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The Brussels Post, 1889-12-20, Page 7DECEMBER 20, 18 ri 9H6 UIMVIDNO BUT ON FROM THE DIARY OF A LAWYER AND THJ1 NOT'„ BOOK OF A REPORTER. By BARCLAY NORTH. Copyrighted, x889, by O. M. Dunham, Published by Spe- cial Arrangement through the American Press Association. CHAPTER L "irmscERI siunoani 1" •north of the monument of Washington. One of them left the corner of Fifteenth street and Fourth avenue, and walked in the direction of Fourteenth street and Broadway; an- other left the corner of Fourteenth street and Broadway, and walked in the direction of Fifteenth street and Fourth avenue. These two mot closely, having walked on the same line in opposite di- rections. The third left tho corner of Fourteenth street and Fourth avenue and walked in the direction of the park, on a line with the monument. When the other two met, the third had only reached as far as the iron rail- ing which insures the father of his country the uninterrupted enjoyment of that ride upon which he set out some thirty or forty years ago; he had loitered along with the air of ono who had no purpose in his walk, smoking with leis- urely puffs. The other two walked briskly. But the third, having the shorter dis- tance to go, was near enough to see the • man who had come from Fifteenth street and Fourth avenue stop short as ho was about to pass the other, catch him by the arm and peer sharply in his face, and heard these words: "It is you, is it? Then take this," At the same moment, the man at the railing saw a glittering flash in the night, en uplifted arm brought down swiftly, heard a blow—a groan, saw a body fall- ing to the ground, and n man quickly disappear into the park. Dazed by the rapid action of this trag- edy, enacted almost at his very feet, be clung to the iron railing and shouted, "Murder! Murder lI" The square, which but a moment be- fore seemed to have no occupants but the three, was quickly thronged. There were hotels and drinking saloons on two sides, cabmen sleeping on their boxes and tramps, plenty, in the park, for it was a summer's night in August. These produced a crowd, while a po- liceman came running from Fourteenth street, "Who did this?" demanded the officer, casting a glance at the fallen man. No one answered. He examined the body. "The man is dead," he exolaiined. He lifted the arm of the victim. "Heavens! The knife is.still ,sticking in him. Did any one see this?" "Yes, I did," said the man wlio had first shouted "murder." Then bo told what he had seen. "Stand here till I can take your name and address," said the policeman, "but I must have help," He rapped several times on the pave- ment with his long night club; the sig- nal was promptly answered from differ- ent quarters; among others who came was the sergeant. • After he had heard all thee could be told him ho dispatched an officer for the coroner. Then ho asked the'name of him who had given the alarm. "Albert Wessing," was the reply. "Well, Ida, Wessing, I suppose you will not like it, but ybu will have to go with mo to the station house. Don't leave. You are a valuable witness—the only ono who saw the deed committed." Before the valuable witness could re- ply two things occurred. From eaoli side a man forced his way to the spot where lay the body. Ono, who came from the Fourth avenue side, had a loose coatthrown over his night shirt; his bare feet were thrust into slip- pers, and his suspenders were gathered around the waistband of hie trousers like a bolt; he had evidently dressed with g haste. h feat h te, As he came forward he said: "NO, not the only witness, for I saw the blow," "Where were you?"sharply queried the sergeant, "Looking out of the window of my room," replied the newcomer, pointing to the Union Square hotel, "I was pre- pared for bed, but I threw on some clothes and camo down." Then, perceiving that the sag= tscru- tinieed him, he added: "Have no fear eoncerlling rue, ser- geant; I ani woll known in the city, X ani a practicing lawyer; any name is Henry Holbrook; I have lived . a long time et that lintel. The night clerk Will vetich for me," HE place was Union squerc: the time, an hour after midnight, Three men, leaving three different points on *J the square, tact a little "Yes," said the ratan beside him, "he gave the alarm in the hotel as he came rushing down antra." This satisfied tiro sergeant, for he rec- ognized in the man the night clerk of the hotel "But why have you not searched tho park for the murderer?" asked Holbrook. "He ran in the direction of Seventeenth street and Broadway. I followed him until he was lost to my eyes in the trees. As he ran ho threw off a coat." "Yes," said a frowsy tramp, "I saw a lean running through the park when I was woke up by this ere feller holierin' 'Murder. " Two of you search the park," or- dered the sergeant. "That should have been"— "Great Hoavenel 11 is Mr. Temple- ton!" , This interruption came from the one who had come from the Broadway side; ho had been bending over the prostrate body, and as the two officers moved off at the command of the sergeant, they had opened the ranks of those crowding about, thus enabling the light to shine upon the dead man's face. "Who are you?" demanded the ser- geant, grasping the arm of the new- comer as he straightened up. The policeman who had come first at the cry of murder recognized the speaker. Sliding up to the superior officer he said: "He's all right, sergeant; I know him; head barkeeper over here on the corner —Morton house," Then, moved by the recollection of sundry sly imbibations, he added: "A perfect gentleman." "Ohl" said the sergeant, "Who is Mr, Templeton? What do you know about him?" "Not very much," replied the bar- keeper. "Comes into our place pretty often. Usually stops in on his way up- town of an afternoon. Sometimes comes in at night, -but not often. He was in our place half an hour ago." "Had be been drinking?" "Not much in our place," "Was he intoxicated?" "Oh no, be never gets drunk, Very careful clrinker. There were some friends with him. They all went out to- gether." "Was there any quarreling among them?" "No, very friendly and jolly." "Still it might have been one of them who knifed him:" "No," said Holbrook, "I saw this man standing on the corner of Fourteenth street and Broadway, He parted from them and came this way; the others went down Fourteenth street toward the North river. The arc lights made every- thing clear to me, and there were few people in the square." "Yes, that is so," remarked Wessing. CHAPTER H. TEE CORONER TAKES CIIARGE. HE coroner came up at this mo- ment and the ser- geant gave him all the facto in his possession. The offioial,who was a physician, examined the body. "Death was in- stantaneous," he said; "the knife passed between the rise and pierc- ed the heart; a powerful blow." The two police- men who had gone into the park return- ed. They brought with them a pair of trousers, a coat and abat; they had been found at different places, but on a 'line with the supposed flight of the murder- er; first the coat, then the trousers and lastly the hat -tossed on ono side or the other, on the grass. The coroner closely examined them, and then handed them to .the sergeant; There was nothing whatever in the pock- ets. They were of cheap quality, such as you, see in front of Chatham street cloth- ing stores on wire frames, marled six, eight and ten dollars the suit. Apparently they had never been worn before, for the creases, which come trona being folded in piles on the counters, were still in them. "Worn for the purpose of being thrown off," commented the sergeant. "Where is the vest?" "Wo didn't find any." "Look again." Tho two officers moved all to obey the order. "Has the body been searched?" asked the coroner. "No," 'Then search it," Little Was revealed, A handkerchief, a pair of kid gloves, e card case filled with cards, bearing the nano of "James Holroyd Teinplotton," a receiptod tailor's bill, a wallet containing memoranda, do- eeriptions of realest:tto in various parte Of tho mly, .a gold toethpicic, ninety -ono dollars in hila; less then a(loner in silver THE BRUSSELS POST tma.irasc.,w ,.a u, , , a body recently !tilled would hardly'm'- aem:ening tee man, an/r 1t was Da wito ray hiatal if with diamond buttons, At batt taken the responsibility, not the cor- oner, all events i euppose I must turn it over fall," said the coroner, "we have the to the authorities. In the meantime I right to (Wale him as a witness," shall go to bed'" The sergeant felt better; the responsi- Iloput (ho button iii his purse and eco- Laity naw rested on the coroner as well; tered his hotel. nevertheless ho proposed another visit to 11 was a curious coincidence that at their prlsoner. "I do not know Why I should net tell you," said Wooing; "I do not want to get into the papers. Why, you will ap, prolate it when I tell you. Here is the reason of toy visit: A short'titue ago a gentleman, one Charles Pierson, a weal- thy man, died in this city leaving a large property, but neither children nor will," "I know the case," said the sergeant. "My mother, for certain reasons, be- lieves she is the nearest heir, if not the CHAPTER III, sole one—that is, she thinks she is a rela- tive. I have come to New York at her A NEW cniARACTER ENTERS. request, first, to identify the deceased E N Holbrook man with our relative if I can, and, hay- / left the station ing established the identification, to de - house the coroner termine whether my :nether is an heir, and the sergeant I have so little faith in the enterprise H h entered into a myself, I don't want any publicity; and consultation es to again, publicity would not help my the best method search, if there was anything in it. of procedure, These facts you can verify by telegraph - f T h o sergeant ing to my mother or the lawyer we con I 1 thought he saw stilted. He is a numof high standing at l an opportunityt,, the Philadelphia Lar, 1'11 give you the Peegain credit to addresses whenever. you want them." himself by the The sergeant and the coroner consulted. speedy di:scnvery of the murderer, and lie and the coroner said: was anxious that as much progress as "air. Wessing, your statements will be was possible should bo made at once. verified, andif found to be true, wesltall HIe was compelled by the rules of the not detain yon; but we shall exact the department to inform tlio central office promise that you will not leave the city of the erimo at once. He had done so, until after yon have given your testi- but he hoped the headquarters detectives mony at the inquest." would not stir in the matter until Later The promise was readily given, in the day, when he hoped to have made The coroner left, and the sergeant much progress. found Bryan waiting for him. Ho had already concocted a theory, "This will turn out to be a mysterious case, sergeant," said Bryan. "I hope to have track of it by to -mor- row night." "I don't thinkyou will. I Imow some- thing of this man Templeton. He was an upright man, not given to dissipation, or to having alliances whichwouldbring him into trouble. He was a real estate broker, doing a fair business, living quiet- ly, going into society somewhat and into the best, fond of the theatre, but not of the actresses. A reputable man. No, you will have to look deep for the mo- tive of this crime." The sergeane stood somewhat in awe of the reporter, for he believed in his shrewdness and experience. "You think then the murderer way- laid him?" he asked. "No, I do not; the meeting was acci- dental, but I think he had it in for Tem- pleton, It was bound to come when they met." "Why do you think so?" "The circumstances surrounding the deed, the remark of the murderer shows surprise at the meeting. The deed shows it was intended—the remark does too." "I agree with you there." "You have no clews?" "The wallet containing the memo - ranee, bf engagements may furnish one." "No good: they relate to his daily business." Tho sergeant looked annoyed. "There is the knife." "Properly worked that may amount to something." "Then there are the clothes found in the park." "Let me see them." The sergeant brought them out. "Never worn but once and but for a short time. Cheap." He handed them back. "There is one clew you have not spoken of," said the reporter. At this moment an officer brought in a "drunk," and when the sergeant turned again the reporter, much to his chagrin, change, a golu watch anti chain, a row ei ar s. These toile les weer pureed in the hand- kerchief, tied up, and given to the coro- ner, "The body may be removed, sergeant," said the coroner. "have the clothes taken to the station house. Have you the flamed ttilti 11dill'e;ses of the wit- nesses?" "'Yes; also the names of those who were last with the deceased," "That is well," "Lxcepe the address of this man," turning to Wessing, who had never left the side of bbo sergeant. "I am a stranger in the city," he re- plied, "I live in Philadelphia; I came from there this evening," "You cane last night." "Yes, since this is the morning, a new day." "Where are you stopping?" Wessing hesitated. This made the sergeant suspicious. "The truth is, sergeant," said Weesing, "I have not taken lodgings yet. My va- lise is over there at that hotel," pointing to Fourteenth street. "I was about to take a turn in the park, smoke my cigar and then go back to take a room." "Um Well, 1 will accommodate you with lodgings for the rest of the night." Why," said Holbrook, "he saw no more than I did." that may be," replied the sergeant, grimly, "but he may know more than you do. At all events, he must give a better account of himself than he has yet done," This made Wessing smile. "That I will do, but I prefer doing it at the station house rather than in this crowd." "Well, let us go." "I will go, too," said Holbrook, who was strongly attracted by Wessing. "As you please," rejoined the ser- geant; then turning to an officer he said: "Watch the body; I will send a litter to you as soon as I can." Arriving et the station house, after all had been excluded except the coroner and Holbrook, Wessing gave a straight- forward account of his coming into the city from Philadelphia the night previ- ous, and his determination not to regis- ter himself at any hotel until after he had taken something to eat; that having eaten at an eating house on Fourteenth street and lit a cigar, he thought he would smoke it in the park and cool off before he returned to the hotel. He gave names and addresses hi Phil- adelphia whereby his statements could be verified by telegraph. The sergeant, however, determined to bold him until verification could be made. To this Wessing acquiesced so readily that Holbrook was convinced he had nothing to fear from investigation. So expressing himself, he remarked to the sergeant: "Be careful you do not have a suit for false imprisonment on your hands." This made the sergeant uneasy. The coroner laughed, but would say nothing to relieve the officer. "Have no fear," said Wessing, "you are only doing your duty." This complaisance secured for Wessing the captain's room for the night rather than a cell. Holbrook, baying nothing to detain him, went away. When he reached the square lie went over to the spot where the murder had been done. He had no purpose in going there; an irresistible impulse—a strong fascination—drew him thither. The square was deserted again and quiet reigned. The reveler's had gone back to their haunts, the tramps to their benches in the park, the "night hawks" slept again on their boxes, while they awaited the belated ones who might re- quire their services. The moon shone brightly, The silence was oppressive; un- broken only at intervals by the snatches of drunken song in the distance and the occasional rumble of the trains on Third avenue. Holbrook meditated on the uncertainty of life. Tho man Templeton was young, strong, in health, and in a moment he had been struck down and was dead. He walked the streets late at night himself at times, and the same fate might a easily have bean his. But this manifestly was not a murder for the purpose of rob- bery. And was it a wanton blow struck in sheer wickedness through lust for blood? Hardly such things do not occur in our civilization. There was a motive for the act, a strong one doubtless. The discovery of the motive would lead to the discovery of the murderer. Tho first effort of the police would doubtless be to discover that motive. As he stood something sparkled, under tho sudden flaring of a distant electric light, at his feet. He picked up the shining object. It was a onff button—a round, gold button with a diamond imbedded in its top. Holbrook looked about liim. The murderedman must have lain upon it, "When was .that lost?" Im muttered to himself, "Does it have, any connec- tion with this murder?" "Pshaw," be added, "it may have lain there all night, 1381 stop! Tho street sweeping machine passed over this spot twenty minutes or less before the two met and would have swept it away," He examined it closely, "Tho batten belongs to a roan who commands Money and is particular in his dress, Good! Bar keepers and po- licemen do not wear diamond buttons of this kind, for cabbies, trot' tramps sleepy lug in the par'.:, nor indeed many law - yore, It belonged either to the nutr- dorecl meteor his murderer," Ho felt pleased with himself and thought bo would make a shrewd do- teetiVe. "Perhaps it bclonge totltocoronet," he said aloud, "Not probable," he added, an another thought '"ea coroner mea L110 moment I lull reoe picked up the Intl - ton a young man of fashion, who had just r'etur'ned front hieclub to his apart- ments, half a mile distant, took off his coat and (11= wed that the buttoeboles of his right cuff were torn out and his cuff button gone. He looked at It a moment, muttered an oath and asked himself, "holy was that clone?" Then he proceeded with his disrobing. but he was anxious to hear what the coroner, who was a man of great com- mon sense and no little experience, had to say. The trouble was, the coroner had a theory too, and no idea of giving the ser- geant the benefit of his brains, though be was anxious to know what the ser- geant thought. It can be imagined, therefore, that neither said very significant things, and that each approached the other diplo- matically. "A mysterious case, sergeant." "Very; something different from the usual drunken brawl," "Yes; likely to give us much trouble." "A long examination; little to go upon in the beginning, anyhow." "Unless the examination of the friends the man was with last develops some- thing," "Perhaps it will." This sort of sparring not having brought forth anything, they were silent for a short time. when the sergeant put in a feeler. "What could have Peen the motive?" The coroner returned the ball. "It could not have been robbery, evi- dently." "At all events there was no attempt made," "Unless after the blow the man was frightened by the cry of Wessing." That's one view of it, certainly." This having brought forth nothing, the coroner made a lead. "Still it could not have had robbery for its purpose. You see both Holbrook and Wessing say the man was about to pass when he stopped short and said, 'It is you, is 11; that shows he knew the man Templeton. No, it was , not rob- bery." "That was what I was thinking; if it had been robbery, even if he had known him he would have said nothing. As a matter of fact it seems to me that it was an accidental meeting—that is, the man was not waylaying him." "Oh, do you think so? That would make it all the more difficult." "Unless Wessing was in tho job and gave the signal from the outer corner." "I shouldn't wonder et you had hit it straight now." This wallewhat the coro- nor said aloud; what he"thought was, "My friend the sergeant has gone off on the wrong tack; so this is his theory, eh?" Tho sergeant thought, "If he won't talk he can't pump rue, and so I'll give him that little misleadorw" This.game of verbal chess might have long continued, if it had not been inter= rupted by the arrival of the reporters, who had been aroused' by the receipt of the news at the Central office. Among them was ono reputed to be very shrewd, and who was credited with having tracked more than one crime liome, where the police authorities had failed. He was known as Tom Bryan. When the others hurried orf with their information he remained, asking permis- sion to write his report at the desk. He wrote hurriedly; the coroner, who had been detained by the reporters, pro- posed to go home for the bight, As he was about to leave, Bryan asked: "Do you think Wessing to be connect- ed with this crime?" "No," replied the coroner uaiguard- edly. Tiro sergeant said to himself, "Haim it, I didn't give hitt a 'stiff' after all." The coroner could have bitten off his "Why do you hold 1111, than?" said tongue for his carelessness, Bryan."Bemuse he refused to tell hie Intel - "No," in Now York airy," replied the ser- geant. "That's harcl," commented the report- er, "It iso t everybody who wants to matte his bneiness public.' It would bo vary tough on me if 1 had to toll my huskiness every time I entered a strange town.'• This increased the uneasiness of the eeraaaIt. wino dou11011 the wisdom o1' CHAPTER IV. OIIPID EXAMINEE BIS ARROWS. HE diamondbut- ton first occupied the thoughts of Holbrook on awakening in the morning. He determined that immediately after breakfast he would seek the coroner and de- liver up to him what possibly' might prove to be the leading' clew in the mystery. On his way to the station house the thought oc- curred to him that he was going a little fast in concluding that it belonged to the murderer, for it might quite as we 1 belong to the murdered mail,, torn from itim in the conflict. When, therefore, he was told at the station house that the coroner would not be at his office Until noon that day, lib said nothing of the button, but asked to be permitted to view the body, It had been removed to a neighboring undertaker's and thither he bent his steps. On looking at the cuffs of UM dead man (for his clothes had not yet been removed) he found them supplied with oxidized silver buttons, "My diamond button did not belong to Templeton," ho said. "My first con- clusion le correct. I will go to my office and see the coroner at twelve," As leo loft the undertaker's ho met Wessing. "Alt, you aro free," criecl,he. "Yes, just free. They have verified my story, and finding it confirmed in every particular have let me go, So I'm oto for breakfast." ('se 111.1 n01rl8rr).1 oq. emu st rn.oN