and revolving
sight met the gaze. Crowded closely
into the trunk, from which the tray
had been removed. was the headless
and armless body OF a young woman
petite in form. nearly nude! The
knees had been bent double close to
the chest and the interstices between
the body and the sides of the trunk
were stuffed with sundry articles Of
feminine apparel. some Of them torn
IN shreds to 1T. Evidently here was
a case of foul murder. for in the left
breast was a deep knife or stilette
wound that had caused death.
would you recognize that mar
AGAIN." questioned Valentine o.
Barney Fogle.
"Surest thing you know, cap!" a.
serted the expressman. Hope you'll
1--WE me a chanst t swear t tn muir
derin' villain!"
"Well do our best" said Valentino
grimly; "but you can see there's
mighty little to 60 upon until w
ind out who she IL. But l want tina
statement Of yours again in writing.
Calling a s~tenographer the inspec
tor. by dint Of question and answer
arranged Fogle's story in logical OF
der. At its conclusion he said: Tn
afraid we'll have to detain you. Bal
ney But IT'S only q matter OF form
you know-merely AZ a witness. !
your story's straight you've nothing u
fear"
So Barney was led away and lodges