Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 29, Number 27, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 2 September 1908 — Page 6

Master Mold Solves Auto Murder Mystery By Telepathic Suggestion , (

0T certainly looked black for Arthur Edgerton. Even Clarke, who usually, I find, is inclined to let his sympathies rest with the accused until all shadow of doubt is dispelled, was hard put to find, excuses for him.

Man with Greatest Deductive Powers Known to Criminal Detectives

We discussed the case, recorded in glaring headlines, over our morning meal. “It’s incomprehensible," he said, as he read the third time the damning details. “His whole life, his success, his approaching marriage, everything cries out against this crime.” “So they did in the case of Eugene Aram,” i replied, "and yet Aram protested his innocence. If Edgerton is not guilty, it should be a simple matter for him to account for his whereabouts from 7:30 to 10 last night, but this he refuses" to Ho. T am of the opinion that for trace the police have showm commendable energy and .nabbed the right man. Can imagine a more convincing chain of circumstantial evidence?" “I don’t have to imagine. The history of circumstantial evidence contains many a more perfect chain which was 'pnly broken after an innocent man had been hanged." “Then, again,” he continued, “what do you make of the robbery? If through jealous) - Edgertou killed Garner, w T hy should he rifle his pockets, tear out a diamond-stud, and wrench the ring off his finger like a common .freebooter?” “That might have been the work of someone else who arrived on the scene after the murderer had fled,” I suggested. “A stronger argument on your aide would be that it was done to throw the police off the track. But we argue to no purpose, and 1, for one, propose to await the sequel.” It was the old, old story, the fatal triangle, in the demonstration of which tragedy has been the corollary since the world began—two, men and one woman. Arthur Edgerton possessed the three almost priceless talismen to the gates of modern society: youth, good looks, and wealth; and these had won for him the master-key: social position, despite the handicap of antecedents unknown, some said, even doubtful. Harrison Garner put into the balance against these: wealth, a family name honored for generations, and an unblemished character. Edgerton’s brilliancy he offset by unfailing good, humor and wholesomeness.

JVlazie Morrison, secure in her own little social realm and with no lack of suitors for the-hand of its queen, had played one against the other. She had finally silenced the gossips by, accepting Edgerton, and, then set their tongues wagging faster than ever by receiving both on equal terms, despite the cards and the ring and all the delightful, bothersome preliminaries to matrimony. .And then the sequel: Garner found shot through the heart in Edgertop's automobile on a lonely spot on the Lake Shore drive: Edged; on. blood bespattered, behind 'pri’son bars, and Mazie Morrison.'weeping. inconsolable, distraught, in her pretty boudoir, stunned at the havoc her little hands • had wrought in three lives.A visitor eaine heavily veiled' and as Clarke stepped forward to offer her , her personality beyond that she was young and owned.-a figure; Wetfe. but suggesting through her dark costume, • animal-like lines and curves.- Or was it the art of the dressmaker exemplified in a perfectly gowned woman? “Yes,'Misk Morrison, 1 am glad you have called on me. It in about the Edgerton case, I suppose,” replied Clarke, while I discreetly,.retired behind the portiere of my bedroom- door. “O, yes, Mr. Ciarke. You have seen the papers. You know the terrible trouble I am in.” “Now then,” continued Clarke, “the say that Mr. Edgerton called at your'apartment building, the Patio, at 7:30 o'clock last night That he found (darner there and stayed only about ten minutes. That he and Garner left together, entered Edgdrton'.s automobile, and started north. Now what; occurred during those ten minutes?" “OhTMr-.-darke, it happened just as the papers say:, only they, have added so many horrible things that are not so. They ray Arthur was .insanely ‘jealous of Harri Son arid that be left me in a rage, . He wasn't a bU, jealous.” "Had Mr. Edgerton any business troubles?” . “None that I know of. Papa said just the other evening that -his- factory had orders enough ahead to run if a year.” . —- “Now, Miss Morrison, did you notice anything else strange in his actions?" “Well, there was one thing, but it

'it can’t be of any importance. When he was leaving he rolled a cigarette and I noticed that he rolled it inward. When he makes his own cigarettes he always rolls them outward and he told me once that was the proper way. This

was why I noticed it, but I suppose it was nervousness that caused him to change.” When she left, Clarke's eyes danced with excitement. When tve reached the scene of the tragedy we found the ■'machine stand* ing apparently just as the murderer had left it, the front wheels in the ditch and the hind wheels elevated by the grade of the roadway. A dark pool of blood in the tonneau told its own story. . .“An. automatic:”,- , he,.. qnie.tly.-—re-. marked. "Nothing but a steel-jacketed bullet could go clear through the body'

Two Mem MeeeZ ogeed In Deedl y TMbpb ce

of a man and then cut so clean a fur-; row. There are no signs of a struggle. The polish of that woodwork hasn’t a scratch on it, wdiich wouldn’t be likely if there had been a fight. .Officer, are you sure these levers haven’t been touched since the body was found?” “Yes, sir. I came with the wagon last night and they were just that waj. The lieutenant left Clancy to guard it and ,1 .relieved him at eight. Neither of us have toucjied them.” “Sexton, it Is my solemn judgment that Edgerton was not in that automobile when the killing wa3 done. It’s a simple thing, but'to me it's conclusive. "The machine was set on the secondary’ speed. The gasoline-tank was almost empty and the oil-cups dry as a bone. Whoever ran that car was afP6rd~'c>f the high speed, and he had been burning-up the ehgine and squandering tbo gasoline to make time.

By FRANK LOVELL NELSON

Insignificant Personal Trait O'CerlooKed by Police Leads to \JnraHJeling of Duplicity and a Woman's \Jritva'Cering Demotion.

When he stopped he left the throttle on the second speed, threw off the gear-clutch, applied . the emergencybrake, and skidded into the ditch on his tires. They are cut through. The engine was not burned out from being left running, for the machine is of a type which’ disconnects the batteries when the gear-clutch is thrown. No expert motorist ever did such a bungling jo-1).” .... • -.-1 : “Perhaps Edgerton was anew hand at the game.” . , ■ . . "No. On our way back I have beep trying to think where 1 had heard his name before. • I just recalled it. He drove his own car in the races at Washington park last year? I jnust pay-more attention to shorts.” ~ When we entered the gloomy corridors of Central station, Clarke at once sought out Inspector Ship7°who happened to be in charge., and begged for an interview with Edgerton.

Here we met a stumbling-block of formidable proportions. Inspector Ship with the word that the prisoner absolutely refused to see anyone. “Then, inspector, I wish you would lock me up in th_cage next, to Edgerton, and preferafly on the side his bunk is on, if that one is empty. You can do that, can’t you, and leave me there for an hour? I may be able to interest him through the grating.” “Better go out and have your luncheon in the meantime, Sexton,” said Clarke, as he arid the inspector disappeared down the ijron stairway. At the restaurant to which I went for luncheon I met some friends, jovial good fellows, and we tarried long over the'coffee and cigars.' When I finally broke away, I realized in dismay that fully two hours had elapsed since I parted from Clarke. I hurried at once to the station, and there found a laconic note from him. f

“Can’t wait any longer. Come at once to 435 Fourth avenue.” I went In boldly, and at a venttire, said authoritatively to the barkeeper, who was serving a solitary customer: “The inspector just came in with a

plain-clothes man. Where are they now?” ,

He, taking me as I expected him to, for a “fly cop,” said nothing but jerked his thumb expressively in the direction of the depths beyond. Just as I was about to enter the swinging doors an awful hubbub arose from within, the sound of chairs hurled violently to the floor, the crash of breaking glass and overturning tables, curses, and the deep breathing of men in deadly battle. The orfe customer, who had pricked up his ears at the mention of the inspector, fled incontinently. I pushed the doors aside and rushed in. The scene that met my eyes was over in less than the time necessary to describe it, but It was thrilling while it lasted, Two men were locked in deadly embrace, reeling about the room, overturning tableg and chairs, while a - third circled around them watching for a chance to administer the quietus with the butt of a pistol. The man in the emhrace of the stranger was Clarke. The-one with the pistol the inspector. The stranger had a long knife in his right hand which he was trying to bring to bear on Clarke’s anatomy, but I was pleased to note that the wrist of the hand that held the blade was encircled with four fingers and a thumb that I knew possessed a grip like a pipe-wrench. The affair could have but one ending, and I did not see that I could be of any use. With one powerful effort Clarke brought hi& opponent’s head within range of the butt of the inspector’s revolver, there was a quick thud, and a limp form slipped out of his arms to the floor. “What devil’s trick is this you’re playing on me, Mr. Clarke?” roared the inspector. “We left this man at the station not half an hour ago. How cohies it that you lead me here on- a false scent and then drag my own prisoner out of that room and force me to slug him?” "I didn’t lead you on a false scent, inspector.” returned Clarke, with a grim smile. “I gave you my word of honor that if you would come with me I would give you the privilege of arresting' the real murderer of Harrison Garner. There he Is, and all you have to do is to handcuff him. He’ll be coming around in a minute, though I don’t think there’s much tight left in him. The police,, qertainly deserve -great credit for this. I imagine the morning papers will have a good deal to say about Che wonderful piece-of work accomplished by Inspector Ship. It isn’t too late for t an extra, even.” “That’s all very well, Mr. Clarke, but what does it mean?? “I’ll tell you—ah, he’s coming back to earth. That was a-scientific crack you gave him, just hard enough but not likely to interfere with the later duties of the hangmanT Inspector and Mr. Sexton, I have the pleasure of introducing to you Mr. Arnold Edgerton, the twin brother of a most estimable man- who has risked his own neck to sav> one that is absolutely worthless. Now, inspector, you may igk£ the, case and Mr.. Sexton, and I will retire agfrin-to private life.”- - It was m£ny months after these events that I first heard the connected story from Arthur Edgerton’s own lips. Nothing came out at the trial, as Arnold was induced to plead guilty and- accept a term of’ life imprisonment, there being little doubt that he was insane. Edgerton, the virtuous, lived in retirement until he could wind up his business affairs, when he and Miss Morrison were quietly married and departed to make their residence in Europe. The evening before they left they called at our apartments to express again their gratitude to Clarke for making their great happiness possible. "I was horn iff Rio Janeiro,”'began Edgerton after, with some reluctance, he had consented to tell his story. “My brother followed me into the world a few hours later,and our mother died at his birth. My father was the younger son of a titled English line and had settled in Brazil to make his fortune, which he' did most successfully, acquiring, in the course of time, an extensive ranch and large holdings of city property. “I have performed this duty to the best of my ability. I closed up my father’s affairs, sold off everything, and came herg, thinking it might save Arnold to get him away from his evil associations, but wherever he in' he consorts only with the lowest. “One of his choice methods of worrying me has been to impersonate me and call upon my friends, usually do-

ing some act to disgrace me. You have seen the resemblance between us, and as I never mentioned to my friends that I had a twin brother, it was easy for him to impose on them. “Before I asked Mazie to be my

wife,” Edgerton continued, “1 called my brother into my office and made a compact with him. In consideration of a material Increase in his allowance he was to leave Chicago and not return for five years. I almost hoped that before this time was up he would either, drink himself to death or be killed In some brawl. "He has always shown himself incapable of keeping his word, and I was scarcely surprised, when, on the day of the tragedy, he walked into my office. I was angry and lost my temper. I told him he never would get another cent out of me.- At first he whined and begged, but when he saw I was firm he became furious and opened upon me a torrent of abuse. I ordered him to leave or I would kick him out. “He went, vowing the most terrible vengeance against me. When I colled down I was filled with remorse and felt that I had been untrue to my father’s trust. But I reasoned that his desire for money would bring him back. “When I got to my apartments that evening the janitor looked at me in surprise. ‘Why, Edgerton,’ he said, ‘you’re back early. I saw you leaving in the automobile not 15 fninutea ago. Did you find your keys inside?’ “I knew at once what had happened. My brother had gone to the garage and taken out my car and made the excuse of losing his keys to get the janitor to let him into my rooms. I Went upstairs and found my worst fears realized. His own clothes were there and a black suit, the mate-to the one I was wearing, was missing. He was out t(j make trouble for me.

“■lt was a hopeless task to attempt to track him, so I went to the resort in Fourth avenue, where you found him, and where I knew he would turn up some time during the night. “Sure enough he came about tpn o’clock. He tried to pass it all off Us a joke, and said the machine had broken down and he had left it at a garage near Lincoln park. He said he was sorry for the scene he had made in my office and that if I would give him money he would leave town that night and never bother me again. “At his request I changed coats with him as he showed, me that ha had grease from the auto all over the one of mine he had on. I did not guess that it was blood. “I had scarcely returned to my apartments before I was arrested and charged with the murder. Then the whole, horrible truth flashed upon me. I thought of'my brother speeding away from the city and I registered an instant resolve to take hi3 place. “It occurred to me later that his first impulse, on finding himself in possession of his ill-gotten booty and 'the mftney I had given him, would be a debauch, and then, hearing of my arrest and that I was disposed to shield him, he would lie low in "his thieves’ retreat until a safe opportunity presented to get away. So I felt. pretty: safe in telling Mr, Clarke where to find r “And just think, dear, you might have been convicted in.his place if I hadn’t come to Mr. Clarke,” said Mrs. Edgerton, while her husband stopped to roll a cigarette in preference to those Clarke offered him. I noticed that he rolled it outward. “I shouldn’t have been convicted, dearest, as I could have established a good alibi, but the mystery would have been unsolved, 1 would have been ruined, and I doubt if you would have been willing; tp take my name. Mr. Clarke’s way was by far the best. By- the way, Clarke, I didn’t want to tell yqu all at first, but when I looked into your eyes I knew I had to. Still you seemed to know it all, anyway. May I ask bdw you found out I had a brother?” "You may thank Mrs. Edgerton’s keenness of observation in * noting your method of rolling a cigarette for the first tip. Then your brother's bungling work with the auto seemed to make it as clear as a printed page. It only remained to persuade you to verify my theory.” “I think you could have done that anyway. You have a remarkable power over men.” “And over women, too,” said Mrs. Edgerton. "I "Wonder yom have nevgjf married. It’s lucky for Arthur that I met him first. Which shows that the best .of women are .at coquettes. (Copyright, 1908, by W. G. Chapman.) (Copyright in Creat Britain.)