The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-03

tG0F ALL men who emerge from
prison." remarked Tredways
to me on one occasion, "the
most fascinating to the student of
criminology, are the master minds who
have descended. OF all men who are
shot out from that abyss. tossed up
from that maelstrom. those who were
orce illustrious, real suns, in the intel
lectual or social ornaments, appeal
most powerfully to our sense OF the
dramatic. From riches to prison. The
pillar of society writhes in his shame
full cell. The master OF men sweats
in the quarries. The aristocrat tolls
with felons. Epic tragedies. What
resurrection after that crucifxion7 1t
is a question Of absorbing interest"
When Hogg Tredways. specialist in
crime, spoke in this fashion to me
(his friend. the Reverend Horace
Francie, Chaplain of Chains Prison,)
I felt that he had some particular per-
son in mind I waited in silence.
How often have Z wished to meet
that genius of finance, Walter Minshun
Dresslar?" Tredways continued. TT
is unlikely that I ever shall. It was
years and years ago when a crisis
urged him to take one step outside the
pale of the law. He CHANGED the snap
Of the lions jaws. but the jaws
snapped. That was on the other side
Of the Atlantic, so that the case scarce
ly comes within our reach. wish it
did I would give a decent sum to en-
counter Dresslar, who has been out
some time now But no one knows
where he is. OF course not. man
OF his calibre would never exhibit him
self for curiosity's finger to point at.
'rYou, my dear Francie, bring to me,
on rare occasions, men who have been
in prison, whom you believe to be in
nocent; and use my poor talent to
clear them. But you cannot bring
Dresslar. And was he innocent? He
said he was. Could I roll away. the
stone of his supposed guilt? Impos-
sible. It was a matter Of profound
finance; in that web of figures, OF cal
culations, I should become enmeshed.
choked, strangled. But, oh how
should like to know just what that
genius is doing now!"
A few weeks after Tredways had
acknowledged this desire, having an
hour to spare dropped into his club
It is called the Oddments Club. and is
within found Of the Piccadilly traffic
Tredways was not there, but, as had
not CONNIE to see him. 1t hardly mat
tered. There was a good sprinkling
Of men in the smoking room, mostly
in evening clothes. I had ensconced
myself in a divan chair and was read
irg an evening paper, when was
startled by hearing some one remark:
'LepeIlier has gone under yes.
These high financiers have their, day
and cease to be. They swell like bub-
bles, beautiful. iridescent. and then
a drop of dirty water to show where
they burst That's like Lepellier now;
like Walter Minshuu Dresslar. who
went to prison. knew Dresslar.
that is to say, knew him for FIVE min
utes. You smile? But it was the most
dramatic, the most exciting, the most
poignant five minutes OF my life; and
that has been eventful enough"
The speaker had my attention in
stantly. He had been addressing a
fellow-member on the subject Of the
suicide OF LepeIlier, wel1-kno7Vn on the
Paris Bourse. Although his words
were quietly spoken they were SO strik-
ing as to attract the attention OF many
Of those around about him. and the
interest spread quickly. He became
aware OF this. and edged away from
the fireplace, toward a chair. That he
would not be permitted to shut him
from the expression Of the others
faces; and this was soon intimated to
him.
Come on with the yarn. standish, '
urged some one. Immediately.
Sorry" was the answer. I'm afraid
I went a little too far. and"
"And you must go on with it," inter
rupted another. I'VE want to hear
about the most exciting five minutes
Of your life"
Standish flushed uncomfortably. He
had never sought the Imelight at the
Oddments. being a small silent sort of
man. With the others I attempted to
break down his difidence, while kept
an eye on the door in the hope that
Tredways would appear. Here was a
golden chance, and I must seize it for
I'm. that was all there was to it
1T does not begin very much to my
Credit" said Standish as soon as we
got him started. 1T happened years
and years age. I wonder how many of