Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

202 “Tt did not seem long, to me, as I was reading.” “You did not see Mr. Fitch after you went to the room of his aunt to ask if your silk umbrella had been found by any of the servants?” “ Certainly not. I did not see him from the time he went upstairs to have a smoke in his den, after dinner, until I saw him again here to-day.” Miss Dale’s unsophistication had proven at last a little vulnerable to the undeniable ‘inference and innuendo’ until now ram- pant in all minds but her own who fol- lowed the crafty prosecutor. And while she was grieved at it, anger at the salacious imputation rode high over the sense of lesser personal injury. She was still perfectly poised, but her burning eyes betrayed the intensity of her feeling and Myers dropped his gaze to again fumble in his portfolio. Then, abruptly, he excused her. ‘“‘ Have you any more witnesses, Mr. My- ers?” asked Coroner Cleves. ‘“‘T intended to call Miss Rebecca Low- enthal, Mayor Marshall’s stenographer, but owing to my inability to locate a certain paper for her to identify, I will dispense with her testimony. I think, your honor, that I have made out a prima facie case of murder against Mr. Fitch.” The jury and coroner thought likewise. Mr. Fitch was forthwith committed to the county jail. CHAPTER VI. JAILMATES. HE jail to which Claude Cutler Fitch was taken had an ancestry fully as venerable as his own. It was located on the far side of town and on an emi- nence above the intervening vale, where the Fitch Steel Mills were situated. Originally this jail had been set on a small knoll and constructed as a blockhouse for pioneers in that troubled Indian country. It was built four-square, with thick walls of limestone set in mortar. On the lower floor were only two windows and one door to each of two sides. The upper story was pierced with plenty of openings. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. In later years a wing had been built on one side, but, owing to the steep slant of the knoll, this was one floor lower than the ground floor of the main structure, and was reached through a covered stairway leading from one of the two doors in the lower story. we: In this wing Sheriff Jacob Butts had his office, several unbarred rooms for records and the use of his deputies, and a small section with a modern steel cage for the reception of prisoners. The ground floor of the old fort above was used by the sheriff and his son-in-law, William Avery, as a residence. The criminals were all incarcerated on the upper floor of the old fort, reached by a broad stairway opening into a long hall above, with the cells on either side. En- trance to this sole method of egress and in- gress from the upper floor was protected by a modern steel door, covered by a sec- ond one, locking over it, which was solid, whereas the inner one was only of bars. At night both doors were locked. Sheriff Butts was a thrifty soul. His emoluments were chiefly fees, and he man- aged the jail on a system of efficiency that was unique and economical. William Avery acted as jailer and turnkey. All prisoners, with one exception, were kept locked in the cells upstairs. Jailer Avery allowed one to roam the corridor, and to come down and either shout through the barred door or rap on the steel one over it, when anything was wanted. ; Claude Cutler Fitch was “ taken over ” by Captain Overton and delivered to the custody of Sheriff Butts. His extremely precarious situation was rendered even more unenviable, since Mr, Fitch, as one of a committee of “ representative citizens,” had taken a flyer in local politics in the last county election and backed another man for sheriff. Mr. Butts, however, betrayed less of um- brage than he did of serene satisfaction at thus having the chief Philistine of them all delivered into his power. He searched Mr. Fitch thoroughly and with Jailer Avery took him to the top floor of the jail, where he was ensconced in the middle of three large and roomy cells at present unoccupied. (EO PNIG LOO KS (E@)