it was taken up for your own use and benefit, and that you had paid for it with your own money, knowing at the time that you had perjured yourself. Immediately after you had sworn to that pack of lies you went into the office of Frank E. Alley, adjoining, and there executed a deed to the land in favor of Frederick A. Kribs, without inserting- any date."
During the time I was relating to the young man, in the presence of Heney and Burns, the facts connected with his entry as I knew them to be, I could see that he was visibly affected, and especially so at the close of the recital, when his face assumed an ashen pallor, and his whole frame trembled like an aspen leaf. For a time he was unable to find voice, but finally managed to arise from his seat, and grasping Burns by the hands, with a look of utter despair, begged for mercy in the most piteous manner possible.
"This is the first time in my life that I have ever sworn to a lie," he said, with tears trickling down his cheeks; "and now, what am I to do? Oh, my poor wife, with her two-days'-old babe! She will hear of this, and I am disgraced forever!"
With that remark, Mr. Heney and myself, being of a common mind in not wishing to add to the humiliating spectacle, quietly withdrew to an adjoining room, leaving the young man alone with Burns.
Through the door we could overhear the famous detective giving Houser some fatherly advice, assuring him that all he wanted was the truth, but this he must have above all things. Feeling greatly encouraged by Burns" talk with him, the young man made a complete confession of his entire connection with the case, along the lines indicated in my harangue to him, and after signing and attesting his amended affidavit, took his departure with the air of one from whose soul the weight of a great sin had been lifted.
About this time the two Mealey brothers, who had located between 45 and 50 entrymen on timber claims in the interest of Kribs, paying them the insignificant sum of $50 each for their rights, put in an appearance, they having been subpoenaed previously to appear before the Federal Grand Jury and give their testimony.
These two men proved to be hard nuts to crack, as they refused to answer any questions that might involve them, or give Burns any satisfaction whatever in the matter of signing affidavits, stating that they preferred to give their evidence direct to the Grand Jury. Page 191
