night.

When, however, it appeared to be possible that his fellow-prisoner
might be of assistance to him in his approaching trial, and that this
assistance could only be rendered by the release of Sommers from
jail, he had caught at the suggestion and the result had followed.

I became convinced as matters progressed that whatever knowledge
Bucholz had of the crime would never be communicated while Sommers
remained a prisoner, and hence, after he had been confined long
enough to accomplish the preliminary object in view, I arranged that
his bail should be reduced and that he should be released.

It is not necessary to relate in detail the daily intercourse of
these two men during their days of joint imprisonment. How Sommers,
by dexterous questioning, had fathomed the mind of the suspected
murderer, and become so closely identified with his interests, that
he was regarded as the only man upon whom he could rely for
assistance.

The detective had played his part admirably. Although the constant
object of suspicion, he had succeeded in overcoming all doubts that
were entertained of his true position; and, although Bucholz had been
repeatedly warned by his counsel against this man in particular, he
had successfully outwitted them, and knew more of their client than
they had been able to learn.

After obtaining the information as to the place where William had
secreted the money which had been taken from the murdered man,
Sommers at once telegraphed, in cipher, the fact to my New York
agency and requested instructions how to proceed. A trusted operative
was at once sent to act with him, and to accompany him upon his visit
to the barn in search of the treasure, and operative John Curtin was
the man selected for that duty.

He left New York on the following morning, and, arriving at
Bridgeport, had an interview with Edward Sommers, and together they
devised the plan by which they were to get possession of the dead
man's money.

They accordingly boarded the train for South Norwalk, and upon their
arrival they separated and proceeded up the railroad track until they
were out of sight of any curious eyes about the depot, when they
rejoined each other and continued on their way.

The barn where the money was alleged to be hidden stood between the
house and the strip of woods through which they had come, and the
large double doors were upon the side facing them. It was necessary
that every precaution should be taken ag