The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-14

muttered 70 himself. Now why
would = condemned man hide =
piece Of heefstsak IN the heel Of
his shoe -
The chief jailsr knew nothing
about IL but summoned the SIX
guards who hsd sitsrnsted in
pairs On the Death watch for
eieht-hour shifts TIE answer 10
re riddle VAS almost ridieulously
simple.
This Statier felia hurt his heel
walking n his stocking feet - the
wash basin yesterday one Of the
guards declared. lie stepped on
bit Of plaster and caused what
he called bone hruise. He
imped after that and then asked
me to get him a little bit Of raw
steak about the size II his heel
said IL was the only way 70 fix a
heel hurt that way"
Dawson's eyes were beginning
to sparkle.
ANY Of YOU ever hear of that
remedy before -
The chief jsiler and guards all
shook their heads
The investigator smiled broad
ly:
That's because. gentlemen. you
were never athletes. This has
been = great help to me-thinks
a million 10 you all"
Dawson actually felt cheerful
as he phoned the American colonel.
The first ray of light had poked
through the mystery.
The colonel listened sttentively
to Dawson's request. Yes. the
u. 8. Army force had physical
instructor with them. a Sergt. Del
Rose, formerly with some Illinois
college-sn sll-round athlete and
a topnotoh instructor.
Perfect" replied Dawson. do
you think you could rush him
over to the penitentiary right
away"
Within an hour. Rose was In
the chief jailer's office. Dawson
seated him at the desk and ex-
planned the purpose of his request:
IF you aren't squeamish. ser
geant. there's a job to be done
here and I believe you are prob
ably the only man in Newfound-
land qualified TO do II - the
sergeant smiled appreciation. "A
few rooms down there lies the
body Of a man who was hanged
this morning. I learned that ne
had bruised the bottom of his heel
yesterday and ordered piece Of
beefstesk TO place against the
flesh. That indicated To me that
be had at some time taken part
in major athletics, because 1t is a
trick used only by topnotch train
ers
The sergeant interrupted;
Perfectly true. Mr.. Dawson. ]
have met many doctors who didn't
know that trick"
Fine Now, sergeant, here Is
the job. Could you examine that
body and give me any hint OF
what particular sport or sports he
played in-Iudging solely from
signs Of any old injuries that may
still be evident >"
The sergeant remained silent
for q full minute before replying
Il believe / could make a good
stab at IL.
NV initial observation would
be that the man has all the ex-
terror signs Of a former athlete,
said Rose, looking intently at the
body. That was a while back but
not 80 very far-perhaps 10 or 10
years ago. He isn't flabby as non
athletic men of his size often are.
Again. It Is fairly obvious that his
left shoulder had been broken at
some time-it is larger than the
right and of rather awkward
shape"
Dawson pointed IN an obvious
snture marking on the dead man .
right side.
YES, ! noticed that" com
mented Rose. 1T certainly isn't a
post-operative incision. Id say II
was made by some knife-like point
say. iik. a hockey skate. There
are also marks Of blows around
the mouth. deep ridges that have
almost disappeared with the years.
They are more likely hockey in
juries than any other type"
Gingerly. he began moving his
fingers through the executed mans
hair.
Here's something" he ex-
claimed, signaling for Dawson to
look closely. There 10 another
suture marking three stitches ]
would say. You'll notice the cut
vas also Of the sharp type. Again
| consider IL a skate cut rather
than a blow by something wider.
A lscross stick, for instance.