The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-04-03
3S-MERRlllC CO

the sound OF retreating footsteps on
the stairs.
We resume. with the palnstaking
Detective Kennedy. the statement OF
Margarita Perez. alias Estrilla.
1T was apoplexy. But Juan did not
know II yet. He only knew that Cap
tain Hanska had fallen on the knife
and died. and that II would look like
murder. He understood your law. he
knew that TO get our property he was
committing what looked like burglary.
and that burglar who commits muir
der cannot plead self-defense. lie wait
ed by the window 10 see whether the
fall had disturbed the house. No one
stirred-probably an elevated train
was passing at the time IL happened
Frightened as he was. he still thought
OF the jewels. and decided 60 take
them, whatever the risk. He exam
ined the box; the bill OF sale was there.
Circumstances had changed now; an
| empty strong. box in the room OF a man
who appeared 10 have been murdered
might set the police on the track. He
thought OF this. So he took the box
open as IL was, switched OF the cleo
trio light. and started 10 leave by the
door. The catch OF the spring lock
was on. To lock the room from out
side, he would have had TO slam the
door-you know how spring lock
works. That would have made great
deal OF noise. IL might awaken some
one, who would hear footsteps going
! from Captain Hanska's room 10 mine.
He put the box under his arm and
fastened back the catch OF the spring
lock. so that he could close the door
without sound. or course, that left
II unlocked In doing all this, IL seems,
he spilled out OF the box the diamond
buckle which found on the stairs.
Juan went back 10 my room be
cause he wanted time to think. His
| first idea was 10 leave the house
dressed in my clothes. just as we had
planned. and join me. Then we would
escape together. But he knew that the
police generally catch fugitives from
! justice in the end. We were in a
strange country. We had no friends
to help us. II we were missing from
| the house in the morning. II we were
caught escaping. every one would be
! lieve us guilty. Then he had another
idea. If could return, still disguised
as Juan. after the body was discov.
cred, he would have a perfect alibi.
while he was thinking about this.
Mr.. North came home and fell into the
blood, as you know.
Immediately, Juan heard some one
calling murder from below. That was
his chance TO carry out his plan. lie
! telephoned me. | came. | have told
/ you about that. He changed To his
| own clothes. | made him go down
stairs and offer 10 help. My clothes.
which Juan had worn down the fire
escape I'm the rain, were still a little
wet ! looked them over carefully;
\ there were no blood stains on them
/ ! put them by the register 20 dry; and
/ ] cleaned the ehoes-that pair OF red
ones there In the closet BY the time
they came TO take me away TO this
/ house, no one would have known that
my garments had been out In the wet
When they moved me. took away
/ the Jewels and the strong box in my
| bedding. Later Juan dropped the box
into the river. and sent the jewels
TO my cousin In Caracas.
1T was his plan TO leave the country
az soon as We might do so without
attracting suspicion. But when they
arrested Mr. Wade. ! could not agree
70 that could not have his death on
my soul. Juan was imploring inc TO
leave; but told him that would not
until Mr. Wade was released or acquit-
ted. II II came 10 the worst, would
confess. / persuaded Juan that | was
right. That Is why we stayed. We
had no other reason.
II make this statement without hope