“This is Mr. Holmes, of Chicago, who carries insurance in our company, and who formerly was well acquainted with Mr. Pitezel.” Upon our shaking hands, he said, “I am glad to know you, sir.” After some general conversation, I said, “The officers of the company inform me that you have certain letters and other papers in Mr. Pitezel’s handwriting, and I think, if agreeable to you, I can identify them if belonging to him.” Our attorney then turned to the president, saying, “Who is this man? Before I show any papers or have anything more to do with one who is apparently an outsider, I wish to know more about him.” The president then said in a conciliatory manner, “Oh! I think you can depend upon Mr. Holmes acting independently and for the interest of all in the case. He is a man formerly in business in Chicago, and for whom Mr. Pitezel worked for a long time, and if any one is able to give an accurate description of him, Mr. Holmes should be able to do so.” “My inquiry was a precautionary one,” said our attorney, “I am willing under those circumstances that Mr. Holmes should examine the papers and aid us if he can.” During that afternoon our attorney entered into an agreement in writing with the company, stipulating, that in order to establish his claim, certain marks of identification should be found upon the body, which it had been arranged to have disinterred the next day. Among those marks should appear a large wart, or mole, upon the back of the neck, jet black hair, a cowlick upon the forehead, a peculiarly decayed condition of the teeth, a bruised thumb nail and a scar upon one of the lower extremities. That evening, quite late, our attorney came to me freshly terrified, and again ready to abandon the case. He had met a man named Smith, who, in conversation with him, had stated that while in Pitezel’s place of business he had seen a man come in and hold some conversation with him, who he had understood was a friend then living in the city. Smith had stated that the friend had not come forward at the time of his death and he thought it strange, and also remarked that if he ever saw the man again he would know him. Mr. Smith was to be at the Coroner’s office next day, and was also to be present at the time the body was viewed. I told him that from what I remembered of the man Smith, I did not think he was a very close observer or overburdened with general intelligence, and I would take the chances of his recognizing me, rather than give up the case at that stage of it. Next morning we all met at the Coroner’s office. My judgment had been correct in regard to Smith. He noticed me only as he would have done any stranger, and upon being introduced to him, and being in his company and holding a general conversation with him, I met with the same result.