Warrior Song - Robert F. Clifton (electronic book reader txt) 📗

Many of our request for information on the matter seems to fall on deaf ears. At the same time what we do know is that Major Parker was not generally liked by his fellow officers and in some cases despised by the men in the ranks. That my dear fellow not only gives us a motive for his death, but approximately two hundred suspects.”

“Begging your pardon sir, but I still fail to see just what benefit I would be to this matter. I am an engineer, not a criminal investigator”.

“The army has plenty of engineers. What we and again I mean General Miller and myself, what we see is that if you are successful in this assignment hopefully you would become the forerunner of the planned Military Police Division of the United States Army”.

“May I remind you sir that I have no knowledge of criminal investigating. I wouldn't know where to begin.”.

“Early man had no knowledge of military strategy until one day he picked up a club and killed some son of a bitch that wanted to kill him. The rest is history.”

“Where do I begin, what am I expected to do and for how long sir?”, asked McKenzie.

“I would suggest that you start by reviewing Major Parker's record. That should be able to tell you something, such as his background. Where he came from, his assignments, combat roles awards or disciplinary problems. From them you should be able to construct a profile of the victim. Once you've done that, go from there”.

“Yes sir. Is there anything else I should know?”

“Where are you bivouacked?”

“Fort Myer sir”

“Good, you're close by. Since you've mentioned it you should know that you will serve in mufti. We don't want the newspaper reporters to know what we are up to. You will be furnished with a letter of credit and an account to draw from, but spend wisely. Should Congress get wind of what we are doing they will want an accurate account of your expenditures. You will communicate with me and only me. I suggest you use the telegraph. We'll keep it simple, as if you are on a vacation. Wire me if you are making progress by telling me how nice the weather is. Problems? Then the weather is bad. If emergencies arise then of course you will use the telephone like this one here on my desk. Telephone booths are beginning to appear on street corners. You will call me here or at my residence. Send your telegrams there also. However, it is my understanding that telephone conversations can be overheard. Therefore, be discreet and careful in what you say. Here are the two numbers. Keep in mind that I'm in bed by ten at night”.

“Yes sir”.

“Good, now I suggest that you go to the Army Record Division and start there”.

“Yes sir”, said McKenzie as he got up out of the chair.

An hour later the Lieutenant who stood at six feet tall and weighed one hundred and eight pounds sat uncomfortably in a small. hot, anti room. In front of him was the personal army file for one Conrad Parker Major, United States Army. When he opened the folder the first thing he saw was a single sheet of paper and in red letters the word, “DECEASED”. He put that paper aside and began to read: Conrad Parker, born July 22, 1839, Chicago, Illinois. Education, high school graduate. Military record, Dollins Independent Cavalry, Chicago, Illinois, August 1861. Organized at Cairo Illinois with 31st Infantry September 18, 1861. Operations against Fort Henry, Tennessee, February 2-6 1862. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tennessee February 12-16 1862, Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7 1862. Raid on Mobile and Ohio Railroad April 29-May 14, 1862. Assigned to Stewart’s Battalion, Illinois Calvary, Company C July 1862.

After reading further McKenzie found that Parker had requested to remain in the army, was accepted and after assigned to the Seventh Calvary. He fought in the battle of the Washita. However, found suffering from a venereal disease diagnosed as gonorrhea he was admitted and treated at Fort Lincoln from June 5, 1876 to July 15, 1876. “He missed the Battle of the Big Horn because of a case of the clap”,McKenzie thought to himself.

The next page dealt with two Court Marshall's. The first, was the charge of Drunk On Duty, Mistreatment Of Enlisted Personnel. Court convened at Fort Laramie. Monday, March 10, 1879. On the charge of Drunk on Duty, Captain Parker is found guilty. Subject is fined one hundred dollars and confined to headquarters for fifteen days. The second charge, Killing Members of the Sioux Indian Tribe at Wounded Knee found not guilty.

“Interesting. Parker was at the scene of two Indian Massacre’s, first at the Washita against Cheyenne's and then at Wounded Knee against the Sioux,” he thought to himself as he closed the folder. He stood up, left the anti -room and asked a Sergeant for a pencil and paper. Once he had it he returned to the small room and wrote down information that he wanted to retain and the things he needed to know, such as what was the Precinct Number that serviced Fifth Avenue and Thirty Fourth Street? Next he wrote, 1.Start with questioning of house Detective, Waldorf-Astoria.

2. Meet with and question New York Detective or detectives who investigated Parker's murder'.

3. If possible obtain photograph

copies if any were taken.

4. Establish base of operation New York City, possibly boarding house with telephone.

5. Check with bank for established account and credit.

McKenzie folded the sheet of paper and placed it in his right hand trouser pocket. He then left the anti-room and went back to Colonel Willett’s office. There he asked the Colonel if there were anything else he needed to know or any other orders. Told no, he left the building and hired a cab to take him back to Fort Myer. There, he used the telephone and wrote down the information about the train schedules from Washington D.C. to New York City. Still in uniform he went to the Officers Club, ordered a cup of coffee, took a seat in an overstuffed chair and read the local newspaper. He paid particular attention to what to him appeared to be growing tensions between the governments of the United States and Spain. It seemed the American politicians and journalists were calling for action against Spain for the inhumane ways they were treating the citizens of Cuba.

The next morning Lieutenant McKenzie boarded the nine o'clock train for New York City. He took a seat and gazed at the country side, backyards and meadows as the train made it's way north. Arriving in the city he walked through the old, Grand Central Station that would soon be replaced by the newer, larger, grandiose construction that would be in place in the immediate future.

A horse drawn trolley car took him to the street where the Brentwood Boarding House stood. He met with Mrs. Brentwood and was shown and given a room which also provided two meals a day, breakfast and supper. The cost was one dollar a day. McKenzie paid for a week in advance. Settled in his room he unpacked and decided to take a nap until dinner was served.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

Assignment, New York

 

 

Lieutenant Alan McKenzie stepped down from the trolley car then waited for horse drawn carts and Hansom cabs that came in his direction to pass. When it was safe he crossed the street and headed for the entrance to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Arriving there a doorman tipped his hat as he opened the door and McKenzie walked into the lobby of one of New York City's finest hotels. When he did he headed for the reservation desk where a tall, thin man stood with a smile looking at him. When he stopped in front of the man that was the desk clerk the man said, “Good morning sir. May I be of service? Do you need a bellman to retrieve your luggage perhaps?”

“No, that won't be necessary. I will not require a room. What I do need is to meet with your house detective. Would you be so kind as to send for him or direct me to his location please?”

“Is there a problem sir? If so, perhaps I might be of service”, said the desk clerk.

“No, there is no problem. However, my business with him is of a private nature.”

“I see”, said the desk clerk. He tapped the bell on the desk in front of him and in a loud voice said, “Boy!”

The bell boy responded immediately and was told to go and find Mr. Devin Hogan, the hotel house detective. Ten minutes later McKenzie shook hands with a short, portly man dressed in a brown suit. The suit coat had a frayed collar. A black derby was worn tilted to the left side of his head. “So, what is it that you'll be wanting to talk to me about this morning, may I ask?”, said Hogan.

“I was hoping that we could go somewhere quiet where we can talk privately”, said McKenzie.

“So, its privacy that you'll be wanting. Fine. The hotel saloon is closed for the moment. We can talk there. I can use my influence and we can talk over a pint if you so desire.”

“No, it's too early in the morning for me, but if you would allow me I'd like to buy you a drink”.

“Would you now? Well in that case perhaps a whiskey will help with this dry throat I'll be suffering from. Let's go into the saloon where we can talk”, said Hogan.

After stopping at the bar where the bartender poured whiskey into a shot glass Hogan then said, “We'll take a seat at the table in the back of the room if it pleases you”.

“Fine, after you”, said McKenzie.

Hogan took a seat and carefully put his drink on the table in front of him. “And, now just what is it that you'd be wanting to talk to the likes of me”, he asked.

“I want to know about the murder of a man known as Conrad Parker who was killed in his room here at the hotel', said McKenzie.

Hogan took a sip of whiskey then wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “Are you a copper. You don't look like a copper. Could be that you're a news reporter. What are you?”, he asked.

“I'm a commissioned officer of the United States Army. Conrad Parker was an army officer and the army wants to know the facts in the matter. Now, let's start again. I want to know about the murder that occurred here in the hotel”.

“What's to know? Someone slit his throat, removed his scalp and eyes, then cut off one finger from each hand. He was found by one of our maids, the police were summoned and they took over the investigation”.

“Do you have any idea how the murderer gained access to his room?”, asked McKenzie.

“My idea would be by invitation”.

“What is the hotel policy regarding unregistered persons in the hotel?”

“The restaurant is open to the public as is the saloon. Gentlemen are allowed to visit registered guests. Women are not”.

“Then you can say positively that no woman visited Major Parker the night he was murdered”?

“Positively? No, doubtful yes”.

“Do you know what time the maid found the body?”

“Not exactly, but I'd assume it would have been between eight and nine in the morning. That's about the time the house maids begin their duties.”.

“I see. Do you have the name of the maid that found the body?”

“Yes I do. That would be Elsie McCarthy. A fine lass. She has been here at the hotel for almost a year”.

“Would it be possible for me to speak with her sometime in the future?”

“The lass is still a bit shook up from what she has seen. On top of that she was questioned over and over by the coppers. But, since you seem to be a good sport I'll be doing my best to convince her to meet with you. At