lson and supplemented by her
husband, son and daughter-in-law. When, however, their memories were
refreshed by the numerous questions which were propounded by the
officers, and which served to bring back scenes and incidents that they
had almost forgotten, many facts of essential importance were added to
the initial narrative. Old man Carlson remembered that after the man had
rented the cottage and received the keys, he walked across the prairie
toward O'Sullivan's house. The iceman was standing near his buggy, and
Carlson plainly heard "Williams" remark: "Well, the cottage is rented."
Just before the second month's rent was due Carlson had gone to
O'Sullivan and asked him if he knew the man.

"Yes," the iceman had responded, "I know one of the men. He is all
right."

Again, upon receipt of the letter from Hammond, Carlson had taken it to
O'Sullivan and asked him what he thought about it. His reply was that
the cottage seemed to be an unlucky one, and that it would have to be
rented again. O'Sullivan had also intimated that he would be responsible
for a month's rent if "Williams" failed to appear; thus holding out an
inducement to the Carlsons not to disturb the place for the time being.
The old man also remembered that on the night of May 4th he saw Williams
standing on the front steps of the house for several minutes, after
which he went indoors. This was about five o'clock. Two hours or so
later he heard two men talking loudly in the front room of the cottage.
He could not distinguish what was said, and the blinds were drawn so
closely that nothing could be seen. He gave the matter no thought, and
at eight o'clock--about the time that the physician must have reached
the scene--himself and his family were abed. On the following morning,
while prowling about his lot, he saw strange stains on the front door
steps, which he thought were made by the breaking of a jar of preserves.
In the soft mud in the sidewalk fronting the house were the footprints
of men who had worn heavy shoes, and near the curb were fresh wagon
tracks that seemed to lead to the southward. Charles Carlson also
remembered that a few nights after May 4th he had noticed a man skulking
about the cottage. It was extremely dark, but he could see that he was
light-complexioned and wore a black slouch hat and an overcoat. Carlson
asked him what he wanted, and he replied that he was out of work and
wanted to find the nearest police station. The information w