The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-12-28
TRUE--777T
by Vance Q public Le0s''
The Man With the
Unusual Voice


known in this country developed from
the robbery of Mrs. Francis Walton.
a wealthy widow, living in New York,
about year ago.
Mrs. Walton had a home on East
Eleventh street, and was alone, with
the exception Of maid.
During the latter part of the year
she engaged negro to look after the
furnace and do heavy work.
One day he asked her to come to
the cellar to inspect a defective fau-
Get. The moment she reached the
basement two men emerged from a
dark corner and bound and gagged
her.
Then, while the third man watched
the maid to see that she did not in
terfere, the two strangers went through
the house and ransacked it Of all the
valuables they could get their hands
on.
Captain Arthur Carey, of the homi-
eide bureau, was placed on the case,
and he started to try to find the cul-
prits from the description that was
given him of the furnace man.
He was engaged under the name of
Thomas Smith, but the detective was
satisfied that it was an alias.
He made a search of the rogues'
gallery and finally came across a pic
ture that correspondent with the de-
'scription. Mr.. Walton was sent for
and said at once that he was the man
who had led her into the cellar.
His real name was Owen Loop.
The police combed the city and sue
ceeded in finding him.
At the same time they arrested two
other men who were suspected of be-
ing the culprits in the case.
Now, the difficulty was in identify
ing these men.
Mrs. Walton was unable to help the
authorities iE this particular because
the cellar was dark and she did not
have the opportunity of seeing the
men who had tied and bound her.
But she had vivid recollection of
their voices, and recalled the fact that
one of the men had touched her face
while he was readjusting the gag.
In a word, her sense of hearing
and Of feeling was acute, and she ven-
tured to say that she would recall the
voices of the men If she ever heard
them again.
One man, she recalled, had an I'M
usual voice, and she was sure she
would know 1t If she heard it any
where under any circumstances.
Captain Carey thereupon determined
to try an original experiment.
He had Mrs. Walton call at police
headquarters and placed her in chair
behind screen.
To make the test all the more abso-
lutte, she was blindfolded.
After that seven men were brought
into the room and placed on the other
side of the screen.
Two Of them, Tillquist and Burn
field, were the suspects.
The others were men who had been
brought in on trivial charges.
Each man was given number. Till
quist was the seventh man.
Then the detective commanded each
man to speak.
He was asked question and told to
answer it in clear voice.
They were ignorant, needless to say,
of the presence of the woman on the
other side of the screen. Mrs. Walton,
on her part, did not see any of the
men.
No. 1 spoke, but awakened no in
terest on the part of the listener on
the other side.
So it was with No. 2 and others.
Finally Tillquist replied to ques-
tioE
Instantly Mrs. Walton arose from
her seat, her face expressing recogni-
ton.
THAT'S the mani" she exclaimed.
"No. Z is the man who spoke in the
cellar. will never forget that voice"
That test was sufficient for the po-
lice authorities, but in order to make
certain Mrs. Walton suggested that
she be given the opportunity OF Ieenng
the touch Of their fingers on her face.
So the second test was made, with
the woman still blindfolded.
This time Tillquist was given an
other place In the line.
All seven touched her face, or at
least four of them, for when Tillquist
did so she exclaimed promptly.
"That's the man-Im sure Of 1t"
Thereupon he confessed to his part
in the attack and robbery.
The others admitted the truth and
were tried and promptly convicted.
All were sent to Sing Sing prison
with sentences of five, ten and fifteen
years respectively.
It was the most remarkable case OF
Identification In the history of the po-
lice department