A master hand : $b The story of a crimeDallas, Richard
General
A master hand : $b The story of a crime
Dallas, Richard
Detective and mystery stories; Murder -- Fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
In answer to another question, he said that he had obtained the bill
about two o'clock or a little later Tuesday morning from a man who had
lost it at his game. He stated further that the man was unknown to him,
but that he thought he could recognize him should he see him again. Then
pointing to one of the witnesses, he said:
"That man was with him!"
All eyes were turned in the direction he indicated where a shabby,
dissipated looking young fellow was standing by himself pulling at his
mustache with an air of assumed bravado.
"That will do," said Dalton, and the witness stepped hurriedly down,
looking relieved over his dismissal.
The bill the witness had identified, together with the one Van Bult had
given me, were then compared by the officials and the jury, and they
proved to be of the same bank issue and series. I saw the jurors looking
with admiration at the Inspector, and I felt myself that much credit was
due him.
The police work had been quickly and well done. Their case was indeed
thoroughly "worked up," and I had to confess to myself, despite my
disapproval of the method, that if they had not started with the
assumption that Winters was the guilty man, they would not have found
the money or secured any evidence to direct the verdict of the jury; but
the question still remained, was its conclusion to be the true one? Time
would tell.
Almost before the sensation created by the last evidence had subsided,
Dalton called to the stand the man pointed out by the witness. He came
forward slouching and ill at ease and the looks cast upon him from all
sides were not reassuring. Having taken the oath, he stood sullenly
awaiting the questions.
In answer to the usual question he gave his name as Lewis Roberts.
"You were in Smith's place Tuesday morning," the Inspector stated,
rather than asked him.
"I was," he answered.
"You were with another man," he continued in the same peremptory tone.
"I was."
"Did you see him lose that fifty-dollar bill," pointing to the one Smith
had identified.
"I saw him lose a fifty-dollar bill--I do not know that it was that
one."
This was plainly a difficult witness. The Inspector leaned toward him,
looking him straight in the eyes, and put his next question slowly and
with emphasis on each word.
"Who was that man?"
Just as slowly and firmly came the answer, each word falling distinctly
in the stillness.
"I do not know."
It was almost a sigh of relief that escaped from the audience, but
Dalton continued:
"Then how did you meet him and when?"
"That night in a saloon on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Twenty-Fourth
Street; we got to drinking together there."
"And where did he get this money?"
The witness seemed inclined to answer more freely now, and replied that
it was suggested that they go and play the bank, but neither of them had
any money, and then his companion said he knew where he thought he could
get some and went off saying he would be back before long.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account