Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-06-11
The House
of Whispers
BY
WILLIAM
JOHNSTON
Illustrations by
IRWIN MYERS
Copyright By Little, Brown & Co.
CHAPTER Ix-Continued.


were avenging themselves on me for
my unwilling part. I was certain that
Wick and Lefty Moore's wife were in
connivance 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
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 a single
moment from the time that we had dis
covered the body. The only way that
it seemed possible to involve him in
that was on the theory Of a prear-
| ranged plot to make me appear the
murderer. Was it possible that Claire
Bradford had participated in this?
knew she had been in my rooms after
the murder. 1t must have been she
who put the revolver there.
Sne of the detectives who had ar
rested me appeared at my cell door.
"Come along" he commanded
gruf1y.
AS 1 came out I was again shackled
and led to the patrol wagon that was
waiting. l had supposed that 1 was
| being taken to court to be arraigned,
but such was not the case. 1 found
myself at police headquarters, where
both my photograph and my finger
prints were taken. 1 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 1 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 a hundred men were assembled,
most of them wearing masks. 1 looked
about with curiosity. l ha( read of
this ceremony. 1 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-
tunity to familiarize themselves with
my features in case it 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 a professional"
Many sighting comments were
made, too, on my personal appearance
learned for the first time that haG
bad ear" and that my eyes were
shifty. The only emotion these com
ments aroused in me was a feeling Of
pity, not for myself but for all pool
unfortunates who fall afoul of thu
law. Even though a man is presumed
to be innocent until he has been con
victed l had observed that since thu
first moment Of my arrest everybod.
had taken it for granted that / mus
be guilty and had treated me witt
little respect or consideration.
From headquarters I was taken tt
the police court and without further
delay brought before magistrate.
John S. Nelson, arrested for thu
murder of Daisy Lutan," said the de
tective.
"Have you counsel?" asked the mag
istrate.
mo" replied.
81 will assign Mr.. Myers as the prfs
Oner's counsel" he announced.
A young chap, evidently just out o
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" I replied. I'm no
guilty. had nothing to do with it."
; I could see by his face that he di
not believe me and as l turned agai
10 the court 1 made up my mind thu
even if the court had assigned hil
as my counsel 1 would tell him notl
ing.
"How do you plead?" asked tn
court.
Not guilty." I replied.
; "Remanded without bail for furthe
, examination until Thursday morning,
! snapped the court, and l was led bac
into an anteroom, Mr.. Myers and tn
detective accompanying me. The la
| ter there surrendered me to some of
cial. presumably a prison keeper.
= Looks pretty bad for you," sal
: Myers, as we were left alone for col
sultation.
81 suppose it does look that way"
laughed.
mo chance TO make it self-defense
he went on, plainly amazed at n
. manner. mo jury'd ever stand for
= burglar shooting in self-defense."
NO" 1 admitted. 81 suppose tht
: wouldn't. Fortunately I'm no bu
; glar."
"If we could make out it was
lovers quarrel" he suggested.
eff I had ever known Miss Lutar
l admitted, "that might not make
= baL defense"
- "Look here" he replied indignant
young fellow, you are up against
- harder than you seem to reali;
|
he the chair for yours if you're n
careful You've got no charce provi
he an alibi."
1t "Why not? | never saw Miss Lut
ut until | saw her body in her rooms.
rh lcver was in her rooms ui-tfl We
IN there with Mr.. Wick after we h
heard 5ne shot. What's more, l pe1
owned a revolver in my life and ne,
Iv saw the one the detectives found ur
n they pulled 1t out of my dres.
70 drawer"
Incredulously he listened. | co,
sec that he did not believe a wore
was saying.
by you don't look like a dope fe
I'm either" he observed scathingly,
lg- Look here" | retorted, 'it is |
enough to have the police take it
.ranted that | am criminal anC
murderer, but when the counsel
III 'ourt assigns me starts out on
,;f ,frrI%