Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-23

Bartiey simply grinned, but said
nothing. Lighting his old black
pipe. the chief continued:
.Darned II know what to think.
The evidence against Kent Is strong
enough to hold him for a while.
Then that young man told the wild
est yarn ever heard in my life. /
don't see how any one can believe
all that stun he got of about run
ming away in. order to frighten that
cousin Of his. That fifty-dollar gold
piece he was trying to throw over
board when I grabbed 1t. and his
story about taking just one from the
box looks flshy." He paused and
| gave a sigh.
| l half smiled. The chief was be-
| wildered,- and, for that matter, so
was i. The crime had developed
angles that were over his head and
with the two conflicting theories be-
| fore him, he did not know where to
turn. He shifted his heavy frame in
his chair and looked appealingly at
BARLEY, his big eyes sober and
tired. Yet could not help liking
him for his good nature and frank
ness.
But Barley did not give him
much satisfaction. They talked the
thing over for a while, but reached
no conclusion. The chief informed
US that Maxson had answered all
MS qeustions. but had nothing new
to tell. The boy had acted frishten-
ed and nervous, but I could well
understand why he should be. After
questioning him, the chief had to let
him go back to the Hill, Maxson
| promising to report to him the next
day. Then rising from his chair, he
stated the District Attorney wished
to see, US.
He took us to the next floor, OPEN
Ing the door, of an office. The
walls Were lined with countless law
books and, a number of green filing
cases. By an open window. smok-
ing, sat a man of about forty who
rose, when the chief entered and
came to our side. He turned out to
be the District Attorney, and, after
introducing US, the chief left the
! room.
It took but a moment for the law
yer, who told us his name was VIII
cox, to discover that both he and
BARLEY were Harvard men. a fact
which seemed to place them on good
footing at once. He motioned us 10
several chairs by the window, and
we seated ourselves.
For a second he said nothing.
There fioated through the window
the strains Of popular song played
by. the band, and the snatches of
conversation from the people in the
park across the street. Then he
| spoke:
MIR. Barley" he said. my Office
doesn't as a rule mix up in a
criminal case till after the indict :
nent has been brought in. But this
case seems rather unusual and ]
thought you would be willing to give
me some. information" BARLEY
simply nodded. and the attorney
went on:
Both Dunn and the chief have
told me the grounds on which they
are holding Kent. He is. as YOU
know, wealthy and has powerful
friends. They seem strong enough,
in fact I might add. that think
with even the evidence they now
mold against him. could get a con-
viction before a Jury"
He paused, looking at BARLEY as
II ne wished conflrma ton for this
statement. BARLEY agreed, saying
nothing else. The lawyer PLAYED
with his cigar. his face thoughtful
then he continued:
But l find that the chief thinks
he has almost as strong a case
against the young man. In fact II
1t were not that Kent is already in a
cell, i think the chief would have
arrested Maxson."
He looked at his hand a moment
then smiled But they cannot both
be guilty Of the 0ime. In fact the
evidence Is so conflicting, so strong
against each one. that ] wished to
ask you-" He paused, as IL not
wishing to finish his sentence. and
when he went en- I judged that he
| had decided not to say what he
wished. for he continued:
so far as l can see. there are but
two theories. One is that some per-
son killed Rice for the book that is
missing"
He glanced at BARLEY and smiled,
adding. Il am a bookman myself in
a small way. Mr. BARLEY, but hardly
In your class. Il looked up what |
could find about Aretino and 1 can
see where the book that is missing
can be worth $4,000. Still again.
! the box of money is missing. The
chief, told me YOU claim" that it's
hardly likely Kent would take the
money. or the young man the book"
He paused for Bartley's answer.
| AhS.Sdu VI ANSWERING MIN, bartley
said with SMILE
What was the question YOU
wished to ask me?"
J Why" came the half-embarrass-
ed answer. Il wanted to know IL you
had any suspicion of some other
person besides the two I named, or
any facts the police do not know"
BARLEY was silent a long while,
his face thoughtful. When he re-
piled, he spoke slowly as If picking
his words. Mr.. Wilcox, that is a
question which ordinarily / would
not care TO answer, but ! will under
the circumstances. AS rule I
work out my cases my own way. I
see the position you are in with
| Kent locked UP and threatening
trouble and doubt in your mind
regarding the young man."
He stopped a moment to light a
cigar. then continued 81 will tell
you frankly. have no person under
suspicion except those two. I have
several little theories perhaps. which
have little to go on, but they point
to no particular person. In fact, all
the evidence Is circumstantial, 1t all
points to either Kent or the young
man. They may both be innocent,
the rather remarkable stories of
both may be true. They may both
be untrue"
| But started the lawyer.
| But" smiled Barley. they can
not both be guilty. you were going
to say That is true. Yet II il DOS
sible that Kent could have killed my
friend and Maxson might have
taken the money. but don't know.
have foolish idea back in my
mind that perhaps we don't know