The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-06-18
CHATTER Ix-contInusd.

OF Matchmaking band. and that they
were nvenging 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
fofd's ex-husband. Wick had 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
II 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 this7 ]
knew she had been In my rooms after
the murder II must have been she
who put the revolver there.
One OF the detectives who had ar
rested me appeared at my cell door,
"c0me along" he commanded
grufily.
AS | came out was again shackled
and led TO the patrol wagon that was
waiting. 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. | refrnined from
giving any Information about myself,
beyond giving my name and age, be-
ing careful to have my name recorded
as John y. Nelson Out IN my home
town everybody for years had known
me by my middle name "Spauldlng,"
and was hopeful that they might
fail TO identify me II they read any
thing about nae.
When everything that might serve to
Identify me had been recorded, was
taken Into Il large room where perhaps
half hundred men were assembled,
most Of them wearing masks. looked
about with curiosity. | had read OF
this ceremony. | was being 'llned up"
before the members or the city's detec-
tive force to see II any OF them could
Identify me and TO give them an oppor-
tunity 70 famlllarize themselves with
my features la case Il should ever be
necessary 10 arrest me again.
"Neyer saw him before" heard
one Of them say Guess he must be
western crook
Hes no amateur" said another,
"1'hat 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 enr," and that my eyes were
shifty. Tho only emotion these com
ments aroused In me was feeling OF
pity, not for myself but for all poor
unfOrtunates who full afou OF the
law. Even though man Is presumed
TO be innocent until he has been con.
yicted / had observed that since the
first moment Of my arrest everybody
had taken It for granted that / 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.
"IIaye you counselG" asked the mag
istrate.
mo" ! replied.
II win 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 | replied. SIN not
guilty. had nothing TO do with It."
! could see by his face that he did
not believe me and as l turned again
to the court made up my mind that
even II the court had assigned him
as my counsel would tell him moth
ing.
How do you pleadf asked the
court
mot guilty" replied
'Remanded without bail for further
examination until Thursday morning"
snapped 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 eff
clal, presumably prison keeper.
Looks pretty bad for you" said
Myers, as We wero left alone for con.
sultatlon.
Il suppose Il does look that way" /
laughed
1No chance to make II self.defense,"
he went on, plainly amazed at my
manner. NO jury'd ever stand for a
burglar shooting In. selfdefense."
mo" ] admitted. ~ suppose they
wouldn't. Fortunately I'm no bur
siar."
III we could make out II was a