The Pulaskian., 1920-07-29


 science kept assuring me that 1t was misfortune and not error on my part Chat had brought me here. At every point In the strange chain of circum- stances I felt that l had acted as a man of honor should have acted. My sense of innocence upheld me even though the deliberate malicious plot ting of evil men might make it appear ko the judge, to the jurors to the whole world that I was a murderer. Eyen though I should be sentenced to heath for killing woman I never had seen the knowledge that at every point had done what I still believed to have been right, brought me strong comfort and filled me with new cour- age.
 Yet 1t was with lack of interest that [ listened to the monotonous question kng that formed a part of the selection of jury.
 "S0 fur as l am concerned" I had said to my counsel In our last chat, s.any sort of jury will do. Unless we succeed in upsetting the evidence against me with a crash that all the world can hear 1t makes no differ ence."
 1I guess you are right" he answer ed, despondently, it seemed to me, "and if the worst happens, we always can take an appeal"
 Ills reply convinced me that he, too, Eas anticipating the result, which I long ago had decided to be the only outcome, unless something unforeseen happened-a verdict against me of murder in the first degree. | heard, almost with amusement, fhe district attorney, with eloquent oratory. tell the jury the crimes he expected to prove against me, even smiling little at the picture he paint ied of gangster seeking employment of wealth that he might find oppor- kunities for plundering them, and when he was surprised in the midst of his burglarizing, brutally choking ,she unprotected woman whose home Ne was despoiling and then as she lay xhere, helpless and insensible, shoot dng her through the heart.
 In fact, quite agreed with all he said, even to his most strenuous ad- Bectiyes-exeept for the one fact that l knew I was not the man he was talking about. It had been bru- Sai. cowardly murder, and was fully as anxious as the district attorney could possibly be to see the miscreant who had killed Miss Lutan brought to book
 The testimony that was to come. I Heyoutly hoped, would give some clue that would lead to the unmasking of the real murderer. The first witness called was one of the detectives who had arrested me. He told concisely hs though repeating a well rehearsed. story. of having been summoned to the Granddeck and finding there the body of Daisy Lutan. He said that she had been shot through the heart.
 "Nvas there anyone h the apart ment when you arrivG9?"
 "Yes, q doctor"
 Anyone else?"
 'sYes, Mr. Wick, the superintendent of the apartment, and the prisoner"
 What did they say? How did they explain their presence there?"
 They said they had heard shot and had come in to investigate"
 He told of examining the body, questioning the physician and of mak- ing search of the apartment for the murderer, but finding no one else there.
 What did you do then?"
 "My partner and I followed the prisoner to his apartment and placed him under arrest. We searched his room and in the dresser I found a revolver with one chamber recently discharged"
 What made you suspect Nelson7 Why did you arrest him?'
 .'hiy partner and 1 talked it over, and we both were of the opinion that 1t was an inside job. A burglar would have no chance to get into a building like the Granddeck and make his get, away. It was between the superin- tendent of the building. who was 8 man of responsibility, and this young fell0w-who was only cnretaker."
 ''Had anything In Nelson's actions made you suspicious of him7'
 1T noticed that he was greatly ex- cited"
 Anything else?"
 After Nelson had gone upstairs 10 his own apartment, I questioned Mir Wkk. He said he had been In the elevator when he heard the shot. He had gotten out at the fifth floor. where it seemed to have come from. At the door of Miss Lntan's apartment he had found the prisoner"
 That's all' said the district attor- hey triumphantly.
 My attorney waived cross-examina- kion. The second detective was put