penny dreadfuls
New Nick Carter Weekly #15
This Street & Smith publication from April 1897 features "Trim's Round Up in Detroit," a detective story by the author of the Nick Carter series, though the narrative actually begins in San Antonio, Texas. Detective Trim Carter witnesses a brutal fight between Dr. Walker, an irascible physician, and a blacksmith seeking payment of a debt. Walker hurls the blacksmith violently to the pavement, fracturing his skull. The doctor then returns and paradoxically expresses concern for his victim's welfare. Trim learns Walker has a violent history, including the death of a Mexican employee and a previous arrest for disorderly conduct. Upon returning to his hotel, Trim encounters a veiled woman in distress seeking his aid. The story promises further complications involving the mysterious doctor and this woman's urgent plea for help.