STORIES BY A DETECTIVE.
THE COLBY MURDER.
;
CONTINUED. .. ,
I REPLIED by tolling him that I be
lieved in his innocence rather strange
for a detective, I admit and that I should
at once set about searching for the guilty
party. The clothing And knife lookod bad
against Earl, but ho stoutly doclared that
he had never seen the knife before, and that
the suit was an old one which he no longer
wore, and had hung up in the closet two
months boforo.
Taking one of the officers along, I made
a midnight visit to the Colby mansion,
greatly surprising William the servant at
the readiness with which I found my way
to the library. Everything was as found
when the murder was first known, except
that the body had been removed to another
room. There were the great blood Btains
on the carpet, two chairs lying on the floor,
blood on the writing-desk, and other evi
dences to show tho thorough work of the
murderer. Sending every one away, I took
a more careful survey. There were just
the number of doors which 1 had counted
in my imagination, and there was a door
leading out on a veranda. Taking the
lamp, I closely scanned the carpet, and
from the spot whore the body was found to
the end of the veranda I found drops of
blood bore and there, to show that the
murderer had escaped that way carrying
the knife in his hand.
This was not the only discovery. Close
to where the body had lain I found a bit of
a bank note, a corner of a bill with the fig
ure "10" on It.
" Colby sat iu that chair, at that desk,
counting money, and tho murderer tore
this corner off when snatching at the pile
of notes. Robbery was his incentive in
coming to the house, and the resistance of
the old man resulted in his death."
Thus I soliloquized, and time showed
that I was right. Questioning William
onoe more, I found that he was positive
that Earl passed through the hall on going
out, and that no one had seen Kingston
about the house or grounds during the eve
ning, not even when the village crowd
surged that way to view the body. This
was all I could do at the house, and I went
to the village to workup something further
in regard to the stranger. On reaching
the hotel, I learned that Kingston was al60
in jail, having just beeu caught in the act
of robbing a store. This was another ex
citement for the Georgetown people, and
fow citizens sought their beds that night.
Ascertaining that the proofs against Kings
ton were strong enough to convict him, I
deferred visiting him for a time.
Early in the morning I rode out to see
the family which Earl had visited, and was
not disappointed to And that, that part of
his statement was perfectly true. Taking
into account tho hour of his departure
from Georgetown, the stay at the house,
and tho time necessary to drive home, I
saw that the prisoner bad reasonably ac
counted for all his time.
. Returning to the villago, I paid a visit to
Temple's office. Cases of burglary or
theft were not numerous in tho village, but
yet I had been informed by the doctor that
the windows of his office and the doors
were fastened whenever he went out to be
gone any length of - time. I had examined
the clothing, and found the garments, as
he had stated, old and worn. I tried the
front door, the two front windows, and
then went around to the back door and the
rear window. The door was all right,
locked fast, but I made a discovery at the
window. I saw in a raomont that it had
been pried up, and there were marks of
boot nails on the sill, to show that some
one had effected his entrance to the office
in this way. Was it Kingston ? I argued
that it was. My theory was that be had
broken into the office, obtained Earl's
clothing, mode his way to' the Colby man
sion expecting to murder Colby if not suc
cessful in obtaining booty in any other
way, and after committing the deed, had
returned and deposited the garmonts just
where they were discovered by the crowd,
as he had planned they should be.
Hoping that I might be able to force
some sort of confession from the man II
paid him visit. He had thrown off his
disguise as a gentleman of wealth and edu
cation, aud appeared in his true character,
that of a villain. I set about my task by
informing him who I was, and that I had
plenty of proofs to convict blm of the mur
der. He only laughed at me, and I saw by
his compressed lips and determined air
that he had made up his mind that no word
of confession should pass his lips.
" Drive ahead with your proofs, and see
if you can make a case against me I" re
torted he, when I had finished. "I was
caught in the store, and to save breath to
the lawyers, shall admit it when placed on
trial ; but as to the murder, you are wast
ing your time."
Threats, coaxing, kind or hard words
had no effect to alter his determination,
aud I went away disappointed. I was sure
that he was the murderer, for I know some
thing of what is passing in a man's mind
when I sit and study his face, but I bad
mado a poor beginning to prove it.
The Circuit Court was in session, and on
the third day after his arrest Earl Tomplo
was formally arraigned on the charge of
murder. The servant William testified as
I have stated, and other servants affirmed
their belief that the loud angry words used
by Mr. Colby just before Earl loft were
addressed to him. I only do the goneral
publio of Georgetown justice whon I say
that there was not a person In the place
but had a hope that the prisoner would get
clear ; that is, if he was innocent, as all be
lioved bo was. The evidence was all cir
cumstantial.but some of It Was very strong,
as, for instance, the blood-stained suit.
And the testimony givon as to Tomplo's
confusion when leaving tho house was in
tended to injure him.
I took the stand as a witness, and my
testimony produced something of a sensa
tion. I was positivo that the murderor
loft the library by the veranda door ; that
his real object was robbory ; that any ono
could have donned Earl's old suit and re
turned it as well as himself ; and that the
murder did not occur until at least five
minutes after he loft the house. But my
testimony was destiued to receive a bad
sot-off. Kingston was brought in as a
witness, he sworo hard and strong. Tho
jury were warned that he was a prisoner
himself, and probably a villain, but his
testimony, nevertheless, carried considera
ble weight.
He swore that ho saw Earl running down
a back street in groat haste ; that ho spoke
to him and received no answer ; that ho
had often hoard him threaten Colby's lifo ;
that the two had onco planned to rob the
house, and ho swore to everything else
which was false and calculated to carry
the jury against tho prisoner. Not to
weary the reader, I will state that tho jury
disagreed, and that the prisoner was re
manded to jail for another trial.
I had seen that Earl could not bo clear
ed with all the circumstances showing
against him, aud no ono was mora ploased
that he was remanded. This would give
mo a little more time on tho case, and I
folt sure that I should yot unearth tho real
murdorer. The noxt day Kingston was
tried and convicted of burglary, and the
day following was sentenced to state pris
on for a term of ton years.
On this day I made a visit to Earl's coll
and there met Nellie Colby and a lady
friend. I had scarcely approached when
she held out her hand, her eyes filled with
tears, as she said : .
" Earl Temple is to be my future hus
band. He is as innocent of this murder as
you or I. I know it, and I want you to
keep working at the case until the assas
sin is discovered."
Seated in the little cell, we entered into
an agreement. The lawyers who had de
fended Earl were to cease their efforts for
one month, and the case was to be placed
directly in my hands. I was staking every
thing on the belief that Kingston was the
guilty party. If it turned out that he was
innocent, a month's time would be wasted,
my reputation tarnished, and the real mur
derer would never be found.
I did not lead Earl or the handsome girl
to expect too much, and yet there was
something in my parting words which gave
them hope that favorable news might be
expected before the month was up. Of
course I hod consulted my chief, arranged
all' details, and made .all preparations at
home to carry out the scheme which I had
formed. I had made up my mind to follow
Kingston to the state prison. There would
have to be many sacrifices on my part, but
there was a pecuniary inducement not to be
overlooked, and my terra within the walls
of prison, if bringing me the hoped-for
result, would not hurt my reputation in
the chiefs office.
To insure success, I must go in as a con.
vict, work and fare as the rest of tho con
victs, and do a deal of planning in a very
cautious way. The superintendent of the
prison had been consulted by the chief,
and so when I called at the stone establish'
inent on the tenth day after Kingston had
been received, I was cordially greeted and
givon some very useful hints as to my fu
ture conduct. Only two turnkeys were ad.
mitted to the socret, and they were warned
that they must In no way betray me. It
was agreed that I should be known in the
prison as "Albany Jack," the name of a
notorious counterfeiter, highway robber
and murderer.
Every one at all posted in prison matters
knows that the convicts confined in such
establishments divide themselves off into
classes, and that there are such things as
high class and low class. The murderers,
"sale-crackers" and bolder burglars are
the aristocrats, and looked up to accord
ingly, and the greater name one has as a
villain, the higher Is his standing with the
prisoners. So, if it were known among the
convicts that the notorious " Albany Jack"
bad at last been caged, I should at once
become an object of admiration, and could
probably count on Kingston as one anxious
to make my acquaintance.
It may seem strange to some that con
victs, closely confined witthln the strong
walls of a state prison, know anything
about who is to come among them, but it
is a faot that they do. The turnkey may
" leak" a little, a newspaper may be smug
gled, in, contractors may talk in the hear
ing of convicts, aud in one way or auothor,
the new arrival has gone the rounds even
before he has donned his zebra suit. In
my case, ono of the turnkeys dropped a
hint to one of the cooks, and half nn hour
after, at least two hundred of the prison
ers know that a rascal with a national rep
utation was coming among tin in.
After I had passed through the hands of
the ' barber and donned tho stripes, I had
little fear that Kingston, or any one else
among the prisoners, would know mo. In
fact I did not know myself. My long
locks off, my long whiskers and fine mus
tache gone, two false front teeth taken out
and left with "tho superintendent Why,
one could have almost made me bo
lievo that I was John Doe or someone
else. ' . ' ji 1 ' ! '
In former years, I had worked at the
blacksmith trade, and this fact now stood
me a good turn. Kingston had been placed
in the blacksmith shop as a striker, and it
was arranged that I should have nn anvil,
and that he should be turned over to me as
my assistant. Prisoners will converse to
gether more or less in spite- of all the vigi
lance which can bo exorcised by the guards,
but of all the departments, the blacksmith
shop furnishes tho convicts with the great
est facilities for talking without detection.
There is always a great noise and the anvil
man and his helper can utter their words
with their blows and no one five feet away
will be tho wiser for it. It was also ar
ranged that I should occupy a coll next to
Kingston's. This cell was empty, because
Its lato inmate had cut a hole through the
plank partition by means of a piece of plate
glass, aud was caught holding a conversa
tion with his neighbor. Tho holu had not
been fastened up, and as it was intended to
aid me, no repairs were made.
Following the established rule of the
prison, I spent the afternoon arranging my
cell, receiving a visit from the chaplain,
" reading up" on the rules and regulations
which aro printed ou a card and hung up
in each cell. At supper time, I was march
ed into tho ball with the others, and saw
iu a moment that my arrival was to create
somothing of a sensation. I caught the
men looking at me whichever way I glanced
and received more than a hundred sly
winks from those who had heard and read
of "Albany Jack." I not only had a seat
at tho same table with Kingston, but di
rectly beside him as we were both to
march with one gang thereafter. The man
stared very hard at mo as ho got opportu
nity, but the change was too much for
him. . Ho would have as quickly believed
me Dick Turpin as the detective who spent
an hour in . Georgetown jail trying to
" pump" him on the Colby murder. Giv
ing mo a touch with his foot, as he raised
a spoonful of mush to his mouth, the man
said :
" What for? aud how long?" ..
"Second degree, and twenty years," I
replied, holding the spoon to my lips as a
cover. He referred to my crime and term
of imprisonment, and I had answered in a
manner calculated to make him think mo
an "aristocrat." I wanted to toll him
cold-blooded murder, and that my sentence
was for life; but this would not do. In
every prison where life prisoners are re
ceived, the convicted murderer inhabits a
dark cell for at least a month, somotimes
five or six, before being sent to the shops,
and he would have detected the deception.
We did not attempt any more conversation
at the table, and aftor the meal, were
marched off into the halls and locked up
for the night.
The officer who locked the doors of the
tier on which Kingston and myself were lo
cated, hod scarcely left us behind when tho
murderor put his mouth to the hole and be
gan asking me questions. I told him that
1 was too busy to hold any conversation,
and that both of us would be punished if
overheard, as the chances were that we
would bo, and so he bothered me no furth
er. I was busy, for I was studying out a
plan to trap him. The reader must have
concluded that convicts are locking iu dis
cretion whon boasting to each other. To
explain more clearly, I had not the re
motest idea that Kingston would ever men
tion the Colby affair to me. If be had been
convicted of the murder, then he would
have been free to talk and boast over it,
perhaps ; but, being sent on another charge
aud having a fear that his gravor crime
might in some way be fastened upon him,
he would carefully guard his conduct if the
affair was ever hinted at.
I thought and planned for hours, aud
then fell asleep, having arrived at no set
tled conclusion, except that I would take
the case slow, and hopo that somothing
favorable would turn up. After breakfast
next morning we were marched out, and
Kingston was mightily pleased wliou he
fonnd that we were to work together. I
could see by bis actions that he had taken
quite a fancy to me, but I did not mate
with him readily. A a banker looks down
on a mechanic, or is popularly supposed to
so should and so did I appear to regard
Kingston. I was desirous of showing him
that, while I had been convicted of murder
in the second degree, and was consequently
a hero, I thought him some barn-robber of
no account. In about an hour, while both
of us were bonding over the anvil working
at a horse-shoe, I found opportunity to
say :
" Robbed some old woman or stole a
horse, I s'pose ? How much d'ye get six
months?"
His eye flashed with indignation as he
glanced up, and for a moment I almost
feared that he would strike me with his
hammer. When, we got the next shoe on
the horn of the anvil, he muttered back :
"You oan't put on any airs over mo 1"
I could not say whether ho meant that I
could not be his superior as to work, or
whether he gave a hint that his hands were
also stained with blood, thongh convicted
of a burglary. I said nothing further, not
caring to draw him out too soon, but I
made up my mind that I could handle the
case successfully if concealing my real in
tentions to draw him out.
Just before w were to march into sup
per, one of the prison officials came along
with some visitor, and I was pointed out to
thorn as tho most notorious convict in the
establishment. Whon thoy had passed
along, and we had another shoo up, King
ston gave mo a sign with his band and
whisporod :
" Don't be put out, comrade by what I
said. I don't feol in good spirits to-day."
I replied that his gruff words were for
given, and that I hoped, as wo occupied
adjoining cells, and were to work together,
that wo should get along harmoniously.
Four days had passed, and then, one
evening after we had been locked up, I de
termined to sound Kingston a little on the
Colby matter. The holo in the plank was
not biggar than a ponny-picce, and conver
sation was carried on by one putting his
mouth to the holo and whispering the
words into the other's ear. Putting my
mouth to the orifice I whispered:
" Did you hear what the tall guardsman
was telling the foreman this afternoon
about the new man who'll be coming along
soon?"
" No what was it ?" he whispered back,
not remembering the conversation alluded
to, simply because nothing of the kind
took place.
" Why, about a young man named Tern
pic, who is boing tried for tho murder of t
rich man at Georgetown named Norton
He'll get it for lifo, without any doubt."
"It wasn't Norton, it was Colby," he
replied, but in a moment more, seeming to
think that he had been imprudent, he ad
ded that he had beard that it was Norton,
and really knew nothing about the case,
I saw that I had caught him, and had
paved the way for further conversations,
and so refused to say anything further just
then. I believed that his crime was haunt
ing his mind, and that I had only to revert
to tho occurrence once in a while to keep
him agitated.
' The third night after we wore at the ori
fice again, he asking me if I had hoard any
thing more about the Georgetown affair,
replied that I had learned through the gos
sip of a turnkey, that Temple had been
convicted and would arrive at the state
prison in about three days. . t
" They say that he is not the real crimi
nal, after all," I added, hoping to draw him
out. But he refused to continue the con
versation. I knew that I had shot an ar
row which would frighten him and keep
him thinking, and this was some satisfac
tion. ,; -
As no one aside from the superintendent
and two sub-oflicials knew my position, I
was treated just the same as the others,
and some of the officers who had heard of
my numerous imaginary murders and dare
devil adveutures, were inclined to troat me
rather severely. I saw that they watched
mo closely, as if anticipating that I would
seize and eat some of them, and the lock on
my cell, as well as the iron door, was duly
inspected each evening to see if I was not
planning an escape. ,.
Towards the end of the second week,
Kingston, after beating around the subject
for some time, Inquired if Temple bad ar
rived. This was the opportunity which I
had been hoping for during the lost three
days, and I replied that the man bad ob
tained a now trial, and that there wore
strong grounds for believing that he would
got clear altogether, as it seemed likely
that another one did the murder.
" Who do they thiuk killed Col Nort
the rich man you mentioned, if Temple
didn't ?" inquired Kingston, his voice be
traying considerable excitement.
" Well, as near as I can find out, it was a
stranger who had been stopping in the. vil
lage for a fow weeks, and who ran away
that night and has not since been heard of.
But the detectives are on his track, aud he
must certainly be overhauled."
" Are you sure that there Is no one else
suspected ?" Inquired Kingston, anxiously.
" There may be," I replied ; " I guess
there is another, for I saw a Chicago detec
tive pass through the shop this forenoon,
and he looked at the men in a way to show
that he was searching for some one."
This was enough. I knew that the mur
derer would not sleep an hour that night,
but I was also aware that the time had not
arrived when he was ready to take me into
his confidence. I did not expect to frighten
him into making a confession very soon, as
he was too old a villain for that, but I hoped
that he would trust me after a time, think
ing that my Advice would be worth some
thing. I heard him tossing about on his
narrow bed, or moving about his cell, and
realized that my plans were working satis
factorily. I must now endeavor to make
him seek my advice. Concluded next week.
tW Man alone is born crying, lives com
plaining, and dies disappointed.
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29bly
Xeio Millinery
A.t Newport,
Goods
I BEG to Inform the puMlo that I have Just re
turned from Philadelphia, with a ful assort
ment of the latest styles of
MILLINERY GOODS.
IIAT8 AND BONNETS.
RIBBONS, FRENCH FLOWER
FEATHERS.
CHIGNONS.
LACE CAPES.
.NOTIONS,
And all articles usually found In a flrst-class Mil
linery Establishment. All orders promptly at
tended to. -Ve will sell all goods as Cheap as
can be got elsewhere .
PRESS-MAKING done to order and In the la
test style, as I get the latest Fashions from New
York every month. Goffering done to order, tn
all widths. I will warruutall my work toglve sat
isfaction. All work done as low as possible.
ANNIE ICKES.
Cherry Street, near the Station,
8 16 13 Newport, Fa.
t. U. OI11V1N.
j, u. OIBVIN
J M. GIRVIN & SOX,
Commission lei'oliitxitH,
Na 8, SFEAR'8 WHARF,
Italtliuoro. Did.
MuWe will nav strict attention to the sale of si
kinds of country produce, and remit the amount
promptly. t juiy
Netv Pension Zqw.
UNDER an act of Congress approved March 3,
1873, widows of officers who were killed, or
died of disease contracted In the service, are now
eutltled to J2.IK) per month for each of their chil
dren. The guardian of a minor child of a soldier who
heretofore only received js.ou per mouth pension
is now entitled to s 10. per moth.
Soldiers who receive Invalid pensions can now
have their pensions Increased to any sum or rate
between 88. and 18. per month.
Soldiers who have lost their discharges can now
obtain duplicates.
Fathers and mothers who lost sons In the serv
lee upon whom they were dependent for support,
can also obtain pensions.
The undersigned having had over 10 years ex
perience In the Claim agency business will attend
promptly to claims under the above act.
Call on or address
LEWIS POTTER,
Attorney for Claimants,
New Bloomtteld,
7 2Citf. Ferry Co., Fa.
Notice lu Bankruptcy.
In the I'nlti'd States District Court. For the
Kasteru District of Pennsylvania.
In the matter of Edwin Sluunan, Bankrupt,
To the creditors of said Bankrupt:
NOTICK is hereby given that said Bankrupt
has Hied his petition for a discharge and a
certificate thereol from all Ills debts und other
claims provable under the Bankrupt Act of
March 2, 18i7, and that theiUh of Keptciiilwr, 187.1.
liked for the ttnul examination Is-fore Chan. A.
Harnett, one of the Registers In Bankruptcy at
Ids office III new WooinllHld, Perry Co.. l' at
10 o'clock a. in., aud the tUlh day of September,
lHT't. at IU o'clock a. m.. for the tln.il hearing
before the said Court nt. Philadelphia.
Br Okukk or Said Court.
August 13, 167?.