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“Mister Kasper Barrows! You are to be executed by the electric chair. Will you confess to your crimes before you are in the hands of God?” Boomed the Judge.
“I didn’t kill her! It wasn’t me! I didn’t murder that woman!” Kasper screamed frantically.
“If I may interject, I can say without any doubt that Kasper Barrows was indeed the man that murdered Clora Hart and the others.” Arthur Collins the detective calmly told the judge. “Truly an evil man he is. Capable of not only one murder but being a killer who has been causing the string of murders that have been plaguing our good city.” The detective paused to turn and smile at Kasper “Now our city will be much safer with our criminal finally gone. Thanks to me.” Collins declared.
“Please good judge listen to me.” Kasper pleaded. “It wasn’t me. It was Collins, Arthur Collins killed them. All of them.” Kasper sobbed out.
“Take this scum to the chair!” The Judge shouted unsympathetically, slamming his gavel down.
It was a chilly fall night, about 11pm on the night of the final murder. Kasper was taking a late walk to enjoy what he considered nice weather before it got colder with the winter. He was already on his way home, having started to feel the effects of the temperature on his nose, ears and fingers. He was looking forward to the nice warm cup of tea he was planning on making upon his return home. Suddenly there was a sound from within the alley he was passing by. A chill ran up his spine. There had been a series of murders throughout the city over the past month. Against his better judgment he stopped and peered down the alleyway. “What in the world am I doing?” He sighed to himself as he started to walk down the alley the noise had come from to discover the source of the sounds. As he walked further down the passage between the two buildings, his worst fear had come true. He saw a body lying on the ground, behind it stood a figure too far back to identify. He froze. Suddenly an object was thrown at his feet. Without thinking he bent down to pick up the object. The moment he was standing again he heard a camera take a photo. In the same moment he realized what the object now in his hand was. A knife, still covered in the blood of the victim in front of him. He looked up to the figure that had previously been concealed by distance and shadows, had stepped forward to reveal himself. In front of Kasper stood the detective Arthur Collins, covered in blood. “Collins, you’re the killer?” Kasper said astonished.
Collins smiled, almost as if being caught brought him joy.
“Perhaps I am.” The detective admitted “but no one will believe you. I am the best detective this city has.” He bragged lifting the camera in his hand.
“No this can’t be happening! I’ll tell someone, you’re still covered in the blood.” Kasper stuttered out. He turned and began to run. Collins having this was already chasing him. Kasper ran as fast as he could. He didn’t know where he was going or who he was going to tell. Before he could have the chance to figure it out, he tripped over a stone on the street falling forward. He couldn’t move his hands to get up before detective Collins hand his hands behind his back cuffing them.
Now Kasper sat being strapped into an electric chair to pay for crimes he didn’t commit. “Please sir, you have to believe me. Collins is the killer.” He sobbed out to the judge. “I saw him! I saw him covered in blood with the knife. Please.” He cried in a last attempt to prove his innocence. The judge sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Look.” The judge spoke “I have to choose whether to believe you, a man photographed holding the murder weapon at the scene of the crime, or out cities best detective who took the photograph of you.” He paused looking at Kasper directly in the eyes. “Between the two of you, I will always choose to believe the detective. You are a mad man fetidly trying to cloud my judgment.” The judge done with the situation stood and left the courtroom. Kasper turned his head to the man that had wronged him.
“You will pay for you crimes Arthur Collins. Someday the truth will be uncovered. You’ll pay!” Kasper gritted out
“I don’t think I will.” Collins smiled smugly “I’m an amazing detective and you’re a criminal trying to escape your crimes.” He continued confidently strolling towards the leaver that would activate the chair.
“Please Detective Collins. You know this is wrong. You know you’re wrong, please don’t do this.” Collins smiled and stood with one hand placed atop the leaver, looking over the room empty except for the two of them.
“Oh, but I do have to do this Kasper. Without you there are no witnesses to my crimes and the killings can stop. I’ll be the hero who stopped our cities serial killer.” He spoke. With that Arthur Collins lowered his hand, bringing the leaver with it. Silencing the only witness to his crimes.