The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-27


70 get 1t out OF him."
Maloney turned out the electric
lights and went to pull up the window
shades, letting the bright daylight
stream into the room Suddenly
there was a ring at the front door.
Officer Delaney opened and DR. Bern
stein entered. Advancing into the
room, he shook hands with the cap.
tain.
I'm sorry couldn't come before,
captain. / WAS out when I got the
call. Where's the body?"
The captain pointed to the inner
room.
I'm there"
After glancing curiously at How.
ard. the doctor disappeared into the
Inner room
Capt Clinton turned to Maloney.
well, MalOney. l guess our work
IL done here. We want to get the
prisoner over to the station, then
make out charge of murder, and
prepare the full confession to submit
to the magistrate. Have everything
ready by nine o'clock. Meantime, III
60 down and see the newspaper boys.
] guess there's bunch of them down
there. OF course. it's too late for the
morning papers, but It's a bully good
story for the afternoon editions De-
laney, you're responsible for the pris-
oner. Better handcuff him."
The patrolman was just putting the
manacles on Howard's wrists when
DR.. Bernstein re-entered from the in.
ner room. The captain turned.
We'll, have you seen your man?"
he asked.
The doctor nodded.
Found bullet wound in his head"
he said. "Elesh ali burned-must have
been pretty close range. 1t might
have been a case of suicide"
Capt. Clinton frowned. He didn't
like suggestions of that kind after a
confession which had cost him fvs
hours work TO procure.
"Suicide?" he sneered. Say, doc.
tor. did you happen to notice what
side of the head the wound was on?"
Dr. Bernstein reflected a moment.
"Ah, yes. Now come to think of
1t, 1t was the left side"
Precisely" sneered the captain. II
never heard of a suicide shooting him.
self in the left temple Don't worry,
doctor. it's murder, all right" Point.
Ing with q jerk Of his finger toward
Howard, he added: And we've got
the man who did the job"
Oficer Delaney approached his chief
and spoke to him In a low tone The
captain frowned and looked toward
his prisoner. Then, turning toward
the officer, he said:
rs the wife downstairs?"
The officer nodded.
Yes, sir; they just telephoned."
Then let her come up" said the
captain. "She may know something"
Delaney returned to the telephone
and DR.. Bernstein turned to the cap
tain:
Say what you will, captain, I'm
not at all sure that Underwood did
not do this himself"
Amt you? Well. / am" replied
the captain with sneer. Pointing
again to Howard, he said:
This man has just confessed to the
shooting"
At that moment the front door
opened and Annie Jeffries came in es-
corted by an officer. She was pale
and frightened, and looked timidly at
the group of strange and serious-look-
ing men present. Then her eyes went
round the room In search of her hus-
band. She saw him seemingly asleep
In an armchair, his wrists manacled
In front Of him. With a fright
ened exclamation she sprang forward,
but Officer Delaney intercepted her.
Capt. Clinton turned around angrily
at the interruption.
Keep the woman quiet till she's
wanted" he growled.
Annie sat timdly on a chair In the
background and the captain turned
again to the doctor.
Whats that you were saying. doc
tor?"
Aou tSli me tue man confessed!
Crossing the room to whe.'e Howard
sat, DR.. Bernstein looked closely at
him. Apparently the prisoner was
asleep. His eyes were closed and his
head dropped forward on his chest.
He was ghastly pale
The captain grinned.
Yes, sir, confessed-in the pres.
ence of three witnesses. Eh, ser.
geant.?"
Yes, sir" replied Maloney.
You heard him, too, didn't you, De-
laney?"
Yes, captain"
Squaring his huge shoulders. the
captain said with self-satisfied
chuckle:
1T took us five hours to get him to
own up, but we got it out of him at
last"