South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-04


1T was plain 10 us that the pack
age contained the jewels and that he
intended to dispose Of them at once
probably the next morning. That
night the jewels would be in his room
and IL was our last chance. Juan
came TO see me Just after dinner.
we talked II all over, and made our
mai plans IN the first place. ii
seemed best for Juan 20 do the work
himself / am a woman. and very
weak with grief and illness. I could
90 nothing IN case ] was discovered.
Though Juan had never been in the
room. i could tell him exactly where
10 look-there seemed no doubt that
capt. Hanska was keeping the strong
box for that very purpose.
Then we considered another thing
how we should both get away. At
first we decided that I should leave
the house early, and that Juan. after
getting the jewels should follow me-
But ne did not dare 10 make the at
tempt before one or two O'Clock in
the morning, when Capt. Hanska
would surely be asleep-even the
heaviest sleepers sometime lie awake
q long time after they go 10 bed.
Mrs. Moore, we knew. was very
WatchfUl-she was afraid OF burglars
and she had a habit Of running to her
door whenever any one entered or left
during the night. She would know
that L had gone out; If Juan left at
one or two in the morning. Mrs
Moore would take alarm, knowing as
she did that / was out OF the house
Being nervous and ignorant. she was
likely, we felt, 10 seize him or TO give
lome sort OF an alarm. We were
Enlnking Of every possibility. you see.
These things are necessary for me to
tell that you may understand what
happened later"
CThis IN answer to an objection Of
inspector MCGEE. who was urging her
to come TO the point)
AT about 10 o'clock, we decided
just what 10 do.
Juan and j are about OF a size. 1
am large for a woman. He is small
for man. We do not resemble each
other in the upper part Of the face.
but our mouths and chins are very
much alike. 1t was one Of our games
at home TO dress in each others
clothes / would put on his ulster,
pull his hat far down over my eyes
and fool people into believing that
was he. Further. his voice is light.
and he can talk in falsetto. This was
an old family game. We played eter-
nally on the resem blance in the char
ade and theatricals that English peo-
pie are always getting up
This was our plan: we were TO
change clothes. We had heard people
singing in the parlor all that evening
The bOarders all knew that Juan
sometimes sang falsetto in fun. 1 was
10 watch my chance when the hall
was vacant. pass the parlOr, sing just
a little In my own voice TO make them
believe l was Juan singing falsettO.
and go TO his rooms, where I was to
wait. The night was rainy. 1t was
natural, therefore. that ! should be
bundled up in a macintosh and have
my hat pulled down over my eyes.
Dressed in my clothes. Juan was
20 enter Capt. Hanskas room, get the
jewels. leave by the door. go down the
stairs, and join me- l used some
times TO get a little outdoor exercise
in the early morning when L need not
rear meeting Capt. Hanska, and when
most or the city lights are out so
that the eyes have less strain. If Mrs.
Moore walked. looked out. and saw
Juan in my clothes. she would think
1t was going for my exercise and
take no alarm.
In case Juan failed. he was to go
back to my room and telephone to
me. speaking Spanish and initiating
my voice Then, still dressed as Juan.
was TO return to Mrs. Moore's early
next morning and change clothes
but that part OF our plan does not
matter.
we began everything just as we
planned. As / went down the stairs.
I passed Mrs. Moore In the hall
I saw young man-AIr Wade. I be-
heve. I showed myself at the door
and looked in. and sang a little BY
the way they laughed and spoke
yknew that l had deceived them.
Il went straight 70 Juan's rooms
The elevator man in his hotel was
fooled just as much as the boarders.
r. seems. / waited there a long time
Then Juan telephOned 10 me. talking
IN Spanish and calling me Juan. as
II he were /. He said that Capt Han
ska had been murdered and for me to
come at once to him-that he needed
me-he said il all as a hysterical wo-
man would. Somehow j managed TO
DO as he asked. I had 70 pass Capt.
Hanska's door I heard people max
ing a noise outside OF course 1 did
not enter. But right by the door
saw something bright. I knew il at
once-it was one OF my diamond
huckles-One OF the Jewels which
capt. Hanska had stolen from me.
picked IL up, and went on TO my
room. Juan was therein my dress.
tie Kept me from fainting or dying
while We changed back 70 our own
clothes. ] know the rest from Juan.
Shall I tell il -
cat about this point. occurred one
or those irruptions of expletives.
broken sentences pleas. PRAYERS
which always mar a confession for le-
gal purposes, and is therefore. edited
out by the police before the finished
typewriter statement goes back 10 the
witness for his signature This ex-
traneous matter. YOU see. tends TO
create in the minds Of unthinking
persons a false sentiment for the
criminaL)
Juan said that he waited until
after ] o'clock. The house was quiet.
From the window OF the lumb er-room.
he crawled 10 the fre-esCape That
window had a spring-catch-you had
only 10 pull * down and il locked OF
itself. Since he intended 10 leave
Capt Hanska's room by the door. he
closed this window behind him in or
der 10 cover up his tracks. That
window OF the captains room which
led TO the fre-escape. was open for
ventilation. The rain was drifting