Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-27

SSIfse. Here ne was rejecting my
theory Of Ccandall's guilt, yet jumping
wildly to the conclusion that there
would be other suicides, possibly con.
nected with Katharine Farrish's act
and Andrew Esler's death. It was ell
tirely beyond my comprehension, and
the next tack OF his mind seemed even
even more puzzling.
DO you know anything about art?"
he asked as calmly as if we were hav'
ing an after-dinner chat at the club.
"a little, not much"
"If any one asked you to define
technique I doubt if You could do it.
I do not believe there is painter or
an art critic who could give satisfac-
tory definition. Yet any one who
knows something of technique. We
know that every painter has his own
technique. Show me paintings by
Henri, Lawson and Glackens and you
do not have to label them for me to
tell them apart. | recognize the work
of each man by his technique. Even
IL Lawson painted a portrait and Henri
a landscape, the individuality OF the
artist would make his work recognize
able, though masked by a subject I'M
usual for him. Crime is like art in
one respect at least-tccnnique Ev-
cry criminal brain has its own tech
nique. Any one who has investigated
crime, who has studied eyil.doers IN
der all conditions, who has matched
his wits against theirs, inevitably
comes to recognize types OF crimes.
Given any particular crime to trace,
from the very nature OF it he is able
to say at once, This is the work OF
So-and-so.' Now in the Parrish case
I am confident that crime Of some
kind has been committed or is even
now being committed. may not know
what particular thing it was that drove
Katharine Parrish and old Elser to
seek death--in fact do not know as
yet--but that makes no difference. |
know the type Of crime. l recognize
in the case certain indctinable things
which convince NE that behind it all
is a cunning criminal brain that has
planned some far-reaching plot. If it
was devilishly ingenious enough to
drive two people 10 suicide, in all
probability it will have the same effect
on others. There may be no other
suicides, but I believe there will be.
shall watch every report of sui
eide for the next few days with par
ticular interest. Who the criminal is,
and who his associate is-for am
convinced it is Il crime Of the pair
have no idea Investigation OF mail
thefts and stamp counterfeiting never
has brought ne in touch with this par
ticular sort Of crime, so that as yet l
an entirely at sea as regards the
identity of the criminals"
All you have said" told him. "only
convinces ne that am right about
Hugh Crandall. An intelligent, edu-
Gated man gone wrong, a respectable
broker with q secret propensity for
crime, would fit your theory, wouldn't
it?'
You saw Crandall's janitor last
night, didn't you?" was all the re-
Spouse lie chose to make to my ques-
ton. What kind Of q chap is he?'
"If you can get him to admit you to
tCranLalls rooms you are 4 wonder"
!. piled, repeating word for word my
Interview with the janitor the night
before.
II generally so prepared for such
fellows" he answered, smilngly draw
ing from his pocket blank legal doc
ument on which the word attach
ment" was printed boldly across the
back. Taking out fountain pen, lie
rapidly filled in Hugh Crandall's
name, on the outside only.
Ito be continued.)