The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-05-29
CHAPTER lx-Continued.

-12-
As | DOndered over Ii decided that /
! my chance meeting with Barbara Brad
| ford in the park had upset the plans
/ of Il matchmaking band. and that they
were avenging themselves on me for
my unwilling part. | was certain that
Wick and Lefty MOore's wife were in
| cpnfvance with them. and that the .
gang possibly included Claire Brad /
! fOrd's eX-huSband. Wick had pass |
key that 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
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? l
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
grufTly.
As came out was again shackled
and led to the patrol wagon that was
waiting. | had supposed that l was
being taken TO court to be arraigned,
but such was not the case. / found
myself at police headquarters, where
both my photograph and my finger
prints were taken. / RETAINED 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, | was
taken into large room where perhaps
half hundred men were assembled,
most of them wearing masks. looked
= about with curiosity. l haC read of
this ceremony. 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 II 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 ut the Granddeck was
done by professional"
MaEy sighting comments were
made, too, on my personal appearance
| learned for the first time that l had
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 pool
unfortunates who fall afoul of the
: law. Even though man is presumed
4 To be innocent until he has been con
yicted | had observed that since tht
first moment of my arrest everybody
had taken it for granted that l mus
be guile and had treated me will
little resaect or consideration.
j From headquarters was taken t.
the police court and without further
DELAY brought before magistrate.
i "John S. Nelson, arrested for the
Il murder of Daisy Lutan." said the de
II tective.
i .Have you counsel?" asked the mag
istrate.
II NO" replied.
81 will assign Mr.. Myers as the pris
oners counsel" he announced.
Ayoung 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" / replied. I'm no
guilty. l had nothing to do with ii.
l could, see by his face that he di
not believe me and as / turned agai
to the court l made up my mind tina
even if the court had assigned hi
as my counsel | would tell him noti
ing.
"HOw do you plead?" asked tn
j court.
Not guilty" replied.
"Remanded without bail for furthe
examination until Thursday morning
snapped the court, and l was led bac
into an anteroOm, Mr.. Myers and IN
detective accompanying me. The la
ter there surrendered me 10 some on
cial. presumably prison keeper.
Looks pretty bad for you,' sal
Myers. as We were left alone for col
sultation.
Il suppose it does look that way"
laughed.
mo chance to make it self-defense
he went on, plainly amazed AZ m
manner. mo jury'd ever stand for
burglar shooting in self-defense."
NO" I admitted, Il suppose the
wouldn't. Fortunately I'm no bu
glar."
IF we could make out it was
lovers quarrel" he suggested.
IF had ever Known Miss Lptan
I admitted, that might not make
bat defense