The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-03-28

scratches on the bullet have been made
by bits Of rust or other inequalities in
Ftase barrel e. tse p1ststa 1rom -wnlehA
was fired?
I knew the pistol in the cabinet had
former had been there d long while,
but the pistol from which the latter
had been fired doubtless existed, and II
another ball should be fired from it the
same streaks should appear on its sur
face as on the first one.
My experience with boys has taught
me that they know q lot Of things q
man doesn't take time to consider. For
instance, a boy living beside a rail-
road knew every train and its number
that passed his home and a great many
other things about the road Of which
his father was profoundly ignorant. l
had shown a boys observation In no
ticing the scratches on the bullet and
resolved to do a bit of investigation
on my own account. I had a pistol at
home and that evening put a drop of,
water in its barrel near the muzzle.
The next morning there was q rust
spot where the water had been. I took
a smooth bullet out into the yard,
loaded the pistol with it and fred it
straight up into the air. I found It
when It came down and examined It.
There was a scratch on 1t, but not well
marked. I rusted the pistol In two
other parts and fred another bullet, to
lnd three scratches on It.
I. asked at the Office II the pistol
from which the bullet in the cabinet
was fred had been found and was told q
man living in the same house as the
murdered man was suspected OF the
murder. A revolver had been found in
the suspects room with one empty
chamber, but there was nothing to
prove that the bullet It contained had
done the murder, except that the bull
let was Of the same caliber as the pis-
tol.
I wished to get possession Of that
pistol, II possible, and see II the bull
let fitted it, but the pistol was not in
the cabinet, and l didn't know where
It was. So I went to the chief and told
him that II. he would get the pistol for
me I would tell him whether It had
contained the ball that did the murder.
He asked me how I would know, and
l refused to tell him, whereupon he de-
clined to let me have the pistol. which
was in the hands Of one Of the ONCE
force. After that I said no more about
the matter.
Several days later he and the detec-
tive who had the pistol belonging to
the suspect called me to them and ques-
toned me. as to what I had meant by
connecting the bullet and the pistol. !
told themFthat IL they would ire anew
bullet from the; pistol Of the suspect
into the air l would. tell them Il the
bullet In the cabinet did tho murder.
They decided to IRE It into water.
Taxing me with them, they fred It into
q wooden cistern eight feet high, and
when Il was found they showed It
to me.
I looked at It and saw scratches
omit to correspond with those on the
bullet that had done the murder. !
took the two bullets and showed the
two men the corresponding scratches
on Zach. proving that both had bean
arsdfronsshs .aansspiltol. subssqusnt-
II !ths rust Spots inside the pistol wers
|locatsd. On .this evidence alone the
suspect was convicted. !
Ny chisf told me that \ was : born
|detecdvs ana had bettor follow the
business. Young O. I was, ~ took me
49, h0RnA anA nmt me- ON case