The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-09-03
By SEWELL FORD

the time he left his desk at O'Clock
that afternoon to go up for his inter-
view with Barsden; until his sister
went in to route him out at TOO A. M.
next mornin' and found him pale and
Itrembly. Course, Sister Alice told the
head of the homicide squad that
that Brother Albert had gone to bed at
|S:45 the night before, complainin' of
a headache, and that he'd been right
in his room all night. But the head
Quarters people shifted at that and
limited they knew better.
So for two days read all the reports
land wondered why Albert didn't come
across with a worlrin' alibi, and then
just naturally had to mix in Maybe
wouldn't have IL ! hadn't happened
to have known this Mr.. Pete Martin
in the District Attorneys Office. Pete
itook three weeks course with me
once. when we first got on the county
lpay roll, and meet him now and then
lat boxin' bouts. He's quite a sport
himself. Which is why l puts it
straight to him when / blows into his
office
"Pete," says I, you're all wrong on
this Hickson party. You never can
tag him with thing like that Barsden
shooting"
"No?" says Pete, hunchin' his eye
brows 1--WE think we have him fairly
well coppered. Shorty. Know him, do
Iyou?"
Like book" says /, land take 1t
from me he couldn't any more shoot
a gun than a rabbit could chew up a
bulldog. What's wrong with that alibi
of his anyway"
"Just a moment" says Pete, while
II shut the door. You see, Shorty,
we're not giving this out public as
yet; but the fact is we know that
Hickson left his room at IL P. M. and
didn't go back to it until after three
next morning. Barsden was killed
between 1870 and 2:15. So there you
Iare."
But how could Hickson get out,
with Sister Alice's room between hin
land the stairsg' asks.
Fire escape" says Pete. Zone or
these let down affairs that opens into
the back areaway. Fastened it down
with wire while he went out. The
ljanitor knew all about 1t. He got
scared and squealed. Said HicIsson
had been at that game on and off for
months. Heard him go out that night,
in fact. Looks bad for him, chi"
MEAN to say you think he made Il
business of night gunnin'?'' / de-
Imands.
I'VE are quite certain he went gum
ming for Barsden," says Pete. "If
The hadn't where was he between IL
land 8? He's had plenty Of chance to
|tell. But not word"
/ HUH" says 1. "And I'll bet you
people would send that poor simp to.
1.-THE chair on no better evidence than
THAT. Say, ! think he'd open up to me
8tHow about hayin' a little talk with
lhim?"
Pete was doubtful about that. He
didn't think the chief would like it.
They'd even kept Sister Alice out.
| would you be willing to have one
of our men listen in from the neat
cell?' he asks.
"Sure!" says /. "If Albert did it
he ought to get what's coming to him.
But if he didn't he ought to have a
fair show. and while amt strong for
Icrashin' in on affairs OF this kind /
should feel like gutter if didn't
do what / could"
i Then ] guess can tx it up" says
Pete. 'I'll see what the Chief says
J, They're cagey bunch that district
attorneys office crowd. specially
when the've got big case on and
leach one is worlxin' for all the. per:
sonal advertiser he can get Say. I
believe some of 'em would convict
his own grandmother OF any crime
on the calendar for the sake of gettin'
Ibis picture on the front page and his
name in the headlines. For an hour
Tor more they kept me waitin' while
they chewed over the proposition of
1lettin' me have few words with
lHickson. But they must have decided
it might be good way to get some
thing more on him, for finally III
handed pass and put in charge of
Hattie with good ears.
1t amt chirky pastime. payin' a
forenoon call on suspected murderer
in detention cell. Ever try it?
finds Hickson sittin' with his head in
his hands starin' dazed and simple at
1.-THE iron bars. He don't even look up
IWhen l stop in front of the door, Not