The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-06-25
CHAPTER discontinued.

~ DIdCkfndi1lnE Duuu, ana tndl tHey
we're avenging themselves on me for
my unwilling part. ! was certain that
Wick and Lefty Moores wife were In
eonnivance with them. and that the
gang possibly included Claire Brad
foid's ex-husband Wick had a pass
key thst enabled him to enter the Luz
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 rooms.
! 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
1t seemed possible to involve him in
that was on the theory Of prear-
ranged plot to make me appear the
murderer. Was 1t possible that Claire
Bradford had participated In thIs7 !
knew she had been in my rooms after
the murder. 1t 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
gruffly.
AS ! came out I was again shackled
and led to the patrol wagon that was
waiting. ! mad supposed that was
being taken to court to be arraigned,
but such was not the case. l found
myself at police headquarters, where
both my photograph and my finger
prints were taken. l refrained 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 name "Spaulding,"
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, l was
taken into large room where perhaps
half hundred men were assembled,
most of them wearing masks. l looked
about with curiosity. l had read of
this ceremony. l was being "lined up"
before the members of the city's detec-
tive force to see If any of them could
identify me and to give them an oppor-
funity to familarize themselves with
my features In case 1t should ever be
necessary to arrest me again.
"Never saw him before" | heard
one of them say. "Guess he must be
western crook"
He's no amateur" said another.
THAT job up at the Granddeck was
done by professional"
Many sighting comments were
made, too, on my personal appearance.
learned for the first time that / had
bad ear" and that my eyes were
si,ifty. The only emotion these COM
ments aroused in me was a feeling OF
pity, not for myself but for all poor
unfortunates who fall afoul of the
law. Even though man Is presumed
to be innocent until he has been con-
victed 1 had observed that since the
FIRST moment of my arrest everybody
had taken 1t for granted that l must
be guilty and had treated me with
IL.
From headquarters l was taken to
the police court and without further
delay brought before magistrate.
"John S. Nelson, arrested for the
murder of Daisy Lutan," said the de-
tective.
Have you counsel?" asked the mag
tstrate.
NO" replied
Il will assign Mr.. Myers as the pris-
oner's COUNSEL" he announced.
A young chap. evidently just out of
law school. stepped forward, and drew
me little to one side.
plead Not guilty." he directed,
and be careful to say nothing more"
OF course" l replied. I'm not
guilty. l had nothing to do with It,"
l could see by his face that he did |
not believe me and as / turned again
to the court l made up my mind that
even If the court had assigned him |
as my counsel l would tell him moth |
ing.
How do you plead?" asked the
court.
Not guilty." ! replied.
"Remanded without ball for further |
examination until Thursday morning."
sna oped the court. and / was led back |
INTO an ant~room. Mr.. Myers and the |
detective accompanying me. The lat
ter there surrendered me to some Off |
eial. presumably prison keeper.
Looks pretty bad for you," said !
Myers. as we were left alone for con.
sultation.
Il suppose II does look that way" |,
laughed.
mo chance to make II self-defense,"
he went on. plainly amazed at my |
manner. mo jury'd ever stand for a
burglar shooting ID self-defense."
NO" l admitted, Il suppose they |
wouldn't. Fortunately I'm no bur |
GAR"
IF we could make out 1t was a |
lovers quarrel" he suggested.
IF I had ever known Miss Lutan,"
I admitted. that might not make a |
Nd defense
Look here" he replied Indignantly, |
&VAYt