The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-06-21
CHAPTER xII-continued.

II seems that the morning after the
ROBBERY he had gone 10 the post Office
for the mail. and copy Of the Boston
Evening Times. q paper 10 which
Slyke did not subscribe. had been
handed to him by mistake. He had
been reading a book only few days
before, '-flled with murders and the
like" and he remembered the account
of q robbery In IL and how the evil
dence was manufactured. On his way
home he stopped at the police station
for information, and offered 10 drive
the police out 10 the home OF the
men who had been arrested. Ii seems
that the state police had taken them
TO their own homes and allowed one
Of the men TO change his coat be
fore taking him TO jail. The local
police wanted TO search the coat
which had been left behind. II was
here that the chauffeur had his first
idea OF planting the evidence. He
tore the corner OF the paper, and at
the mans house managed to slip the
newspaper into the pocket OF the coat
before the police examined II. Later.
at Sykes, he threw the little torn
piece of paper on the floor 50 that
they could find that. too.
When he had finished. I wondered
II the boy had not been right when
he thought that the man had been
simply fooling him. But II IL were
true. his story. taken with the dying
words of the chauffeur, would be
enough to free the inen in prison /
decided to take him with me to the
police station and let him tell his
story to Roche.
On our arrival In Saratoga we were
lucky enough 10 find both Roche and
Black together. Without any COM
ment on my part. had the boy repeat
his story TO the two officers. They
listened with a good deal Of interest.
Roche, of course, had handled the rob-
berry, and knew more about IL than
Black; but Black, knew, believed
that Briffeur was the murderer OF
Slyke and the boys story confirmed
his belief.
We debated the story for an hour.
Roche taking the view that the chauf-
feur might have been fooling the boy.
and Black that the chauffeur had told
the truth and was too drunk TO real
ize what he had said.
Roche clinched his argument by de
handing, -Why, under heaven. should
Slyke owe Briffeur a large sum OF
money!"
That was. we all agreed, the weak
point in the story.
"My Lord" Roche exclaimed as a
thought occurred TO him. do you
realize that 1t was Briffeur that found
the torn pieces of cloth on the rose
bush. the piece that fitted into the
man't pants?"
In establishment / asked. ut WASP"
1T sure was. He came into the
police station a few days later with II
and told us where he had discovered
II, and asked If we knew what II was.
I'VE found later that IL fitted into a
hole I'm the pants one Of the fellows
was wearing"
WAS he ever In the cell with those
men?" Black asked. with a glance at
me
"Yes. several times. Slyke asked
that we let him 90 In and talk 70
them"
Black threw out his hands In dis
gust. my c., Roche. one would
think you kept a hotel. You let any
one 20 in and out that wanted to-"
Roche flushed, and replied angrily.
"well, Slyke had lots Of pull here
and / don't think II did any harm 10
1T his chauffeur see those men,
None" said Black dryly. -It only
gave him a chance 20 snip a piece |
from one Of the mems trousers"
That's foolish" Roche laughed.
"Oh. don't know" was Blacks !
answer you can't prove he did not.
You never saw the piece Of cloth un.
III he brought II In TO you. He was
In the cell alone with them. and had /
the chance 20 cut out the piece %
rloth. You can't prove that the chauf
feur's story is not true. II fits In
better with facts than the evidence
hat sent those men to Jail. But. oh
BOY. the easy way you run this jan"
Roche scowled at US. and was about
% retort when he was called from the
-oom. Black and lighted cigars and
smoked in silence.
mir. Petit he asked az last. what
10 you think OF my theory that Brit
eur murdered SlykeTr
] had given little thought 10 the
natter. and said as much. Black sur.
,rised me by adding. you know thai
DOCTOR King and tie district attorney
hink that the only verdict that can
e brougb. In in the Slyke case Il
ulcideT-
Blacks remarks astonlshed me
rue. realized that II was almost I'm
ossible 10 present convincing leg1
roof that Siyke had been murdered
ut there was still the chauffeur
cath TO be explained II he he,
cen killed. as BARLEY thought. b.
ause he knew TOO much about SIvke