Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1901 — THE CRIME Of THE CENTURY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE CRIME Of THE CENTURY

BY RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI,

Author of “An Artist In Crime,” ‘‘A Conflict of Evidence,” “A Modern Wizard,” “Final Proof,” Etc. • Copyright, 1896, by G. p. Putnam'* Sons. AU. rights reserved.

[CONTINUED.] “Then he would accomplish little, for he has no brains.” Mr, Barnes spoke angrily, for he had begun to lose patience. lie thought that Mr. Mitchel went too far in his Adverse criticisms, and In this perhaps he was right. But the truth was Mr. Mitchol was excessively annoyed, not so much because a spy had followed him, but because for the first time in his experience he had not himself discovered the fact. He had therefore given vent to his feelings by resorting to satire. .. Mr. Mitchel had decided that Preacher Jim was 'possessed of quite a superior quality of brains, and edn'sequently he was attracted by Mr. Barnes’ words, well knowing tlmt they were not Idly spoken. “What do you mean by that?” said he. * “The man Is a monomaniac,” Mr. Barnes replied^ “On what subject?” _ “Oh, on the subject of last night’s lecture! I knowjiis histoty very well, having observed him for many years. One of his delusions is, that lie is himself fi great criminal. If you could get lijm to talk with you* lie would undoubtedly lead you to suppose that lie has committed many crimes and that through his marvelous skill he lias not only escaped arrest, but lias even avoided suspicion.” “But Is not this true?” “True as to his keeping out of the clutches of the law, but that lias not required any skill. Tie has committed no crimes since he left the reformatory, and he entered that when a child. The man is not sound here,” concluded Mr. Barnes, tapping his forehead significantly. “He does not Impress me as being unsound mentally,” said Mr. Mitchel doubtiugly. ' “Very likely not at a single interview. Perhaps indeed you may even have concluded that lie is endowed with unusual intelligence. But suppose that you were to meet him again and that his conversation should be substantially the same and that at many subsequent Interviews with you he should alwtfys descant upon’ the same topics in much the same words! Such has been my experience, and I am satisfied that his apparent brilliancy is ready lusterless. As I said at first, lie Is a monomaniac*.”

“Nevertheless, Mr. Barnes, he has proved the fallacy of your favorite theories With scarcely an effort of his feeble brain.” “What theory?” , “You arguM tlifit the theft of the will is good evidence against young Mora; tjtint the will Would lie useful to him, because ltA suppression would double his fortune.” “I did, and my opinion remains unaltered.” “Very good. Rut lot me give you

! Preacher .r.T, icon—tno mea, let us ; sny, of a practical, crook opposed to | the theory of a skillful detective. That j should be interesting, should it not? Well, then, suppose that any man— I that is, any man except the son—knew 1 of tills will and first stole the document and then murdered old Mr. Mora to make.it operative. Now. after this affair blows over anti young Mura is in possession of the property, including nine millions -bequeathed elsewhere, could hot the possessor of the will draw interest, as it wore, upon the capital liy presenting this important paper, say quarterly, in substantiation of his claim?” . “So that is Preacher Jim’s theory, is it? Well, it is precisely tlm sort of thing that a crazy* man would work mut, but which no sane man would either formulate or carry into effect. But,- considering it for a moment as among tlie possibilities*!! is easily demolished. No theory is of value which is not substantiated by collateral circumstances. Now, there are no facts to fit the supposition of a murderer from without, while the chain of evidence which encircles the son is almost complete. But, since you. have been discussing this, case with Preacher .Tim, perhaps you spoke to him about tlie plaid suit of clothes. What are his Views in that direction?” “There he .agrees with you- that’ is to say, he believes that the murderer wore them going in, as well as coming out, and that young Mora’s suggestion that they were taken from his room to roA er the blood stained clothes of lht‘ intruder is-untenable.” ‘ “Thus, you see, he advances contradictory theories' which substantiate mine as to Ins insanity. At one moment lm thinks an outsider came in and killed the bid man to get-tlie will and use it against the son, and. in the next breath he argues that tlie murderer wore the plaid suit, in which case the son must be the guilty party. So, you see, Mr. Mitchel. I fear you wasted yoUr evening—that, is, if you went aboard: that boat with any idea of probing this mystery.” A “Which, of course, 1- did not,” interrupted Mr. Mitchel, “Well, anyway 1 have to report that L did not waste my day. What would you say,'Mr.. Mitchel, were I to tell you that 1 have found that plaid suit and that, it is at present; in my pusses-, slon?” . “I should say that you are a very Clever man unless”— .“Unless what?”

“ Unless some one,found the things nnd brought them to you. That was a possibility prophesied by Preacher. Jim.” “Oil, indeed! But he probably meant the regular police. I do not have important clews and' evidence thrjdst upon me in that manner. Not 1 discovered these things by the.system which you deprecate—by spying.” “This is becoming Interesting, Give me tile details.” “I am to understand, then, that you will work- with me on the case? You asked for 2-1 hours in which to consider the matter, but you have not given me your decision. You have spent the last half hour charting me.” “Oh, 1 meant no offense! Surely you have taken none. There's my hand. ‘ Yes, 1 will study out this problem with you, but I stipulate for perfect liberty to proceed as i please.” “Very good. Then-1 will relate what lias happened since we parted. You speak sneeringly of spies and make a plea, for the use of brains alone. But it is only in fiction that a detective listens to the-story of a crime'and finds flic solution without visiting the locality in which it was committed or seeing the suspected parties. In practical experience the analytical work goes -hand in hand with what you call the spy system. If suspicious circumstances point,to a certain man, | we watch his movements, and often we .Very soon discover that he is innocent or ! guilty, especially when wo can spy upon hint’ before lie knows 'that lie is suspected. Witli that knowledge, of course, the criminal uses wore caution, To my mind, it was almost a certainty that young Mora killed his father. I argued that ire was unaware of flu* fact that lie had been observed by the watchman until lie, hoard it on the fol- '■ lowing day. Tie had changed his clothing because of the blood spattered up- j on him, and to offset the watchman’s j testimony lie denied his first vityt to the house.” “I follow you. Proceed.” “Think a moment. .If a man can j make a _ clinnge. of-clothing away from | his own home in the middle of the .! night, reappearing in garments which j arc not. new and which lie is known to have worn before, the logical deduction is that lie must ha ve another residence in which lie is sufficiently at home to keep a part of his wardrobe there.” • ! “Yes; you-a re right. Go on.” ' | “Having removed his blood stained garments and ’having, replaced them with a fresh suit, he would hurry home to bo the one to discover and report tin* crime, but when lie then learns that he bad been seen in a suit conspicuous, ltecaiise of its pattern he would naturally become anxious about that suit. Fearing that it might lie found in that closet at his other house, ; where he had hurriedly left it, he

would take tne nrst opportunity to remove it. Since the murder young Mora had been held to await the result of the inquest. Yesterday he was released, the district attorney evidently considering that to be the wisest course until be can obtain better evidence to present to the grand jury. Yesterday, therefore, the man had his first opportunity to go after the clothes. Therefore I watched him. I knew that he would lie cautious, and so I was compelled to use the double spy system. I ordered another man to follow him, which he did until, by doubling on his tracks always in itself a suspicious circumstance, young Mora had sue-

“!/<: hurried to the river, where he tossed the bundle overboard.” ceoded in discovering that lie was being followed, whereupon my man desisted. -After that I had no difficulty in continuing tlie chase, for, having rid himself of a spy, lie was no longer suspicious. 1 may say, in passing, that just after this my man met you. with Slippery Sum near Apollo hall, for we were in that neighborhood. Mora went straight to a house, which he entered, using a night key. Half an hour later ho came out again with a bundle. This time he looked about for spies; but, seeing no one whom lie mistrusted, he hurried by tlie nearest way to the river, where he tossed the bundle over- | board. You see, it was no part of his intention to destroy* the clothes. Indeed I have no doubt that he hopes that they will be found, whereupon he will claim that the assassin has thrown them into the river. But, unfortunately, such'a claim will not be only usel less, but it will liow injure liis cause, for I have some ideas about these garments which may prove puzzling to him.” ' “I would like to hear them.” “We will come to that better, I think, when we meet Mr, Mora face to face.” “And when will that be?” “I have taken the liberty to write him a letter asking him to call here on business of vital importance.” “And do you think that he will come'?” - “Yes. He is playing a bold game. It is time lie were here now, because I asked him to be. with Us by 10, aud it is uow half past. Therefore let me conclude. After recovering tlie bundle, which of course I did very promptly, I returned to the house, and there I discovered a pretty little woman, who calls herself Mrs-. Morton. Moreover, I am convinced that Morton and Mora are one anj.l the same.” “You mean to say that he is secretly married under an assumed name?” “So it appears at a superficial glance. What we may learn when we probe deeper remains to be seen. Ah! There is your bell. It is lie.” Within a few minutes the door opened to admit a young man faultlessly dressed in a suit of black. Young Mora was a beardless youth, with only the first suspicion of a mustache, but there was that in his manner which betokened a keen intellect and sharp ] wits. ITis eyes wandered from one to the otjier of the two men fearlessly and with 1 a look jvlficli rather challenged them. His chin was large and his jaws 'firmly set, indicating great power of self control. Withal he was a manly fellow and rather handsome, with his well chiseled features and black hair parted evenly in the middle, ; but brushed so that it did not seem j effeminate. Mr. Mitchel eyed him narj rowly, and a new interest in the case ! sprang up within his mind. Could this be a murderer? If so, he fancied that it Would be difficult to prove. He therefore awaited the Interview between Mr. Barnes and the newcomer with anticipations of enjoyment. It Avas to be a* battle-of wits, which always allured him. - “You asked.me to call here, I believe, Mr. Barnes,” said Mora, himself beginning the conversation. “I did,” replied tlie detective. “Permit me to present you to Mr. Leroy Mitchel. And now, if you please, bj seated.” -w- ~ r— 1 — - - pro BE CONTINUED.]