The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-09-28

II III LlCDA 40 hhO CApLSOo 90
robbers, but Lumas had always failed
to do SO, adhering to his statement
that 1t was impossible for him to iden-
tify any person owing to the sudden
ness with which he had been at
tackled. / had never expected him to
identify any one, but as the man had
been instructed by the express COM
pany to go with me or any of my as
~sistants at any time that he was need
ed for making an Identification, there
was no likelihood that the operative
would have any trouble in inducing
him to come to the hotel.
/ learned from the dispatcher that
Lumas' train would arrive on time,
and accordingly, as soon as l had en-
gagged my room at the hotel, l set
about making preparations for the re-
ception Of my expected guest. l set
out a large table in the middle Of the
room, and spread the daily reports Of
my two operatives over the top Of it
in such a manner that they filled it
completely.
Mr.. Brace was instructed to re-
main in the adjoining room, and to
sit alongside the door, which was left
partly open, in such a II that he
could hear everything that was said
without himself being seen. l had told
him of my plans, but Mr.. Brace, while
consenting to accompany me, had de
cried the whole matter and stated
that, In his opinion, nothing of any
value would result, reiterating his con-
viction that Lumas was innocent.
The train arrived on time, and
Lumas, stepping out of his car, was
met by the operator.
Mr.. Furlong wants to see you at
the hotel at once" said the latter.
Lumas, very sleepy-Indianapolis,
be it remembered, was his sleeping
to a at that hour Ill the morning.
However, he went with the operative
unsuspectingly, for though they had
occupied adjacent rooms in the lodg-
ing house for several months the op-
erative had contrived not to be known
W ny ol6hI. "A ~ hSulo
of arrival and departure were very
regular, there had been no difficulty
about this.
vas seated at the table with the
reports when the two men entered. |
asked Lumas to be seated and told the
he was summoned.
'Lumas," l said, quite quickly, II
want to call your attention to these
reports that are spread out upon this
table. They are the daily reports of
my operatives who have Swallowed
you and those associated with you for
the past four months. These reports
set forth everything that you have
done in those four months, and any
n you have associated with. l can
tell you how many cigars you have
smoked, how many drinks you have
taken, whom you have talked with,
and what you talked about. / find that
your mother is a fine old lady and
stands high in the community where
she resides, in Vermont. l find that
you have respectable connections and
that you were well raised. l know all
about your brother and his high stand
ing or the Wabash road, and that your
character heretofore has been good.
Also hat the officers Of the Pacific
Express company have had the high
est regard for you and believed i'm
plicitly in your integrity.
For these reasons" l continued, 81
nave taken it upon myself to give you
the opportunity of telling the whole
truth about this express robbery, but
| want you to understand distinctly
that if you do not tell the truth, IL
you say n word that is not the
truth, l shall stop you and turn you
over to the officers of the law. But
if you do tell the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, / will do all
that / can to secure the extension Of
leniency to you for your part in the
crime. In addition to this l can say
that, il you tell the whole truth, Mr..
Brace and the other officers will be
as lenient with you as the law will
allow. So now I want you to answer
my questions truthfuliy or not at all.
Now, sir, l want you to tell me how
much money you received from the
proceeds OF that robbery"
AT the mention of his mother and
brother the tears had started into the
messengers eyes. Long before l had
ended my speech Lunas was weeping
openly. Now, raising his head and
looking me in the eyes, Lumas an
swered:
Mr.. Furlong, I only received ten
dollars"
"Lumas. wait a moment until / call
In Mr.. Brace, who is your friend" l
said.
Mr.. Brace. who had heard every
word, was still seated behind the door,
thunderstruck. AS / entered the room
/ noticed that he appeared almost as
distressed as the messenger. l asked
Mr.. Brace to write down a record of
the conversation as he remembered 1t,
and Mr.. Brazee did 80.
When We emerged into the room in
which the messenger was still seated,
l said:
"Lumas. who were the two men who
robbed your carr"
Denny Downer and a friend of his
whom he called Little AL" replied the
n2ua. Az l--- IL ---r