The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-01-06
CHAPTER Z.

ooSSSSoA"N~s
was a good haul, too Forty thousand
dollars in crisp coin of the realm LIS
pretty high pay for almost any GRIM
inal for few hours work and risk,
and that is what the perpetrator got
out of 1t.
You will notice that l said Grim
inal." did that to distinguish it from
the operation of gang OF thieves
for as it turned out it was the work
of a single individual and not the
combination Of effort Of coterie.
That made 1t still more difficult 10
solve. AS chain is no stronger than
it's weakest link, so is the cunning
OF q combination of men no keener
than the wits of its dullest member.
That is why conspiracies generally
come TO grief-somebody turns out TO
be weak. In the matter OF which am
speaking there were as many banning
points as there are to hedgehog, and
for time 1t seemed impregnable. AS
| for the sleuth hounds OF the polce'
they came UP to it with caution
| smelIed about 1t discreetly and then
drew away. looking wise, to ponder
| over it. and for all know are look
ing wise and bordering yet. But with
| William LeDuc the case was differ
ent.
LeDuc had been something OF
friend of mine ever since we were
schoolboys together, and he did. real
Nv brilliant work on the case. Every
thing conjured up by the human miId
is capable of human solution II we
20 about 1t right, and LeDuc founo
the way. Just because a dog Is help
less before bristling porcupine 1t Is
no sign that all animals are. The wild
cat isn't. He Is too quick for the
bristler. He feints him out OF his de-
eensive posture by lightning play
and eventually gets him by the IN
protected nose-which Is the begin
ming of the end of the problem. Just
what LeDuc did has never been MADE
public up to this time for the reason
that none but he or | Isl competent &c
give the inner particulars Of the run
ming down OF the thief, and up to this
| time nGlLuGFS OIL uS Ac1a fS6AA NA ~ 49,
But feel that must do so now.
That happened to know more thar
anybody else about certain incidents
connected with the affair and was
able to supply LeDuc with the proofs
of guilt was dne ia me fact that
! lived with Uncle Abner at the tins
the crime took place. /, also, was tHs
one who found him lying bqand ant
!, unconscious. Also 1T was myself whit
, reported matters to the police and IN
troduced LeDuc to my uncle. AS TO
the time when the burglary tool
place, I happened to be away from
home, having stayed at hotel in tn
business district quite few mile
! from where lived.
And now at the outset ! am goin
: DO emphasize one fact While 1t is a
unpleasant thing for me to do So
. am going to tell everything I knoy
regarding this crime. I am going t
spare nobody's feelings, faults or repl
tations. That have not done so be
fore was because OF reason Whic
will be apparent when all the othe
facts are known. But now that
certain event has happened | fee
free to make everything known.
!. In writing this account hav
, thought best to do SO chronological
!. when possible. Therefore. must
, somewhat into matters which PR
!, coded and were more or less directl
connected with the crime in orde
that the motive may be shown an
that there may be the proper pc
= spectiye. To do this | must tell NOR
+ or less about people not absolutel
p connected with the burglary, but Wh
are necessary to the narrative D
o reason of their propinquity. How
+ ever, they are simply the shadln
and side lights that go to make up ca
p picture. And while LeDuc may disal
! pear for considerable periods In tn
telling, the mistake should not {
n made of thinking he is nowhel
+. around. That Is what he did IN tn
! actual ferreting out Of the case, an
n that Is what misled the criminal. Bl
p when his fine Italian hand did appes
, at the finish, it wore glove Of NAL
Right at this point l find myse
somewhat at loss to decide Jul
where to begin the recital. This
i for the reason that am not write
trained In the art of building up
. mystery with such skill that 1t stant
: intact until the time comes to demo
Y ish It; when with one deft blow tt
keystone is removed and the who
l fabric comes down with cras
: Therefore all can hope to do Is
simply and plainly outline the cha
, acters which seem to me to be Pc
tInent to full understanding OF CO
ditions, and then go on and rela
events as they happened. Perhaps
had better begin with brief desert
ton of Uncle Abner, his peculiaIsti'
and WEAKNESSES.
;. When you look at that last Sc
tence again you will begin to unde
L.. "a -hev II