Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-09-23

80 @SSNs
in q training stable. The boy was
quick to learn. Moreover. he had q
mind Of his own, and agreeable man.
| ners.
The country was now at war with
Spain. A messenger came one day
from the War department to consult
the colonel It was then that Shad
learned that Colonel Blake was an
acknowledged authority in devising
and reading cipher messages used in
war.
Facts Of vital interest were discov-
cred regarding the weapon used in the
killing of Oscar Perry. The brief of
Colonel Blake submitted to the Ap-
pellate division Of the Supreme court
recites the testimony of Sergt. William
3. Petty Of New York, an expert on
revolvers and ammunition. who ex-
amined the weapon. He weighed its
bullets and counted their grooves.
He said: "This revolver was called
in its time the American Bulldog
Thirty-eight. 1t was manufactured by
the Winchester Repeating Arms com
pany. They ceased to make and sell
It in 1890. The weapon has this pc
culiarity. When 1t is fred the trig-
ger must be released-the trigger fin
| ger must cease to press it-before
1t is cooked for another discharge"
While the sergeant examined the
bullets, Colonel Blake made note Of
this Illuminating fact.
"These cartridges were undoubtedly
made for the Winchester-Colt revol-
ver," the sergeant resumed. "They
are thirty eight caiiber, long. central.
fire cartridges, with q square base.
The weight, the shape Of the point, the
| form and faces Of the cannelures leave
no room for doubt"
Colonel Blake learned that the trade
In northern New York bought their
supplies Of winchester arms and am
munition from a store of the com
pany in Utica.
| On his return the colonel stopped
at this store. Its record Of sales for
some years prior to 1890 were still on
file. A bookkeeper was paid to make
an immediate survey Of those records
and ascertain to what tradesmen in
st. Lawrence county the American
Bulldog revolver had been sold. His
report was that only one revolver Of
that type had been sold In st. Law.
renee county. It had been shipped In
September, 1889, with three boxes Of
thirty-eight caliber, long, central-frt
cartridges to fit II, to E. J. Bonfeld
hardware dealer of the village Of
Massena. o
A little later Shad went with Col
onel Blake to Massena. They learned
that Mr.. Bonfeld had sold his stool
and gone out Of business in 1890. Hi,
goods had gone to some merchant II
Norwalk. Shad and the district at
torney drove to that small town, which
was FIVE miles from Ashfield. In thu
general store run by Cobb and Max
well they found the long resting-plact
Of the Anticipated weapon which haC
killed Oscar Perry. Mr.. Cobb hac
bought the revolver and its boxes O.
cartridges from Bonfield in 1889.
"To whom and when did you sci
TT" the colonel asked.
Mr.. Cobb answered: ave sold I
cheap to old Bumpy Brown, the tinker
He said that he was getting it for an
other man who wanted to shoot SOM
cats"
"This is important evidence. VIII,
didn't you report it to me2" was tn,
query of the district attorney.
swell, was In California whei
Bunlpy was arrested. didn't &c
back until week ago. though
that I'd wait and see what happened
"Have you any idea or suspicion n
to the last owner of this weaponT
"No. sir, but think that Brow,
told me the truth"
AS Colonel Blake and his youn
clerk went to the hotel for supper tn
former said:
"This is a curious case. Again I
comes up to Bumpy Brown. Wei
know more Of this matter before W
sleep"
They returned to Canton by IN
evening train and drove directly TO tn
jail. Bumpy was brought out to tn
sherifr's office to talk with them. n
put his hands on ShaA's shoulders an,