El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-20

on me, such evidence could
- never have been found against
me-"
The man who exclaimed those words
was being led from the dock of the
great high court of judiciary IN Edin-
burgh. Every inch of space in the
court was occupied by anxious specta-
tors. Everyone was eager to learn
how that trial would end Had Dono-
van. the famous detective, run down
his quarry at last? The word OF the
foreman OF the guilty"-ran
through the court and spread to the
people in the passages, and TO the out
side. AS the judge pronounced the
terrible words that condemned the
prisoner to death, his voice was almost
lost in the noise of the roar that
came from the people without.
But the man in the dock seemed
deaf to 1t, and to the judges words
alike. He appeared to be unconscious
Of what was going on around him. His
trial had occupied some days. and each
day the prisoner had shown how ter
ribly the danger he was in was telling
upon him.
When all was over he broke into
that cry Of the belief that had been
gradually creeping into his heart
eyes
on me, such evidence could never have
been found against me-"
The man was the notorious James
Mackkoull-the most noted prisoner the
clever and daring hands Of Donovan,
the famous Scottish detective. had
ever dragged to Justice Donovan him
self admitted that Fate itself seemed
at last to assist him in running down
that man who had previously baffled
him for long. distracting years.
It was as protector Of Scottishe
banks against criminals that Donovan
made his reputation.
"One of the most daring and atroc-
ious murders-the result evidently Of
long matured plans, was perpetrated
yesterday" recorded an Edinburgh
newspaper one day. The investigation
of the crime is in the hands Of Mr..
Donovan, an officer who has given
ample proof of marvellous ability in
crime investigation and in bringing the
guilty to Justice"
In the gloom of an i'll lit street the
night before an object lying on the
pavement against the wall had caught
the eye of passer by. He bent
down over it. 1t vas a man lying on
his face, and the finder, thinking that
perhaps he was in fit. turned him
over He uttered a cry of terror. the
man was dead. He had been stabbed.
He has been killed by the stroke
of a dagger" declared the doctor
who was summoned to him.
The police officers had little diff
Guilty in discovering his identity. There
were papers In his pocket from which
they learnt that the victim was
messenger in the employ of bank.
Inquiry at the bank showed ne had
been expected there that night with
a large sum of money In bank notes
that he was to have received In Leith.
But there was no money on him. He
had been murdered almost when he
had reached the threshold Of the bank,
and the murderer had robbed him OF
the treasure he had. been carrying
THE murder was committed with
force and dexterity more resembling
that of a foreign assassin than that
of an inhabitant of these islands"
declared the police In their description
of the terrible deed. THE blow was
directly to the heart, and the unfortun-
ate man was dead in a few seconds.
eff James Mackkoull did not commit
this murder himself, 1t was he who
planned it and saw to it's execution"
declared Donovan. He worked upon the
mystery day and night for months The
detective used to say that that crime
gave him his first grey hairs.
Every clue proved elusive. All DON
ovan's cleverness only resulted in the
recovery of the notes stolen from the
murdered man.
''Mackkoull has escaped me now.
If ever he comes into my hands, Heaven
help him" exclaimed the baffled de-
tective. II can wait"
He had to wait no fewer than Is
years. Four years from the night of
that murder, Glasgow was startled by
q sensational bank burglary. The
thieves had done their work with re-
markable skill. They had got clear
away with no fewer than twenty
thousand pounds in notes and gold.
Donovan's heart beat with exultation as
he surveyed their work and assured
himself that the chief criminal must
be Mackkoull. This time he might
run him down! He had been waiting
for him to commit another crime.
: You say you feel SURE the crime
has been committed by Mackkoull,"
sneered one Of the bank officials. TT
may be so; but Mackkoull seems to
run in your brain. Mr. Donovan. If
1t was he who killed the bank mes
senger. as you felt certain at the time,
why did you not bring him to Justice?
However, this affair is already in the
hands Of detectives we can rely upon
TO find the criminals"
The services Of Donovan were not
wanted He walked out of the office
almost broken hearted. He had counted
on this as an opportunity for getting
even"with James Mackkoull: and the
capture Of him was to be confided TO
someone else! Mackkoull proved too
clever for his crackers. Another man
being arrested, was found guilty of
having had part in the robbery. but
no evidence could be secured against
Mackkoull sufficient to ensure his
What the bank would not trust to
Donovan at the time of the robbery
they placed in his hands nine years
later. He was instructed to seek evil
dence against Mackkoull to prove that
it was he who was the chief Grim
inal in the burglary!
THE work of Donovan, the detec-
tive, has BEEN" said lord Cockburn,
"one Of the most remarkable pieces of
crime tracking ever known"
Donovan had at last got Mackkoull
in the dock. that he had evaded so
long. He had found evidence to bring
home to him all the evil of those
years of crime. II never was a man