The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-21
True Detective
StOv BY Vsnes Wynn
c Public ledger
The Bed That Was Not
Occupied

GhtAE gtafh hkA AstAA1F4 " AF's ~
- an officer on the ST. Louis po-
lice force was murdered while try
Ing 10 arrest n burglar.
lie vas very popular among his
associates and there was an almost
universal desire TO end the man
who had committed the deed and TO
give him the FUN penalty OF the law.
But the dihiculty was TO get a
clue upon which 10 hinge their ln.
yestlgatious
II was learned that n number Of
colored men had been seen In the
vicinity OF the hotel whore the on
Ger was shot. but there vas nothing
TO connect them with the crime
Chief OF Police Smith determined
20 comb the city In order 10 locate
the known colored criminals.
The job was vel done. but II did
not bring very practical results.
Just about that tine the chief
learned that one OF the men who
had been seen Ioltering In the vi.
cinity OF Cardinal street on the
nigh, of the murder had been sent
10 the Missouri reformatory a week
later on some minor charge.
lie called upon the mother Of the
suspect and questioned her regard
Ing his movements FOR the previous
month.
she admitted that be was way.
ward but was positive that be could
not have been the murderer OF Po
llceman Boyce.
She wss cross-eramlucd. and as
a result OF that II was found that
Frank white-for that was his
name-had not slept at home on the
night OF March 81.
This was extremely important be
cause that was the night the officer
was shot
In addition 20 asccrtaining this
biz OF information. the chief OF DO
lice also came away with a bunch
of pawn tickets.
one OF them called for revolver
The officer called on the pawn.
broker and obtained the weapon.
II was taken 10 headquarters. and
IL was found 10 be the callber re
volver with which Policeman Boyce
had been shot.
The proof of this was discovered
by means Of the bullet that had
been taken from the wound
Thus armed. the chief % police
was In a position 20 confront the
suspected man.
lie took the train for Boonville
and arrived al the reformatory late
al night
In order 20 make doubly sure he
took the mother OF White with him
The superintendent was perfectly
willing TO have white interviewed.
but thought II might be postponed
until the next morning. Chief Smith
did not agree with him.
on the contrary. be said there
were several reasons why the meet.
Ing should take place that night
one OF them was that the sus
peci would be confronted unexpect.
ediy and without opportunity OF
manufacturing an Alibi.
He was reused from a solid slum
Der and brought into the waiting
room.
BY previous arrangement. the
mother had been placed in an ad.
Joining room.
White was surprised when con.
fronted by the detectlye-but he
was also defiant.
he positively denied all knowi.
edge OF the Boyce murder and said
that he was sleepy and wanted &c
go back 10 bed.
where did you spend the night
OF March 3lT" asked Chief Smith
suddenly.
at home In my bed-just where
should have spent IL"
But you did not sleep at home
that night" replied the detective In
his most positive manner.
How do you know thatr' he
asked. half tauntingly.
For reply his lnqulsitor opened q
little window in the room and
pointed TO an adjoining apartment.
where sat the mother OF the ac-
cused man.
Her unexpected presence shook
his nerve.
What had she said TO the police?
How much OF the truth had she
revealed7
He was troubled and IN the end
admitted that his bed had not been
occupied that night.
A minute later. when confronted
by the revolver which had been re
trieved from the pawnshop. he
broke down and confessed that he
had killed officer Boyce.
wSU Service.