Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-05

Of each man by his technique Ever
II Lawson painted a portrait and
Henri a landscape, the individuality Of
the artist would make his work recog
!; rizable, though masked by subject
,, unusual for him. Crime is like art In
zone respect at least-technique. Every
criminal brain has its own technique.
ANY one who has investigated crime,
who has studied evil-doers under 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 conf.
dent that a crime of some kind has
, been committed or is even now being
committed may not know what par
(. t1cular thing it was that drove both
Katharine Parrish and old Elser to
| seek death-in fact I do not know as
yet-but that makes no difference. I
know the type of crime. recognize
In the case certain indefinable things
which convince me that behind it all
/ Is cunning criminal brain that has
planned some far-reaching plot. II it
was devilishly ingenious enough to
| drive two people to suicide. in all
probability 1t will have the same eft.
feet on others. There may be no other
| suicides, but believe there viii be.
shall watch every report of a suicide
for the next few days with particular
| interest. Who the criminal Is, and who
his associate is-for am convinced It
Is a crime Of the pair-I have no idea.
Investigation of mail thefts and stamp
counterfeiting never has brought me
IN touch with this particular sort Of
crime, so that as yet am entirely at
sea as regards the identity OF the
criminals"
"All you have said" I told him.
only convinces me that l am right
about Hugh Crandal1. An intelligent,
educated man gone wrong, a respect
able broker with secret propensity
for crime would fit your theory,
wouldn't he?''
"You saw Crandalrs 1anitor last
night, didn't your was the response
he chose to make to my question.
what kind OF a chap Is he?"
II you can get him to admit you
to Crandall's rooms you are a won
der" replied, repeating word for
word my interview with the janitor
the night before.
| Il generally go prepared for such
fellows" he answered, smflingly draw
Ing from his pocket a blank legal
document on which the word attach
! ment' was printed boldly across the
back. Taking out fountain pen he
rapidly filled in Hugh Crandalls name
on the outside only.
| OF course saw through his ruse.
He would represent himself as an
officer come to attach CrandaIl's
furniture and thus gain access to the
rooms.
But suppose the janitor insists on
reading the document and sees that it
is blank inside?"
| No one ever reads legal documents
! unless necessary. Besides, a man OF
the janitor type generally has con
siderable respect for the arm Of the
law. He probably is more or less Ia
m1liar with it's workings in dispos-
sessions and such things, and realizes
how futile opposition would be, sup
posing that we really were sheriff's
deputies as he will undoubtedly take
! us to be-"
We reached the place. and, dismiss
ing the taxicab half block away,
marched boldly UP the steps and rsng
the bell. AS the janitor answered,
/ Davis, carelessly Tipping his coat to
show badge Of some sort, demanded
admittance to Crandall's apartments.
1--WE got an attachment, see?'' he
said. flashing the back Of the docu.
ment before the janitor's eyes.
"Oh, that's 1t, Is it?" said the ian.
itor That's why he beat 1t SO quick
yesterday and told me not to let any
one into his rooms?"
| $50 he has gone" exclaimed Davis
| in mock surprise. Il don't wonder at
/ that. Has he paid you the rent?"
Come to think of 1t, he Is month
behind" said the janitor, though
i often It's been that way and he always
made good"
Even as he was talking he began to
lead the way upstairs. Respect for
the law, coupled with the insidious
doubt OF his tenant that Davis re.
mark had implanted, removed all
obstacles to our purpose.
AS he flung open the door to Gran.
dall's apartment after unlocking 10
with his pass key, Davis turned, and
handing him coin, said:
/ Can you get me hammer and q
couple Of tacks till put up notice!
Sure" said the janitor as he
tucked the coin in his pocket. 'I'll go
downstairs and get one right away"
The apartment into which he had
| admitted was a two-room-and-b bath
suite, with furnishings indicating that
Il it's occupant was man of comfort
liable means and good taste. There
were some well-chosen pictures on
the wall and a fine lot Of books. There
was none Of the display OF stage favor.
ties and sporting pictures found In
! bachelor dens; but two framed photo.
graphs Of Katharine Parrish, one with
an inscription, smiled down from the
i walls, almost the only touch of femin-
unity about the place.
AS soon as the janitor disappeared
Davis made Decline for desk that
| stood open and began hasty search
/ - No 7 efon s,,%. y