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

? BARLEY read 1t, passing 1t at hast
to me with quizzical look. 1t was
single sheet of typewriter paper,
but with no date and of course I'M
signed. 1t read:
Chief, you think YOU have the
man that killed Rice at the Hill but
you are wrong. as you are most
times. You can let that man go, he
did not kill him, he could have, but
he did not. l tell you so. l killed
HIM, came in the house, Just after
that man Kent, and hid back of the
big curtains downstairs. till he came
out, then | went up in the elevator.
l went in the room and killed him
with a cane. God told me to do it.
He was one of those men that grind
the poor, he deserved. to be killed"
1t was queer letter at the best.
The language seemed that of an I'M
educated man and perhaps a derang-
ed man. The sentences had no con-
struction, still that might have been
purposely done. 1 could not help
but notice that the details of the
house were very meager. Any one
reading the newspaper story Of the
crime could have secured all the in
formation that was in the letter.
The chief had watched both of us
and. as l placed the letter back on
the table, he said:
Il don't know If there is anything
in it. But at least the writer said
ne killed RICE and l would like to
get my hands on him. The papers
Will raise Cain over 1t. anyway"
BARLEY picked the letter UP from
the table and looked at it again.
Then he turned to the chief. Il
thlnk, chief when you do lay your
hands on the man that wrote this
letter, You will find he is some one
mentally deranged. You notice he
said God told me to do it, No
normal person would say that, a re-
lIgious fanatic might. Then again
Rice. never ground down the poor
his wealth was made honestly and
those that worked for him loved him.
lie did not have an enemy in the
world that l ever heard of. or
course there is one chance in a mill
ION that the writer told the truth
Thats the only reason to be in
terested In the letter. You ought to
get him."
But-" broke in Dunn. "how can
we get him when we don't know
who wrote it,"
BARLEY grinned, THAT should he
easy, Dunn. You have the enyeIope
theA letter came in.
ITS stamped the time Il was re-
ceived at the postofice. II II was
cropped in a box at the postofY,ce
the stamping would tell about the
Tune. If a carrier brought it in it
would be even easier"
Easier?" asked the chief in Won
der. " WI"
Sure. easier. The carriers get IN
at olnerent times. You only have
Tour or FIVE anyway. Just as soon
as they get in, the mail picked m
py the carrier from the boxes IL
stamped with the time received. All
you have to do in that case is And
out which carrier brought it in. and
tnen watch the boxes. There
can't be more than three on each
route"
DO you think there will be any
more letters?" came the oeustion.
BARLEY nodded, "Of course there
will. II the man is deransed, II
there Is a little mental weakness.
there will be other letters. All you
nave to do Is to watch the boxes.
Dunn turned to the chief. IT will
look after that. Let me take the en-
velope and will go over to the
postoffice."
The chief rummaged In his desk.
finally finding the envelope. which
he gave to Dunn. The detective
glanced at It for a moment before
he left the room. After his de-
parture, the chief turned to Bart
ley. His face wore a troubled look
and could tell he seemed to be dis
turbed.
Mr.. Barley" he said. this case