The Jasper news., 1920-09-30
~
WILLIAM
JOHNSTON
cOpynsAs ~ E1ttiA BsO1n Aoa
CHAPTER lx-contlnued.
mngeRalls@B ~
IRWIN MYERS

Z
my chance meeting with Barbara Brad
ford In the park had upset the plans
Of blackmailing band, and that they
were avenging themselves on me for
my unwilling part. was certain that
Wick and Lefty Moore's wife were In
connlvance with them, and that the
gang possibly included Claire Brad
fOrd's ex-husband. Wick had a pass
key that enabled him to enter the Lu-
tan apartment. Undoubtedly he could
Olso enter mine as well. But Wick
could have nothing to do with the
planting Of the revolver in my rooms.
I was positive about that. He had
mot been out Of my sight for a single
moment from the time that we had dis
covered the body. The only way that
tt seemed possible to involve him In
that was on the theory Of prear-
ranged plot to make me appear the
murderer. Was It possible that Claire
Bradford had participated in thisf /
knew she had been in my rooms after
the murder. It must have been she
who put the revolver there.
One of the detectives who had ar
rested me appeared at my cell door.
"Come along" he commanded
gruf1y.
As came out was again shackled
and led to the patrol wagon that was
waiting. 1 had supposed that was
being taken to court to be arralgned.
but such was not the case. found
myself at police headquarters, where
both my photograph and my finger
prints were taken. I refralned from
giving any information about myself,
beyond giving my name and age, be-
ing careful to have my name recorded
As John s. Nelson. Out In my home
town everybody for years had known
me by my middle pane "Spauldlng,"
and / was hopeful that they might
fail to identify me If they read any
thing about me.
When everything that might serve to
Identify me had been recorded, was
taken into a large room where perhaps
half hundred men were assembled.
most Of them wearing masks. Hooked
about with curiosity. hat read of
this ceremony. was being "llned up"
before the members of thecity's detec-
tive force to see if any OF them could
identify me and to give them an oppor-
tunIty to famIllarize themselves with
my features in case 1t should ever be
necessary to arrest me again.
"Never saw him before" l heard
one Of them say. "Guess he must be
a western crook"
Hes no amateur" said another.
'That Job up at the Granddeck was
done by a professional"
Many sighting comments were
made, too, on my personal appearance.
learned for the first time that had
"a "bad ear" and that my eyes were
shIfty. The only emotion these COM
ments aroused In me was feeling OF
pity, not for myself but for all poor
unfortunates who fall afoul OF the
law. Even though a man is presumed
to be innocent until he has been con-
victed / had observed that since the
first moment of my arrest everybody
had taken II for granted that I must
be guilty and had treated me with
little respect or consideration.
From headquarters was taken to
the police court and without further
delay brought before a magistrate.
"John S. Nelson, arrested for the
murder of Daisy Lutan." said the de-
tectlve.
"Have you counsel7" asked the mag.
istrate.
"No," replied.
81 will assign Mr.. Myers as the prls-
oEer's counsel" he announced.
A young chap. evidently Just out oi
law school, stepped forward, and drew
ME little to one side.
"Plead Not guilty." he directed
"and be careful to say nothing more
"0t course" l replied. "Pm mo-
guilty. had nothing to do with it."
could see by his face that he dlt
not believe me and as turned agaiI
to the court 1 made up my mind tina
even II the court had assigned hin
as my counsel I would tell him moth
ing.
"HOw do you pIeadf" asked tn,
court.
"Not guilty" ] replied.
"Remanded without bail for furthe
exauaInation until Thursday morning.
mapped the court. and was led bacl
into an AnterOom. Mr.. Myers and tn
dStoelavO accompanying me. The lai