The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-01


~ ~ O Of events and not make a mis-
take. Prosecuting attorneys
MN always on the watch for these lit
tie openings that explode the
false testimony. Nor there lacking numerous
examples of this situation in the daily court grind
and In general police work.
few days ago a merchant reported to the po-
lice that n large shipping case had been opened
nearly $500 In merchandise abstracted and the
nailed shut again. A police detective
detailed to make an investigation Of the theft
He went over the ground with department head
and at the conclusion of his investigation had
learned absolutely nothing. At loss as to the
next move no engaged the head shipping clerk in
conversation, the talk being relative to the mans
trade.
The clerk an affable mechanic, took pride in
demonstrating the efficiency of his department.
He explained everything about the business and
at last demonstrated the method of making boxes.
This was new thing to the officer The boards
were placed in position about form of the d.
mension the finished box would be and with one
movement nearly 100 nails were automatically
driven home. The box was thus made as quickly
a man could assemble the boards, there being
no time lost in the mailing process The detective
looked over the machine that In one operation
drove all the nails and-got hunch.
strolling back to the packing case that had been
rihed Of Its contents he made a careful exnmina-
ton of the surface. Then for the first time In his
experience detective he took stock of the f1c-
tiOn detective and brought into play a magnifying
glass.
The surface Of the box indicated that instead of
the mechanical nail-driving process the nails had
been driven with hammer The magnifying
glass discloEsd that the hammer marks were made
by a badly chipped hammer. Continuing his
search the officer eventually found a hammer in
the tool chest Of delivery boys equipment that
made exactly the kind of marks found the
packing case.
1t only required a few hours investigation to
ascertain that the youth was the thief and that
he had been dsposing Of the goods in foreign
no NJ he han maj
unfolded the crime in a few hours while had the
usual process been followed the detectives would
have had to investigate the entire force OF en-
ployees who had access to the basement. The
theft and sale had been entirely covered up and 1t
only the one cog In the wheel that had been
missing. --
Arson Plots Revealed.
1t Is in cases of arson that this theory Is often
est demonstrated and the prosecuting attorney
must be on the alert to detect the point
where there is q divergence OF the fabricated
story Within recent years there have occurred
In a limited district more than 100 fres of more
than suspicious nature Many of these have
been exposed in court and others by some flaw In
the construction Of the crime.
An arsonist planned fire and was highly sue
cessful. He had also concocted an alibi and
proved by excellent witnesses that he had left
home "a hours prior to the fire. The district at
torneys Office while feeling that the man was
lying, could hardly refute the testimony Of the
witnesses produced. 1t not until the last
day of the trial that member of the district at
torneys Office discovered that on the day the
man declared he left home by train. owing to
wreck the train had not been sent out over the
regular route and it therefore impossible
for the man to have taken that train. The pris-
oner was convicted on this one circumstance
woman conducted Improbable apartment
house venture and planned for more than hve
months to destroy the property by fire. She placed
more than 100 gallons of distilate and gasoline
In various vacant rooms in the house. The place
a vertical bomb and had 1t been hred 1t wouio
have been blown to pieces with great loss OF life:
On the night the fire was to have been started
the woman opened a stOpcock In the furnace
ROOM permitting 40 gallons Of dstillate to escape
into the room. Then she went to the top moor OF
the building for the purpose OF overturnlne tne
many cans of infammabe liquids.
In. the first room she entered long vacant the
fumes of the gasoline overcame her and she
swooned falling against table and overturning
b telephone. The light on the switchboard
alarmed the OPERATOR who knowing the room I" be
unoccupied. made an investigation and discovered
the plot
The ring and gang Of arsonists fired the home
of q wealthy fellow-c -countryman but In arranging
their plans spilled some of the liquid on their
clothing. When they struck match to light the
allow fuse that to have exploded the pomo
after their departure they were both horribly
burned. The men were given long prison terms,
but were released on technically after serving
two years of the sentence.
Jeweler desired to get quick return on MS
insurance and planned fire. He placed gaso-
line bomb in a closet, ioated lighted candle In
the mixture and fed to neighborng city thereby
hoping to establish an alibi When ne opened tne
front door of his home to leave draught was Gre
ated and the closet door blew shut. Lack OF air
extinguished the flame. policeman witnessed
the flight of the jeweier and made an invesuga-
uon. The IRE trap was discovered ana an once. 's
went In pursuit of the jeweer When apprehended
the police searched the man and found on him MS
Ore insurance policy. On the envelopes were ng-
ures that turned out to be an invoice of tne