The Washington times., 1912-10-19

Kirkwood was the first to speak.
What reason have you for believing
that these are the darbies taken from
Quillan?" he asked. They are Of the
sort that are used In nearly every city
In the United Kingdom.
Taking the handcuffs from Kirkwood
Ross pointed to four hicks on one OF
the steel circlets.
1.-TWO years ago, when Quillan started
out to find the members OF the Hamil-
ford Bank gang. / gave him these dar-
bies," Ross explained. They're bright
and new. without a nick In 'em; and
they're made for this Job said 1.
They'll have four hicks In 'em before
the next fortnight Is out said he, and
he kept his word. There we're four
members of the gang; ouillan. single
handed, took them one by one. As he
took each Of them. he fled nick on
one Of the darbies-fiIed It while the
bracelet was on the wrist Of the pris-
oner. These are the same hicks, lad:
and by them / know the darbies l gave
to Quillan-the darbies which the Crick-
OF took from him when he put him out"
whom have you had out on the
case?"
young Ward-Quillan's mate. He's
handling the affair pretty we'll, but
want you to give him a leg-up. The
thing Is pretty clear. Ridgeley had
an office in one Of his mills. on the
south bank of the Aire. The office
was on the ground floor, overlooking
the river. which washes one of the
mill walls. To this office the Cricket
went at 7 o'clock last night Oh, we
have his description. to the dot. from
one Of the mill watchmen! There can
be no mistake!
"Ridgeley, VINO seldom remained at
the mill after 8 o'clock. stayed until
after closing hours last night All the
employees. except three watchmen,
left at s. One Of these watchmen-.a
post, at the main entrance to the mill.
when Ridgeley came out and told him
to go to a tobacconist's, about ten
minutes walk distant. for box Of
cigars of a certain brand. III you
can't get them there. go to Bsssetts.
he said. Bassett's tobacco shop Is on
this side of the Aire;
"Finch remarked that he had better
first call one Of the two other watch
men to take his place at the door
Ridgeley told him that such action
was unnecessary. I'll be around hero
a savs Ss %an tns hack moneS sss ss Sr the
cigars, and Finch hurried off.
SAT the first tobacconists Finch was
unable to get the brand of cigars he
There he got them. and returned i'm
mediately to the mill. He was gone
. little more than half an hour.
AS the watehman drew near the
walking toward him with unsteady
steps. It was dark by this time. and
Finch. wondering what had brought
min saes us so hoar hs SsseS
"As the man approached" the watch
man, from his place Of concealment,
This was badly crushed and twisted; the
man, pausing under a street lamp. at
tempted to straishten the bent straw.
The light Of the lamp revealed the
nose, white cow-lick. and all. Finch
watched him for nearly ten minutes:
then the man moved on. Twice or thrice
the watchman was on the point Of ad-
did there. but. fortunately for him. per-
haps. he did not do SO.
"At length the Cricket started on
again in the direction Of the central
part of the town; the watchman; a prey
to some apprehension. continued on his
way to the mill. There he found the
entrance door closed, but unlocked. He
went IN and made his way to his EN- em.
locked. Finch knocked, but got no re.
sponse. He called Ridgeley by name
Still there was no answer.
when nIht Enfh n sft ,hs m there hSt
was now extinsuished. The other
watchmen were stationed In distan,
parts of the big building. Finch drew
shriily two or three times. In a few
moments Waller, one Of the other men
hurried to him.
"Hastiiy Finch told his comrade wha,
had happened Waller then said that
sound like the slamming Of door oil
the falling of some heavy body to tht
floor. and that he had been engaged ir
when he heard Finch's whistle.
break in Il the door Of Ridseieys ofhe,
when Mcclellan, the third Waterman
He said that he had not heard tn,
strange sound which startled Waller.
THE door TO Ridgeley's room was
quickly forced. All was dark within
scious to the fact that one Of the win
dows was open. Finch struck a mater
and lighted the gas.
THE three men saw that, save fol
room. Around them however were un
mistakable evidences of desperate
struggle. A small table and severa
chairs had been overturned. One OF tn,
inkstands which belonged on Ridgeiey',
desk was in corner on the floor: ther,
were blood-stains on the carpet and OF
one OF the walls. More than this. ther,
frInt odor Of burned gunpowde
in the air.
.In a small closet the watchmai
found Ridgeiey's hat hanging on a peg
his walking stick stood below 1t, in
corner. That was the last that wa
seen of Ridgeley until his, body wa
found under, Wellington bridge tonight
with the darbies on his wrists. Evidentl
the body was tied to a stone or som
other heavy weight. and sunk into tn
Aire. From this weight the current @
the river probably Wrenched the rop
loose"
Kirkwood critically examined the sey
cred ends of the rope.
Something stronger than the fore
OF the current broke this" he mutteret
"Were there gunshot wounds In tn
body?'
mo. There were several bruises. bu
no open wounds-no wounds from whic
49, had flowed"
yet. YOU say. there were blood
sta ins in the room'
The superintendent nodded.
''It Is plain that Ridgeley put up
hard fight in self-defense." he sale
''The blood was unquestionably that {
the Cricket"
.'If all this happened last night, ho'
does 1t come that the disappearance {
Ridgeley was not reported to you b'
fore this evening"
Ross scowled darkly as he replace
the handouts in the drawer from whic