Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 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 Wisard,” “Final Proof,” Etc. ■ —■ ERE CopVrioM, MM, bv F. Pataam** Son*. M riahtt raereed.

[CONTINUED.] ‘ l\.‘ ••ah in good time, colonel. You wlh see my point In a moment. Now, as a man experienced in these matters, give me your opinion. Suppose that it could be proved that this girl was truly guilty of abandoning her babe. Then suppose that in her behalf I argued that she herself, having been cast adrift by her parents, because a double victim—first, of her heredity, which made her congenitally deficient in parental instincts, and, secondly, of her environment, a bad one, into which she had been thrust by her father. Would not all this lessen her responsibility?” “No, sir; not in the eyes of the law. Of course I know what you are driving at. You have been reading some of the newfangled notions of the criminologists of today, men who would like us to open the prisons and release all the criminals, to prey upon the world. But 1 am astonished that a man of your intelligence should adopt such fanatical and revolutionary ideas.” “We will not discuss views at present, colonel. Let us keep to the case in hand. You think, then, that in spite of the girl’s heredity and regardless of her environment she should be held responsible and that if guilty she should be punished?” “I do. Such people must be made an example to others if we would lessen that class of crime.” “And what of her father? He is living yet, a man of good heritage and exceptional environment. Yet he committed the same crime. What of him, colonel?’ “Why, of course he ought to be punished likewise, though evidently this occurred so long ago that I doubt if anything could be done at this late day.” “I thank you for your candid opinion. Now we will go back, if you please, to my first visit here. You may recall the fact that the matron suggested that you should adopt the child?’ “The silly speech of a silly woman.” “Yes; but it gave me an idea. She also expressed the opinion that the shape of the hands is an evidence of the breeding and claimed, as she put It, that this particular Infant had ’blue blood* in its veins. Now, follow me, colonel. These words had just been uttered when you leaned over the crib, and the baby grasped your thumb. Thus her hand and yours were brought together.” “Well?” “I noted a peculiar crook—it was scarcely a deformity, though quite marked—a curious curvature of the little finger of the baby’s hand, and,

“Do i/ou dare to inrlnuatc, tir, that I" strangely enough, colonel, I observed identically the same peculiarity in your little fingers.” “Do you dare to insinuate, sir, that I’’— The colonel was so angry that he fairly bellowed, but Mr. Mitchel Interrupted him and calmly added: “That you are the child’s father? Not at all, colonel. The idea never even occurred to me. But I will tell you what I did think. The fact that you, an aristocrat, could have such a deformity proved conclusively that It was not Impossible that this waif, with her crooked finger, might have blue blood in her veins, as the matron suggested.” “Oh! That was your deduction, was it? Well, go on; go on, sir! Come to an end! I ain tired of this affair." The colonel mopped his forehead and seemed mightily relieved. “You will know all in a few moments. I shall not weary you with the details of my investigation. Suffice to say that I traced the infant to its mother, though, as you are aware, I was forced to bring the two together before I could obtain the latter’s confession. In the mother, however, I found that which greatly emphasized the value of the crooked finger as evidence. Her little fingers are similar to her child's and to yours, colonel. That is the point. Do you see it?” This time the colonel did not bluster. There was that In Mr. Mitchel’s voice which indicated that he spoke from knowledge rather than from mere pre-' sumption. Therefore the colonel asked in a low tone: “What do you mean?” “I mean, Colonel Payton, that Lilian Vale, "The Lily of the Valley,’ as she

is called; this girl for whom you think a prison is a fitting home; this girl whose heritage and environment are in your mind no palliation to her offense; this girl whose infant was cast away among the tombs of the dead, is”— “Is what?” cried Colonel Pay ton. “Is your own daughter!” declared Mr. Mitchel. “It is false!” cried the old man Ip a voice tremulous with excitement. “Denial is useless, colonel. You damned your own child with a curse which has come at your bidding. You prophesied that this babe, whose mother called it Lily, would lose her purity as Boon as she should learn to understand the meaning of love. Well, colonel, your daughter was a mother at 16. What say you?” “Nothing, nothing! I do not know where you have heard this story nor why you bring It to me.” “One more fact will convince you. You took the child from its mother, and, wrapping it in a shawl, you carried It to a convenient doorstep, where -you left It. But you pinned on Its little dress a scrap of paper, on which yon wrote the letters V-A-L-E. Tho Ignorant woman who found the child interpreted this to mean Vale, the family name, though she marveled that a parent would abandon a babe, yet disclose Its name. But she was Ignorant of Latin. When you wrote those letters, you meant them to stand for the Latin word vale, farewell, did you not, colonel? You thought to bld farewell to your sin, to your past, to blot out all and begin anew? Am I not right?” “Yes, yes! I confess all! My God, my sin has found me out! But I was young. I was tempted. I was”— He ceased suddenly and stood up erect, transformed in a moment from a coward to a brave soldier. Then he continued in firmer speech: “No; I have no excuse to make. I was a villain. But since then I have been a soldier, and if I am ready to condemn others I am as willing to confess my own fault. I accept the responsibility of my sin. You Bald you would find the father of the little one and compel him to support his child. You have also discovered Its grandfather, the father of another abandoned child, and you shall also compel him to do his duty. Mr. Mitchel, I will acknowledge my daughter before the world. I will take her and her poor little baby to my heart and home and guard and protect them. Are you satisfied?”

“I am overjoyed, colonel,” said Mr. Mitchel, grasping the older man by the hand. “You see, when you are forced to decide what real justice Is you adopt my theory. I am not sure, however, that I would advocate the course which you suggest. We must think it over. Whatever is best for the girl must be our chief consideration.” “You are right; you are right! I place myself entirely In your hands.” “Then there is not a moment to be lost. The man who has wronged your daughter has also won the heart of another, whom he seeks to wed. He has urged her to elope with him tomorrow. It she should yield, your daughter’s fate would be sealed.” “I see, I see! You wish to carry out your theory. You wish him to marry my child. That may not be best for her, but you would argue that the child’s Interests demand such a course. Perhaps you are right. These Ideas are all new to me. You must forgive me If I find it difficult to set aside my own. I cannot help wishing to have the villain behind the bars.” “No, no, colonel! That would ruin your child as well as his. It is not to be thought of. Your daughter loves the man, and we must hope that she will win him after marriage, for married they must be. But now, colonel, if I am to accomplish this, you must frankly answer a question that I am compelled to put, however painful It may be. Will you do so?” • “I am entirely at your command. I will not flinch.” “Well, then, tell me this—did you not have another child?” “Yes,” said the colonel in low tones and with a bowed head. “Also a girl?” “Yes.” •“The same mother?” “Yes.” , "By heavens, I knew It! The next thing to be done Is to trace that child, and we have but 24 hours. It seems hopeless.” “It may not be. That baby was born in a maternity nospital. We could go there. Perhaps their records might tell us what you wish to know.”

•this is fortunate. 1 feared that she was another foundling. Come. We (oust visit that institution at once." (To n ooNnmncn.)