A MASTER HAND

THE STORY OF A CRIME

BY RICHARD DALLAS

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press
1903

Copyright, 1903
BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS

Published, August, 1903

The Knickerbocker Press, New York

"It is no use," he said; "I can see by the papers that everybody thinks I am guilty."

INTRODUCTORY

Twenty years have passed since the happening of the events, the historyand sequel of which I am going to relate. It is the tale of a crimecommitted in one of the large cities of this country, and which,baffling the authorities at the time, still remains a mystery to all butmyself and one other. Even now, at this late day, in deference to a pleathat bore the seal of death, I shall only write of it with such changesof scene and names as I hope may prevent identification.

To me the history of this tragedy has always seemed convincing proof ofthe insufficiency of circumstantial evidence, except where such evidenceis conclusive. I do not intend, however, to indulge in any abstractdiscussion of that subject, but shall consider that I have sufficientlyfulfilled an obligation I owe to the law when I shall have submitted thebare facts of this particular case as I know them to have occurred.

While the changes of scene and names which I shall allow myself mayinvolve some minor changes in the same line, I shall take no advantageof the opportunity that may thereby be afforded to complicate orexaggerate in any way the mystery that veiled the case, for to do sowould be to subvert my purpose; but shall adhere to a plain statement ofthe facts, in every particular, as they successively discoveredthemselves to me. That it will prove an entertaining tale I do notpromise, but that it will be a curious and interesting one I feel sure,and especially so to those who by profession are brought in contact withcrime in its various phases.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY
CHAPTER I.—A Soliloquy
CHAPTER II.—A Game of Cards
CHAPTER III.—A Tragedy
CHAPTER IV.—The Suspect
CHAPTER V.—The Inquest
CHAPTER VI.—The Inquest Concluded
CHAPTER VII.—An Evening at the Club
CHAPTER VIII.—The Prosecution and the Prisoner
CHAPTER IX.—A Clue and a Conference
CHAPTER X.—The Trial
CHAPTER XI.—The Trial Concluded
CHAPTER XII.—An Episode and a Dinner
CHAPTER XIII.—The Truth at Last
CHAPTER XIV.—The Death of Winters