The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-04-02

justice take IFS course. fdfessing
1.-the undsFtaEer, he said:
You anrenove the body x
The men set about the work I'm
mediatslE Carrying the corpse into
the inner room. they commenced the
work Of laying It ont.
Il SUPPOSE said the coroner, "that
yon'tletake y6nr prisoner Immediately
to the station house, and before the
ma istrate tomorrow morning."
mot Just YET, |" grinnet the captain
# want4to put q few questions TO him
firat.T
The coroner smiled.
You're going to put him through
the third degree Ell? Every ones
heard Of your star-chamber ordeats.
Are they really so dreadful?"
'iNonsense!. laughed the captain.
I'VE wouldn't harm q baby, would We,
Maloney?" ~ -
: The sergeant quickly indorsed his
chiefs opinion.
No, cap =
Turning TO go. the coroner said:
"Well, goodnight, captain"
Goodnight, Mr.. Coroner"
Howard listened to all this like one
transhxed. They seemed to be talk.
ing about him. They were discussing
some frightipl ordeal OF which he was
to be victim. What was this third
degree they were talking about? Now
he remembered. He. had heard OF in
nocent men being bullied, maltreated,
deprived Of food and sleep for days,
in order to force them to tell what
the police were anxious to find out.
lie had heard OF secret ASSAULTS, OF
midnight clubbings, Of prisoners being
choked and brutally kicked by gang
OF rutFianly policemen, in order to
force them into some damaging I'D.
mission. A chill ran down his spine
rs he realized his utter helplessness.
II he could only get word to lawyer.
Just as the coroner was disappearing
through the door, he dalted forward
and laid hand on his arm
fAIr. Coroner. won't you listen to
me?" he exclaimed. -
The coroner startled, drew back
II cannot interfere, :, he said coldlS.
"Mr. Underwood was q friend q
mine" explained Howard, 81 came
here toaboTow money. Ffell asleep
on that sofa. When /. woke up he
was dead ~ was frightened. tried
10 GET away. That's the truth, so
heln ne Cod"
The coroner looked at him sternly
and made no reply. No one could
ever reproach him with sylnpathizing
with criminals Waving his hand at
Capt. Clinton he said:
Goodnight, captain"
Goodnight, Mr.. Coroner"
The door slammed and Capt. Clin-
ton, with twist OF his powerful arm,
yanked his prisoner back into his
seat. Howard protested.
You've got no right to treat me
like this. You exceed your powers.
| demand to be taken before magis-
trate at once
The captain grinned, and pointed to
the clock.
Say, young Teller, see what time it
Is? Two.thirty a. III. Our good mag
istrates are all comfy In their virtu'
Gus beds, Well have to wait till
morning
But what's the good of sitting here
In this death house," protested How
ard. Take me to the station If l
must go. It's intolerable to sit any
longer here"
The captain beckoned to Maloney.
mot so fast, young man, Before
we go to the station we want to ask
you few questions. Don't We, Ma
loney?"
The sergeant came over and the
captain whispered something in his
ear. Howard shivered. Suddenly
turning to his prisoner, the captain
shouted in the stern tone of com
mand: ~.
Get up!"
Howard did as he was ordered. lie
felt he must, There was no resisting
that powerful brute's tone OF autho"i'
ty. Pointing to the other side OF the
table, the captain, went on:
stand over there where can look
at you!"
The two men now faced each other,
the small table alone separating
them. The powerful electrolier over
head cast It's light full on How
ards haggard face and on the cap.
taln's scowlIng features. Suddenly
Maioney turned OF every electric
IiEht except the lights in the elect.
roller, the glare OF which was inten'
sIfed by the surrounding darkness,
The rest OF the room was in shadow.
One saw only these two figures
standing vividly out in the strong
'light-the whlte.faced prisoner and
his stalwart inquisitor. In the dark
background stood Policeman Delaney
Close at hand was Malouey taking
notes.
You did 1t, and you know you did
IT." thundered the captain, fixing his
eyes on his trembling victim
II did not do it." replied Howard
slowly and firmly, returning the police
mans stare.