The Little River news., 1920-03-31

SuptiIliteiiHtHl W Ick uIu dSCeF- ! tained that Nelson was once employed by shipping firm in the Wall street
 1 district but had been discreditably 1 discharged. His former employer con- 1 firmed this, but would say nothing | about Nelson beyond stating that he 1 had been discharged for cause. Althoagh Nelson was not over well 1 supplied with money he had been seen 1 recently ordering elaborate meals in 1 some of ihe most expensive restau- l rants. Miss Nellie Kelly. the telephone l girl at the Granddeck, reported that
 only the night before Nelson had taken
 her to dinner. ordering champagne and l hiring taxicabs, and had tried to pump
 her about the tenants in the building. l The one fact that stuck out in the 1 whole article that seemed of vast im- ] portance to me was the fact that Wick l had informed the police that had | been discreditabiy discharged from my l last place of employment. How did he know that? Certainly l had not | told him. had told no one of the 1 occurrence except Barbara Bradford, l and was sure she had not revealed 1 it to anyone
 It was indubitabIe proof to me that 1 Wick or someone with whom he was
 conniving, had been having me shad- 1 owed. Even my grcatuncle Rufus
 did moi know where my place of em- l poyment was. Evidently the plot to
 discredit me had begun the day l ar 1 rived at the Granddeck. 1 had been | discharged on account of some mykte- 1 rious note my employer had received. 1 began now to believe that Wick 1 p,ust have had me followed to my place ol business and to have sent that note for the express purpose of
 bringing about my discharge. But why? That was the puzzle. As pondered over it decided that my chance meeting with Barbara Brad ford in the park had upset the plans Of a b,ackmailing band. and that they were averaging themselves on me for my unwilling part was certain that Wick and Lefty Moore's wife were in connivance with them. and that the gang possibly included Claire Brad- lords ex-husband. Wick had pass key that enabled him to enter the Lr- tan apartment. Undoubtedly he could also enter mine as well. But Wick could have nothing to do with the planting of the revolver in my roolns. was positive about that. He had not been out of my sight for single moment from the time that we had dis covered the body. The only way that it seetued 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 this? I knew she had been in my rooms after l the u,,il1er. It must have been she l who put the revolver there.
 One of the detectives who had ar. rested me appeared at my cell door. "Cone aloug." he commanded gruffiy.
 As I came out was again shackied and led to the patro, wagon that was waiting had supposed that was l being taSen to court to be arrai.nen. but sHch was not the case. fOVnd myself at police headquarters. where both my photograph and thy finger prints were taken. I Wfrained from giving any information about myself. l. beyond giving my name and age. be- ing careful to have my name recorded l as John s. Nelson. Out in my home town everybody for years had known me by my middle name "Spaulding." and was hopefu, that they might fNi, to identify me if they read any thing ahOut me.
 When everything that might serve tH identify me had been recorded. I was taken iItu a large room where perhaps half q hundred men were assembled, most of them wearing masks. looked about with curiosity. had read of this ceremony. l was being lined np" before the members of the city's hetec- tive force to see if any of them could identify me and to give them an oppor- tunity tu fauiiiarize themselves with my features in case it should ever be necessary to arrest me again. Never saw him before" l heard one 0t them say. Guess he must be
 2 western crook"
 He's uo amateur" said another.
 That job up at the Granddeck was done by 2 professional"
 Many sighting comments were made, too. on my personal appearance.
 learned for the first time that l had bad ear," and that my eyes were 1 shifty The only emotion these coni- 1 ments aroused in me was feeling of 1 pity. not for myself but for all poor , unfortunates who fall afou of the 1 law. Even though man is presumed
 to be iunocent until he has been con victed 1 had observed that since the
 first moment of my arrest everybody | had taken it for granted that I must l be guilty and had treated me with little respect or consideration. | From headquarters l was taken to | the police court and without further l delay brought before magistrate. |