Blood Brook, Robert F. Clifton [books for 20 year olds txt] 📗

need. No latent prints were found on either the wrapped package or the empty box inside and Mary still hasn't found any more news articles on the murder of the chicken farmer”. His thoughts were interrupted when Stiles walked into the office. “How did you make out this morning?”, asked Stiles.

“Piss poor. Some Piney farmer ordered me off of his property. The sad thing is that he was within his rights and he knew it”.

“So you came up empty?”

“For the time being.”

“So, where do we go from here?”

“Right now, I don't know. “

“Myers suggested having the handwriting found on the two packages analyzed”.

“Any good defense attorney could turn the findings into a carnival trick. What's it going to tell us? That the writing is masculine? We already know that. That he's aggressive? No shit, he beat two women to death. How's that for aggression?”

“I'm just trying to help, trying to come up with something, anything new or a factor we might have missed”.

“Thanks Frank”.

“How about the tire tread information?”

“Evidently McKenna hasn't come up with anything new. Supposedly, that tire mark was made by a Ford Bronco”.

“And, we still don't know what the killer used for a weapon”.

“Hey this isn't the first time that we have hit a brick wall in an investigation and it won't be the last. Sooner or later things will come together and doors will open. They always do”.

The conversation between the two men was interrupted when the telephone on Captain Wallace's desk rang. Picking up the receiver Wallace answered, “Major Crime Squad, Captain Wallace”.

“Robert, this is Mary. I think I found some more information on the chicken farmer murder”.

“Right now I need any information I can get. What have you got?”

“Emanuel Weiss was killed by A man named Adam Grisle. Grisle was the handyman on the farm. It seems that there was an argument over wages. Grisle thught he was being cheated. During the argument that got heated Grisle picked up a pitchfork and stabbed Weiss, killing him.”.

“Let me stop you right there. Does the article mention who investigated?”

“Yes, the State Police”.

“O.K. go ahead. What else do you have?”

“Evidently it took sometime before the case went to trial. The news report goes from the time of the murder, 1963 to the verdict in the trial which is 1965. Adam Grisle was found guilty in the first degree and sentenced to life in prison”.

“Is that it?”

“Isn't that what you wanted?”

“Yes, thank you. I was just wondering if there was more?”

“I can keep looking if you want”.

“I'd appreciate it if you would”.

“I'll see what I can find. I'll call you if and when I do”.

“Thanks Mary”.

“Bye”.

As he placed the receiver back on the cradle Wallace looked at Stiles and said, “Remember what I said about doors opening? Well, one just opened a crack. Let's hope that we can look through that crack and begin to see a complete picture”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Five

Public Access

 

At nine o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, October 10, 1978 Captain Wallace called Sergeant Frank Stiles to come into his office. Stiles, holding a cup of coffee and with powdered sugar from a doughnut he had ate still on his lips entered and said, “Morning Cap. What's up?”

“I was up most of the night thinking about this case. I want to know more about Adam Grisle”, said Wallace.

“Like what?”

“Like where is he?”

“He's in prison. We know that”.

“What prison?'

“Why do you want that information?”

“If I know where he is I can go there and talk to him”.

“About what?”

“His connection to Greta Shoemaker and Dorothy Timberlake”.

“Good luck with that. We've already asked for court records and Gallagher's not producing them. What chance do we have of getting prison records?”

“I told you I was up all night. I wasn't pacing the floor. Instead I did some research. Listen to this, The Department Of Corrections maintains the public data base of inmate records, but also makes complete inmate records available to law enforcement. The last time I looked, we were law enforcement. I want you to contact the Department Of Corrections and get Adam Grisle’s prison record”.

“What am I looking for?”

“The inmates record will include his full name, known aliases, race and ethnicity, gender, hair and eye color, weight and birth date. Also there should be information about his conviction, sentence information, facility location, maximum release date and parole eligibility. Naturally, we already know what county he was convicted in and the mandatory sentence he received. What I really want to know is where is he and when can we talk to him?”

“No problem. I'll get right on it. I have an extra doughnut in a bag on my desk if you want it”.

“Is it a lemon filled?”

“No”.

“No thanks”.

“Before I go. I need the telephone number”.

“It's 609-777-5753”.

“How about a fax number?”

“No, things have a habit of being looked at by nosy people and get lost. Keep it confidential for the time being. Use the telephone”.

“Yes sir”.

At two o'clock that same day Stiles walked into the office of Captain Wallace and said, “Adam Grisle was incarcerated at Rahway, State Prison”.

“Good. When can we talk to him?”, asked Wallace.

“We can't”.

“Why?”

“He's dead”.

“Dead?”

“Yep, seems he was murdered by another inmate back in 1971”.

“Son of a bitch!”

“Do you notice the kind of luck we're having with this case?”

“Yeah. So far all bad”.

“Anyway, I've got an informant that did time in Rahway. He might know something. I'll make contact and see what I can find”.

“What will it cost me?”

“How's fifty bucks sound?”

“It sounds good”.

“I'll let you know what I find”.

“Thanks Frank”.

At nine forty five that evening Wallace answered the telephone in his combination den and living room. “Hello?”

“Cap. Do you want what I have now or in the morning?”

“Give it to me now”.

“Seems that Adam Grisle witnessed an assault on a Queen in the prison. During an investigation he shot his mouth off. As a result he was regarded as a snitch. Someone shoved a homemade shiv in his throat. Supposedly he choked to death on his own blood”.

“Do they know who killed him?”

“If they do no one's talking”.

“Anything else?”

“My informant says that Grisle was pissed off about his sentence.

He expected to plead guilty to manslaughter. That way he could do the time and be out doing no more then perhaps ten. Instead, his lawyer insisted to go to trial. When he did he was found guilty of first degree murder and got life”.

“Interesting. Type up a report in the morning and put it in the case file”.

“OK, see you then”.

“Frank?”

“Yes sir?”

“Nice work”.

“Thanks Cap. Good night”.

 

**************************

At the end of the week Wallace dialed Emily's telephone number.

“Hello?”. She answered.

“How would you like a nice dinner and dancing tonight?”, he asked.

“Sorry Robert. You just caught me in the middle of me packing my suitcase”.

“Oh. Going somewhere?”

“Home”.

“Home? Do you mean Iowa?”

“Yes”.

“How come?”

“My mothers sister is ill. I received a call from my Aunt Betty. It might be a slight stroke. I have to go”.

“I understand”.

“Thank you.”

“Well. I should have known. Today's Friday the thirteenth. You have a safe trip. When are you leaving?”

“Today, I have a non-stop flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines”.

“How far is it from Des Moines to Waterloo?”

“It's a two hour drive. Someone will meet me at the airport”.

“OK kid. Sorry to hear about your mother. Have a safe trip. See you when you get back”.

“Good by Robert”.

Wallace placed the receiver back on the telephone cradle.

 

************************

Francis Albert Stiles noticed the drooping electric and telephone wires hanging from the telephone poles as he drove along the road leading to the State Prison, located in Rahway, N.J. A short time later the large dome that from a distance seemed to hover over the red, brick construction of the prison came into view. He slowed the automobile he was driving as he approached the entrance parking lot. A large, dark blue sign with the words, State Of New Jersey Department Of Corrections stood surrounded by bright green shrubbery. Down in the left hand corner was the name of the Governor, Brendan T. Byrne. As Stiles got out of the automobile he noticed the high wire fence topped with coiled rolls of razor wire. After locking the car door he glanced at his wristwatch. He was on time. Actually, he was early. He had made good time since the traffic had been light on the road.

Stiles had An appointment to meet with Major John Pedara and after introductions and handshakes the two men got down to business.

“So, it's my understanding that you want information on one of our inmates, one Adam Grisle”, said Pedara.

“Yes sir. His name came up during our two homicide investigations”, Stiles replied.

“And of course you know, he's dead”.

“Yes, but what we're looking for is any information about him that might aid our investigation”.

“Such as?”

“Such as, who visited him. When and how often”.

“Well, since you are aware that information on prison inmates is available to law enforcement I anticipated just what you might want and need. Here is the list of visitors that came here to see Grisle. I hope it helps you”.

Stiles reached for his notebook and pen and wrote down two names, Abraham Vole and James Gallagher. “Thanks Major”, he said.

“Gallagher? Are you sure?”, asked Wallace after listening to Sergeant Stiles.

“Yes sir. His name is listed as a visiting attorney”.

“When, what dates?”

“Let me see”, said Stiles as he turned the pages in his notebook.

“He visited Grisle on Monday, March 22, 1965, Monday, May 10, 1965

and Tuesday, June 1, 1965. After that date there is no other record of Gallagher visiting Grisle”, he continued.

“It seems to me that in 1965 Gallagher was a young defense attorney just starting out. In all probability he defended Grisle in the

Emanuel Weiss case.”

“Then, why in the hell didn't he let us know that?”, asked Stiles.

“Because he doesn’t know what we have. It does raise the question on why he's dragging his feet on supplying the jury information I want”.

“Seems to me that you now have him by the balls, Cap”.

“No, I'll wait. I'll play that card only when I have to play it. For now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, that as the County Prosecutor he's co-operating and so busy he overlooked several things”.

“Any idea who this guy Volpe is?”

“No, but since you found his name you can now find the guy that uses it”.

“Thanks a lot”.

“You're welcome. How's the studying for the test going?”

“Who in hell has time to study. You got me running all over the state and the county. Study? I wish”.

“How did you like the football game on Monday night?”

“I'll tell you one thing. I'm tired of seeing Pittsburgh”.

“Now, you see, instead of watching the Steelers you could have had your nose in the books”.

On Monday, October 23, 1978 Captain Wallace opened the sealed, manilla envelope marked, “CONFIDENTIAL” “Well. Well. Well”, he said aloud as he saw for the first time the list of names, addresses and other information related to the members of the jury who served on case # 4971. The names were listed in alphabetical order and his eyes went to the names beginning with S and read the name Greta Shoemaker. Then, he saw Dorothy Timberlake. Wallace leaned back in the high back office chair and mulled over the new information. “I was looking for one of the women that might have been involved in the Grisle case. Instead, both women served on that jury”, he thought to himself. Leaning forward again he studied all of the names on the list. He saw the name, Allen Shapiro. He knew Shapiro. They went to high school together and had been in the same math class. Wallace leaned over the safe that was on the floor next to his desk. He dialed the combination, opened the heavy door and placed the list of names inside. After closing the safe door he spun the dial and got up, walked to where his coat was, put it on and left the building.

Twenty minutes later, Captain Wallace parked the unmarked, black, Ford radio car in front of Allen's Shoes. He opened the door, and walked