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-^yL^c^ryi^^
7Sk
PiJOfESSIOm TfllEYES
Aim
THE DETECTIVES:
DETECTIVE SKETCHES
RECORDS
n
duthor of *' ju- ■ • •-*-v-'X^
-* SKETCH OF THE AUTHOIt
iLLlfflTMdTMX
BOSE PUBLISHING obMPAUT
910591
PREFACE
^N again submitting to the public a volume of -ny Deteo-
tive Experiences, a few words of introductiou may np«
be out of place.
The life of a Detective is naturally a varied and excitable
one. At one time he is engaged in the pursuit of the hardened
Criminal, whose hands are crimson with the blood of his vie-
tim-at another, the Burglar, whose manipulations of the pro-
tectmg appliances, which have been invented to secure the
wealth of others from his rapacious grasp, engrosses his attention
-and £.non he is found working his silent way through the intri-
cate mazes of science, where the Counterfeiter and the Forger
with their miraculous chemicals and deft handiwork, require'
not only a familiarity with their mode of procedure, but an as-
tute knowledge of human nature and their various character,
istics.
The Criminal is not always the rough and uncouth Defendant
m a Court of Quarter Sessions. He appears quite as frequently
as the well-dressed, polished, and educated gentleman, as the
distinguished foreigner and as the profound scientist, as he does
m the guise of the ignorant ; the open defier of the law or the
midnight robber.
Through all grades of Society the evU influences of a desire
to enrich oneself at the expense of others is manifested ; through
«U classes of humanity, the greed of gain, the wnbition to bo
YI
FBKFAOK
T^gedy .„d Oced,, «.MeT^l"; ":r- "' !"°*
and with a deep infudon 6t rt. T '^ ^'"^ '""°™'
• others have often ZZ 1 T "•"""°' "' ^^ > ''^^
«d the lip. to ;„rw.U 1 :X'.rtheT' ''* ™"'"""'
Tariou, ecene. that would C^t^.t ^""T' "'' "' '"'
my view. ^° *" '™« ■» presented to
whth!::,rM;turv„'^''' '"""<''•»"" °f-^^^^^
round the Crimn i!,? S ^ ^"^ '"'"'*"«' ''"'* ««-
-;e.eothersrerth:o:t:'^r""""'*^--
knowledge of the Ino °" T^Uplt"™"""' "^ '"-
mercUl communities a vari.t/„p- ""'™' "P"" "=»■"-
which, by theiSd of IT r'"""""' '■■"«»■=«; "trough
largely pi b/tr^duplior' '""'""''^'"' """"^
ph^Vh?mtr.n?S"rr'" » '"""'^ '''^-"
vident mechJ^c :h„ m! ^ "k '^' '"■?«""»"« «nd in.pr„.
Hi. earner d^lltTr^ "tt-t ^ '""■" "'
.-;-^;^e..yie.ding-tok:proit-^:?trrS
FBEFACE. «^
TB
^•^ Tluoh suffered Urgely fr„„ a, ^^^^^ ^ ^ Jt
pioted. Theff mnltriimoas schemes for possessing themselves of
th,weJthofothe«_theirbrill«„teipIoito^theirdr:ra„d
reoklessness in the pursuit of their Various c2g 7^1
tempted to be fuUy shown and intelligently depioteT
Ole wonderful achievements of these men who Hve beyond
the Uw and without the pale of civilized and honourabW
«ety a« deteUed from a^ual experiences and from T ntimat
knowledge of the participanto in the events which are^2 ?
pubHo; and should the sad results whicM^fn^.r:
hfe of sm and cnme-the surety of punishment, «,d oftentime^
a nolent death-e«roise an elevating influence upon ht T,
(0^ whom these pages may come, and, by the influenl "nt
^uitTaLV^:: '"' "''™ "' "'''^-- '»~ ":
putsmt of an honourable calling, I shaU be rewarded bv th.
^nsc^usness of having performed my duty to huITS »d t
tt»hoIdmg the supremacy of the Ordinances of Socfety
'
' ILLXJSTRATIOI^a
"Ton gave me yonr fare, didn't you* AonW^ptee.'^
"A Bold Barber.".
8*
" Ab he wa. in the act of drawing the water he was seized from
behind"
127
" FiansBen uttered a shriU, frightened, and despairing ciy, and •
dropping hiaaatflhel, attempted to escape" 335
CONTENTS.
HOW I BECAME A DETECTIVB. 17
CBimNAL SKETCHES.
CHAPTER L
A Bemarkable Criminal 46
CHAPTER IL
A Bank Sneak's OoBily Railway Ride 66
CHAPTER III.
Disobeying Orders, or, the Mssing Cash Box. 01
CHAPTER IV
A Deluded Banker-Deteotive 68
CHAPTER V.
A Life of Crime. yj
CHAPTER VI
A Bold Barber 84
CHAPTER Vn.
Makine Settlements JO
CHAPTER Vin.
A Gentlemanly Thief, or, the Robber on the S«m 97
!i I
OONTINTS.
CHAPTER IX
An ExteptionaHy Sucoewful Amateur Detecting ^^
CHAPTER X
Audadty of Ptofesaional Thieves
108
CHAPTER XL
A Cruel Deatiny
U4
CHAPTER XII.
Criminal Ingenuity. . . , ,
U9
CHAPTER Xra.
A Clever Bank Robbwy
•••••• ,, 223
CHAPTER XIV.
ABuij^lar'a Death...
131
LIGHTNING STEALERS AND THE DETECTIVE
CHAPTER L
Telegraphy and Criminals
14a
CHAPTER n.
Spnrious Telegrams and their Effect upon "Change" U7
CHAPTER HL
CHAPTER IV. '
CONTENTS. • 'JB'
3HAPTER V,
PAOl
IntesHgatlons In New York City— "Jimmy " and the " News
Stealers"— A Nice Little Plan that was Suddenly Frus-
^^tsi^j, ; 169
CHAPTER VI.
My Telegraph Office— The Associated Press— The Telegraph
as a Detective— A Leak Stopped— A Dispatch from Fort
Sedgwick Ig3
CHAPTER VIL
The Wire-Tappers Start Upon Their Expedition— Attempt to
Bnbe an Operator— The Spurious Dispatch Prepared— The
Operation Performed- Captured by Indians 168
, CHAPTER VIIL
The Indian Camp— The Escape of Osbom— The Arrest of
Charles Cowdrey. . . ^ li^5
CHAPTER rX.
The Discovery of Osbom's Flight— Unsuccessful Pursuit— A
Camp Suddenly Deserted— Left to Die— Rescued, but
Again made Prisoners 180
CHAPTER X.
In Prison — ^Legal Questions I33
CHAPTER XL
In PriBon— A Woman s Visit— A Confess on— A Meeting of
CUntlemanly Rascals Interrupted— The A«iiii<;+«i , , . . 188
CHAPTER XIL
ForriiMf by Telegraph— A Bogus Draft for Nine Thousand
•MUars Cashed 19^
CHAPTER XIIL
Recoraising Old Friends- The Detective on the Trail— Valu-
itble Information ^ .^ ^ igo
CONTENTS. ,
CHAPTER xrr *^°*
204
CHAPTER XV.
'^-f^.^r^Lt^^-^J f^vu, E.C.P.
a SentenciB " "^o^^ery of the SpoU— A Trial and
209
THE EDGEWOOD MVSI^y AND THE DEKCHVE.
CHAPTER I.
216
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V.
The Murdered Man
238
CHAPTER VI.
236
OONTENTfl
CHAPTER Vin.
On The Tnul— a Tellow Dog—" Thou art bo Near and yet ao
Far" '
zm
PAOl
243
CHAPTER IX.
Egbert's Saloon— " Old Sledge "—TraceB of the Murderer. ... 248
CHAPTER X.
Frangsen la Discovered— The Detective is Employed as a
Shoe-maker— A Nightmare— The Onmership of the blood-
stained Hat Decided 251
CHAPTER XL
The Detective in Love— A Pair of Gloves and a Job of Painting
— Gross Becomes Communicative and is a Victim of
Wifely Government , 256
CHAPTER XIL
The Home of Bohner— A Happy Gathering— Dreadful Tidings
—The Detective's Letter T.
262
CHAPTER XnL
The Murderer and the Detective— Remorse— Tired of Life
—An Attempt at Suicide 266
CHAPTER XIV.
A New Resolve— A New Tork Concert Saloon— New and Im-
portant Revelations— Preparations for Flight— A Pawn
Ticket , , 271
CHAPTER XV.
lie Flight Interoepted— The Arrest of Franssen .... .i. ..... . 279
I CHAPTER XVL
The Inquest— The Trial— The Conviction— Intervention of
Maudlin Sympathizers — The Triumph of J'- ie and the
Sentence of the Prisoner ,.,,,,,, 287-
Hi
w
'XT?
'Th H CHAPTER XVIL
^ •♦ ^2
' ^°^« ^«S ATO THE DETECTIVJa
«»Oi^o,K^^.J^™^
J, ; ^ CHAPTER n.
•l*'^ Buxton's Hotel
* 302
309
CHAPTER IV
»ootMake.aDisooyery
3ir
.^•oeford Juitic©..,, * "
. *"' • 326
CHAPTER VI.
^>>«nond Out Diamond
'• 334
CHAPTER VTL
•• * 343
CHAPTER Vlir.
: Jonw'a Idttle Sdieme m*
*"*" * 360
,f, . OfiAPTERlX
[G)n«pira<y Dereloped
ffl^M m_ CHAPTER X
«
OONTENTSk XT
\)HAPT£It Xr.
Banting • Safe ^ 3^^
CHAPTER Xn.
IronU«Snd«d 3^^
■ ■ ■ ^
CEIMINAL EEMINISCENCES.
CHAPTER L
Trapjilag a Detectiye ^
CHAPTER II.
The Ghoit of the Old Catholic Cemetery 409
CHAPTER HI.
BurglAw' Tricki Upon Burglars 41^
CHAPTER IV.
Remarkable Piiion Bsoapea ^,
CHAPTER V.
ffl>«Man,theFo^« , ^
!
HOW I BECAME A DETECTIVE.
CHAPTER t
, N the romantic Fox Eiver— c«llo,1 »t,. t>-.v ....
^ original Potawatamie Ineua^ aS .?^VSr''* '" ""
^ ■ mile, north-west of thecftv^orn?^ °°' ''"«7<'ig''6
beautiful vilh.ge of Dundee It hS nLh m «"• '?.'»'»««l 'he
population ofVee thou/and inhatLnte *'i5,w*'""° ™'J°« »
bn.hte.t«>dmo«proeperoue,"„^,„'rito^^ " "'"' "' '^''
^X^kZT^^:^^,^ f- ""0/ people, the
•plendid Uttle eity of EWn but (i™ '^f T '''» "«' »' ">«
occupied to .ome^ln^eo^^UgSrms'rttr??'' T""
uninterrupted!^' a\" "pl^^S^^fi^d^pofsS tt "^ '" "^'
evidences of steady m-oanpri^/ «n7j P°^f ^«^« '^e pleaaantest
If this would brJasnTKeTved hv ?h'*^^^^^ h^PpinesB.
lo^tjon would att.^^^^^^^^^ attent^ "'°'' '"^ ^^^^"^
them:*?., und manufactirieH aSf / '' Pf ^^"^ ^^"^ ^Wch
and winding a7ay ktX d' tfn^ TJ' ^^^.\' '^^^' ^^retching
silver, it would S We" -^^^^^^ ^^^f * nbbon of burnished
fair, smooth bosom limX^' SuX'^""^ P^^^^""^ ^^^ »
playing at hide-and3 amonftft °?' '^°°^ '^*"°^«' <>'
until the last thread-lfke t^U V if .^^rdure^overed islands,
yond. To thfl \^tv.f • r u ^^ ^\ ^^ ^°^t in the gorees bel
holds ite Li of fhe ^iL ^^-"^ u**^^ ""le. basin^which
here and Ke fssue wt^hL T, ,^"«" ^"^ ^'^^ ^^S
then a fine rordwarhew^oSrb!fwL'P?°?' ^^^^« °"^*»d
Mounds and the aplLTdZms beyr^'' To tL wf ^ '"^^T
ODDositfl nnptin« ^f ^u- ..-n °^«/"na. lo the left, over tht,
" " "" " "^ -"" '"^"S^' '^"*"^>« ranges over a succession
18
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
f
the higiwayT" rive^^^^^^^^ ^^^^d' «« well as
see the rive?movin?peacefuW^ ' while facing about, you wiU
their forests bewf P'*''*""^ aIong,untU lost in the valleys and
and t'ZnThe^^^^^^^^^ this beautiful stream,
a silvery ribbon from Imonfth?- i ^j^^ ™r ran down like
Bplendid hills werfXtWeiow^^^^^^^^ ^ "^^^ • ^^«
are now ; but the town iteelf HiTJI? T'^ ^°? ^°'««^« ^ <^bey
hundredinhabitanniToW th«h.? •r^^"' P-^'^^'^^^y <>^«r *hree
of a few country stores ltolnm'''''V^^''''^ ^^^^^ consisting
a mill, and two^slTl tiveC ab^^^^^^ « black«nith-shop or two,
lers at a time, bnt chieflTdeDefHini f T^ * ^^^ *'»^«1-
custom of th; farmSs 4o stri^? J^^ their support upon the
days, " election Se? or anvoX^i'Sfu'^ ^^^^^7
casions which mrk^urevLts In th« ? ^""^''^?^-«°« °^
people. ^^® ^° **^® "ves of back-country
oaken bear ^"""drpl^tj'tn T" *» ""'' '"^' «'
and at either end of thi«%«r.!;i, . * j"*™?.' ™""»<"' flaUon :
.U^he store, an^ ti^olZt^lC^''^ "' '^^ "^
I had straeried oiit h«Tf > *' P^ *""»» ""d m shoo.
at my cooper's trade anli:^!t ^ * comfortable businoi
proud of my euccoss W^ T e|»ployed eight men. I felt
£ome, and ir ^0.^, Then"?.™"' ^\' "^'-^ '""•
Lii^L"!P.r?,°^'"'-». >!<"■«« were one bS._. 1„„, ™.
~'" "~"° """"'"S ""* • Pi««»t garden ab'ou^ "aomi i;!
ut, some fiAe
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 19
oirt treei near, and always stacks of staves and hoop-poles quite
haftiy. At one end we lived, in a frugal, but always cl?ieiT
way, and at the other end was the shop, where, as nearly all
my hands were German, could be heard the livelong day the
whistled waltz, or the lightly-sung ballad, now in solo, now in
chorus, bnt always in true time with the hammering of the adae
and the echomg thuds of the " driver " upon the hoops as thev
were driven to their places. . ^
This was my quiet, but altogether happy, mode of life in the
beautiful village of Dundee, in the summer of 1847, at which
time my story really begins, but, to give the reader a better un-
derstanding of it, I will have to further explain the existing
condition of things at that time.
There was but little money in the West, which was then
sparsely settled. There being really no markets, and the com-
munication with eastern cities very limited, the producer could
get but little for his crops or wares. I have known farmers in
these times « hauling," as it was called, wheat into Chicago for
a distance of nearly one hundred miles, from two to five streams
having to be forded, and the wheat having to be carried across
every bag of it, upon the farmer's back, and he not then able
to get but three shilhngs per bushel for his grain, being com-
pelled to take half payment for it in " truck," as store goods
were then called. *
. JIlT7^ "^^TK °^ dickering, but no money. Necessity
compelled an interchange of products. My barrels would be
Bold to the farmers or merchants for produce, and this I would
be compelled to send in to Chicago, to in turn secure as best I
coud a tew dollars, perhaps, and anything and ever\fchinffl
could use, or again trade away. ^
Not only did this great drawback on business exist, but what
money we had was of a very inferior character. If one sold a
load ot produce and was fortunate enough to secure the entire
pay tor it m money, before he got home the bank might have
fai ed and the paper he held have become utterly worthless.
AH of these things m time brought about a most imperative
need for good money and plenty of it, which had been met some
years betore where mv storv \\fimna iw oa««r-i -»r>:f-'-— -•
Aberdeen, bcothind, placing m the hands of George Smith, Es^,
20 PB6MSS10Ifll THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
G^Tw^"^"^ '»«""" '"■"'» 'o fo«ni » bank in th.
w« ohTeu^A So^F^'dlf 4""'"'»"«« with Chicago,
isqq J.» * J 1 P °^» ^"" '^® Wisconsin LeffislatnrA in
it. charter, Z "S Skt| J=: ^°"'P'»^' '"^'"■. '»
Hut a few years had eUpsed before the hill. «f «.:. • .-.
hon gained a very wide circulation "hroaglo^' 1^1 North wet?'
taken rapid strides to the front hid in . f' ?^''^»^' ^*^^°«
tral office. alLough tL W scon^in .^^ • * -^^ ^""^"'^ ^^« «««
. headquarJers Trf sSlreSrer °'^*"^"'^°" "'^^ ^i>"*"^««
eagerly sought fon Ve^^omTaW we- k^^^ '^
and always available capital at commind • its hTll ^*^«/"g«
redeemable in soecie • ami y»hh i^™™*"^ ^ ,"« oi"s were always
Smith, who stoTda? the head othr''°"*^ '^^^^'^'' "^ ^«°rg«
err^s:raS!f,rd thf ^^Lxfo^ScS ^ r^
orer-'oLtrvr'trli-fro' '" -'-r»f i^'' finS
arities of the iTa" and shS how h! "" ""? "' "" P^""""
tiou in thoae time; and in^t^fsetti^n s'asfolVr' ""•"'-
oau^s^iS3:ttLr?itr»?Thr?^^^
caused m certain seoHnna «««»;j ui' *"""' "/"^"> Jwr a wiae.
Holder, of SrbUk *^'^"^««^bl« uneaainesB among the
l»R0FESSl01fAL THIEVES AND TflE DETECTIVES 21
The qmet Scotchman in Chicago said never a word to this
for some time ; but at once began gathering together every bill
of this bank he could secure. This was continued for several
weeks, when he suddenly set out alone and unattended for cen-
tral IJlinois, being roughly dressed and very unpretentious in
appearance. " r
Keaching the place and staggering into the bank, he awk-
wardly presented one hundred dollars in the Fire and Marine
bUls, req^-sting exchange on Buffalo for alike sum.
.. w*®^^^*',®^®? ^^™ * moment, and then remarked sneerinriy :
" We don't take that stuff at par."
" Ah 1 ye dinna tak it, then ] "
" No," replied the cashier ; « ' George Smith's money' is de-
predating rapidly." .r '*=-
ivel ^^^'^ ^^'^ ^*"" "^^^ ^*^*' " ^^ ' " '«sponded Smith, reflect-
"2*^' J®*' ^*^"'* ^ "^^^^ fifty cents on a dollar in six
months i
" ^^\^^ 7"°^^ "*® ™*^'' *h^n fifty cents? An' may voun
De worth a huner' cents on a dollar, noo?"
^hl ^^""^H^^iT' '7' *^'^,*yt ^^ y*''* «^°"^^ J^aPPen to have ten
■housand dollars' worth about you at the present time," replied
he cashier as he gave the stranger another supercilious look.
you could get the gold for it in less than ten seconds." '
1 1 • u' f^^^ *^® travel-stained banker, with a very uffly
look m his face, as he crashed down a great package upon the
counter, containing twenty-five thousand dollars in the bills of
rP,npT? '"'' ^^A^' '\f''^' ^"^'•g^ Smith presents his best
Th?tl''i!^ '^''')- °^ ^"'if'^ P^^^'3^ ^*^ '^ legitimate effect,
ir! A question could not instantly redeem so large a
Stinn«Tr'''r.i?^ '" "•°*"^^'* '^^'^'^"^ i° 'hat and other
&aT;SatytdT"^^^ ^^^^" ^'^^ ''^''^' ^'^°^"-
liehed'^rlr ""'i""' ""^^n '}" ""^^ ^^^^^^'"'^ fin^^^^r estab-
"GeL« 41,^?""^ compelled respect, until, as I have said,
^^Ueor^e Smiths money" was as good as the gold throughout
juc cuoiro western country, and this fact, in time, caus«fit to
be taken in band by eastern counterfeiter^ •««»"«»
I,: :.i
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
This brings me again to the main part of mv storr
^r/rpihaTL^^^^^^^
I was busyat myltk baVeh^d^ '' ^^« I^'^-'
no other clothin- on mv hnrlv!^ ' *^^^«^?t«'^. and having
alls and a coamhlwv iZ 1 .1^"^' ?^ ^'"« ^^^"'"» orer.
tume ; but I smarted c^^^wnfl^' ?/ ?'" ^^"''* invariable cos-
reached HuntTstorebXl th.''' ^' ''"'"' *"^ '^^'^ ^^'^^y
joined by a Mr. I C BoZr J ,rP"''"'u ^"^ '">««^f ^^^e
the village, and nL a fet ^ed 1^^^^^^^ ^'
piece previously referred to. ^''^''^^ ""^ ^'S»°' ^^l^nois, the
, " Come in here, Allan," said Mr HunL in o ro*u
nous manner leadinir fV.! «,«„ * fu ^ ^^ ^ rather myste-
BosworthSSsKuoIT. «'^' ''^' °^ '^'''^''> ^hile
in the detectivXe." ^ ' ""^ ''*°* ^^^ *^ ^^ * little job
"Never S now " said Mr'^Rn""' '1^' '''^ °^ '^^^^ »"
*n^ you can do XT' you wa^ don« v'^' aeriotasly, " we
W, «ft^ mill Lye D„nd^«ni'w "'?"' " "" P»»
the little poet town of 11.0^,1^'^^ ^"',* ''" ""*» 'l^™
tif.ll and of the b^t „tK' •j"''*'"^ P"'" '^''^ both plen.
h«l atumld upon 8ome smoiweir ^7 ""''. ^"'^ "-ere 1
Jadicating that the STeiShTf, ""''''".*"'* ""•" '«"=«
Jiore .eriou, matter, to'^Snd tl ° 5T,^r~rP'° ''"^
keenness to conclude that no honL ^ >«!? red no great
oecupvine the nUre a. ^t ""*" ""■* '" "'« li«Wt o(
«*upjruig i.ne place. As the country wa« thon ;..A.„* j -.i
DETECTIVES.
fBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 23
nS^i^®l""*''V°*?''J'^*"'^' ^^«'e subsequently I led the
officers who captured the entire gang, consiatina of men ^i?
women secured their implements and f large amount of bo^us
Upon this faint record Messrs. Hunt and Bosworth based
my c aim to detective skill, and insisted on mrwknLnew
laurds, or at least, attempting to do so. ^ ^ ^
e.^ \. ^ ^^ y°" ^^^^ <io°e ' " I asked, very much nre.
nf I .L „„. !?^ «t LibertyvUle, in the adjoining countv
of Lake, not more than thirty-five miles distant, bore a W
rWnT' ^ ^ f ^'^^'^^'^^ "^'^ing inquiries for "Old man
I^K^SS-S'S r^4;ePreh-^ C™.,
!««««, which, even- .houIdltl^p^en'i^pre'vr'i'iiS^^'
ii
2* PROFESSIOSrH TH.EVK3 AND TW DBTECTiVM.
oressed, m my hickory and dpn.-mT j '• '^^ '"^^^er, almost un
would m!!,""^ ^^°^' «°<^ which'r Jl\ ^'°^ ^^'"^''^ing en-
J^ould make an utter failure of T K /" ^l^'"*^ Probability I
ic America altogether. I had hJ^^ u°' ^«^° ^"t four yearf
time I had been hsre T L^ 1 ^*1 * ^"d time of it for?i,
inentioned concern W bLk« ^"^'^ "^ *" ^^ese th Ws I hat"
A great detective I wnnM ^7 r ly
thought "°»W ■»»te under .uoh circunutonee., I
I ««ddenly rl^ tJ^' y"" -=>» ' »
aiUBt confess that .f,^.?J°" "■»' ""d no lem . .1,1, ,. ,
I Ther t *'onamon occur*
«ivu «ras guu^ on abbut the'pia^ "i'^a-moufched at
ETECTIVEg.
PROriSSIONAL THIIVES AND THE DITICTIYIS.
25
I MMed, as I entered the shop, a splendid horse hitched
outside. It ras a fine, large roan, well buUt for travelling •
and m my then frame of mind I imagined from a casual glance
that It was a horse especially selected for its lasting quaUties.
should tm emergency require them to be put to a test. The
owner of the animal, the person who had caused so much ner-
vousness on the part of Messrs. Hunt and Bosworth, was a man
nearly SIX feet m height, weighed fully two hundred pounds,
was at least sixty-five years of age, and was very erect and
commanding m his appearance. I noticed all this at a careless
glance, es also that his hair was dark, though slightly tinged
with gray, and his features very prominent His nose wa»
very large, his mouth unusually so, and he had a pair of the
keenest, coldest small gray eyes I have ever seen^ while he wore
a large, plain gold ring on one of the fingers of his left hand
I made no remark to him or to any person about the place,
and- merely assumed for the time being to be a village loafer
myself. But I noticed, without showing the fact, that the man
occasioniaiy gave me a keen and searching glance. When the
work had been completed by Walker, I stepped outside and
made a pretence of being interested, as any country eawkv
might, m the preparations for the man's departure : and wm
patting the horse s neck and withers as the stranger came out
with the saddle and began adjusting it, when I carelessly
assisted him m a free-and-easy country way.
There were, of course, a number of people standing about,
«tr«nlf °? il'*^ of senseless chatting going on, which the
stranger wholly refrained from joining in ; bSt while we were
both at work at the saddle, he sSid, without addressing me, but
in a way which I knew was meant for m\t ears : « Strancer do
you know where Old man Crane lives V ^'^anger, ao
fj ^""a •?? ''i® ^^®™ '!J® °'*°°«'' i° ^hicli tWs was said, and
Sw nf ^*>%^««* ^^ ^y *^^ility. I was now as certain a^
either of my fnends that the man was a blackleg of a danger-
0U8 order, whatever his special line of roguery might bo. We
were both busy at the saddle on the side of the horse where
there were the fewer loungers, and bemg close together, I replied
m tne same tone of voice : o » r
V — :."" • "" ""^ ^""""j «»a.o tae main roaa up i&rouKh
tte wood* until you come to JesM MiUer'g farmhoui. Theo
^ will t^i] you , . ^ ,
considerable meanim. ir.J^l-^'"''^ '^an* to a8k"-.n^ t
^ "Young ".^ "i '.^ »«■« -""-Hou, voice « before •
« All nVJif »» T • "* **^^
E::^ :;;^" r ^^^^^ i r S rVC-''^-
fhl^f^l ^® ^'^'^ ta^k entirelv hJ'« , ''® "P *° some of the
mean the^„"lt%?«"' ''^ ^'^<^.' I r^Uei. oDovou
J "He's .?,"; J:r» ?el"d"j|: *»* ""h hit" "" ""'
I came up from Fl^it *u- ^ ^^^ *^® stranger « /'^ u-
where OrLe Tved ^^ V^\^« ?»orning. sS did^rknn^"''^^
"^ady It i't'^^ '•'*»«'• «»'tly, ' Wve St TJ^ ^^«P^««e."
'^"HK. It won't do. T'li ,v,v r_' ^® ^^ talked too mn«i, -i
.oxu vou oyer the river soonJ'""'" "*'
DETECTIVES.
> ask"— and I pm
; road to the north-
le. When you get
i he u {» good as
« before :
i^ant to know you
«• I want to talk
let me go ahead.
on my boots and
•t on first. Then
ip in some of the
But ni tell you
>ntly, "upon my
ause I've already
oroe, but he con-
> gain time to say
cared very little
^*^Mng to ytnt r
I a man as I've
I he edged along
John Smith, of
^ed. « Do you
is, he has re-
' J« n»ight not
1."
■^w his uncle.
1 n't know just
here, and that
ould be likely
» to his place."
too miink -I
Boon."
PROrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIYES. 27
"With this I carelessly walked away towards my shop, and at
lome little distance turned to see the stranger now engaging
Eaton Walker in conversation with an evident purpose of gain-
ing time.
" Well," I thought, as I hastened on, " there's no doubt now.
This man is certainly a counterfeiter. John Smith is always
loaded down with it He gets it from old Crane ; and this
man at Walker's is the chief of the gang travelling through the
West to supply these precious rascals. But then/' it suddenly
occurred to me, " what business of mine is all this ? Good
gracious I I've got a lot of barrels to make, my men need at-
tention, and everything is going to the Old Harry while I am
playing detective ! "
But having got thus far my will had been touched, and I
resolved to carry the matter through, whatever might be the
result. While putting on my hafc and boots hastily, Hunt and
Bosworth came in, and I quickly related what I had learned.
Looking down the hill, we could see the stranger slowly mov-
ing across the bridge, and as I was starting in the same direc-
tion my friends both urged :
" Now, Pinkerton, capture him sure ! "
« Oh, yes," I replied, " but how am I to get at all this ?"
" Why, just get his stock, or some of it, and then we'll have
him arrested."
" Oh, yetf," said I, " but, by thunder 1 it takes money to buy
money ! I've got none ! "
" Well, well, that's so," remarked Mr. Hunt ; " we'll go right
down to the stora. You drop in there after us, and we'll give
you fifty dollars." ^
All this was speedily done, and I soon, found myself over the
bridge, past the horseman, and well up the hill upon the high-
J
^ It was a well-travelled thoroughfare, in fact, the road lead-
ing from all that section of the country into Chicago ; but it
was m the midst of harvest-time, and everybody was busy
upon the farms. Not a soul was to be seen upon the road, save
the stranger and myself, and almost a Sabbath silence seemed
to rest over the entire locality. The voices of the birds, which
nilAn tnn nrnrtrla in avarxr A\r>ant-in--^ ..^«-_ i u.j i-t.- _
'T~ ," '^"j '-tixoi^uiuu, TTcic uusueu lULu a noon-
day chirpmg, and hardly a sound was to be heard save the
^y . *^ ^° THE DETECTIVjiS
'or the wrirL- k^ ' ^^ -^ couJd not hn^ r.^ I- siience and
PloddiL i,'?/°'» "■«• There 1^08 1^^^"' "" ""«'»««
*ome caul I U.5 "?^'°°' *<> the letter I 1 Norseman was
thought7eh,H^*'°«dan influence 'L!r"'^ '^< ^^om
Jo a beautiful JiSe nl •''''°'^ ^'^^ "-^ont two hnn^"^ """^'^
»««> a smile of reI„LfV° '""'' »' a small sanMnt ^ ^"'8'»8
took « ionir d.»rS^°".'°"- Proceeded to tl.?'^ -8. passed m?
eye^
PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 29
movement. J saw the handles of two finely-mounted pistol*
protruding from inner coat-pockets, and I did not know what
might happen. I was wholly unarmed, but I was young, wiry,
powerful, and though I had nothing for self-protection save my
two big fists and my two stout arms, I was daring enough to
tackle a man or beast in self-defence at a moment's warning.
After a moment's silence, he said :
" Well, stranger, I'm a man of business from tllfe word ' go.*
What's your name and how long have you been about here t "
•* My name's Pinkerton. I've been here three or four years,
coopeiing some, and harvesting tome ; but coopering's my
trade. You'd have seen my shop if you had come up the hill.
I manage to keep seven or eight men going all the time. But
times are fearfully hard. There's no money to be had ; and
the fact is," said I, looking at him knowingly, " I would like
to get hold of something better adapted to getting more ready
cash out of— especially if it was a good scheme— so good that
there was no danger in it But what's your name and where
did you come from 1 " I asked abruptly.
He scarcely heeded this, and, Yankee-like, replied by asking
where I came from before locating in Illinois.
" From Scotland," I replied, ' from Glasgow. I worked my
way through Canada and finally found myself here with just a
quarter in my pocket. What little I've got has been through
hard work since. But, my friend," said I, smiling, "the talk
18 all on one side. I asked ym something about yourself."
" Well, ' he said, still looking at me as though he would read
me through and through, '« they call me ' Old man Craig.' My
name is Craig— John Craig— and I live down in Vermont, near
lairfaeld ; got a fine farm there. Smith, down here at Elgin,
18 a nephew of mine; and old Crane, over at LibertyviUe, and
myselt, have done a good deal of business together."
"Oh, yes," said I, nodding, « I understand."
"But you see," resumed the counterfeiter, " this part of the
country is all new to me. I've been to Crane's house before,
but that was when I came up the lakes to Little Fort* and
^♦(1116 oily of Waukegan, inLalMOonnty, IlliBoi^ wm odM **I4Wt
£8ci ' i^ ia««wiy aattianj
30
II
if
I
ri I
r t
PBOFESBIONAL TBIETES AND THE DETECTIVBS.
»l^',:gi;f """'' """ •">* "°PP«' «' the S.„gan«l,,- J ^d.
then, quick as St he JSS 'T' """^ '•" ^^'"'go" And
jou ever ' deal' any!" ^''' '""^'"K "» '» 'he eyes : " Did
in me. But 1 wou?dn'?touch ^Zt'' ""r? *^-*^« *" oonfidenc^
Illinois, unless it was as °ood in ann °^ ^'^' ^' ^?^ **»« State of
tide. Have you sZTtZl r^Jl^^^'T^ ^ *^« g«°»i«e ar-
indiiferen%. -^ somettiing really good, now ?" I concluded,
you were going over to oKanef?'' ^P^"'«^*^- "I thought
-M be a g„«, idea for%^„ T^^e lU btrC;„7c.L'
" How far is it »" he asked.
Eo/h^o^r?jf::.taiiU^rr&s^^^ ^»»'"«-t.
^ute^:rtt:tk^t-h*£:?^^^
watered it. ^ "°'^® to the spring and
n.e!'ret"k:d'ret"l"' '«'"■' *-«ag hi^elf down beaid.
the'^bealfe!-" S f ?• y»° "•"t I've ^„t B.,. _
Iwayg went into
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 31
counterfeitB on the Wificonsin Marine and Fire Insurance Com«
pany's money.
I looked at them very, very wisely. As I have already said,
I had never seen a ten-dollar bill in my life ; but I examined them
as critically as though I had assisted in making the genuine
biils, and after a little expressed myself as very much pleased
with them.
They were indeed " beauties," as the old rascal had said, and
in all my subsequent detective experience I have hardly seen
their equal in point of execution and general appearance. There
was not a flawmthem. To show how nearly perfect they had been
made, it is only necessary to state that it was subsequently
learned that several thousand dollars in these spurious bills
had been received unhesitatingly at the bank and its different
agencies, and actually paid out and received the second time,
without detection.
« Come, now, Pinkerton, 111 tell you what I'll do," continued
Craig, earnestly; «* if you'll take enough of this, I'll give you
the entire field out here. The fact is, Crane's getting old ; he
isn't as active ia he used to be ; he's careless also, and, besides
all this, he's too well known."
"Well," said I thoughtfully, "how much would I have to
take 1"
"Only five hundred or a thousand,*' he replied, airily.
" On what terms 1" I asked.
" Twenty-five per cent cash."
" I cannot possibly do it now," I replied, as though there was
no use of any further conference. "I haven't anywhere near
the amount necessary with me. I want to do it like thunder,
but when a man can't do a thing he can't, and that's all there
b about it."
"Not so fast, my man j not so fast," answered the old rogue
reassurmgly. « Now, you say these lubberheads of merchants
down at the village trust you t"
« Yes, for anything."
" Then can't you make a raise from them somehow 1 Youll
never get such another chance to do business with a square man
m your afe ; and you can make more money with this in one
,!-— --^j v«w xii vu^su -.auiu bou. ixuw, wnat can you ao,
32
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THI DETECTITM.
, y
I Ofsmmed to be studying the matter over v«rv deenlr hufc
m reality I had already de^cided to do as the ma^Sj- for
I knew that Messrs Hunt and Bosworth would be only too
"ill irr'^' "^fr- ^°""T^ "P «^ '^^''^y- Finally I sJd^-
, lUdoit Craig; but it won't answer for you to be seen hX
mg about here. Where shall we meet, and when ?" ^'
' Lasy enough," said he, grasping my hand warmlv « T
sTuff ir T 'I ?,l\^^^--'« *t «" l/he wanteT/of the
stuff after this, he'll have to come to you. I only let Smith
have about one hundred dollars in the\ills, and^tha ouTof
mere friendship, you know. When he wants more. I'll make
him come to you too. Now, I'll go right batk down there S
you can meet me at Smith's this evening " '
^nl^J'/"* ' "''' y?" don't Craig 1 " I answered, with an appear-
ance of deep cunning. « I'm willing to take the whole business
into my hands but I don't propose to have eveTy Tom Tfck
2/^1^^'^'""^'" ""'^'^^ *^« business fro^ the bfgS
Sng^k'et^^yS."^^^"^'^'" ' ^^^^^"^^^' -*^^P-
we'm'IelV'tiket- ^^'^ "S^* -^ I'- wrong. Where'll
« IVe a, capital place," I replied. " Do you know where the
unfinished Bapt^t Church an? University L dowTalidnl" •
^ Let me see," he said, smiling. "I ought to know T'm
a splendid Baptist when I'm in f ermont^^^fne of the LconT
as sure as you hve I Are they up on the hill ? « '
T»k.« fn\. . K T^'" } »»«wered. "It's a lonesome enough
place to not be hkely to meet anybody there : and we can S
range everything in the basement/' '
"All right," he acceded, laughing heartay. "and the n«»f
time I writo my wife, damn me if I don't teU herthat I d^T
cated the new Baptist Church at Elgin, Illinois r
1 joined m this little merriment at the expense of the Elain
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. S3
lately engaged ia farming, wm wealthv ««^ i, ^ v
counterfeiter for many years kZ^ir^^lh ? , ^^^ ^^^ »
constantly employed and he wS?^ t^o first-class engraverg
should I ler Upei thaV^ay^^SouT i? "^' '° ^^1f ^^'
tain at that timerJo him as w^Ii ^'t.self thlir'^^^A'''^
very long time before I began travflHn J f!i' i '* '^°"^'* ^® »
ceived aU this for what Fwas Jo ^ P^«^«"'?-*»d I '«■
him a call while mentally owX '" Ah fZ' °'^^ ^T^'^
^i:^^^"^ ''- ^^e^cau t^ii c?mris-
4^:^'^l:tT^,Si^^^^^^^ -^ what he told me
moneV"hl';er^^^ St^. ^"/f ^^ ^^ --^^'^-^
shown me was the Wst sum h« ^ u°i^^'.' ^^^^^ he had
was simply and onlffsamnirfi '"''" H^bout him. This
Should he be arrested «n? nn • "'"' f '^ ^^^ ^^^"^ ^^th me.
which would nSarVelTJ'T '^ P*?^^ ^^^^^^ ^« ^^und
' «l-y3 upon his' XnXortwf^^^^^^^^^^
money, chiefly in eastern bank biHs No^l ^'V" ^^''"^^^
the condition of things at that Hmf' ^P,P,^^«o» understanding
demn a stranger in a new In T' '"""^^ ^^ Persuaded to con-
money, for haf 'L twentv IZ 7' '^^ unfamiliar with -it.
a sum^'as two tZ^Ah^"'' '^ '^"'^'"^ ^^"^^ ^^ «- ^*^ge
and c:r;y^tVwl'hl't?i^^^ ^^« -/^le with the bills
made this inquiry miS LnL ???"'' ^?' ^^^^^^^ie^ce. I
Craig his mannerVeupplying 2lt^^ t?' *" ^^^^ ^^"^
for he immediately replied -^ ^ ' *""* ^ "^^^ saccessful,
sCfthfpadTnK^^^^^ ^^^h' *He horse would
place, somedy might bJ as curiTs t' ^"^'' fP^' ^^ ^^^ '^^^^
the saddle. Oh, no^ no Pve "?" f /"""''f ^°^ "P «?«»
IVo got a fellow nam«;^Vl^ * ^^'^'^^ ''^h«"^« than that,
shrew^d as a man\n Te^L^^^ *^"« - -«t«el and aa
but yau will never see hTm H«^! "''''' ""^ *^^« * «h»dow» •
person with whom I have iusine« T" 'T ^J ^^^ ^^^^S
pies and make the trX TZlt L^^^P^^ '^^^ "^^ «a°i'
fro» the buyer, and IS^etteu'rr'/-^^^^ .
_ — ^ TT ffl«« JUX1V4 WUV
if ;iil
34
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVKS.
specified sum m my money in a certain place at a designated tim^
He goes there, and never fails to find the bills Rnf V f
verson IS not seen in the transaction, and in the meantLl 1
have hidden my samples, as well as the money received wL
which miffht be marked, so that if there sh^rl k! 7 , '
ery, nothing could be proven against me idv "^ ^?T^:
of Canada iade, and'it is^aSlrin Lfs^ma^feT' OM
John Craig is never caught napping, young man r ^^
. The last remark was evidently mide bv the connfprft.;f., *
give me to understand that though he had Iv.n i ^' ***
sense he was honniirflWo n^u;^ i • j ^ i^ wura. in tiiat
glers might happen thTt wT ' "* """' '^-
fromh"e l^" "" '^'''- f ""^'^^ '" "-^ C«ig, .s he ros.
" There's my hand on it," said I, quieUy.
-rml^lVT"^ enough money to tie five hundred »»
will cause talkf r„d Tuple yZ wUhmtdnn^''^"?,,''^''''^ I'
ma way that Wt do?or me Sl"^ ''^"' ""' "■"»«« 8°»iP
place, «,d ha^ng Kot thU Si « P*?'.^''"'-''^ McClure's old
meet himatthedesflb^S^r • S*^-'" ''" '"''«'- ^B'^i to
bade him go^ a^rk^'^/d'^'pSS''' "'"•■* '"" °'«'-'^'
I w^dSda^^oV'^f-^I- 1, r ™ T 7»^- •-■-' "
6 .^o uxow 01 tne hUi, my counterfeiter friend
PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 35
♦irell along the upper road, halting his horse to wave me a good-
luck or good-by, as it might be taken, to which I merely nodded
a reply and then made all possible speed to Mr. Hunt's store
eZLT^^IS'"'' ''^ '^^"^' '' "^^ ^'^-- ^ ^--
They were very gleeful over my success in working into the
confidence of the counterfeiter, but both were rather Spprehen-
Bive that the money was m the man's saddle, that Yelverson
was a myth and that possibly we had lost an opportunity o^
nn'Zf S r7* ^"* y^^' P'^"y *^^^^^^" *b^^ Craig woJhl
on hand at Elgin according to appointment, and, securing the •
required anjount of money, one hundred aid twenty-five dol-
lars, and a bite oi lunch, I set out on foot foi Elgin. The nlace
was only about five miles from Dundee, and five miles fo? me '
then was as nothing ; so that, a few minutes before four. I was
within the deserted structure. '
I looked into every conceivable corner and cranny, but coUld
discover the counterfeiter nowhere.
I passed cntside and looked in every direction, but still he
was not to be seen. Tired and worried about the whole mat-
ter, I retired withm the basement, and had been sitting upon
one of the loose tmabers there but a fewminutes, brooding over
the loss ot my day's work, and disgusted with the whole busi
''TJk \ r^ 5?^?«»ly entered and smilingly greeted me.
" Why helloa, Pinkerton, you're ahead of tune."
" I told you I would be here," I replied.
" Well, did you bring the money with you 1 "
"Certainly I did. Here it is," said I, counting out one hun-
dred and twenty-five dollars as carelessly as though accustomed
to handling comfortable sums of money • 'fumtju
He looked it over more carefully than suited me exactly.
The act seemed to ho d a faint trace of suspicion, but he found
It to be m eastern bills and correct in every particular
with^aThuLX '' '"""^ '"'''"' "f '" '^ '^"^'^^^
" Oh, fair, fair," I answered, indifferently. ' « Does pretty well
when one can do some other quiet business along wilh it.''
nntaSr/ '^^ ' ^'^ pleasantly. " Now, Pinkerton, you go
outside for a few miuutes. and keen a ahurr. l««i,, • ' "^ ^
a.vuv.
§::
36
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
body might be watching. Remain outside tour or live minute.,
and if you see no one by that time, come back " ""»"^«^
r,l/..T* *"".*. ^ directed, but I could not but feel that T had
placed myself m the man's power completely, as far ^dvins
him a fair opportunity to abscond with my friends' molfw J
concerned and though a new hand at this kind of benTwH
determined to be as keen as he was shrewd. So, instead of
ted7f^: building altogether for the time mentioned I sta^f
ted off for a little distance, and, quickly returning up through
a smaU ravine, took a position near ai open wiSdow Justin
tune to observe my Baptist friend from Vermont placing som^
So.^Tt? V'^'' ^*' building-stone in one cSrnerYtS
poi tiou of the basement where we had been together
J bis much seen, I got away from the place as speedilv as I
could, and at once sought a small eminence near the building
kcLTy ' ^ ^''' ^''''"'' "^ ^''^^^ * «^°«« ^^^«1^ onTe
i^Jo^^ tbiis occupied, I observed, out of the corner of my eye.
that i.raig had appeared at one of the entrances, and was closely
wa.,chmg my movements. Apparently satisfied at last, he gave
a Laxr whistle attracting my attention, of course, when he fhen
motioned me to join him.
As I entered I told him that I had looked everywhere but
was unable to see any person about. verywnere, but
"That's all right," he replied pleasantly, and then, looking
at me m a quizzical sort of a wayf asked : ^
"Pinkerton, what would you think if I told you that Yei-
r Zndtd rm'^bifls r ' ''"^ ^'"^" ^"^^'^' *^^ '^'' '"^^
JtnA^ ^"""'^ ^■"^''S ^ *"'^"""^ ' " ^'d «^^*' think you'd
got Old Nick working along with you I "
" I'erbaps i have, perhaps I have," he returned quietly.
Look under that stone over yonder." H"i«?My.
froiTJ" ^"".^h^ place indicated, and, lifting the stone which
Crrig.'^'"** ^'''' ""^ ^""^ '^^''^ y'^'' ^^"Sbt inside it," remarked
doteff %?«tt «?!^rA!i?i.5^^^^^^^^ % ten.
.tated, were mVaiWdaJmerrexrcuS ""' " ' ""''' "^^
■^-j
ETECTIVES.
PROFESSIOJiAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 37
I make this open confession to my readers :
l™„or w/.t;rLs^Tbe^eve^''LrS ?" '"'■"'red dol-
gold, if I only chose to nl !t ^^ o™ of them aa good as
my memory whilp T »7oL i "*e--that with this struggle in
mfaS7 nrveHose 'r^^^^^^^ ^''^ ri^^*^?" i" »/deter.
my duty to Dursue hfm T """"^^ "^^^^ '^ ^^n^^ becomes
prospect of fargrp^fiSlfhTs "^hoa^LTTnTh \' "■"
tio^ and soon after probably stood met „rd'^,^,f^' "^
at once retuS°to Smith'! 5^""?"'? "■"' Yelyereon haS
ere then ^^fn L l^ad toltd o!f- """"^ T "'«"«''• '"«'
should rejoin him on Se n!tT^ ^^'V/''^"' '^''"•' '''' ^raig
his nephew's ° '"*' ''^y- »"«' P^'i'-S the night ^t
tnnity to do thfs^ EWn f "'j- ^ "" ?»»=">'« "Ppo^
relyisonw^wllon^the^o'.rrpS? *" Craig's statemLt,
S5^^^C we^«n7bX» ,S --
-••■■•■KrsKdt^'zsi^ril'^C
38 PBOPESSIONAl THIEVBB AND THE DETECTIVES,
gether." arrangements to buy you out alto-
Geneva, BataviaXro^ and 0,^^ ^"lu-^' *"^ ^^- ^h^^^es.
the outside, I thint « ' ® *^*'' *^'«« «' fo»r days at
"Well, try, and see what vou ca.n An t ™ u l,
to take Iveiythingyou We" °" *""■« »'''» '"««"•«
to-morrow, and wait there afctL^o ^"^^^^.^So mto Chk&go
five days. >ut, nSl^Vy:;,! ?e dt^JeftT^^^ *- you four L
wo^dfbet^dZrr to^Sl^^^^^ rj/^/ ^"^« -^0 the
joining the gunsmitrird Tl^thZ 'p^^l ^"*°"^ ^'^^^^ re-
counterfeit bills oTtt Wisirs n 7J:' '^"/^^^^^ '^«"*" i°
Company's Bank, startinron flf 7 T *°^ ^*'« Insurance
just as the sun w;s settSI behfn? fu' ^°".'' .^^«^« ^ ^^^ved
upon what I then felt wL^themi/^' -^^"^ ^"^« ^^ ^«»dee,
of my life. *" *^^ "^^'O ^^^'^^S and eventful day
^tetfelrn^to^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ of expec.
_-_P f„..„ „.,„ ^,^ __^ ^^^ p^^j^^^j^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^„ .^._
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVE.S. 39
for some distant point as soon as I had started for home anri
criminal though he was, he was a man who when he hfrf
passed his word, would be certain to keep T *^-
With a view of allaying the anxiety ot" my friends and al.n
learn defi^itdy the whr^b^oulTtt tntS^^^^
tired partly discouraged, and fully satisfied Tn my own mind
that I was not born to become a detective, I went Cme and
sought my bed with a feeling that the little cooper sZd m^
good wife, and our plain, homely ways' were after «n th^'i^l
, things on earth, and, altigetherf betTer S an^ofh^^^^^^^^^^
hfe or attornments possible for man to secure. ^ ^
and aftei ^ T/f^T^'?'/ ^*' "P ^'^"^'^ *he next morning •
?lni f ?*«^y '?reakfast, secured a horse and was sofn
rap dly cantering off in the direction of Elgin where I arrS
by the time the villagers of the little town^wirl stSlLXut '
5^rS!r|urmith^ ^--^^^ directly to trh^outS
n.= ^i'^''' smoking his pipe and enjoying the moraine as com
" Helloa, Pickerton, what's up ? »
II Only myself," I answered jokingly.
quired^"' ^'^ ^'' ''"'''^ ^"' °^ y^^"' t^ip tWs early 1 " he in-.
40
MOFMSIOWt THIEVES AND THE BETEOTIVES.
in fno fA<___ r
(Ake in the towna r ♦.,
monoj., get b«k « qSST/iT''''^ ''" ««« Boyd Uv
the ■ Sapg.„„h,' in (?hi * o"f. ^ '»''• '-d «■«' you « .g.^
iou II do, you'll do "fto,-^ n •
"I just thought T'dlirnn ^'^^ ««couragingIr.
liMe dwtance from Elgin toot .7''' ''°'' "^'w
J^l.«.e^P„.to.n o/cdl:^,^^^^^^^^^^
upon meeting Craig in Chicaso 'T. '?*P«n<l™ce couM be placed
for, alone in the .Suntry S nJf l'™'"'"'"-»«'<IeK
«ons Sh mS'« H^„^^?„7ff« I«»^ in frequent consulta
planning on my own Mrt • .nj .. ^^ °f "ofvous pJottins and
ear]/fo7enoou'; aSd^mv'w "''"'^' ^"' ^'*"« c^tj, during tl,«
the arrest of bith Cr2 and v7 ^"' *° P^ocure^arS for
now being able, by a jfttle Zh '''"'^' ^' ' ^ad high Ces of
oT';^l''^^''^»dIe««%3ec^^^^^^^^^ to fetthftVo
one of whom I directed to folTni }^ "''"'''*'«« ^'^ ^wo officers
Craig which would undoubted tuhlT"" '^' ^'^-^^^t^oi
M YeJverson. brin^ th^ ^^^JjJ\ *^^^« was any such n«r«««
" "~" "'^'^ "^"" '*^«''^er. My idea wi"to'
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 41
then wait untU they had separated and were so situated that
immediate communication would be impossible, and then capture
Yelverson ; while after this had been effected, myself and the
second officer would attend to Craig. But, as fine as all this
looked in a plan, it was doomed, as the reader will observe, to
prove merely a plan. '
After aU th'ese arrangements were perfected, I went to the
Sauganash Hotel. The officers were merely constables, and
one was stationed outside the house, to follow Craig wiierever
i! °!i^u F' '*'' ^^oever might come in contact with him.,
should he be observed to meet any person with whom hemijjht
appear to have confidential relations; while the other officer
was located mside the hotel, to cause Craig's arrest whenever
the proper time arrived.
I wanted to bring things about so that I could capture the
men with the money upon them, or in the very act of passing
It; but circumstances and my own youth and inexperience
were against me. i'ciicuuo
I had been seated in the office of the hotel but a few minutes
when Craig entered, smoking a cigar. He saw me instantly,
but several minutes elapsed before he saw fit to approach me
and I observed by his manner that he did not wish me to recog^
nise him. He sauntered about for a time, apparently like one
upon whose hands time hung heavily, and, finally securing «
newspaper, dropped into a seat beside me ^
msed my presence, and then he said, with his attitude such
whh Hs^aVer: "'^"^'''" ^'"^ ''^''^^^ *^*" ^'^^^^ «°S^S^d
" Have you got the money ? "
u nr^iJ ^,^P^^^^> quite as laconically.
«n .nn "' ^ ""^ ^^ ^IT *'°«^thousand uow. The horse is sold ;
BO you pay me one thousand dollars, and in the course of an
hour I will see that you have the packacre."
n,« .T^'" \'*'^' '^Lawyer Boyd, from Oswego, is here with
me and you know these lawyers are sticklers for form. Now
» wu '^?''V'* P*y *^® ""^"^y 'intil we see the bills."
thatlV.l^n^jrjri*ly«_r»^^1' »^-»'*he? Fo. know
viwx^o truiu io as gooa as iiis money, and that'0
!'! iilK
42 PHOrESSIONAL THIEVES AKB THE DETECTIVES
TeS " '^^'^ ' " ^« -i^^-<^ wu. «ome war.th, and evidently
sum," I replied reas8u„Ll/°"/^uf r ^^n*! ""'^^ ''° '™«« ^'"«
damned lawyer's power in-order to Wrf^''^ "71^^^ ^5 ^^is
. with you, and he insists hke an i^ n. £ ""-^ '^''"^ ^^'^« ^^an
only in one way." ° '^'°^ °° ^^»^^"S the thing done
ho;?:f:;Sl^^tn\^^^^^^^^^^ -^ - you here a half.
very careful in'this reaper w! soon nt? T' ^^.^Craig was
fess that I began to have a nr!c ?" ^^"^^1' *"^ ^ "^"st con-
beginning to lolk a Mr^L^Tc^^^^^^^^^^^ "^"^^ --
outcome would be: but that Cr^llTJ^ ?°* '"'^^"'® ^^^t the
something, was certain ^^^ ^^^ ^""^"'^ suspicious of
w/at";itI?e^TI^*Si.'^^^^^^^^^ ^P--^ -y«elf.
that he seemed perplexed and dofhfV ."^^ ^^''7^^^ ^«^^"-^
do. He started^ut rTpidivIn th« h: ^^""^ ^H^' ^" '^""'^^
den y halted, returnedrSd atln^ ha^^^^^^^^ '^ '^'^ ^^^'' «"d-
walked aimlessly in various di'^S ^"^ .*°*'"' *"^ then
quick look back';,ver hTshote"5toTr'"^ ^T"=^ ^
he was being followed ""'"^' as it to determme whether
t«S:xtSt'it£7e S^fl*"™'.*"'.'- "' '-' •■« -
He lo4eTXa^™ir^ '^^'^' "•« have the money I"
the assurance ^whichlTi'it ' P"""'"'' "^ »' *"?■•««,
replied quietly : * ^ "*" "«''" «"<=» «een equaUed) and
"What money t"
^JX^'^u" ^^^^^^^^ »^ «»any .aid: '
tonri^ST*""""""""™"-^' » e»utora Welling.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES. AND THE DETECTIVES. 43
" 1 haven't the honour of your acquaintance, sir, and there-
fore cannot imagine to what you allude."
If the Sauganash Hotel had fallen upon me, I could not have
been more surprised, or, for the moment, overwhelmed.
But this lasted but lor a moment. I saw that my fine plan
had fallen to the ground like a house of straw. Yelverson had
not been located; probably no counterfeit money could be
found upon Craig; and there was only my own almost un-
supported evidence as to the entire transaction, as the reader
has been given it ; but I also saw that there was only one thing
to do, and that wa« to make Mr. Craig my prisoner. I there-
fore said:
"AH right, John Craig ; you have played your -game well,
but there are always at least 'wo at a really interesting game,
and I shall have to take you into custody on the charge of
counterfeiting." °
I gave the signal to the officer, and Craig wa^ at once
arrested ; but he fairly turned the tables upon me then by his
assumed dignity and gentlemanly bearing. Quite a crowd
gathered about, and considerable sympathy was expressed for
the stately, gray-haired man who was being borne into captivity
by the green-looking countryman cooper from Dundee.
T ? J* r ^^^^^^ in counterfeit money was found upon Craig, as
1 J J • *•" 1 ^^ **^®" *® Geneva, in Kane County,
lodged in jail, and, after the preliminary examination, admitted
to bail ma large sum. While awaiting the arrival of friends
to furnish the required bonds, he was remanded ; and it was
soon noticed by the frequenters of the place that Craig and the
sheriff, whose apartments were in tte jail building, had become
very intimate. He was shown every courtesy and favour possi-
ble under the circumstances, and the result was that the com-
munity was suddenly startled to learn that the now famous
counterfeiter ha4 mysteriously escaped— leaving, it was said,
the sheriff of Kane County considerably richer in this world's
goods from the unfortunate occurrence.
This was the outcome of the matter ; but though this great
criminal, through the perfidy of an official, had escaped punish-
ment, the affair was worth everything to the Wisconsin Fire
taid Marme Insurance Company in particular, and the entirt
44
4 t
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES avt. n.
xtiuiVBs AND THE DETECTIVJiS.
'» esc m e:enerAl ;«• u
• oat his Scotch "Ly» '„?" "«''»''«» "ia which hJr tr™'
or other favours. ' " "»' 'o cert«„ appl Sms Mrd^ »ap
„ As soon as I had »of <- • banking
i- Tn tt ::;S?e'^'^ ^^P«^''n?a^?^^^^ Hunt and
posited in the hanl 7 .^''^''^^ ^o^ars and T 5 ^^^^ ?»'"«
volved upon me tn f ""^ *^" ^*"e County con^ ^r** ""^ ^^
from him 'i? nl •K?'' '"*° Chicago, see r«^ o®""^ ' «<> 'k de-
,, So I took my tri°' 7 «^n «ervice^ ^ ^^ ^«" ^^Pended,
, In fact, it wrharA ^^",«"^ °«'er a pen^tTJ *^*' ^" ^a^«
be decent yjW in T^''^'^ ''*'' the close fiL? f * P^'^'^J ' "
has been of ^eetJcV^ "^*"«'' and I am1^^^^^^^
prudence in ^r^\^ *"« during thes« 7.f """^ *^« "»«dent
detectir8fc/ru^.7/)^qnarte;, to undeS',^^^/"^"^ ^^^^^
honourableTVLSVnr'""" a^tnally/f.^^^f/^ requiring
' GSJl^
PB0FE8SI0NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 45
CRIMINAL SKETCHES.
CHAPTER I.
A REMARKABLE CRIMINAL.
(JL^^Mt
ni^ (JRING the month of August, 1879, there died, in the
^ ^IVl ^r'^'^' m Canada, a noted thief and pick-
r^ pocket whose varied career of crime would form an
mtere^ting addition to the calendar of criminal romance.
(fam'iJi:rlyTn:wn,'rm" ^^^^^^^^ " '^ ^^ ^^'^ ^-^"^ -<^
But little IS known of his early history, except tli.t during
his minority he was apprenticed to a promine- printer, for the
purpose of learning - the art preservative of ail arts." Possessed
of a restless, roaming disposition, the restraints of business soon
IftS ^ companions, whose induence soon manifested
He became loose in his habits, frequenting gambling-saloons
and m a short time he had sufficiently pfugressed^upoX
downward track, and, becoming a pickpocketfattained quite a
I celebrity for the dexterity with which he cou d relieve the unt
j suspecting of their valuables.
Once started upon the dangerous plane of criminality the
pace he travelled was a fast one, and the incidents of hh ife
Tas^Slr'^'uf °^/'""^ adventures, 8uccess?ul ope ^
H« w!« r "^A^^^i^ poverty, and contiguous excitement.
He was a spendthrift by nature and disposition. Having no
idea of the value of money, it slipped through hs fingirs like
Band He lived upon the best fare that could°be obtaS and
m .,,1
Ik
' '' -^OmSIO^AL THIEVES AND THE BETECTIVES
ecfnr"e*^gr:n:::„g^^^^^^ -ckles. in H3 wagers and
been woithy^f a better ^08^%^'""'!?" '^«' woTld Ce
as he called it. was upon'm ff^"'^^^' ^^«« his «Iuck«
«^oney, which he would^Xrw^ds^^^^^^^ ^^^ large sums of
and abandon of a prince. ' '^"^^^^^ ^it^ th? liberality
^c^^]^^::^ec.me quite noted as apicic
this time that, in company with fi^f.''"^ .*"^ ^^^ ^as during
service of the Provost GuLdhenVrff '• ^^?' '^^ entered hf
ij^g m this capacity and HrltV^ ^"J^ ^'^ ^^e capital Act
States soldiers, they Cld br 1?^,'^^ J^^ "'^iform of Unfted
and various plices oflmusementt ^^ ^''" ^"'^ ^' the theaS
ing very much crowdeTdurinf thl ^' '''^- ^«^hington bl
country's existence, the thS« *^^« ^H^Po^tant period of tht
during the opening hours Xnt^ ^f«'^^ Patronized and
and jostJing each other S thei^'^elV'ff T7^' ""''^ P"«hing
these soldier pickpockets reapedTnlS^f u^^'"" ^dmissiont
riably escaped detection. ^ P^^ntiful harvest and inva'
^- W^ life, he left the ser-
While m that city he becamlfn^ ? ^^^ ^^'^^ *<> P^iiladeJphil
Watching for the arrival oT^ . •' '"^ * ^^''^ Pe«"liar S!"
and selecting an indSLf frot Se"?* ^ ^^^'^°^°r« ^^
passengers, as a victim, he sZ r^L^T^u"'" °^ disembarkinl
tentous-looking wallet wM„i?? '®"eved him of a rather nnr
w »ch proved coiclusfvely that th«^ ; '"'^""'^"'^"^P^Pe^^^
reheved wasanaccredited^gento^^^^^^^^^ whom Kd
We also found that manvof fhT^ ^ Southern Confederacv
the individual himseTwould nrt'"T^''',^^^^« compromS
United States. As fo'r monev a" ^h^'^l'^^^^^^ ^^^ue to hf
sum scarcely worth menSS '^'' ^^ ^^^'^^^ ^^ a trifling
l^etr^dX^;^^^^^^^^^^
Uouse. where he i^ad engaged auaiteri^^^^ ^ ^he La Piefra
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES -AND THE DETECTIVES. 47
Procuring a badge and assuming an air of dignity and stern,
oess, he was ushered into the presence of the scion of rebellion.
Eepresenting himself as a detective in the Secret Service of tha
Government, he informed the astonished Southerner that he
must consider himself under arrest, at the same time givin- him
LSr '"''"'''' ""^ ^''°''"' ^""^ ^' papers co^
kZm ^''TI ^u^ 2?°^"«i?^ of the poor victim was painful to
behold and finally Papes, ip his governmental character, a-reed
to settle the matter and allow his prisoner to esca^ upoS the
payment of five thousand dollars, because, as he 8ta?er« ^
teas opposed to locking anybody up." *
The offer was eagerly accepted and the money paid over
a^er which Papes turned to the. much-relieved gentlemn, Td
" You have bargained for your own safety, sir • nofc for tba
overlie r P'P"' 'r^"P°° y^"- ThJ/muslTb urne^^
ThMl ^e^^/^^'^'^V?^ you must leave the city at once.'»
This the chiva^ric Confederate promised to do, and' Panes re-
the'wlJrthl'w^ anonymousfy forwarding 'the conS Tf
fo»nrtn h« nf War Department, where they were afterwards
Idons. "^ ' '''"''" *" '""^^ ^«'y important oper-
Thus his life passed on until he reached the age of thirty
years when he was smitten with the cnarms of a daughter o^
^nnl^T^r^f 1^^" ''"^^^S in Cleveland, Ohlr John
Connolly, familiarly knawn as "Old Jack Connolly."' For a
o": o tLTof J^^^^ ^"«' three chilLnbemg
born to them, of which the father appeared to be very fond
he seemed to take a great interest in his household, prJvS
liberally for his family, and furnishing his wife wfth S
costly articles of jewellery and wearing Spparel ^
«orookeH''r«' ^r'r-""' ^i««ont"i»o his operations in the
be absen? fi>m'hn ^^''r'^V"'^'" frequently compelled him to
ations hP nl^ff T/^'.u "S^^^y P'"°^^' ^""^ numerous tempt-
BU centJb Liiffp'^ *° *^' P;'"y *"^ «°™«^^«<^ lonely aLl
ODon W n J. ' iT' '^^i" discovered evidences of infidelity
hf« Sii I ^' ""^'^ '^"'"^ * separation. After this discovery
his disposition underwent a chanee. and. iu«h«ad nf ZS-LrJ
md eiijuyiug the comturts of home.' he becam"easorVof w^dS
48
PBOPESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
ing Arab, and soon was idenHftoH «,*k
character, and with the cSXfTllr'*''^"' ^' * ^*««<J
country. cruninals pt almost every section of the
• Pictetr tS\fs sSrfn ^ *^ --pupations of the
criminal science. At one timi Z ""t T^^^ ^^epartment of
gang of « bank bursW' n .n '^''"^^ ^^ associated with a
would be heard fromwrrkiS T.^'T'^ *".^ «°°" ^^^^^ he
in silk robberies, o?, InSiZ ZT'"'^^ ^'^''^''^ ^0^*%
te-rs.'' Again he woiw appeT^/« k^^^^^ ^Tf^ " ^^^g-get-
would return to his old love for^jV- ^*"^-«°^^» ' and anon he
It was during the war that whl«?^
. car with a companion LsL^^k/'^'"^ '" * ^''^^'^ed street
. sitting down, aSd whi wLtn L^fl! ^S'^^'t^^^ who was
mond stud of large dimrnsTons andT f ^'^""^ ^'''"^ ^^ia-
tleman was Joab Allenherif w / S'^^^/alue. This gen-
At that time large iVondfwr^^^^^^^^^ ""^ T''^^'^^'
ticular one was fastened on elh flW« t '''"'n*°^ '^'' P^r-
which ran back to and w^f^teLn H ^.? '°'^" g*'^'^ c^^ain,
The bait was too temntTn!??n! *t "P"? ^^^ suspenders.
he resolved to potest hfmse?fo the' S^^ ^'^^^^^^^^^ *"d
peculiar cough to his comMn?nt; J "°^ ^em. Giving a
gentleman, L comml ^dTpS^^^^^ tZ ''""''^ ^^'^^ ^le
from his pocket, he opened its folds .;^ Drawing a newspaper
the movement if the car or 8om« ntt '^^'^ ""^^^^S- Soon
n^er to the unsuspecting Mr luen and X""'"' '^'""^^^ ^^
wide open, was held out nfarly under 'hf«.l-^' newspaper, now
this screen between his face and ?hf . ^^ ^°""®' ^i^h
. the shirt front with itesp^klinl o.T^'"f ''' ^^ his person,
hidden from view VndJKh ^ ornament was completelv
ceeded in cuttbTuie g^iaLl'on '^.^^ ^f^'' ^'^P^^ «"^
minutes the diamond K wi Sr"'^^"" "^"' *"^ ^^ * ^"^
snow-white resting-pla e to tCpSj/iL T'^'^'^J^om its
rapidly and quieUy was this done fW I '^^^^"ng ^hiefi So
unaware of its success, uS Ce« t!rf his companion was
window of the car, and foWin^ rh.« n ^ ^^^^"^ °"t ^^ the
"iTarr r -^»» h^^^^^^^^^ ^—dly left, es-
indtrrb^ toi^t^^^^^^^^^^^ sooJ discovered, and the
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 49
I !'*? ^^^PJl^* 4/,^ ^°. °^ ^^»il' hovrever. No duo could be 06.
Lamed of the guaty individual, and as Papes kept very quiet
I after this event he was not even suspected. J' 1 ^"
I Finding the efforts of the detectives to* be futile. Mr. Allen
inserted an advertisement in the newspaper, offering a reward
of two thousand doUars for the return of the diamond and " no
I questions asked."
This announcement met the eyes of the watchful Papes. and
nlfnTf^ J?^'"^""'?!! "^H^^ '**i«fi«^ *^i°^of the truthful.
h?!,-l S'm^' A^^ ^^*?' '^^^y °^ negotiating with theloser,
he visited Mr. Allen and arranged for the return of the stud
, for the sum named which return wa. effected, Papes receiving
four new crisp hve-hundred do^ Us for his labour. ^
AlS!!T^ interview whic , place at this time, Mr.
^iTtTT'^'''^^ inquisitive as to the manner in which the
thett had been accomplished, and replacing the stud in his
bosom requested Papes to give him an example of his skill.
lo this, however Papes demurred, saying that it was im-
possible to do anything of the kinft 'while the perso^befoTe
iredZ^ll'ST ^^V^^'' ^t g"*^^- Their conversation
were related, to the infimte amusement of Mr. Allen, who be-
ing a genial genljeman enjoyed a joke immensely.' At'las^
itrlT" ^^1 ^^^>^«:r?,^^thagracefulbowhe handed to the
i)Z'^\^ laughing good-by he disappeared, leaving the gen.
eman transfixed with wonder and Stonishment at^the aud^ .
Clous success of his light-fingered visitor. •
bhortly after this he got into difficulty, being cauahf in f i,«
act of robbing ex- Sheriff Church, of ChicL,Tf1ir4tch and
was arrested and bound over to await hif tr aL KanJvin^
the imminent possibility of a sojourn in prison Papes f S ed
Z TJl'H!^!^! ^^'^'^ ?iffi««lt problL reW i'the excVat«
thu8"";S'/"\rv- f '^««"-«*i/i' «ff««<* While Papes wis
inus stalhng hiB victim, a confederate, alyly aneaked behind
. . .''S 111
50
Si ki
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
business and ifa ^ *^' *^^' ^*»^°^ ^^pes concluded his
the^ffit^7o^t'Sn?:/,S^'Tat^^
money to exchange. This JdhIp T °*'T' ^*^^°g «ome
position, exhibited a wonderSe^^^^^ 1?^^"^*°' d*
ing every cent that could 4 deS'^^ Pertinacity in claim-
time in diaputing for what hp J T5^*^,: ^""^ «P«»* a goodly
diately after the^depSi ^fXIri' M ^^'"S^^' ^«»^^
was missed, and he was testaL v « ,«n^^^5 '?PPj^ ^^^^ "»oney
had not gone many steps Zm f L 5 ^^'^^ °^ *^« *heft. He
and searched, but LthLVTs^ l.t'' T^'" ^^ ^^ »'^e«ted
apon him,and givingTvif cSal"' '.^'.^''^ ^^""^
was discharged, hiB LilbiUtrby n^^^^^^ ^^ himself, he
communication with the S woreased by his
aometMnro7;t"^^^^ -I-* that Papes knew
gentlemaS he deteSj to taveThe l^^^ '^'i^^^ «*" ^^-"
money between his confeder^^«f I ^ *^^"- I>ividing the
Cook by name, arrangTwuWd^a^t %'"°^P*"^°^ ^^^nny
of his wife, and whos! har^we^e eS^^'^^C V^« ^^'^«^
action, that they two would go to a «mln^.'^^'' ^^ ^^'« *ra"«-
miles up the road, while Cofnol?vw^ai '^''^° ^^^"'^ ^^^Ive
the train and look out foTtheomrZ *? l^*^« ^°»t^«al by
be upon the train to si^nll to ??« ? ' *°1 '^^"^^ ^"7 of them
warned, would not takf passal^ V^** *^*^^^. ^bo being thu™
he success of this eriterpreX l«T^^^^^ Unfortunately for
ing Weakness of his mtdrLnk^^^!' T^^^^
when the train arrived at the am.n TJ T^'^^^ ^^"'^k, and
aa appeamnca Papes Tnd OoTk^Zt, ^^"'^ ^^'^^ *° P"^ in
signal from the approaching traban/-^^^ '''.^"^ '^^ ^*r°»ng
thing was perfectly safe felLti ' ^? »°iag^ning that every,
immediatei; pounL u^^^^^^^^ cars and wefe
returned to Montreal, anTaftJr dl tri.r''"''' ^i^^^ ^««
■ ^^S^H^T rP"«onment at Kingston ''''' condemned to
Tha hitherto-succesfiful thief found fh.* •
8ton was anything else h,?/ ni .*^** existence at Kinjp
place, where^Ameri'an pJSon^er^e^^ »° «^ thS
Wiihn«K. He tberefor/SS^.^*'!" *^««ted with unusual
^-««TO jc eioape, and succeeded
PECTIVES. •
PROFESSIONAL THtEVEtJ avt» n,„„ ^
xaiii-VES AND THE DETECTIVES 51
tfter appointed a book-keepf ° ta S nT' ""* "^ «'»^''«r
■By his attention tn hi^A^f- ® Pnson.
he shortened l^Hel^'^f iSs^l^^^^ ^^Portmenfc
gmtiatmg himself with theS. °? °J ^'o^siderably, and ia-
inggood positions fir such AmeS ' ^^^^^^^^^^n ob?a n-
he coud afterwards depend upon 11^0^1'''' ^' he believed
example, and'reduced their tim« ;.f • "^^^^ P^^^^^d by his
tious entries in the books at tLr"^'/' . ^« ^^'^' '^Y^ott
shortened the tenns of iS,rlnmen Tf '^ t^t <^°«^°^itmen , '
desired to favour. ""Prisonment of such Americans as he
an^^ftifobtb^in^^^^^ in heal't*
During all his 4 L SedTin"",^^!!^ ^^^^ ^''^'
which won him many friends i ^**°'*^' ^^PP^ disposition
[aw. He was most^eSeSent pI" ^""^^^ the officers of the
haustible- fund of anecdote pn^"'^*"^' possessing an inex
spontaneous as it was em^.^jfe ' T^"''" °^ wifticisC^
among h s companions, anTwh ^ he wl^ * ^''^' ^^^^^^te
he w^« immediately surroin^ed W ^^''°''" '«^«^i° town,
ready to do him a servitor to W^ at h?'- i?^ '^'^^'''' aU
Entering a saloon one dav in t?Pi? ^^^ J^'^^^'
her of pickpockets anS thZo hi JnH Ttr^-"^''^^^ « «»»«-
wsual was taking place Sn -'^^^ *^*^' something un-
a very deserving^and en;rffetKr^" «°^ ^^ ascertained^thrt
his.family beingin destS •^^'^^^^^'•^addied, and that
gentlemeUom^e of who^^^^^^^^^^^ these law-defying
the deceased officer— with * „ ^^^"^ ^^'^'"gh the hands o?
hy this class of peopl! we?e?arnTunT^^f''^•"-^^^^^^^^
the expenses of the l^^ral each oL^ t collection to defray
that benevolent purpose TT« "® subscribing a dollar for
Papes, he placed Kand in^?'''' ^^.^^esting a subscript from
note^thLplicit"r,wTt2ap uC^^^^^^
52
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
of^nH^^'^P';*****'? ""^ '^^^ ^**°« " ^'""^^ ^ the performance
of police duty as he was expected to be. ""™»nce
dtv f n'f r was stationed at one of the railroad depots in the
city and Papes, desirous of working upon the crowds thill
TL"ir'''-''''^r'' P^««^^^«' afdC^^n^thelUc e
of the officer m question, approached him ^rom behind Pkf
mg a twenty-dollar gold piece in each han? he laid thl"
gently over the eyes rf the ^dian of the law, and i^ked '
"Can you see anything now ? " ' '
Md tato .tt^ ' " T^ "^"-^ ■■» ^''^' ""o goW pieces drop.
peMnto ItLom, and were .mmediately traSferrid into Z
h»^Tl'""'fi'' f '»"S'''»8. "">» had not proceeded far -yhen
beheld the'^ffl™ taP «pon hi, shoulder, Jd turning LounS
voi^lttS'JSSt: r-"'--^ «■«' » « «-—
^•^^ou wiU put another one into my mouth, I cannot oven
Generd^^k^Snf'^^n'^'T^^^^ ^^« «««« «f the Receiver-
rSV- ^°^°^to, Canada, desiring to purchase a drift
the 8Sd*«Z?i- l^"^^ gentleman was being attended to-
if thTsTrttdtt w^^^^ ''^ ^^-
lUrtrJ, "■..",._'!'■ ""« 'denloJ manner ww robbed of
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TH? DETECTIVES. 53
In both of these exploits Papes was the inventor tho nrim-
mover, and active participant. inventor, the pnmo
After these events he returned to the States, where bein«
o\t\L"i>trrv^lT"' ."^^""^' ^« traveli;d eSSf
over tne country, visiting his numerous friends living hiah
spe^nding his mone, freely, and having a good time^ent
Whenlfirstknewhimhewasatall,stcutly.built fine-loot-
ing man, with hair once dark, but now premat^urelyUv Hb
features were rather heavy, and his upper lip wafTovefed
ng-while the whole expression of his face, dthough exhibit^
Hf Cits- ;i^ -.-^it^e ^.tirS
Ho was not strong, however, constitutionallT— his Iuhm
hrbif 'f '^ •"' * ^°"? time-and .after this junketing t^S
he began to evince unmistakable evidences of the consumDtion
which had now taken firm hold upon him. consumption
It was at this time, and while quite . thin and scarcely ftb1«
to speak, he yisited Pittsburg. A, with a partvTf skUful
thieves. Dnying up to the entrance of the baKs aDDarent
^^rCLTf^'^.i'"'':' *^^ carriageSded sEn
excuse for requesting the cashier to come out to him unon the
sidewalk, for the purpose of transacting some busineTs ^ WhUo
and robbed It of about six thousand nine hundred doUara
which lay withm easy reach. uo"ars,
Tr?o°® ^^' his latest adventures was the robbery of the State
Treasurer's office at Springfield, Illinois. Papes^ L company
with Ross Salisbury, arof.her noted sneak thief and tSo urf
known companions, visited the department, aVd\alHnffThe at"
tention of Mr. Beveridge, the assistant treasurer, IWs desired
I'rTVveHr'r^"^ '^"*''? forsmall'bms'whi h he
ottered. Beveridge being a man advanced in years his mov*!
ISlT' ""^'^''^'^y Jow-and a shortage oHwo or Thr^
dollars being discovered, another counting\^. the monevZ
— 'i'"'^-^- . - "
Wmie thus engaginx the atteation of the assistant troawirer.
m M
3i PROFESSIONAL .THIEVES AND THE DBTEOTIVES >
fore the deapfiled offidat heTJedTid^ll^'? P'^^J'^ >«•
accordingly SismiBed '^""^ '^> """J I" »««
i.»y oat of the city! The dXti^, V i""?' "" '»<"» ™ ^^
watchfil eyeTXeovtred &.^^ ??" *\'^'' l^f^^ hU
™ perfectly 4St^^?l^„™>'°r »'''«'- «<'•■' H.
tnms, and he kniw that at amrCf ^Jn?^ "^u*"* ^'O"
trab in which he was traveUwT„,W "P"" i"" ""^^ *«
train going northwaT Slf &^£r'' 'f »»»''"»
as they Beared the point at ThS, itfl • " '"»''» "P' ""d
arowcaretealyfrom'^Cseat^S *!,'?'''' ""^^ '«"».''«
quietly foUowi bv the8h!!fL i, ^"'■'^ ""* ™er^Io8et-
door. ' ^ ""' ''^""'' "l"" Stationed himself at the
the other train Sat Sme Sri"! J°"'"^'''»''»'«-ded
Hudiscon^tureatWX-?^^™'^:^^
upon him and he nIw1,^„i?S^''°«*'' '° *f Perceptibly
Augnst, 1879. At KecS'^^rfo^nS"^ t"}' *^ '»
niless and was buried by his ftiendT ^ **■""" P™"
thel" ^^ri^Ji^reef heirln''^?? ---•» <"
thous^ds Of do A but aiL^ r att 1^^^^^^
PBOFESSrONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 55
qualities which he poMMsid woSSTve Jo.^d tZ""^ °^ '.'"'
of any ^an. even in the higher walk.Tf J^S' *| tp£'
OMs which wew37on.lJf.;W "' fi'y. "■'"' "l""!'? the
to wall£ among hrfeUowt^^i' T''* ""^ »abled him
voted them AotSrp^X XraSe^' ^l "» '^
CHAPTER IL
A BANK-SNEAK'S COSTLY RAILWAY MDB,
"» m genUemen Kdefv or hr^"*??"' ?' ^'"^ "" «>»»'
the leadfng oirol™ S fS' **' f«e'n«tmg belle, o.
immediately loses caste whIv.^ ^® may have in hand
bnU.« .l-.i'!.- ? caste, which he can only recov«r K„
,v.u*. ^a mor« briUiant victory. Theae neo^L
people h»v«
56
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
6l«o a ke«n relish for anything savouring of a h jge ioke or>on \
one of their number; and the satisfacticS in its Sovn^Jf^ •
increased in just the proportion that the subjecrof deSn L. ^
won celebnty in his particular calling; an/the causnor ?h«
^rziT ''' ""^^ °''^ ^^'^^ ^" "-^ ^^
The following incident, which caused much eniovaent an,nn„
the more able class of criminals throughout^he cS?t^ tl!
ime of Its occurrence, illustrates how^ the shrewSesfamon!
them occasionally become-so careless as to deserTthe sevS
censure from the fraternity, as well as to at least sSiect them
to an unsought and sudden deliverance into theTandsTft tic?
The hands of justice did not happen to be gropLg irouTd
on this particu ar occasion, however. If they had 4n two
shrewd criminals would not have escaped with merely a JostW
i"''i,ank sn'eak'^^''^^^ '^^T^ of theirTompVnirs^^
A bank-sneak; is one who, with confederates makes an
7ZZf ^'r'^fl^ «<^«^e 'OTt of business at a SnkTurinVa
time when few of the employees are within tC „f ^ *• ^ .
the cashier or paymg telle'r, fud wLver elie ma? K dut^'
w wholly absorbed by the principal « sneak »^nd his accom:
Blices, by various devices, when some dexteroii« lif+ln ? n
one of the gang trained for this worr« sneakT" in K ^^"^^
partitions and Secures whateve? may be aptured^ I^^^
work, but like most other grades of thTefery prbc^^^^
'hrvt;r»'t.^°^'' '"'"""° Company in NeXkr;:
Charlie King, was, and is, a professional bank-sneak Ha w.a
practical joke which was made to hit his friends rSht and?eft
•o that when he made a ]it.t.u oK« ^j, fu^ -vt "° ''s"" ^tiaiett,
iois ma is«w
enjoyment among
tie country at the
ihrewdest among
lerve the severest
ast subject them
> hands of justice.
groping around
y had been, two
I merely a costly
ir companions,
rates, makes an
a bank during a
The attention of
may be on duty,
and his accom-
•us little fellow,
" in behind the
id. It is daring
, principally re-
ii^ery large sums
: in amount that
m bank vaults.
Jack Tierney,
ent bonds from
New York, in
•sneak. He was
ricks and jokes
e, round-faced,
i of getting ou
as never more
) manner of a
right and left,
lofs. md if«w
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND IHE DETECTIVES. -57
Haven railroad one night in the early part of November, 187-,
which might have resulted in depriving him of his liberty for
the greater portion of the rest of his life, he became the subject
of ridicule and jest which has never ceased, and which still fol-
lows him among the friends of his ilk.
He and a confederate named Mathews had only a week be-
fore " sneaked " the bank of a provincial manufacturing town
of Connecticut, and had secured thirteen thousand dollars—
thirteen one-thousand dollar bills. They had been down to
New York and paid the regular percentage <-o certain disreput-
able detectives, who make , business of watching for the games
of such men, and compelli ^ " fair divide " in order to insure,
at least, their protection .ud were then preparing for a raid
upon a bank at Springfie ; i, in the same State, making their head-
quarters at the United States Hotel, in Hartford, and account-
ing for their presence there in a neat and business-like manner.
To get matters into shape for the Springfield raid, frequent
trips were made by King and Mathews from Hartford to the
former cjty, the night, or the « owl " train, as it was called, al-
ways being chosen, to lessen the chances of being observed.
On the night in question, King and Mathews had purchased
tickets for Springfield, and started for that city on conductor
McMillen's train. They very modestly occupied a seat together,
and Kmg, drawing his hat over his eyes, doubled himself up in
the end next the window for a nap, while Mathews, taking
good care to attract no notice, fell in with the fashion of the
tired passengers about, and leaned forward, resting his head on
the back of the seat in front
Travellers on the New York and New Haven road will re-
member that this particular train is usually very crowded, and
as It stops frequently, the conductor is compelled to use the
greatest expedition in the collection of tickets and fares. Coming
hurriedly through the car in which the professionals were
nieekly ensconced, Mathews gave him his ticket receiving a
check, and King, who had fallen into a heavy drowse, put his
ui ^" ^^^ vest-pocket and took something from it, which he
handed to conductor McMillen, who, with the remark, " I'll
attend to you shortly," passed rapidly on.
A naSSenOTAr lAavinnr fVio OAaf »<>-»■<■ U.v'U;^^ i.l.~ tt 1 1 1 n
smkQwa at ooce occupied it, and seated lumself comfortably
f I
V
58
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Ii: ?o?d u '^rnr""' '"^ "** ^^ -^^^^^'^ ^^^^^^^^ ^>
"Let me see,- you gave me your fare, didn't you t " asked th..
" C'J iT"Ai»^« d'-owsy Mr. Kiig on tjfe shouMer
; Eh I replied the latter, slightly startled by the sal.it^finn
.istol'''' ^*''' ""^ ^°" ^*"' ^^""'^ -^«" '" ^« «o»»<J"ctor p4..
duZ^^n J?; *^' ?!?^ ?P'y' f* ^^S saw it WM only the ooa.
ductor, and then settled himself for another nap.
at th«r *'''"* hesitated a moment, and again looked keenfy
roll of ^rs.'^ &"^''; ''^^'a 'il?™^^^ ^'^^^""g -it^^ aSge
"If you paid your fare, where's your check ?"
Dunno ; give ye a ticket to Springfield ; d-h it I can't v«
give a man a little peace ? " ^ »* " " i can c ye
McMillen hesitated again, and seem perplexed Then ),«
SndJ' ? 7"f^«r^We meaning. ''You (^dff^ ve me a thou
sand-dollar bill, or anything of that sort, did |ou ? Where'^
the man that sat with you 1" vvnere^
By this time the other passengers iH the immediate vicinitv
of the conductor and the bank Jobbers had begun to 13
and become interested. The pecuUar action ^^he conductor
his puzzled look, his hesitancy, his perplexity LTv«?kS
persistent effort to find a somebody S he waHerf^-n hi
had not yet concluded his b«siness^i?h7attrard atte^^^^
^f jlTth'^'^T.T^^r *^^^« "^^i^^d that JtL men d^^^^
of the thousand-doHar bill Mr. Mathews, who had also sett S
himself snugly for as good a rest as could be got under such
cu-cumstances, suddenly straightened himself u|! aT^f to «et a
more clear Idea of what was going on/ and as if also there
might appear an opportunity for him to say something needful
Conductor McMiilen still stood there, irresolut^ Shad
got fairly awake, and was becoming both scared and igfva^
Be noticed a score of faces turned u?on him, while the gfafi ol
u ^"^"°t<>' « lantern fell full upon his own. ^
magelyf "" "^ ^""^ ""*"'' anyhow ?" King blurted oub
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 59
" Somebody along here, and I'm pretty sure it was you,"
Replied the conductor, " gave me a large bill, and 1 want to
■jive him his change and a check."
"Well, it vraan't me. I gave you a ticket— bought it in
lartford— and then turned over and went to sleep, and if I
tan't be let alone, I'll find out why."
" Yes, that's so I" interrupted Mathews, alarmed .c the tut n
things had taken. " I saw him give you a ticket, I at vou d. '
iiot sive him any check."
" Where's the other man that was sitting with Mn - " ^:^d
IcMillen, incredulously.
"He got off at the last station, or went into another car"
coolly replied Mathews.
McMillen eyed the two men for a moment, and then, bun-
iling his money into his pocket, remarking with pretty stron«»
^erms that he'd be dashed if the whole thing did not beat him''
*)assed on. ' *
Both of the sharpers knew something was wrong, but they
rere too keen and briglft in their particular calling to appear
know each other, or pay any further attention to what either
me of them would have given a hundred-dollar bill to under-
Btand. King could imagine no reason for any disturbance, but
jhile quietly lying in his seat, racked his brain to call to mind
Ithe slightest cause ; while Mathews felt the greatest alarm,
■recollecting the conductor's remark concerning the thousand-
dollar bill, which brought to his memory the last job the gan^
bad done, and the possibility of arrest, which, from the circum^
Istances, appeared to him to be imminent.
1,.^^ *^® a^iyal of the couple at Springfield, they started in
Idifferent directions, and, after various turns and doublings, in
lorder to deceive any one who might be following them, as to
Ig^jJ'^ course, finally reached their headquarters at theMassasoit'
King got into his room first, and turning on the gas, his first
hurried ^act was to unbutton his vest and rip open the waist,
bands of his pantaloons. Then he got a needle and thread from
a small case m the bureau, and seated himself as if for work.
Laying down the needle a moment, he carelessly put his thumb
1 and torefinger into his vest pocket, when HiiHdpsI^ ^ l.-^.k of
i Honor sprewi over his face ; for. instead of puUiaKwt^a um^
'I't I
60 fSOFBSSIOK^ THIEVES ANi, THE DETECT! VEe
new ticket from nidtspri'S I ""'^ '^'^ » «''^". .
^ At tlu, Moment M«thews knockfd «.d was admitted to th.
ted him to so far forff«f him Jif * " ' ^"^^'^ ^^^ perm t-
co^tawritrgijr sfirijy' "p^-^" --» -' -'»
might be givenVthes, "pilar iSeM T""" r''"""^ *««h
very likely to lead to tSaSest. '' ' '""'' " '^'^^« ™
head-^'lrt^TaXmelirt^S^^ ;?r'^ «■« -"«"'
of the affair so far »L » l. ! "'^^ ^'•« ^porters got hold
thee pa„r^,t^Jtr^^^^^^^^^^
4MLS7prerdL^^^^^^^^
K^rtirxro^trsl^^MfF
from him ; but so fearful were th«v th»f 7v ^^'^ ^^^^" »'
keen ruse by detectives to Jfa.i^ .u' ^^'^ ^^« only some
from which^tho thtrn Ss^^^^^^^ the robbers of the bank
the scheme fell through 7 th^^^^^^^^^ '''"' ^«^« '^^^^^ tl^at
claimant for the money has ever 'n^^^^^ "''''°'"*' *"^ ^^'^'^ «^«
peared. ^ ®^®'' "^^«' *»/ circumstances, ap.
This was conductor McMillen himself ^e WmKo i ,
the company a few years suhspnuonVT it' • • , *"® employ of
when he^e^an suiraS the co^^^^^
thousand-dollar bill ifss the n^lTiP^u'*^ ?' *i?^ *"io"nt of the
Springfield. So far as I can^Strnlh ^' ^^' ^^^"^ Hartford to
and will cost bo h the coL^- ^^ '^'^ '' inUtigation yet
more than the entirf atTuK.r^'^-r^"«*^
ever recollected and referred to bv ?f/'"^^' T'' ''^^^ ^^ i«
criminals, or by all thl m^ ng^^^^tsZ^^^r' ^^^««« «^
criminal matters, as " C' ariie Kintt T^^^^
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 61
CHAPTER in.
DI80MTIN0 OBDEKS, OB, THE MISSINa CASE BOX
;0 disobey orders is one thing— to be a tbief is quite an.
other. If, however, the young man will carefully obey
I u- ir ^'^^^ ^^ ^^^ superior, he may very frequently save
himself a vast amount of worriment and annoyance, which
would not come to him except through inattention to or dis-
obedience to the proper directions given by others, who know
what IS to be done, and how and when it is to be accomplished.
How many character? have been blasted by a thoughtless
action or a careless performance of duty'! and to those who
have no resources in the World to rely upon but character and
ability, how important it is that the first should be preserved
in Its punty m order that the second may. hkve full scope and
opportunity for the display of its powers legitimately employed
I and properly directed. ^ r j
I But it is too true that the best of characters may sometimes
i prove madequate to the task of saving a man from dishotiour.
How many men have been discharged from places of trust, at
a time when their services seemed to be the most needed, and
without any sufficient cause given for the action ! Many times,
in the hurry and rush attendant upon the transaction of a lar^^e
business goods and money have been missed, and rather than
aevote the time knd attention necessary to the discovery of the
eal criminals, employers have disposed of the existing per-
plexity by the premature discharge of the person against whom
the most plausible theory of dishonesty can be justified by a
hurried overlooking of the premises.
In many such cases, a young man thus disposed of, even
with a recommendation and with numerous friends, has had
liTfi^'T^T^ oiigliLed forever, and finds hhnself condemned
without a hearing, punished without proof, and stigmatized aa
ttwuonest without just cause or proper investigation
II I
62 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TfiE DETECTIVES. *
. ^^tL'^r^:':^^^^^^ i* -n be found
one who has hZcJelZlriT^^^i''^ Punishment falls is
been in the habt ofXt^Unro S^^^^ f' ^f --'^-
observance at a time wherobJrvlnr' forgetting their
have always thought thatTnrnnfr .•'^*^. * '^'^^"«- ^"t 1
precede an actionTLch ^SeT^^^^ ^^°"i? ^^^^3^^
character for honest- as weff at th^. I de "ment of a man's
structions is absolutei; ne^^ t„lt'"**" ^l*?"*^^'^ *° i«-
or a trusted servant ^ ° ""^^^ * ^^^'^^ble employee,
occS^5i^?^f!:;?;^^;<^ -jnd ^ -event which
for a time resulted in obcurin?th« h ^T ^^^*' *°^ ^^"^h
employees of a inamrtSldttet'sf" '' ^"^ '''^^'^^
The ficts of the cie were t fSloL'^^Tl'"""' circumstances,
road, a man ^vhose i^lriTy S hi h-to T"''''"' "^ ''^«
above question or reproafh and hi kI I "^ ^f" regarded as
his assistant, had beerbSy^age^^^^^^^^ T ^^''"^ ^«
ing out and making up pac wf of n^l ? the day, m count-
the employees Ttlon/thrroalL T^' *^°'' '^^ Pajment of
of the company ^ ^ '''"**' '° accordance with the pay-roll
safe! tValftr^S^nTplfant f"""*^^ ^ocui^d a new
which was to be usXr the 'Je^^^^^^^^ ^°d ««f«ty.
papers, and that the old o^e wasX Z/f ^''"'r"^ ^*'"»^^«
only for ordinary purposes Zrlv T 1*^^''^'''*^'^ **> be used
tion, the cashierf wSn^* abouf^?°''^^ ^^'''"^°" i" q"^«-
tioned the paymaster ara7nstnnt,n ^l ^°"''' explicitly cau-
safe, as it^ha'd bee? S1oCTn'si"Thl"'V'^^ ^^^
was heard by all the clerks in fi,i « , "*^ instruction
aware of theLt that tt o d Tafe ;:f „"'t Id T^^^'-^^y
tion of money. The cashier departTand th. 1 ' *^' "''"P-
his assistant proceeded with thT lot ' ?® Paymaster and
was completed, and the W.neril « '' ""/.^^^^ ^^^^^ **«k
ready for distribution upon ?he morZ''^:'^ '" '^^ ^""^^ ^^^
moment of forgetfulness or from J ' ^^1 Paymaster, in a
v^thin^ he Sad X cZiZ'Z:^!^lir'±J^'. \'^
e«« COS m im wudf^mied safe, and fockttd it'"' ^""^"^"^ ^
:-f
>ETEC'nVES. '
I it will be found
)unishment falls is
5o his duties — hai
of forgetting their
. a virtue. But I
ion should always
riment of a man's
il attention to in-
iluable employee
an event which
1864, and which
r of two trusted
Fort Wayne and
IS circumstancea.
aymaster of the
ien regarded as
tio was acting as
be day, in count-
the payment of
I'ith the pay-roll
procured a new
•ity and safety,
ey- and valuable
after to be used
ernoon in ques-
explicitly cau-
ey into the old
'his instruction
' were already
I for the recep.
paymaster and
^hen their task
the iron box
aymaster, in a
sness, did the
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 63
, Aftet doing this entirely unconscious of the results thai
h^ere to follow his action in company with his assistant he rl
Ipaired to a hotel close by for tea, after which they were to
jtart 01* on the evening train. During all the time of his aV^
jence, the thought never occurred to him that ^^1 eXr
forgotten or wilfully disobeyed the warninTgive'n V tS
After partaking of their repast, the two men returned to the
office and prepared for their journey. The paymaster opened
^he safe and to his wonderment and dismay, dSvered that
fc^.y,^'^' ""^''^ ^' ^"^ ^"* * ^«^ ^i«»tes before safely
locked therein, was missing. He stood for a moment as if
thunderstruck and then the memory of the emphS warn
ing of the cashier recurred to him with the full force of anl^
TrfnTif ^%^'^ deliberately disobeyed orde s and the rot
t)ery of the safe was the consequence.
Unable to credit his senses, he made a closer examinafmn «f
^he intemr of the safe, but all to no purpteTt ™ne; wL^
kone, and with Its departure there came a full rXatfon S
the position which he would occupy upon the morrow
^ided?uVo7fiwn ^r°^'^^"S '^"^ "^«^*- 'The cashier re.
Bided out of town ; and m a sort of despairing stupor the up^
tetoTLr;.^^'^"^^^^ - astate^mfnta&srbr^
lawlre' rhat\h«^n«f J^ T""'? T*^ *.^°**- ^he public became
laware r-hat the paymaster and his assistant had been suspended
(from duty. Further particulars could not be leaZd C th«
lf«li n«^., *u -^VV,^®*^® paying the fearful penaltv Thnv
C2 .''J ri'L^^H--^^™,"^'.."!- h'-i been louS'in S
....««.__ ^, ,,„,,.^^ g^^^ ^y^^j ^j.^ aivptied away ; while the
m
64 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND >E DETECTIVES.
'^^^TLSZr'' '"^^ ^ ^- ^-^»-g -arics an.
the subject. It LemTd tL ij.K^t"%'^^.*"^^«d to mentio
the matter was rbrdropped TnS nn V.^'ff ^^' '^ *^^ ^®^«"
to be had in the matter "° ^'"'^^^^ proceedings were
society had ostracized him enS *^' Pi^ W, and
ThIySS ttTr;^tn of t ';"^' ^" ^^« -—
did not drink, he did n^t^mokp I a-} "^^"•'"^i^al habits ; h",
this defence, manlyl"d uS'^ itti°"* ^""^^^^^ ^'^d ^i^h
the subject was seLingl^dropp^ '* ''^' '^°*"*'°*> «^^'««<^' ^^^
robtV I' haTCn infcf o? 1"^^" *^^ ^^^^^^-^^ of the
advice, the com Whld outwa^^^^^^^^ ^^P°" "^^
examination. TJnder mv TnTrLf l^^T^'^^^'ended
created that no investLZn wlte^^^ *^' mpression was
and that with the discharge o7?b«^ J^^^^ '"^^^ *^^ matter,
ceedings in the case weren't an end* ^''^'' ^"^"'^'^' ^" P^^'
cen?e7ffio"l'^"-:hrsrH '' !?« ^'^^ ^f the inno-
brought about. The "record of ^hdr T ^^' '^' ^^^^<^^ th.!^
peachable character wXhed ver^ h/^'^^^^ *"^ "«i"^-
WaswastheclourthatseeStn^^^^^^ '° ^^ ^''^Sment.
they never betrayed thrslSsfemh?/^'^''*^'^*^^^^
persons guilty of a crime 1h^,i?^ *''*''"'" ^ P««»^^ar to
Borrowfut they ma?nta7nedU Ztht a'^ 'T'^^^^ -^
and I determined to effect theip?nm«i f"^/T^ess demeanour,
to discover the real crim'Li ^L S^ 'm°^''^^^^ ^ ^^«" ^
of the stolen money ' ' ^P^saible, secure the return
obs^r:^'^^^^^^^^^^^^ -re closely, but un
among the number wh^I thYuXt wn/?r'?^ ^'^^ ^^^^^^dua)
that I would weave around fftd it ?l' T"^^.' '*^^ ^^iis
the aucceflsful thie£ He Ifn^L " l"!^**' ^ ^^ »? ^oubt, was
g...„ „^^^j,. ^jj^^^. jj^^ restraints
E DETECTIVES,
imaging remarks and
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 65
cfBce duty, and soon alter resigned his situation and left th«
5ce, with an unsullied charuefer and a stainless reputation.
He waa of a respectable family, and the new habits which he
[as now forming created sorrow and alarm in the household ir
[hich he had been so tenderly reared and carefully nurtured
ut, if he was a guilty man, he must be punishetl The reputal
«on of two innocent men demanded this, and the puxity of the
itraged law required it. r j
Among the new acquaintances which he formed was one who
uted his pecu lar disposition to a nicety, and they soon be-
ime inseparable companions.
Wherever the young man, whom we will call Henry Marvin
jsired to go, he found a willing party in George Andrews!
iveral months had now elapsed, and the new year of 1865 had
jen duly ushered in. Shortly after this time the Legislature
Pennsylvania met at Harrisburg, and, yielding to Marvin's
)licitations, George Andrews accompanied him to that city
)r the purpose of discovering what excitement there was to be
>una at the capital.
They had a glorious time, and seemed to fare well wherever
Jey went— the late clerk being particularly hospitable to the
ittsburghers whom he met in Harrisburg. Their « good time"
isted pretty well, until one morning, upon awakening after a
>articularly jolly night, they were confronted with the alarm-
■ig tact that their exchequer was empty, or at least nearly so.
his was a bad state of affairs where there was so much fun to
)e had, and Pittsburg was no longer sufficiently attractive for
fnera to return.
They had projected a trip to New York when they left home :
mt how was the journey to be accomplished without money J
Lhe two young men therefore resolved themselves into a self.
«nstituoed committee on ways and means. The young ex-
! erk was equal to the emergency, however, and volunteered to
apply the necessary funds, provided his chum would consent
remain at the capital for a day or two, so that he could go
ti» Pittsburg and return. °
H.ZV^}l^^''^^^ Andrews demurred, and suggested the possi-
kncr H.r .f i" '?J^P^*"r forgetting to come back, and thus leav-
[ing the other i§ the Inr^-h-
"If you go badk to Pifctsborg, you won't return here^ aod
If
66
PROFESSIONAI, THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Xl'"„i^..'" ' ^ "^^ n"»»' '""■"^ » «»<". - .
u-^'^m"'* y**" ^ alarmed about that," nnlied fv, ,^„:^,i
£i^r ^x^: ^.^r =^ =- '^^ ^"'^^:
S '>«.J<>"f'|5y westward, than his ehum, enteriL a tel^^anh
. a- «v^^, ua. uo wasmaucea to proceed to the Mayor'i
r^' '''it
DETECTIVES. .
ne7 or friends, in «
Vfplied tlif ox-cierk.
and witii plenty of
ret jrn 1 and if .;ou
(v^ithout help V '
e, the tongue of trie
ae made a revelation
that Henry Marvin
could put his hands
■ must be obtained
lother or any other
of course, with re-
Harrisburg imme-
iformation was too
his return to Pitt^.
liis coming back to
aring the ex-clerk
itering a telegraph
> his principal in
will he dm at—.
fe the caahbox, and
9 tree. Be expects
i time, and justice
ittsburg, I was in
id another trusty
i^aited the arrival
his return for his
alighted, he wp :^
ces, who insisteu
mpany. He de.
d to the Mayor's
'i^i
PBGFESvi^jI^AL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 67
I office, as he was suspected of some complicity with the almosi
forgotten robbery of the paymaster's cash box.
I His surprisf) at such a reception and such a request must,
I of course, bi-, imagined, and his semblance of perfect astonish-
inmt at beiiig evon suspected of such a thing was a very excel-
I knt pit'se of acting indeed.
Vie explained that he had resigned from his position of his
own accord, and that no one had even hinted a breath of sus-
picion against him, and that his character was above reproach.
His air of injured innocence was very nicely assumed, and was
maintained all the way from the depot to the office of the
Mayor.
Arrived at the office of that functionary, however, he found
an interesting party awaiting him, while upon the table in the
centre of the room stood the resurrected cash box— a dumb
but convincing witness of his duplicity and his crime. Here)
too, were gathered the cashier of the railroad company, the
paymaster and his assistant, myself and two operatives ; and
before this array fhe courage of the young man gave way com-
pletely, and he broke into tears.
The end had been accomplished. One reputation had been
destroyed, but two others had been completely vindicated.
The innocence of the paymaster was proven, and the crime of
the guilty thief was fully shown.
The money was nearly all recovered, and the young man
made a full confession of his actions.
In one home there reigns a profound sorrow for a degener-
ate child, who has brought ruin upon his own faqjily, and dis-
grace upon the fair fame of two innocent men.
In another home the joyful face of a fond wife looks into
the beaming eyes of a vindicated husband, while happy chil-
dren, with merry voices, sound the gladsome tiding?.
The lesson to the paymaster was an enduring one, and to
lis day there is no more exact man in the employ of the com
pany, or a stricter disciplinarian in the mam^einent of the af-
fairs of his office.
Henry Man in was tried and convicted— and the thought-
less young thief expiated his crime by a term of imprison.
1 it
C8
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETEQTIVES.
^ CHAPTER IV.
A DELUDED BANKBRrDETEOnVft
>
'OT a great many months ago, it is said, althoueh I can.
not vouch for the truth Tf the 8tory,'a carria|e drZ
and out of it r. T ""^^^ °^°'', P*^**^*^ °^ ^^^^So'B hotels!
SrW .? -i ^- * *'^'"**''' gentleman, whom I will call Mr
Mr. Barker appeared to be fh an especially good humour and
patted a while with tbfe clerk. " In fhe courfe of Z coiver
jat^n he asked whether a gentleman named Tiscoun? FZry
from Pans had not arrived the previous day, and in order to
r^itairair. The question was immediately answered in the
SthJ^ The banker said that he would like very much to
make the acquaintance of the gentleman, and the clerk ordered
man^'ubTe'"''' '''''''"' * place for Mr.' Barker at theF^
fo/wll^ll'"' ^*? ^^-^^y *^^"^ ^'' «^**' ^hen the gentleman
Stotrro'r" -^--g'- ^^i^fi-ly-fonned perso'n, stepiJ:3
fh J!' w°"*' P*^u°^ """"l attention to the banker, he sat down at
the table near him. After soup was through with. Mr. ^1
made some incidental remarks. The Frenchman, who was
alone, showed no d sinclination to respond, and thi two wZ
soon engaged m conversation, in which Mr BarkerfoTinH
opportunity to introduce himself as a ml W oTthe ban W
firm of Barker Brothers, we will say. The banker was ^h^
been statod, a man of the world. The viscount was a Cc"
man, and the conversation naturally turned on the gayer thinm
ot^ interest in Chicago, a subject better c^lcuuJ^Zl.Sl
omer to bring young men, as' they both were, cl'oir together]
PROFESSIOJfAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. C9
After dinner the two had a bottle of "Mumm" and a cigar
The Viscount then said, inadvertently :
"By the way, my dear Mr. Barker, do you know -^here I
can get the cash on drafts on the Bank of Califc<rnia for about
one hundred and twenty thousand 1 I am going to leave to-
morrow for France, and I should prefer to take my money with
me m United States bonds." «/ wim
Mr. Barker said that he would be very glad to accommodate
him. "My carriage," said he, "is now in front of the door,
and. If you choose, we will go right over to the bank. In half
an hour you can have your bonds, and then I will be at your
service to show you the sights of Chicago."
Fifteen minutes after the carriage stopped before the bank,
and the banker led his French friend througb the front office—
m which, besides the numerous clerks, there were several other
persons, apparently customers— back into his private office
Ihere he invited his guest to sit down, and he took a seat
opposite him. The Viscount drew a large pocket-book from
his ves^pocket, and was about to open it, when Mr. Barker
snatched it from his hand.
j^ , J^Jt^at does this mean 1 " said the Frenchman, springing to
The banker stood up before him, eyed him from head to foot
and said to him quietly : « It means, my dear Viscount, that I
know perfev;tly well who you are. You are Laffitt, cashier of
the firm of L., T. & Co., bankers, of San Francisco, and these
secunties which you have here in your pocket-b . represent
money stolen from your firm." " *" *'
uv\^^ ^^^^ ^% °"^ of your senses," said the Frenchman.
iiither give me back those papers which you have taken from
me like a robber, or I will give an alarm."
"Just as you choose," said the banker; "only I want to
say that there are officers in citizen's clothing in that office, and
that I am something of a detective myself. Mr. T. of the firm
yoa have robbed, is an old school fn-rni of mine. Since he
knew that you would, of course, keep out of the way of every
one with whom you had business relations, he applied to me.
sent me a full and complete description of you, and told me all
credit of your shrewdness that you permitted yourself to be
70 PROFESSIONAL THIFT «l~Avr» ^rrr, ». ^
^uiL ^s AND THE DETECTIVES.
bagged SO easily. Yourami^m. >.o-»
mg, and it would nothavrXn h.?f ""f ^'^!>^^red thi. tnorn
• you up anywhere; and Jotrnv 1 ^'"y ---- . eked
before hfslnk ^ Aupt' h'iT'^^. "^^ ^ ^^^^ *^ ^he letter
consternation. ^°° ^"^ *^' apparently overcome with
In the meantime .ifr. Barker Innlr^A xi.
good services which v^uhLlnr^ ^T""^'' ^° ^i««^ of the
consideration for youJ?L% h'e Z"st r'^^'v*'^^ «"* '^
med to pay yon ten thousand dofhrs Hp^""' .J ^'^ ^"^^<>-
bUJs. Take it and trv to tarL , r • ''^ ^« *^e money in
you, in my own name AnrJ?K. ^7"'' ^'"''"^ honestly. I aiZ
concerning your misconduct "^ ^'^'''' ^"^^ anything
HeXfdX'^B:^^^^^^^^ tt.^4i?; ""T^^ ' --^^-
apparently lost his desire to see th ^'"^^•^- .i°*^'/ ce he had
-i^^tSi;t - ^n^f f^ -^ng performed his
clerks of the bank .bout him tTex^nt^ '" '^' T''^'' '^^
keen he had been, and how verv hrinf. . T ""^^^ «^^«^^ ^"d
make. He wrote 'at once t^ San S? * t"'"''^^^ ' "^^'^'^d
cess which had atf^ended his effort °fT f^^'^ '^« ^ "^ «"«"
which ho had received at the difoosi;,- ^^^V ^^ ^"^ties
that house informed hit by retifrn 1 1 ?1 V' ^ ^^ ' ^»^^"
ing about Laffitt or YimoLt v! ^ '5*' ^^"-y ^ner- noth-
^hich Barker ^ -a forwSd Jre"^^^^^^^^ ^^-^ «-""ti-
The shrewd swindler tL lu "^"^'^hless forgeries.
never even seen a member oftXlT'''' J^^^' ^^^
whKh were eve« worth^^S fr^dt^^ef S^^^^
-n.l
PKOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 71
forwarded to the Chicago banker the letter in which was a
-plendid deacnption of himself, aa he was gotten up for t^at
particular achen.., in which he flattered him on his natural de-
tective ability, anu pointed out a way for the capture of the
Becuritiee, also very urgently showing why he did not wa^tth«
man arrested, and why he did want him pafd ten tr s™ dot
lars in bilk It was a beautiful scheme on the pai^ of the
ttt^W '^"^' ^^ ^''^'^'^ «omethingof':Ht
CHAPTER V. •
*
HE inexorable scythe of death is unremitting in its opera-
tion, and the ranks of men are continually being de-
plated by Its agency. To-day a nation mourns a fallen
fe ^r '• ""^ ' philosopher has laid down the bS den anS
joined 'the innumerable caravan." High and low rich and
poor, the good and great, the moralist and the criminS! miTst
alUc-^oner or later "pass under the rod" and yield to the iZi'
naHnro/^"' ^^" "?? ^^^ ^^°'« *h^* announce the final de-
ftv rp/n'^""' ^''"^ ^""'^""'y *° *^« ^^^^S mass of human-
i^^.r!vf T^T ? '^T °^ ^egretfulness akin to sorrow. We
Tr^^n '^l g^^"«"ldeeds that have made his name famous"
ttlt f 7'^^ P"?^" *^' "°^^« aspirations which i^romptS^Jhe
Beioic action, and in our hearts we render the meed of prdse
to the great soul that slumbers in the grave. ^
n,..W'l r'^'i^V^^ "^ P^^^««' ^he'« "death loves a shining
and a famU '"^ -^1 l^^^^ble walks of lifo, the dread visitor come!
::t'Zi'r:\:\!!!'^!^!^^^ honourable life i.
ended, and there is sorrow unon friftndlv face-
uiwudiy hearts. ' *
72 pnoPEssioifAt iniEVEs A-n the detectives. -
tack fronf within t?:C?/X7v:uhfr '° """"'^
aon doors defy the entrance of anv „™TL t I"™'*™ »°'^
of authoritr within «.!,„.. i^ J'P' k« bear the bad...
criminals cott the weaTyTouf Taf Sr""")"" "^'^f-^nel
at the fate that has overKnThem ^ '^''^' '""^ ""'«"»
ope^n'fhtr^c tot^'^f Z '"rr^ ">« S^**' %
• the dimly-IiKhted corri'dnrl ,„^ ^ solemnly he stalks aloni
door, demands the life of iimte"?, ""^''l *'"» """"^
mand is irrevocable an,! .),? " • j ? ^"""^ ""hiii. The de-
the .ightlesreyTs fr;>m wlthT^ if"!;? 7™ "" """'»' M
cold hands folded oveT a heart ^ Jl? T -^T '■°^«''«'-. t^e
ful summons has not "oen S v^in .'f f.°''"°"'»' *« •'"a*
pfetStm7t"thfblMn^^^^^^^
Tsttdlsi'titarCtrs^^^^^^^^
.nd__.-wn,.y.MedrtS:str':^^^^^
«n^«^T-7/fftrmTna?'„Tel?^r "" infancy was a con-
upon the realms of roTance °''"''"<'°'' "^^ "f "Uch border
hanl'o'L'lfFrmTnderec? oTS?" YT.' ""S"'"'^
were broad and firmly serwMeW^"'';'''*'''''''"''^"''!''^
graceful as a woman" ' ' '"' ™" ""« tapering and
woaLtfrthrbeS Ta""^ '■»''«'""• ""-i Ws eyes we«
i« «.lonr, tL ZldXL ™ :yT."-''''"«' "'"J -J«t bin"
the softness of Tffecti„f\Va? iXt^^/ir" ?' »'^" i-to
"'^.Zl"l '•"' ?rf °f hisTendVnr'' ''' ™''"' "' -^
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES, 73
Jf aultlessly neat in his tastes, his cfothing wa« of the motn
fashionable cut and of the best material, while his linen was
of the finest quality, and immaculate in its purity and white-
ness.
No one to have seen him in the drawing-room or upon the
promenade would have imagined that this brilliant, captivating
exterior was but the mask under which lurked the demon
of crime— the shining diadem that adorned the death-dealing
basilisk. °
He was possessed of a liberal education, was an extensive
linguist, and by varied reading had attained a degree of culture
far beyond the average.
His parents were of eminent respectability and of undoubted
honour— his father at one time occupying an honourable public
office of prominence— and they have painfully felt the dis-^race
and shame which this degenerate son has brought upon Sem.
The first criminal action in which he was known to have
been engaged was the robbery of a safe in Illinois, when he
acted m collusion witli one " Billy " Wray— an old-time safe
burglar of notorious character.
After this he started a banking institution in a small town
m Mmnesota, where, by his pleasing manners, he succeeded in
gammg the confidence of a number of the prominent business
men of the place, who became depositors and intrusted their
funds to his keeping. Haying received a large amount of
'"d"®^,/^ ^^^ ^*^' ^® endeavoured to make arrangements with
Bob Scott and "Jim" Dunlap— who were afterwards coa-
cerned m the Northampton Bank robbery— to rob the bank.
Tht^e worthies being pretty well acquainted with the character
ot the gentleman with whom they were dealing, demanded the
payment of ten thousand dollars in advance, before undertak-
ing the work. As this amount was not forthcommg, the mat-
ter fell through, and a short time afterwards Clermant com-
mitted the robbery himself, and flfed to San Francisco.
He was then quite a young man, and soon, by high livin«
and gambling, his funds rapidly disappeared, and he was force3
to the disagreeable necessity of labouring for his subsistence.
He obtamed a position upon one of the street car roads in
that city, and while thus engaged his fine appearance and
pieasiug address attracted the t .ention of Walter Patteraon
It if
'irr'
74 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. '
tlfnl'* ^T'^^' *'^'' well-known « cheque raisers " and forger.
Resigning his position in San Francisco, he accomnanied
■ stdrabrrn'r^^Th '°" r^"^? ^^^^ counW and r'e Tn'
the desk 7TLrIr '^'"'"^ «f operation was to present at
• ; aesK ot a bank m some country town foreed lettPrs nf
"t^^^^^^^^ r'^r °f./o--ent brks^Th^
Sution ThL 1,** ^°^g«^«ertified cheque upon the same
institution. This cheque would be deposited in the bank and
they would then draw upon it for a lesser amount and recefv
^l wour^' >Tould suddenly decamp befortL SupedX
of the gentlemenly sca^pr^Yejl^^^^^^^^ '^^ "^'^''^^
amassed a .r^fT'T^^r *^'^ ^^^« ^^^^ «"ccessful and
tTem Cl™? deal of money, but, suspicion attaching to
HeT;a?elled?i;7'-^ Y' '""^"'1"'^ ^^'""'^ ^'^^'^'^ ^^r Europe
Land li fi ^,f «»«;^ely upon the Continent, vi.ited the Holy
Land and finally returned to Germany ^
Placerand Zr'"''^ ^^ i"^ operatives to all the watering
places, and the German police, being informed of his doines
cautlherT 7 fr^y'^^' h/ d-'-ed it inadvisable o p^h S
Wlfili ! ' ^^^^ '^^-"'f '^ ^° ^^« United States in 1874.
JJt i B^l ^l'^T''^^'^'^^^^^^ ^^« for a time be
M«v QiV.- ^ Shmdle. -who is 'none other than the famous
Max Shmburne--who is particularly desired by various parties
ill New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, and of whose remark
able adventures I have previously written.
^ Uermont was married before this to a charminff little krlv
m Chicago whose devoted attachment to h'r nduced ma V
acts of self-sacrifice upon her part, which, I am afraid we e
SeltsSr"' 'I '-' dashing,'handsome\';dr
Having ]u,ked her fortunes with his, and discovering (h.
that th;w"!f "'''"' '^''''■*" "■» f"-"*""'' "■«! devoSn
£^ ^tit ir""*- " ""^"''^ "'' '"^"^"S true aud
3T1VES.
and forgers
10 afterward
iccompanied
i made con-
present at
d letters of
ks to their
n the same
3 bank, and
and, receiv-
duped offi-
that both
the victims
essful and
taching to
or Europe.
i the Holy
9 watering
his doings,
to ply hifi
n 1874.
a time the
he famous
ous parties
le remark-
little lady
iced many
raid, were
> and un.
ering the
1 her love
devotion
true and
l-ROPESSIONAL THIEV^ES AND THE DETECTIVES. 75
Eeturning from Europe during the summer Beason, and
rbile the various sea side resorts were populated by the wealth
and beauty and fashion of the social magnates, Clermont went
to Long Branch, and, establishing himself at the West End
Hotel, under the name of Louis La Dcsma, the son of a rich
merchant m Cuba, soon ingratiated himself into the society of
the lughesfc circlea '
His handsome face, graceful figure, his faultless attire and
hw charmmg conversational powers soon made him quite an
admired favourite, and many little episodes of tender romance
and stolen meetings with the fair daughters of our modern
aristocracy fell to his lot, while dwelling by the sea-wasbed
shores of this delightful city.
Among the numerous belles of the gay and enjoyable season
whose hearts throbbed more quickly in his presence, whose^
cheeks flushed with pleasure at his coming, and whose modest
eyelids drooped in rapturous confusion beneath the ardent
glances of his own wondrous orbs, was Josephine Dumel. She
was a beautiful blonde lady, with the features of a Venus, the
T?u^ Of a,'>.uno, .and was the widow of on* of the scions of
rhiladelphia aristocracy.
Being quite wealthy and remarkably attractive, she had
numerous admirers, and her suitors were legion, but until the
arrival of the interesting and handsome Cuban, she had re-
mained proof against their blandishments, and continued to
mourn the memory of he: departed husband.
Like the ancient hero, however, La Desma came and saw
*°<*cojq"ered,-andina short time the beautiful widow sue
cumbed to the fascinations of the romantic-looking stranger,
and they were married. The ceremony took place in New
York, after which the happy couple returned to Philadelphia.
Iheir short but apparently delightful honeymoon was spent
at the palatial residence of the bride, and Clermont, pretending
to be a prominent actor in the Cuban rebellion, stated that it
was necessary for him to remain closely at home, as he might
be pounced upon by the spies of the gover;iment, who infested
all the eastern cities. He vma always armed cap-^-pie. His
nchly jewelled pistol lay upon the table when he sat down to
wnte a letter or co.werse with his wife, and he never retir«d
lOf a mght withou* a, miuuII armoary beneath his piHovr.
"enced for tCrZlrtL" V^"'?^™'^^^^^ '"'''•
prepared toTS.""''^ '«lve YoZ^'/°/j-tiog up C
operati„„;;7.;'": '»<'/. dryiig he7"te,r™f"'" ^^^^ «■« poet,
over Ce'rf L ^^ Agency was^e^l-^^P'^P^f^/^d punish
left behind him SI ^'""^ VP^ol wSTk,!' "" ,"P°° '"ok-
printed upon™; „'h".*.r °f Le«-is Cciel«f "'''"'''' ^»i
a' once beMm. if ™ '"="'« pockets ^- ^'ermont was found
that her gaS k,"?'"'. »"'' 'he dc'erte^'^f^r'' '>« "en'%
% SOD, William A p. , ^ '^ '"' """W be
-sri£!r^?^^tetM^^^^^^
there wh. Cd ."^^^fl''"' '^Pr-^^nZlKZ.^T.^' »"««
'wuidied severai of tliei, * ""^sfol forger
PROfiS^toNAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 77
Imdlolhr^''^*' "^^'"^ *°'g'«ii^^^«^ to nearly thiity-tive ihou.
His plan there was to offer raised securities to the moneyed
men ot the city also to the various banking institutions, as
collateral security for loans which he desired to effect, and
being affable m his manner and welcomed by the first families
otthe city social y, he had no dilKclry in being accommodated.
Of course detection did not follow until the loans matured
when the valueless collaterals were presented for payment In
San rrancisco he operated as Lewis Raymond, and 'had disan-
peared before discovery overtook him. As he had mingled
quite extensively in tlie social circles of the Cxolden City the
swindled gentlemen declined to pursue him for fear that soma
scandal would result therefrom.
From California he went to Peru, where he remained for
some time under the name of Colonel Ralph Forrest and h„t
little is known of his career while there. ' ^^
Earlv in 1876, a messenger from the office of C. & H Borift
a prominent banking firm in PhiUdelphia, entered my Agency
I.ere and informed «s of the suspicious actions of a lady who
liad attempted to purch^e a small amount of Reading railroad
s ock. She had desired the certificates to be made out hi
those of one share each, and seemed to be doubtful about^he
name m which they were to be issued, and altogether actefin
such^a manner as to convince the bankers that something wis
A "shadow" was placed upon the lady, and she was traced
to the Bingham House, where she was joined by a man : they
then took a carnage and droVe out to the West Philadelnhia
depot, took the train for New York, where they arrived in due
time, the detective following in the same train
From the description.given of this man, I had no doubt that
he was Lewis C. Clermont-Colonel Ralph ForrestlLwis
Uaymond, and lastly Louis La Desma.
A requisition was obtained, and both the gentleman and lady
were escorted back to Philadelphia, under the care of attaoS
of my office, and an investigation of his effects at this time rt
salted in finding a full assortment of forgers' implemru i^
uis possesfiion. ° "ipioiueuw m
He was tiled in Philadelphia at the instanoe of Mw. Dumel
,:;■:
Pi.OPESSrOKAL TflXKT.S AKO THE I,BTECTm. .
tion as rare as it was heroic «e«-sacnfice and devo-
:^ course, caused the charge of Lam v to Z^ ^^'?^"'^^' ^^ich
fell all hope of convicting the man for «f V *"f ^^thitalso
legitimate wife he was proven tnnnl ^^^ m? ^"^^^ ^^^ only
abled to swear thus suSuJIv IT''' ?^" ^^^« ^a« eZ
Ohicago~the city in which h^fn,- -^ *^« great fire in
bad destroyed ti CottfiX Tf .l^'.^^" ^^^^^^^
ptte^ ^^«^--<^ ^- --U"^, cLtthTMiet
queX'tri^rKvds'il^r ^'^ ^^^dy, and fre.
tendent Georg^e n: BlTgtefZTlll^^^
dashing foiger, informing him of hi« -1 u""" '^^ ^°^^ ^"^
or two before the last opSn Iha hr\T*^°"*« ' ««d a day
^r. Bangs, stating that he wo?Id " nn / ."1^^"^' ^« ^'^te tJ
important from hi! in a day or two""* ^«"bt hear of something
shot" -^-^^^ it was to o^ne of the actors, the following will
Ij the month of Julv IR7'i n
I-U'g, in Pennsylvania/a Sman ,.*''''°'''^^ »' Chambe«.
„7tzr .ou.g L.n! wL'r-'£ST^ tt ttt
hi. deportment, fISSt bulZT27 '"■"* "•! «''>"'« ^'
thorough education "' *™ *«« possessed of a
won many hearts by her gentle and'wir^^ ^^'"''^^«^' «»d ^^o
two gentlemen. ^ "® ^"'^ ^^^«at« attentions to the
A^tto^ir^Ct^^^^^^ ^^^^ - ^^« P'-, and
l^f« with all the graci Cd Liit^o^^^^^^^ ^^
Their object in comin« to tL S^^.^^^.^!^^*?"gb aristocrats.
* - -'- •-= stasea iu be the health
XW^^J
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 79
of the youug man but he, finding no improvement, left for a
more salubrious chmate, and the colonel and his wife, who had
formed a decided attachment for the place, concluded to remain
with the view of eventually settling there definitely
Sv^nX'f '"'^I'^^f^'^^^y^^i^ot remain long unacknowledged.
Sympathy for the sick boy first attracted their attention, and
H7^t ^^ '?'?^ r"°''' ^°*^ '"^'"'^^ °^^"^« «f the husband
cTtfzers'lnr^ht^fS^^^ ^^^'^ ^"-^^ --g the wealthy
Among the number was George R Messersmith, Esq., a gen-
Ueman of thorough education and refinement, and who o?cu-
Fn l?nl P^°TK*' ?°'^^^°^ °^ '^^''' «f the National Bank
In] PnlS Tp iT^T '"?r'y ^^P^°^^ ^^to a warm friendship;
th. v?H ^f^^^?^ ^'' ^'^" ^''^"^^ f^«q»ent visitors a
the residence of Mr Messersmith, who occupied the remaining
portions of the building used by the bank. "^^t^mng
Mr. Messersmith being of an advanced literary turn of mind
possessed a fine library of rare and valuable ^vorks, and cZei
Kolland professing similar tastes, the two gentlemen would in
dulge in cultured criticisms of their favourite authorrand in
riendly converse upon congenial literary topics, both of ?hem
of thelLn^ ^"^ """"^"'''^ enjoyment in the expressed vTew^
..l^fJ^if' ^•™^*"' ^^^^ '^^''^""^ generally acquainted, and the
colonel having occasion to be absent from the town upon several
casions, the wife was usually invited to the residences of some
ot her friends, in order that she might not experience the iZe-
liness attendant upon the absence of lier husband
Their residence in Chambersburg continued 'until March
1876, when the arrival of another gentleman from the South
who^gave his name as D. Johnson, mado .. addition to the
This gentleman, upon his arrival, depw ■-■eci -Aith the bank
two large packages which he representee v. contain n' va u
^So^i'ieall"^^^"^ " '''"' '-^"^^^ '- ^^--& --
Kn?Mi^'rT'''"^r^u^.^' ^^^^.^''y ^^ -*^*^^^' Colonel Rolland
'^t^tth'lT.'^l^^''''^'^,''^^ from the hotel!
....,_.. .. _„„j.j^ ocroii. j.Ceacuing the residence of Mr'
Me«ser«mth tkey rang the bell, and inquired fur ^t ^Ue.'
80
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
inan. Being informed that he wa* nnf of i.
return in a few minutes tLv ZT, ^ ^°"*®' ^"** ^O"^*
would call again ' ^ ^^""^ ^^^y* stating that they
cashier, and who also^ rested wS^f""^ brother-in-law of the
Mr Mesaeremith engag:dt'w;it^^^^^^ '^^^ ^^^^ ^^^-^
wh^W XTrt^" ,^^,if -- P-ented a package,
fianly cashier to place It In Ihtvt^!; ^^In^'^.'^^ '^^ g«"^^«'
leave for New York'earlv the folll/^ ^ ^^"^' ^' ^« ^^ to
smith declined to open the vau^^^^^^^^^ "^'^^^"^^ ^r. Messer-
would deposit the package irasafel^r^S' ^'j'^^S J^^^^ i^«
^^^erl' Z:flJl^^^^^^ '^^-«^«^ the
press, should they not return Ir .v, '"" '\^^^ ^^^^^ ^y ex-
Messersmitn waa^about notLfdown^l!" '^^ ^°"^^"S- ^r.
when suddenly his hp«rl ^o^ 7" t^*" address given him
and he felt stLg hands crcMr^'A'^ T^^ a hood or sack,'
chief was thrust fn hTs Luth 'n^ ^'' ^^'^"'- ^ ^^"^ker:
Bhoot him if he attempted ?o re J ? angry voices threatened to
Undismayed by Xse tll'T "!! '^ ^'^^ ^" ^^^^■«^-
cashier resisted thL manfully Ind^r^'^''' '^' «^"^'''^g««»»
his random hitting hrknoct^i^^l^T?-^"^'" .°^"^^"^^^' i"
floor. Realizing the situati^ Vnlf. t J^ ^'' assailants to tho
foil the rcbbersif p^sS Z f ^^J-^^^ ^''''' ^' determined to
^ His cries alarnfed fi CsaiknT/^^^^
but before thej could reach t?!'/°l ^^1^^ ^'"^ precipitately,
fronted by M? Kindline tho h« "^ ^u''' '^''^ ^'«^« ««"'
threatened to shoot but MrKind''^ '^'''^ f^"^^^^" ^hey
turned about and ran toward the Wk of 7h™T^"^ ^""' ^^^^
to escape through the kitchen *^® *'''"'*'' ^^^^nding
runnm.'^CiS' .'fLfr^^'^'.^^d frightened citizens cam-
" "' "^"^ "^"»"" jttmped from the porchi^
r
itizens nAnu
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETEC FIVES. 81
out waa immediately captured by Mr. Kindline, who had fol.
tracted by the noise. Rolland was immediately disarmed of
aa elegant revolver and a jewel-hilted dirk knife, which he
carried in either hand and was placed in custody. Johnson
succeeded m making his escape by reaching the rear of the
house and scaling the fence.
Upon searching the quondam rebel colonel a package con-
ti:LV^'^ '^"""T^ ^"""^^' ^^i«^ ^^^ been received ^the
bank that evening by express, was discovered, and which he
hadevidently seized during the first attackuponMr. Mesrer mith
Johnson was pursued and captured upon a railroad traTn at
Mercersburg, Va and was brought back to Chambersburg to
^' A selir'/.'.^ ^' ^''''^^^^' ^^^^^^ '^' i'^ ^' that plal
A search of the rooms occupied by these men at the hotel
revealed the presence of a dark lanteri and several burglarioS
implements, while m the yard of the bank was found a sac^
containing a full set of cracksman's tools. Several gLs and
7the?hK ^^^^^-f^^'-; ^hus showing the evidentStion
of the robbers to make a thorough job of the matter in hand.
At the trial which followed, upon the testimony of some of
my operatives and others, the late Colonel of the LouSana
Tigers was fuly recognised as the handsome outlaw, who had
been previously known as Lewis C. Clermont, with The several
aliases already mentioned. several
f^n^Jf^'f^'^V"*^?^ ^^^"S robbers were convicted and sen
whTh A' ^ *''"" '^ ^'V'^'' ^^ *b« ^*«r^ Penitentiary, to
The rVeh Jf IT«T ^'''T'''^'^ >^ ^PP^^l was takei in
their behalf to the Supreme Court, and upon some legal techni-
HTpHnfT^t^'"'' *^^^ they were tried for robbery, and
convicted of burglary-a new trial was granted, and thev w«)re
remanded back to Chambersburg. ^
While in the Eastern Penitentiary my son, William A
Pinkerton, in company with Charles Thompson Jone TpmI
ladelphia, visited the two men, who were^confined tog ther.
had thul Sri' ^^f '^^^^^^^gtl^^ companion of Clermont, whi
naa tnus tar escaped recognition
..YSriTISi?." ".^"iT^-^ytP^e '««»gm«ed the nu«
eam«ntfir ti^Jl "^"^^ "* i-5i.iou5 oi Uinuago, who had been a
^-arpeater there, and who waa maimd to th« sigtor of Mra
V If
82
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES avt. ™,
SIEVES AND T7E DETECTIVES.
vt ^^ »« A ffli
Si'led hm by his dashing and
^^^j and. yielding to CsedunHv "^""J'^ **'«" *«« °^"ch for
ready tool in his hinds. '^"'^'^" ^"fl"«««e«. ie became a
AS miham entered the cell tha «, -i
mediately covered his £ w" h h,-«T ^''^^^ ^ J^^n^on im-
to ev de the gaze of his visitor and Wifr' '' ^^^^ ^^^i"""
himself as to the identity of th« T V^^^a^, having satisfied
Ashe did so, Clermont requested h^ T'^ *° ^^*^« *he cell
temmg that his companion wS 1 "^ *? '®'"^«. and, asoer^
the^cl^drtta^rst^^^^^^^^^^ their second trial
E^<^-*egained ^^^^^^^^-0^^
Upon their new trial *i,
timetheyweresentencTdtoaTemof«^''?. T^^''^ «nd this
On the morning foIWin^ft™ ^^^""'tnde of twelve year,
pnson went his ufulfroundf anS TT''^ '^' officerTtl
of Clermont discovered ?o hi ' d^siv\f P "^ ^«^«^« the eel
to the CentrXtn'rf^^^^^^^^^^ and conveyed
Pennsylvania authorities for his EC''"^" ^^'"^"'^ ^om the
f.,>Y^/' ^' '^''' station his w ?e 'rv7^"'.V" '^*t State
faithfulness and devotion which ^ti!/°2^^''' ^^^^^^^e of her
mproper channel, was nonr h« l 'll ^'^"^ ^^^^ected in an
Moving and undaun'ted^ife ' ^''' ^^^ courageous act of ^
Oe^^it^?::l^iLl^^^3^ was admitted to the
graceless husband was coSd she il'^^'^^'f « ^«" ^^ere her
apartment some saws and rnili V.I"'"?^'^ to drop into his
mPESSIOKAL THIEVES AND THE DETECnVES. 83
he made frequent attemnts to « J* ^u''"^ ^'' incarceratioK
failed of sucls. He aTmptedT^^^^^ ."^^ '^ ^^^^^^ he
insanity, and secreted toorabout hi« - f^"™' ^"'^^^^^
complained of a pain in h s wT i P^'"'°"- ^^ «"« time he
was applied as a Cedy strtW i^ ^^''^ ^^^''^' P^^^^er
bath, he evinced so Sh care for M'^^'^'' ^P'i^ '^^^"g ^^^
that suspicion was arZsed ' Tnd L "^^^^^^^^^ application
Bkin several fine saws S dLtTJ'' 't^ f^'''' -"^ his
been furnished him by fri^L fr^HTtLr 'a ^^ T^^"*^^^
excessive anxiety in regard toanTiJ^f * ^^^ another time
their examination, and articles of^th? """^ '^°'' '''"^^^^ i«
concealed between the soles "^"^^ "*'"'« ^«^« ^un^
assfdrfil'UttLtVL^^^^ ^- -^-as
or in her efforts to rel ve hifllt t"""- ?'' ^'^' ^^^ ^^°^
Bities. No sacrifice walconsir-rl ? °''''''*''* *^ ^^^ "^ces-
-ous, no .ask too ^^CiZtJlL'ZZ\^^^^^^
^otlZ'^'ZTuXtXT ^^P?-^ifesoon began
August last, after a brief il£« uT'T? \"? ^'^ ^^^ ^th da/ of
by the faithful woman M^T^^^^^^^ ^'' ««"' «ti" attended
to the last. *^ ^°^®*^ h^"^ and cared for him
othl'^tory of aTea\%St".rt?'f "^'^'^ *^^°*« ^-^^^^ «-
of temptatW TMs Ln ?ef a vt mTn ?»f 'f ' ?' ^^« ^'^^'^
ments of wealth dishonestVobtoinedTn^ f J^' ^^'i^''^ ^""'«-
and dreadful, has overtakti him ' *^' Punishment, sure
a JTvSttenef w'^T^^ '^« ^^^^^^ --« examined
of his shaJinrbrufh T^^^^^^^ ^'^ ^^^ ^-"o- handt
mouds of immense value '' """'" '"PP^^**! t^ be dia-
a marriage with him and u^k/L"'"'""'^"''"' '^"^ deceived into
stances, having lost uearlv an «hn «.„„„_„ ^ ., - .— . "•-
1 1 '''
u
la ■«
s: h:<
i ft
PROFESSIOKAl THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
otW than those^hich at htTe"f de,p"„Ued"„"/ """' ""'"
with the other ih ZwLS of tW f'"'' >°"° 'y^P^""^*'
The man is dead, and his story is told.
CHAPTER VL
A BOLD BARBER.
habit of acqHirinXs been ^hf/fl^l^ ^*T ^^ ^*« ^««^ ^^ t^o
the razor, not o^p^n Ltc^^^^^^^^^^ t' dexterous use of
tonsorial artists, of viious pr^' ^ '"^^ of coloured
-ej^.*^..u« r.r^Umettts, wnere the keen*
I :l
ctives.
regard to th«
1 were none
he dead cri-
8 — according
10 value, and
• to effect his
; forbearance
ther. Each
d him truly,
sympathizes
by the dis-
be I cannot
lally proven
listresses of
e found to
ence of the
future will
time been
'•supply of
3r bravery
sferred to
o make a
een in the
ous use of
f coloured
the keen*
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
^^/
.V
1.0
1.1
1^121 121
itt m
Ml
Bl
U
140
2.0
^Sdfflices
Coiporation
as \WIST MAIN STMIT
WIMTM,N.Y. MSM
(71«)t73-4S03
^V^
?
-v%^
A
F.<Sf
^ i^
<.
^
i 1 «i
■J!i .1
1 § %'i
If' «
1 1 I
1 iT 3
■ ' )
1 ^
1
L
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 87
Mt raior and the quickest hand always get the begt of the din
pute.
But a certain barber in New Milford, Connecticut, on the
night of Sunday, March 20, 1871, proved himself brave enough
to point a gun, steady enough to pull a trigger, and enough
the man for the occasion to deserve, and secure, the thanks of
the community.
New Milfora is situated on the Housatonic River, and is one
of the prettiest towns in that " land of steady habits," The
people of the place attend church three times on each succeeding
Sunday, and bar-rooi*i8 are at a discount in the community. Bui
occasionally lawless men from the city of New York visit the
peaceful and pious town for the purpose of replenishing their
depleted pockets.
On the night, in question a daring attempt was ro^Ie to rob
the First National Bank of New Milford, and but for the gal-
lantry and presence of the bold barber already referred to, a
grand haul would have been made, as nearly all the farmers in
the vicinity were in the habit of depositing their spare cash in
the bank.
The bank was a one-story building, situated on the main
street, near the railroad depdt. Contiguous to the bank, and
only separated from it by a narrow alleyway, was a two-story
frame house, having a barber's shop on the first floor. On the
second floor was the residence of the barber, where he slept and
took his meals ; »nd his windows overlooked the windows of
the bank.
About midnight of the day mentioned, the barber, fatigued
with the toils of the day, was about retiring, when he heard
strange noises proceeding from the bank. He went to the
window and saw several rascals at work with their tools with
great zeal, in forcing open locks and drawing bolts. Seizing his
gun, which was hanging upon the wall, he awaited until he got
a good opportunity to get as large a crowd as possible together,
when he discharged its contents through the window squarely
into the party. .
A howl of pain from several voices was the result of this,
and the robbers beat a precipitous retreat. Some citizens were
awakened anrl AlairnAr] hv t.Ua ronnrt- M' fl><> ~..^ »».l :_ t.U~:-
rushing to the bank, everything was found in confusioa, The
k i
88 ^BOPESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECnVES
tools was found in the wit X- "«' ^ *i" ««' °^ ^ui^W
ferent directions-north ^t aSd wLr^^.^^ "*™« ^«^ »" ^if.
posted at each end orthes^ omi.^^^^ * T** ^"^ ^^^
»nd left of the bank to^iZf! ^® ^*°^ *°*^ *° ^e "ght
individuals, or of LivoS^* """"'"« °^ *^« approach o
awaro of; hZ^e pZ;^:^i'Tty.:ZTl /^ »»<?'
fcheirworkof no avai! all fW ^ ?®^^ barber made all
vented the burXs^i i"* f^f u"*^**^« ^"'i^^' and pre'
wdiGovermSlSnTS^Z^y'^?^^^ ^°J^*» in Uk
the Vaults. ' ^^^ '^•^ """S^J^ -^wed away withip
CHAPTER VII.
■tAKINO 8EITLEM1N1S
£eld as an unchangeage prin^ipTJ V,?^^^^^^^ ^ '^^^^
encouragement the honest rf«fL?!2 ^ ',j***** '"'^ *^« Proper
fessional thieves to, W,V« W ^"^^ «>"Id not only bring pro-
Wer portirof teuidrr ±\T^^^
much easier for certaia cKs T.1^rf^° ^'°- ^ ^"* i* »
peroonal integrity and thr^nnL f .?™' ""J*^ ^"^ ^«» ^^^
•quick gains, to fraternize with tSL *"i Profession than for
between thm andS nartT^ r kk T.f"^ ^*'*^°»« ^^e agent
««»« «. bent upon laJar i^;.:^'*.''!!™^""?''. •"''
r^, and the leeona
i rail set of barglars'
t of string led in dif.
brie a m&n had been
ink, and to the right
of the approach of
?8sary to be made
)Id barber made all
08 futile, and pre-
•and dollars in bills
itowed awajr mthip
i nnalterably op-
riminals. I have
t with the proper
)t only bring pro-
their patrons the
taken. -^ But it is
who care less for
ofession than for
icome the i^nfc
ith unccanng la-
8 outlaw 4fl8S to
sir plunder, and
1 guilty of.
•e may be found
•portunity of se*
ements, so that
heir mind and
c? ssqiiaiiitaQi^
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 89
and intima«y with known and unknown barslan and rnr^m^
to whom they unblushingly offer their^eSs^ a^^JS
tlaments and secure immunity from punishment *
7W wi.^T°' *^\f «»* *W«f-trainer, in Dickens' Oliver
Ttctst yru imm-aaurablv worse than the voung thievea he
trained, JO are these skulking scamps more dam-efous and de^
epoDSible, If not legaUy, wr much o/ the nefar.lnm work donT
for the simple reason that, were not these opportunities offered
for mdang se-ttlements with plundered ffis and busing
raen, and m such a manner that prosecution is always avoided
JiTt^L^rP'r """^ r^««»tpunishme/t wouwt
sent^l tiSf """* T^ :?f ^^^'^^<^ thieves of the pre-
sent tune would soon dwindle awAv to stragelinff narties nf
hunted and desperate guerillast • "S«"°g pames of
If these agents or "go-betweens" are responsible for the
danngand increase of thieves, certain business men aw Z^n-
Bible For the existenr ^ of these " go-betweens." TheTb^n;
busmess-house is entered and robbed, and during the huUabal'
loo and excitement an irresnonsible and slinkinf agent called
a detective presents himself, and vaguely hinte Zt he has
foTiTr'^^^^^f-r' ^hich will leaJ to the recovery of Z
funds, or a nartial recovery. After a deal of dickeriuir and
negotiating, Suring which time the agent is drawinrhfavUv
rrtuteS^H *^^'^^'°.^^' '^/ pXdsoftrioKrare
returned If they are m stocks and securities, upon the payment
ment bonds, after a still handsomer deduction from the amount
taken, when the "agent" receives a Urge bonus fr^ ?he
portion of their property are compeUed to agree not to proM-
fJZ'''''','^^\lohheryMid settlement, half a dosen more
follow ana m the interests of business safety, I cannot too
strongly urge that, whenever a robbery of funds <^cu^
those meeting with the misfortune should never" undeTan^
circumstances, employ officert who work for rewinds, or whb
hmtat compromising with thieves. All this «ort of hing in^
burglaw to aUn^t a bwiSe« '^d^T ""''"'''' P^-^"«ai
90
PROFESSIONAL. THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
In order to give my readers an idea of how these " aettle>
mente are made by these bogus private detectives, as well as
by official detectives, to a certain extent, I will relate a bona
/Wi9 instance coming under my notice several years since.
On July 23, 1875, the National and Savings Bank of Win-
throp, Maine, was entered, and the safe blown open, and robbed
of about ninety thousand dollars, mostly in Government, rail-
way and municipal bonds, the principal portion of the loss fall-
ing upon the Savings Bank, and the National Bank only suffer-
ing a loss of about ten thousand dollars. It was a bold and skil-
fully executed bank robbery, and though a reward of ten
thousand dollars was promptly offered, there appeared but
little prospect that the focal officers in whose hands the matter
was placed, would acppmplish anything.
A few days subsoquent to the robbery, a certain New York
"detective," of the sort I have described happened in town.
He had been in Boston, he said, working up some very import-
ant case, of course, and beine so near Winthrop, thought he
would take a run up to the place and satisfy his curiosity con-
•orning the bank robbery. He had an inkling, he stated, of who
the robbers were, and he truly believed that he could, by care-
ful work, after a short time lay his hands upon the men, or at
least, if that could not be done, could " work back " the bonds,
or a greater portion of them, to the rightful owners.
The safe iihich had been blown open had been sent to
Boston, and replaced by a stronger one ; but the detective,
whom for convenience I will call Mr. Crooker, learned all the
particulars of the robbery, and all the little minutiae concerning
the appearance of the safe, and though not getting much en-
couragement from the bank officers, after promising to commu-
nicate with them, took his departure.
A few days after ha had gone, the bank officers received a
letter from Crooker asking for a full description of the supposed
robbers. This information was promptly sent. At a still later
day another letter was received from Crooker, to the effect that
in his opinion the robbers or property might be reached, but in
a few days more he was in hopes to fully satisfy himself whe-
ther or not his opinion was well founded. When this time
ittd expired, another leUer was received by th» bank oQmn,
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 91
rrom Crooker, requesting them to send one of their namber to
New York without delay, with authority to net for them.
When this las^t letter was roceived, the bank trustees had a
meeting immediately, and decided to comply with Grooker's
request The result was, one of the bank trustees was unani<
mously selected to proceed to New York and see Crooker.
On September 6, the bank officer started for New York,
reaching that city the next forenoon. He found Crooker at his
" office," which, for prudential reasons, as Crooker said, was in
the hallway of French's Hotel. Here the bogus detective in-
formed the trustee that he had been approached by a middle-
man in the interest of the robbers, who offered to make a resti-
tution of the property on certain conditions. Any man of
ordinary judgment could hardly understand why the Middlo<
man had not made personal application to the bank officers.
Why could not this mysterious middleman have dealt directly
With the bank t
The truth of the matter was simply that Mr. Crooker waa
all the middleman there was in the business, and the party who
had " approached " him was merely one of the robbers. Tho
bogus detective was merely a blind ; a willing tool for the
burglars.; simply the something to be used to protect the thieves,
effect the settlement, pocket his share of the proceeds and se-
cure immunity, and, if the whole truth were known, it would
not be a strange thing to have learned that Mr. Crooker was,
himself, engaged either in the planning of, or in actual partici-
pation with, the robbery.
As the result of the bank trustee's interview with Crooker, an
arrangement was made for a meeting with this middleman two
days later. At about noon that day the meeting occurred
at a secluded plade in the city, and not i?i a desirable locality.
It was held in a room over a bar-room frequented by the lower
and perhaps more dangerous class of society.
^Prompt to the hour of appointment •the middleman put in
an appearance. He was a sharp, off-hand fellow, who evi-
dently knew his business. The first question which the bank
officer put to him was whether he was the person authorised to
act for the parties holding the stolon property. His reply
mrmm •
** I have been requested to, and have conseiited to/*
I» • '!'■
92
PKOFESSIONAL THlEVFti Avr. mT,„ '
lUlEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
"I do not."
the Goveroment bondssSn l» '"'*«"«'8™Mt emb»c«
ernment bonds I " ""*'' »• a final one in relation to Got.
»n"„XS°r^^ ""' '^''' ""» Gov«n«.nt bond.
4r7oS'e^;rfSrJ^';!:^*«^„/g' *•'».»* *,„ .hi,
reality only playing his Lr^^.! ♦»? ^'^ ^"'^' ^^^^ ^e was in
the officerlBaidf "ff thisTe the fLf ^i ''^T' °^ '^^^ery
any further business with this man ^ ' "*"" ' ^^^ " ^ ^'^v^
lentrdtjfwhinVr:^^^^^^^^^ ensued a painful «.
air of absolute indiCnctt he sm^J^T- "^»'5^»ned an
cane which he carried ^®** * "«" '^^ twirled a
accI^^in^tfpT^^^^^^^^^^^^ C-k-. who .marked,
bonds be^eached ?n somewry » " "''"' ^^''^^^ «^ '^e
F^^^tl::^^^^^ am Here, we
be returned." *^ ""* ''^« proposed securities <wn
Cotel'S^Hhen r:^'^^^^^^^^^^^ t^e robber,
per cent, had rf ferenc^ o the^'^^^^^^^^ *\« *wenty
^ ket value, at the same time stat nl thlf ^?^* """^ '^«'' "^ar-
hadbecomegreatly depSt^dlinlS^^^^^ P*''!^"" "J^'he ^nds
To this the man^epKctljr^islir''^*''^^'^^^"^
8ay that the twenty p^r cLt ZnW *^^""*f« "'an, I should
of tbe booOi," ^ ^*"*^'* •PP^J' ^ ^« nwke* value
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 93
Mked Coloi^e)
Win-' ^^ proposition your ultimatum I •
''Yes, these are my instructions.*
three houM Fater, which propcition was .ppS AnoZr
restored ^^ ""* ""'^ '*™",'"' "'•''''' ""O property wouMbf
restored waa on payment of ten thousand dollar/ 3 °i..V
the money or Government bond, taken from thetenk
SterTiS" ^" "-^'""y""™ wouTd ?or.d"nar-a^3
afto they had condescended to take upon themselres the risk
11
! <i
f!i
4
94 moFESSIONil, THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES
Receiver for the purpose of winS" ^^"^-^ *" ^^^ ^ands of *
terms proposed shLTCal^Ll"^ up ,t» affaira-that the'
f^tp^^':i.r:it^^^^^ -^^- the court, author,
for the recovery of thrsecur t.W "''^If^/"" thousand doK
boiug in Baltimore, enga|ed 5n a vl "uV'"**^" * P'-^'ence of
Government, all of whic^^was ,L„ ' 7 .S'*'^ ''^^ " ^«' the
"ig up his appearance of re^recfcLS/^'^,* P»'Po«e of keep-
bank officer noV went. prJSI? iKi ,f "^ "^ ''^^^ "^^^ tl
On the two meetinc: mthlt ® *?® negotiation,
municated by teIegJi^h\ ^ t^rS^'L*'^'^' Crookercom-
York city, and received a reanonL f "u^^"^"' »§««* in New
he would meet the two o„ f 5 " i""" '° ^^^ effect thaT
Nicholas Hotel, in Kew YoV '''«°*''^ ^^^'^^g' *' the S,
cIatirifw*lUts:i^^'eo^-^^^^ the agent alone
»?ent would be stric fy'^X Jt'" t • ''^^ '^^^^^
Crooker and the agent wraZed to h JJ^'l "''*.'^"? ^^tween
Nicholas, agreeable to the diSh rP.5?J!.^?'L^"^'^ »t the St
f^ ?S'^ ^^«g was also infSd thatS.^ '* ^'''"'^^^ > «nd
# for the same evening had Cn arrl ?^/' P^**® «' meeting
property should be cfeliveredlnto thT^ ^^!;';r^«" the stole?
lum p aced m the posseL^on of n ^ ^T^l ""^ ^^ookev, and bv
Jhould hand over tL ten ita^^^^^^^^^^^ who. in return"^
for to Crooker. who should give the same ?:.?kP"^"'^'^^ ''^^'^
^^^X^^^t^^^ small
gUoon, -Mtogethef,tvU&ro^^^^^^^
f4tt\'n°r;t^^^^^^^ and Crooker were
knock at the door of the S^„ f •'^^''."'S * ^^^ minutes a
— — — -ipvaw
I110FES9I1NAL TBtEVES AND THE DETECTIVES, 95
ae collar 'TJn uf Ji!f„rhi e t' .'nrr^r/"?
mmi throughout his entire etay *' '^ 'wk'ngdowu-
one of th. en^Wug M,»'c^E'rn'?r''' "f ''T^^
upon Colonel Win» in ttiL n^T ' """■'"''» "^ P»l"ied off
;^«i^a^:^xsrx^Toir«^z '
edhta°to*^u°ntu'^t°l?K°'''"^'' Colonel 'Wing re,„e,t.
_ a. , „„,„ ^ lareweii. He had placed hie
i 'A
!
96 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THii DETECTIVES.
part neatly and made liu exit in a manner best niited to keep
up the air of mystery.
Colonel Wing then began looking oyer the package, which
occupied nearly two hours, as he was particular to have the
bonds which it was found to contain correspond with the sched
ule of the stolen property he had with him. Everything was
found to be ail right, everything being returned as it had been
agreed upon, and he was unexpectedlv and pleasantly disa))-
pointed to find that none of the papers had been injured by the
explosion of the safe.
Aftsr Colonel Wing had expressed himself satisfied with the
condition of the papers, Crooker stepped out, and, as he in-
formed the colonel, found the agent and paid him. The proba-
bilities are that he merely stepped into the hallway and dis-
tributed the money about his person, when the bank officer,
everything being concluded, returned to the St. Nicholas,
where he was sojourning, and deposited the securities in the safe.
This ended the transaction, with the following result :
The bank lost originally ninety thousand dollars in currency,
(}ov6rnment bonds and negotiable securities. Of this amount
forty thousand dollars was in currency and Government bonds,
which were immediately converted into currency. Fifty thou-
sand dollars in securities were taken, for which the thieves,
through their agent, the " bogus detective/' secured ten thou-
sand dollars in cash ; so that, altogether, the bank-robbers se-
oared fifty thousand dollars in money and complete immunity
from punishment ; all of which would never have resulted had
not this system of " go-between bogus detectives " been in
existence.
There are many other modes of accomplishing the " making
of settlements " or "working back", stolen property, as it is
called ; but they all contain the villainous go-between principle
shown in this account, and they invariably disclose the ear-
marks of the fraudulent detective, who is worse than a thief,
because, under the cloak of a respectable calling, which is more
than any other a necessity to business men, he maJxs thieves
by rendering their calling safe and profitable. There never
existed a more pestilential set of rogues, and they would disap-
pear from necessity, should all reputable business men join in
their extermination by utterly ignoring them.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TUE DETECTIVES. 97
luiUd to keep
OHAPTEBTIIL
A OlNTIffllANLY THIEF, OB, THl BOBBER ON THE BXAB.
■N 1876. there appeared upon the criminal honwn an in.
' dividial who for a long time baffled the eflForts of the
«o detectives to fasten hU crimes upon him, and to escape
the just punishment of the law which he violated with such
Ta"itpmngli-or. as he was wont to style himself. Springly
-was a very gentlemanly appearing man. of fine pe"onjJ a^
pearance anS possessed of considerable education. A Swws by
birth, he had traveUed so extensively and spoke several langua-
gesso fluently, .that it was almost impossible to determine of
what nationality he had sprung. j • i-vk
Ms first appearance in the United States was made in l«/0,
when ho came under my notice as being suspected of robbing
Bome of the passengers upon the American •t.Mimship mrum,
then and now commanded by that excellent seaman and admi-
rable gentleman. Captain Shackford.
Attn interview which was had with Spmngli at this Ume,
it was learned that he had at one time been an e?^tenBive mer-
chant in Africa, and that, faUing upon that continent, he had
engaged in mer(jantile pursuits in Peru. This venture also ai)-
Sed to have been unsuccessful, and, finding legitimate busi-
^88 unprofitable, he had voluntarily commenced the practice
of criminality which, until his final arrest and imprisonment,
ke continued with various degrees of profit, but always with
sufficient good fortune to gratify his tastes and provide for hu
''^Th'e business which ho thus chose for himself, and which he
seemed to prefer to the more honourable positions of legitimate
trade, was the novel one of crossing and recrossing the ocean,
upon the various first-class steamers, in the character ol an
opulent and very agreeable cabin passenger.
During the daytime he would engage the passengere m
^nnySw in wLh his learning and hia extensive travels
• 1
I
li
98 PBOFESSIONALTHIEVESAND THE DETECTIVES.
By this means he wZd^be Zki*^T"°'^°°"« °<^««n voyage,
habits, and in manTcases of Z 'f ^ ^"^^'"^ himself of the
sengers, and then, by waLh W H-^ '^^^ ^'' fellow-pas
into their state-rJoms while fhei nT^^^''^' ^« ^""^^ ?lip
asleep, and help himself to !llfK T"uP.*°^ ^«^« absent or
his reach. ^ ^^^^ '** *" *^« valuables that came withL
^-^VoZU::^^^^^^^ f-e« of the Pacific
plaints of beingTobbed%ut all^^^^^^^^^ <^ire com.
information that would lead to Z i!^ u*^®.^''<'°^«''y of no
""inMfr'^ of the articles stlen'. ''^^''^'^-'^ of the thief
was committed"; Z'^ZZ l^lZ'^f'^ T'^"-^ '^^^-^
of suspicion was madfested and L^h "*• ^ ^^""^'^ ^^^^^^S
servants were carefully exl„in«S ^^^'^^^ J>^8engers and cabin
with the view of frteSKh"*^ *^'^ ^'''''^' ««arched!
So skilfully had ^e^ZZt^'ZTZTV'''''^'^9-'
the real criminal successful^ eluded ^f'f' 5°^^^^'' 'hat
suspicion, while manv innorL? ,? °* ^^^^ detection but
peUed to suffer the acfuiCnfP'^^^^^^ ""^'^ "^^ only com-
the mortification of Tl'itje,^^^^^^^^^^ to endure
French officer on board th« 2!? "^^ .*^® ^^^^^^' A young
of shame upon being susnecfedfhT^^^ withasensf
the Lisbon^Wettf, prTfS; L he's^l' H ^^^^™'^« «"' ^^
tlie Hotel Central, and wTer^he w^^r^S ^/ headquarters at '
by every one-by the^rti^ fl!'^^^^^
charming conve4 LnTp^wirs k^' Vr'"*? «°"'t««y and
pecuniary punctuality aidrvfL^.*^P''°P"®'°'«» for his
treatment lind libeS; ^ ""^ attendants, for his affable
ciaS'^^jiTth^a^^f^^^ not be asso-
vwea agwMt lum, while others, entirely
of the Pacific
and dire com-
iscovery of no
Q of the thief
•nous robbery
eneral feeling
5rs and cabin
iks searched,
one of thMn.
owever, that
detection but
5t only com-
ut to endure
3. A young
with a sense
►rains out in
intary death
»n Sprungli.
of the ship
I been a fre-
Iquarters at *
freat favour
)urtesy and
Ts, for his
his affable
ot be asso-
iot a breath
^ entirely
PR0FESS70NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. • 99
tanooent, were eompelled to submit to the humiliatinff formula
of a search. ^
Although succeeding so admirably in evading actual suspicion
in the Potow affair, Sprungli deemed it expedient to transfer
the sphere of his operations to some other steamship line, and
m 1875, he engaged a^stateroom on the American Bteamshio
lUinois, '^
Nothing occurred upon the journey from Liverpool to Phil-
adelphia to mar the pleasure of the voyage— the wealthy and
urbane Jean Sprungli had made iself universally popular
and was the recipient of urgent invitations to visit his fellow-
voyagers should his stay in Philadelphia warrant such a pro-
ceedmg. ^
As the vessel neared the entrance to Delaware Bay, and just
as the Cape May lighthouse could be plainly discerned, and
when the necessity for cetting one's effects together occurred
some one discovered toTlis dismay that he had been robbed!
Upon this fact becoming known a general overlooking of bag-
gage was instituted, and soon one after another of the pasHen-
gers, with rueful faces, would make the unpleasant announce-
ment that they, too, had suffered in a similar manner, and that
many of their valuables— watch^g, jewellery, and clothing—
were no longer in their possession.
When the vessel reached the dock I was immediately notified
of the occurrenc,e, and the Suporintendent^of my Philadelphia
Agency was directed to undertake the examination. Of course
no one was permitted to leave the vessel, and a tHorough
search was instituted of the baggage of every passenger, yet,
strange to say, without discovering a single clew to the robbery
or of finding a single article of the stolen property.
Sprungli's trunks were examined among the rest, and the
means by which his plunder was successfully hidden from the
minute investigation of the detectives wiU be shown hereafter.
Sprungli did not, however, seem to fancy the American police*
and soon returned to his old game of ste&mship robbing. '
In July he took passage on one of the Pacific Line of steamers
again. This time the Liguria. It would have been better for
him bad he waited a little longer. No sooner had the vessel
sailed than the Liverpool police, who had become alarmed at
the frequency of robberieg on these vessels, and had determined
! V
!■;
h ,
:
1
v\ y.
. <
100 PBOFESSIOIfAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
daring the e^ti^Tvov^^ U^^^.^''^'° *" ''^'"' >"« t«nh
enjoy^eStof thrpZ:C:^%tSfr'u"l"tf *r°«|}
his partof tbeentert«iiiment wSf.„£.', ' , P«rf»™ed
by one and »U as « MnUl „T ^^'f""'""' ""^ "«« iaUed
became intense. Everibodv^tnL 5*^^'l Jhe excitement
• «usi^cted int "rnftSl eVeX;tS^^^^ ^"? "^
bore his own alleged losses ^^^^^ItT^ • ^P^""gli. who
so acutely with tS of otLrs anTwh'^^^^^ sympathised
loudest in indignation Tf !£ ? i ""'^ '''''^^ ^^ ^^ised the
crime. "^^^g^^^ion at th| unknown perpetrators of the
jec?7qSefsustw f^r "' ^ ^^^^^^ ** '^' -- ob-
of his prevtus ELs^L h/'''P^^^'5 ^'' P*^*' ««^ «°«^«
gloss an(^tinsel cJ hTpreten^^^^^^ 'Tv '^ !? '^« '^T^^ 'he
Vigr, a telegram was quSrsen to 11^'?'^ "^'"''^ ''"^'''^^^
steamship cSmpanv sS^iZL } ^- '^" *S«nt of the
This conference warhad IZ V'^'lt' ^'^^ '^^ ?«"««•
destination, the autTorities were ut^lt'TT^ "^"^^ *' »^«'
and special agents were rtaTled tnC/. !/''"^°"' ^^'^ SP''""g«.
disembarked. ^"^ '*" "^^'^^ '^^ passengers as the^
A&^^:&i^^ With a
ne took a street car «n^ ^.^.„_j-T: " , *"® ^'"y 'o' some time,
- -_ _^ 4,xOv.ccucu 60 ihe uustom House, appai^
ri7ES.
that sailed,
I for certain
ific steamen
h detective
3 seemed to
rk, the offi-
e his berth
ent had oo-
d thorough
performed
was hailed
was enjoy-
nstructive,
IX, a series
ng sums of
excitement
) and weje
ungli, who
mpathised
raised the
'rs of the
ast an ob-
and some
rough the
3i reached
Jnt of the
olice.
'^ed at her
Sprungli,
rs as they
With a
issengers,
^pou the
knd after
ne time.
'Oi appaiw
PROPESSlOKAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 101
ently with the object of overseeing the inspection of his bag.
gage. ^
Without notifying him of their intention, the police added
their vigilance to his own, but their scrutiny met with no re-
ward. No indications appeared to exist of an attempt at smug-
gling, and everything in his possession seemed to be honestlv
his own. '
This ordeal over, the newly-landed passenger was about to
leave the Customi House, when one of the detectives politely
introduced himself, and stated that he was under instructions
to escort Mr. Sprungli and his belongings to the oflBce of the
Civil Governor.
Mr. Sprungli at once became indignant, and protested that
such action was a gross insult upon the honour and dignity of a
gentleman, and that, shoulcf this course be insisted upon, he
would be forced to regard the functionary who had given the
order as a very uncivil governor indeed. Despite his bluster
and his threat to invoke the protecting aid of the Swiss lion,
the police proved inexorable, and he waa compelled, very much
against his will, to pay his respects to the Governor, and his
trunks were again subjected to a thorough search.
Again nothing suspicious was discovered, and Mr. Sprungli,
with the air of injured and outraged dignity, was' about to
withdraw, when Casterno Bianco, chiefof the detectives, noticed
that the iron-work of the trunks, instead of being riveted, were
fastened with screws, several of which appeared to be loose and
unsettled. The iron bands about the trunks were directed to
be unscrewed, and then, between the outside and the lining,
there were exposed to view sixteen secret compartments, each
filled with quite a jeweller's stock of watches, chains, studs,
pearls, diamonds, and other valuables, together with rather a
goodly stock of shining sovereigns.
Thus brought face to face with his crimes, the dignity and
bravado of Sprungli at once gave way, and he made a full con-
lession of his transactions, but by some means entirely inscrut-
able he succeeded in evading the authoriuies at Lisbon and left
for Cadiz, where, however, he was again arrested.
^ An attempt was then made to have him sent back to Enff-
jana, but through some informality, and the efforts of a keea
Uwyer, he for the second time succeeded in evading the lav.
It
102 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
He a^ain took passage for America, but his fame had pre-
ceded him. To the affair of the Illinois was now added that of
the X-i5|wna, and when he landed, in November, 1877. at
Philadelphia, he found my men upon the lookout to receive
mm, and to watch his movements.
He came to America apparently for the purpose of visitinc.
his wife, a beautiful woman, devotedly attached to him, but
who was now hving at service with a family residing in Cam-
den, New Jersey. My men watched him very clorelv. He
went first to the Girard House, where he re'gistered his name
and announced himself as from New York city. He remained
here but a day or two, and one day, while h« was temporally
absent, a lady called at the hotel, representing herself as his
wife, and requesting permission to await his return.
Sprungli at this* time appeared to be in straitened circum-
stances. The " haul ' that had been made by the authorities
at Lisbon had evidently been a serious loss to hinu
Shortly after the arrival of his wife he was discovered pawn-
ing a seal-skin sacque and some valuable dresses, for a compara-
favely small sum of money, after which he liquidated his bill
at the hotel and removed to one of more humble pretensions.
At this time a warrant was sued out against him by one of
his unfortunate fellow-passengers of the Illimia, and just as he
was about to indulge in an afternoon ride, one of my men
stepped up and arrested him upon the charge.
^ He appeared to be very much discomfoited by this proceed-
ing, but knowing that resistance would be useless, he at once
subinitted, and was conducted quietly away to the office of a
magistrate, who hold him in default of baU to await his trial
Here again the technicalities of the law were successfully in-
voked in his favour, and owing to some flaw in the indictment,
ingeniously urged by an able attorney, he was discharged.
JJunng his imprisonment, frequent conversations were had
with this remarkable man. His fine appearance to a casual
observer would at once have disarmed suspicion. His scholarly
attammentD won general admiration, and his bearing under all
the tiymg circumstances through Vhich he passed proved un-
mutakably that his early days must have been apeutMaid tha
nfining influences of weal^ and education.
PB0F2SSI0NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 103
His wife was devotion itself; sh* never left him during hi«
tnal, and seemed as proud of the questionable discharge which
secured his Leedom, as though it had been an absolute acquit,
tal and an honourable justification.
During one conversation, impressed by his addrftss and at-
tainments, and being charitably disposed towards the unfortu-
nate, it was suggested to him the wisdom of becoming an honest
man, and earning a livelihood by honourable means'
" What can I do !" he asked. • " «^
"Why, sir, with your knowledge, yon eonld become an ad.
mirable teacher, and one whose talents would prove of incalcul-
able benefit in improving the*minds of the young."
With the spirit of a Charley Bates or an Artful Dodger
Sprungli declined tlup proposition with the utmost disdain. '
" Why," said he, " as a teacher I could not make more than
a hundred dollars a month ; " and then he added—" when I was
a boy I had that much for pocket-money alona"
Finding this man incorrigible, I determined to allow him to
pursue his own course, knowing full well that sooner or later
his sins would find him out, and his punishment be accorded
Once at liberty, SprungU left the United States, and for'a
long time was not heard of. It vm evident, however, that he
had not adopted the kindly advice that had been given him or,
if he had done 80» he had not found its operation to his
liking.
During the early part of 1879, happening incidentaUy to
notice, in a paper which was picked up carelessly, an account of
some mysterious robberies on the steamers plying between Liv-
erpool and Quebec, I immediately recognised Sprungli's handi-
work, and wrote to that efiect ttf the Canadian police authori-
ties, and in a few days the bold corsair was again a prisoner
and this time his punishment was to overtake him. '
The particular charges upon which he was arrested were of
robbing one individual of twenty-oift gold sovereigns, another
of some diamond studs, and of the theft of a £100 Bank of
EngUnd note from another. The strangest part of the pro-
ceedings are that, notwithstanding the prooff of his guilt, and
notorious as was the evidence against him, the jury did not
agree upon their verdiota^aiiuib lum until they had been looked
If ''or «eyaal days.
104 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND IBE DETECHTES.
Ana^fir.ii::'^^^^^^ they pronoanced hi.
reared in h^n7lmh^nf^^\'''' °^ '"^^^^ life. A man
then taking np'c^::t:L''oni^:^'. 'd"^^ '^r-<^s
hia criminal career, Lwever he w^ Lf ?"""*« ^^« ^^^^o^e of
ciated .with criminals of anv .?If • *^* ^"^^ '** 1»»'^« "so-
nfcving in honoSle societv^and .?i'°".- ''l**^^''' ^ *l^«y-
other fespect as a JeLemfn «f ^'^"^^"ctiDg himself in every
Possessed oftSa Xfa iZff *«d/d»«*tio„. ^
entitled him to Te renown of hi ff^^ condwcted, would have
of crime, and now [nsteld nf ^^ fellow-men he chose the paths
iB an inmate of a'^prM^^^^^^^^ he
CHAPTER IX.
AN EOEmONALLT SUP3ESSPDL AMATItim DElEOnVK
'"^deSTusTn^s:^^^^^^^^^ -*H^ -«-«^inthe
* to make suc^ssi ?n . J • ' ^"*? *" infrequent for them
make such Xmntf. hl?u ^^^'^ endeavours when they do
the following inZnce is a ve'^ Sh hfT^""« ^ *^^ '"^««' *«d
man, never icustomed to tS l^f *""« "^.'i^? *>f » gentle-
particularly good sens? whili i®^ •^'^ criminals, exhfbiting
aa those who d?sno«« !f ^*5'?^*''^°°»1 " «»»over of queer «
his sh^e^dne^Tnd IZttl^'n ff ^^^^^' ^^^^»
and himself and his coufSftis iJSX"'^^^'^^/"*^ °«"^ed,
Buffer the penalty for their crim^^"'^^^ '^P'"^^ *"^ "^^e ^i
r^^^l^i i'~S^.ttS^^^ authorities was
m Westchester cquntv about !S.i!f •, ^Z""®"' * «"•*" ^lage
t .a. then though lAV t.S^^^^^^
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETEOTIVES. 105
boandless West was then, and is now, better suited for this
nefarious business, and it ip there that most of this class of work
was done.
But the evil-doer is safe nowhere, and although he may for
a time thrive and prosper, yet his time is sure to oome, sooner
or later.
A pleaunt and agreeable travelling companion is a treasure-
trove m any part of the world. Many lasting friendships have
erst originated in casual meetings on steamboat or railway car,
hundreds and thousands of miles from home. Now a Mr.
Merritt, an old and wealthy citizen of Elmira, New York, about
:wo months after the capture of the counterfeiters referred to,
was coming East to Omaha from Cheyenne over" the Union
Pacific Railroad. He was occupying a seat alone, and in a very
pleasant and self-satisfied frame of mind was studying the faces
of the passengers about him, when his gaze happened to alight
upon the countenance of a very neatly-dressed and intelligent
appearing young man whom Mr. Merritt imagined he had seen
befora The eyes of the two meeting, a sort of half-defined re-
cognition look place, without either of the two then making
any further demonstration towards following up a previous ao-
quaintance, if one had ever before existed.
In a short time, however, the young gentleman saunter«d
back and forth through the cars as if to stretch his limbs, and
finally terminated the walk by taking a seat beside Mr. Mer-
ritt and engaging that gentleman in conversation. If either
had at any time previously met or seen the other, noTeference
whatever was made to the fact, each gentleman evidently bein"
a quiet, self-possessed man of the world, with too much gooS
breeding and native politeness to introduce a recollection which
might prove incor . and lead to embarrassing explanations ;
but, in the course of an hour, the young man's winning man-
ners had evidently compleiely gained Mr. Merritt's good will.
Their chatting was at first of the most common place character
but, by-and-by the young man, who introduced himself as Mrl
Wilson, of Wisconsin, began a narration of his history. It was
romantic decidedly. He had sprung from nothing to wealth,
riches ard opulence._ His domains were vast and his green*
bMBB— cooauvei I i±v did not montion worthleai^ however.
106 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
. "^^Z **^«,!'*y' ^^' Merritt," remarked Mr. Wilsou; with an
riL""!!- ! '*"'^ °^. '^^ '°"°'^ *^''«"g^ '^hich they were
travelling « we are just coming to our dinner station; and I
have no less change than a fifty-dollar bill, and yoii know
there 8 always a rush at such places. Can you accommodate
ei?nestl ^°" ®^®' *° °*'**'^''' *"*^ ^- ^^°°'
"Certainly sir with ple&sure," answered Mr. Merritt, pro.
ducing his well-filled purse and counting out fifty dollars in
^T"''. \'^ tender-notes of Uncle Sam.^ He then handed thS
Klltr^il^K-'^^ J^°J" ^"™ S*^« ^'"^ » ^"ght, crisp
fifty-dollar bill which Mr. Merritt put in his pocket He knew
It was couLterfeit ; but he said nothing.
wJ^l^'r'^M ^.,Wi'«o»^'« ^Pense. A princely dinner it
was, too ; for Mr Wilson was none of your niggardly fellows
who begrudge a few dimes, or even a fewdollirs; but after
dinner, while the wealthy young gentleman from Wisconsin
was enjoying his Havana in the smoking-car, Mr. Merritt was
buned m deep thought. He taxed his brain to guess whether
he had ever seen that face before. He was a retired merchant,
and while m business he had come in contact with dl classes of
people. The voice, the manner, everything about his new ac-
quaintance, seemed familiar to him.
He kept (Jn thinking, and after straining his memory as much
as he could, a ray of sunshine shone on him. He was certain
now that he remembered the gentleman. Yes, it was he. Ten
years before he had passed a one-hundrod-dollar bill upon him •
and four weeks previous he had been shown the picture of this
very man as one who was wanted by the authorities for com-
YotL counterfeiters captured at Mott Haven, New
Mr. Merritt being a man of means, had plenty of leisure on
bis hands, and he at once determined to use it, if possible, to-
wards furthering the ends of justice. He was certain that the
counterfeiting business required manufacturers, and, as there
was much risk, a large amount of capital, and he was inclined
to cultivate his young friend to, if possible, secure his confi-
dence, a knowledge of how his business was conducted, the
°Uhi^ ^^ headquarters, and the men who were engaged
s : but after
professional'thieves and the detectives. 107
Purroatit to thia plan, he gradually evinced a great liking
for Mr. Wilson, flattered him, won his real regard and confi-
dence, and, at Wilson's suggestion, became his travelling com-
panion. They travelled together from Omaha to St. Louis,
thence to St Joseph and ICansas City, then up to Davenport,
Dubuque, St. Paul, andtlown to Janesville, a Nourishing ;jity
on the Eock river in Wisconsin, during which present trip Mr.
Wilson revealed his secret to Mr. Merritt, and proposed that he,
having large means, should engage in. it j to all of which the
latter, after some apparent hesitation, finally consented.
Wilson lauded the business to the skies, and displayed fully
ten thousand dollars' worth of the stuff. He said that they
must stop at Janesville, because his " business friends and the
house" were located near that city.
Mr. Merritt had no objection to thii arrangement ; on the
contrary, he was rejoiced to know Mr. Wilson's friends and
become engaged in so lucrative a business.
Ariving at Janesville, they took a short ride into the coun-
ty, and finally reached a fine mansion. They i^alked in, and
after Mr. Merritt Lad been kept waiting in a very pleasant par-
l6ur for some little time, he was conducted up-stairs- and given
a most friendly introduction to some half-dozen intelligent-ap-
pearing designers, engravers and printers. Dies, plates, en-
gravings, engraving tools, hand presses, proof-paper and, in
fact, eveiything necessary for the counterfeiters to carry on
their business, were scattered about in the wildest profusion.
Mr. Merritt passed the night with his new-made companions,
and quite a carousal was inaugurated in honour of this substan-
tial addition to their number, and prospective large acquisition
to their capital, and, on the whple, a jolly and sociable crew
they were.
•■? \^ arranged that young Wilson should return to Elmira
with Mr. Merritt, who was to arrange his business affairs in
that city, sor as to permit him to return to the West with ten
thousand dollars— the amount which had been agreed upon •
and the two before starting, were to visit Madison, the capital
of Wisconsin, in company with two others of the gang who
were just on the point of ledving for North-west Wisconsin
and Minnesota, with a Inraft snonlv of fhe " nnaai» »» ♦ « ^r^.i. ^se
tnat section of the country ; tod on the next momiog^ ao<
r 1
108 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Amving there, J^. MenStt on *'°-
found opportunity to telZS^th« .^.r P'"^^ «»• 0*^,
bnef outline of mittersrald areaL^r^^^T'l ** ^^^^on i
detailed to meet the party on th^rJ^- *S**^ °?'«" ^^^o^W be
On reaching MadiJoT M. li ' '*"^*^ *» tbat city,
feiters to the^offile^"^^/ 5,,^-^^^ P-^'ed. out the'iounter-
custody. ' *""* *^«y ^ew immediately taken into
w«iI^;SSfeJL.*» '"'" ^"P'^ M-- Wi.»n, the
to Jan^ville and captured the entire '"'' *' °°^« ''^''^rned
hundred thousand don^inZ,'^^^^r^> "P'^a^ds of five
magnificent counterfeiting outfiTbT/n^f ♦'"T^' ^^'^ » ^oBt
party were eventually Inv Id a?H ^*"r^' *°^ '^« ^^^ire
tennsofimprisonment^in ClSli^^ n'fi^ .*° ^'^"ous
Waupun, "** "'"^^"•w State penitentiary at
CHAPTER X
ATOAdTT OP PROFESSIONAL THIEVlS.
^IXg'L 27:^:^1 "ffi P'^^--^ *t-es i..
bravenr! and hJ^^^\ ^^^ ^^^ grade of talent,
.^^j, „, eieoution in the life of i2
V.
IROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 109
ionest man would make him a great financier, or a great fen«-
ral of armies or commander of multitudes ^^ ^
Probably afl striking an example of this kind of a person as
there ever was noticed among American criminals wm found
in the case of Chauncy Johnson, a notorious iC York
"sneak." This term will be found explained elsewhere and
IS appiicable, m a criminal sense, only to that class whose prc^
fession IS to secure packages of money or valuables f7om bank^
It will not be necessary to .elate the man's history although
nearly every criminal, the woild over, has lived ?life ofT-
niance and interesting adventure, and I will only give a few
instances m this naan's career which will illustrate the char^
teristics mentioned in th» subject as being not only peculiar^
..nf n« V ^^ °? ^"""^ *°y position in the banking or mer-
Z^Iw r'' °' ^^ '°''*^ ^^'' *"^ th« peculiar proficircy
fitted him for operating in such schemes aS would yTeldS
committed in broa<(dayliSiT^^^^^^^^ the p-resfr^^oaheTfficT:;
hv th?fJT'^' '^ ^' institution. Johnson entered the bank
by the tront door, about noon, took oflF his hat and overcoat
rLl\^u''fu^'''''' ^^'^^ l'^^«""d hangingon the walTstuck
t.rannt'''^ hi« ear aiid coolly walked around behind the coun-
ter and began busymg himself like an old hand
Ili'took Ihi? nof 1"^"'' * carpet-bag lying und'er the counter,
bank Goin^ H?r !r? ^T^'^S^^l^e at hand, and left the
Danj£. iroing directly to a beer saloon which he freauentfld
iTZs ''Zl th *^«^-k-P-. -king him te kee^itTr'i
^..XoSnt: ItterTy t'l:d^tlS tt 'il'
niitn^'IJ^!!^ entire circulation of the bank of that denomi-
— — *x«a«jr w.iu«if « w) lui ittotiiera houae. Johnson hid
I
II
110 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES,
heavily. InforEn w^l^ehL^Tt^^ began betting
flush with fiv^dolW bT£ a r nn I '^''^''T ""^ ""''^'^'iy
arrested, the baJancTof 1; mo'n«;. '"^i*^* ^^'^'' ^^ ^^
thief was given three y^ an?/ '''°^«[^^.' "^"^ ^he shrewd
lentitrjr. * ""^ ^^^^ '^^^ «« 'months in the State peni-
larg"e New tri^n^ZTZ' le^Jf iV'^ ^^* ^^^^^'"^
policeman several times an^ h«5 K ^"^ ^^."^ ^'^^ "P^" b| a
a spent ball which n,?;?^ ,^ ^?? wonnded in the head bv
pardoned out after be had served two ^'*"' ^"^ ^^
to»dats'^;tTC%'nys'^^^^^^^^
l^ked like Mmsti?rcot:^eTa pTaf &rS^ ^'^^
The manner in which' he accomplished thl inK J^ ^^ f^^""^
Bources of his genius and t h« «,». • j J?^ showed the re-
He loitered ouS tS? It untiTt'brf^f ^ °^ ^' °*^"e.
then entered it, put o^the cTerk^ n„l' i^'!:^ '''''^ *^ ^^^^er.
his ear, and weit^ to work ^ iLil v « .vl^'^t ?"* * P«" °^«^
employee. No one in the ^ffi- ^ ^"^ ^* ''^'' *" °^^
any other person'than te glVe'lrrwToir '^ ^^^
h^Xr^i'nriS^^^^^^
Finall? he got E^ld^f'a ptVaTn^^ '" ^"^ ?'« ^*°^« "P^".
slipped inti his pocket! S^d^^LnXTirl^^^^^ '^ ^"^'^'^
occurred he left the place m nn^?! !*^o"rable opportunity
game, is called "weeding" a blnk^ '"^"^^ bank-sneak
•• ^ )^ vvh;orheVrn thS thf r' ^''^^ "P.** «"« «"d like
^* V p :'l.d out a r^W^t^ T'' "^"^ m front of the
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TRE DETECTIVES. Ill
JThe money waa immedUteTy counted in » near resort, and.
?nlhr h n^"° 1°^ '^' thieves, was found to be a package of one!
do ar bills, only containing sixty dollars all told.
Let H go back and make it an even hundred or get caught"
«flia i/oiinson. • v-u^um,
rd^r*^ '^k'P"'! ^^' «<>"P'^nion. and the two re-ntered
.le bank, and began fishing for another pile.
But they were not so fortunate this time.
«« llF.^f''^^ °'*'^ chosen happened to contain new bills, and,
at nZ IrrTll^' «^\«l^«d\nd rattled so as to attract the
attention of the teller, who, with the help of the cashier, suc-
fnd hVwL'*''''"^ '^«"^°'""' '^'^^"^^ ^>« confederate esci^d,
and he was given five years at the Eastern PenitentiarV of
Pennsy vania. but was in some mysterious manner liberated a
the expiration of about half the term of sentence
K ,f -11*1 JT,*^ instances of the man's daring could be riven
vl'^York in^^^^^^ '''^''.^ '^^*^^ Fifth^venue gotel.'
friz Jhl^l •? P' *^^'*' '^'^"'^y ^^^^^ ^i" suffice to illusl
trate the traits of assurance and audacity in criminals.
ArtLT ""a ""• fhe «vcaL«g of the year mentioned, a well,
thrown . ° I ";P««'*^l«:aPPearing stranger, with an ivercoat
hi' ffl" *^u' Broadway entrance, and deliberately'^entered
the office as though he belonged there, o, had pressing business
with the proprietor. The office was simply an enclosure
s. uated on the south side, near the -centre of thrgrlnd haU'
JnH fV^'^^f'^^ th« ««ntre of this enclosure, and of each sfde
and back of It were desks at which clerks were busily engaged
r t ' '"* f ''^.' 'r'l^ '^' «^^«- ^"°*her clerk wa^ K
counter m front, attending to the incoming guests. Two of
tfZT'T' ?°^ '''°'^^' gentleman were standing nerthe
safe when the stranger entered, but without noticin| him, re!
tired into the private office. ° '
The strange gentleman.'who was Johnson, of course. foUowed
them, and after looking for a moment at the picTSes S
adorned the walls, made his exit into the outer office a^d an
proa^hed the safe, the door of which was standing Tper The
derks heard some one come from the private office, but suppos!'
L°i'i^^^' ^*«^e?^ °^*^« proprietors, paid no attention to hL
-.VT««,««. iuis ,ras ft pftfi of Johnson's plan to diMrm m»
4
112 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
picion ; but one of the house-porterg who sat opposite on Om
north aide ot the hall, watched his actions suspiciously. He
saw him approach the safe,, open the door, abstract a portion of
Its contents, and then walk quietly out of the office, down the
grand hall toward the Broadway entranc6.
The porter instantly crossed over to the office, and asked the
derk if that gentleman (pointing to Johnson) was stopping At
The clerk did not know. He had not noticed him befowL
from th af"^ ^^^^' "^* ^^ ^^^^ beei|^aking something
clerk J
u
go at onoe and'itop
"He has I" exclaimed the
him I"
The jiorter, in another moAent, was at Johnston's side, and.
just as he was entering the door to the reading-room, took him
by the arm and said : , " Here, I want you ! "
Johnston turned partly around, exhibiting a face not at all
startled, but full of innocent surprisa
"I'll be back in one momtent," he said blandly, as he con-
tinned his walk at a slightly increased rate of speed ; when the
porter, taking him roughly by the arm, replied : " But I want
you now t " and then forcibly conducted him into the private
Here he was searched, when a package of money was found
upon his person, which was identified as one previously depos-
• ited m the safe, while subsequently four packages of papere. of
no value to anybody save the proprietors of the hotel, were
tound upon the floor where they had been dexterously depos-
ited by the cunning thief previous to being searched.
New York breathed freer when the identity of the prisoner
became known, but through some trick of his friends and de-
bauchery of justice he was privately sentenced to but one year
at bmgbmg, which he served, and was again turned loose upon
the public, which he has ever since been afflicting in hii toil.
liAQt and audacious manner.
#
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECHVES. 113
OHAPTEB XL
ce not at all
A cnEiUEL DEsmrr.
MUST admit that among the^thousands of hardened
criminals with whom my detective experience hai
brought me in contact, there have arisen many instances
where I have in my own mind felt a deep commiseration with
and sympathy for, numbers of this outlaw class I have no
manner of apology for their guilt, and there is no man on earth
who would be more relentless than myself in running them to
the ground, and assisting in placing them where they must pay
the full penalty of their misdoing. Of this everybody is weU
aware ; but, I repeat, there are instances, many of them, where
these people have become reckless, desperate criminals, not
trom choice, or any natural depravity or bent in that direction,
but trom what has seemed the most luckless of aU possible cir-
cunastances, forcing and driving them on to the first crime, which
perhaps to cover, another crime seems imperative, and before
the desperation of the condition is realized, what was recently
an honest citizen has now become so hedged in by fear of expo-
sure, by moral cowardice and by reckless companions, that the
abandonment of the criminal life so unfortunately begun is
rarely a possibility. ^ ^
• '^Li°^**"j ® illustrating this class of misfortune came to light
in 1867, and though neither myself nor any members of my
force were engaged in bringing the facts to light, they have al-
ways interested me, and I think will prova entertaining to many
During the month of October of the year mentioned, a note
nous character, named JeflFerson Knight, was arrested at New
Haven, Connecticut, on the charge of horse-stealing, whose re-
cord proved exceedingly romantic. In the hope of escaping
punishment he made a confession implicating several of h5
oontederates. resultincr in th« Hi(i/>nirai.v »f «;i.. j -ii-__
property worth over fifteen thousand dolkra, which had bten
114 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
cojMMled in the 16ft of a small < hurch at Little Neck r nn.
• Island, where the robbery occurred ' ^^"^
KnTVT ^i'^f ««"^^«» however, failed to secure clemency for
Knight and he ^ as sentenced for a term of years at SsJnJ
from which prison he subsequently escaped While in S.
claimed them .mZftt^Za tZ ?o "aZVhr ^"^ '
L'i' :nT^ "' '^^'"8 Knight. Vett w™d'e"r:
» million of do lars m coin, which had been captured Tom X
troops of Maximilian, during the effort made bv tW iH ! ,
emperor to perpetuate his rule in Mexico ^ '"■^'*'^
cith^^beHev^^^^^^^^ corroborative reasons, was impli-
cuiy believed by the prison people as well as the officers at
S.ng Smg. Knight stated that he was born^nd broSt u,
m Queen's couaty, Long Island, where his father died when h
was about nine years old, leaving his mother and thr^rvoun.
children without adequate means of suppor . When aWe t
do for himselt he worked for different people^ in Oueen'l
county, where he bore a good character, affer which he wTn
acquii^d habits of intoxiUL^ Jlil'rel^hTihne^
the mfluence of hquor, he was persuaded by two of iis com
panions t6 participate in a robberv He ^JL^L I ^
after, but received warning i^^^L^ ^L'l^J^^^^^^ «»««
•Iter, but received warning in time to
\
avoid arrest bv leavino
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 115
iittle money, and he soughVin vainT-T"*^'' ^« ^^^^ ^ut
Standing one day lemingakaLITlI^' ^T?^ employment,
perate mood, he felt a handlaS on ht P°m '"* '^'h«' d^^.
app'eted^r^^^^^^^^ at Little Neck, and
open to him oUaking rS t "; ^'^'^S no other means
a pal of his desperate^comZi &,f'r°''°'^.^ "^ »>«««™e
series of burglaries in ffiShi^^ ^^t^r participating in a
tired of the nefarious business and ^^ ''''''^' ^' ^''"°^^
of a whaling vessel bound7or the iCcffifn "" °^' "^'^^^ «'«^
Not long afterwftrrlfl uJe y *.'*<'*"c Ocean.
coast of Ohili, l^ete wL'^h^e're'S f ^^'^^^^ ^ '^^
on the part of the natives. Havinlr^°^*''^'^°>« kindness
there until he could so retrwlK^ ^?'"'"^ * ^««'« to remain
return home and agafn resum^^ as to be able o
man in society, Me secured a berth f '" °^ * respectable
Meantime the owner h^rlK " "P°° * coasting vessel
and insisted thTkdgt Sd L^^^f ^^^^^^^^
whenever the vessel vyaf in port S« * ^"'\*' ^^« house
a most beautiful and amiable Sri S.^ l^^P^^^'er had one child,
and beauty of those raviSiv ho 1 P^«««««»ng all the grace
South, who have descended ?rf^e&^^ ^T'^'^ of the far
formerly reigned like rich pr S in thi?^'?i'^ ^'""^««« ^^o
and a strong attachment at ^ce -L.^'/'^f "^' «^»sual land,
.resulting ma marriage engarme„?^u^u{!^''.^''» the two
oi young Knight's employe?^ '"'' ""^'"^ ^^^ 'h^^*^" sanction
hop^l^o^ttt-fbl^r^^^^^^^^ which Knight
nate man, and seemed on the h^h rS^^^^ himself a forL
resumption of an honourable li f B?,f .^ ^^^1"'^ *°<i ^h.
TOle'n^^'^^^^^-^^^'^hetis^^ *^^ '^"^ <^««""yto
vesseUhrh^"e^th:n:rtt\!sr?TK^ ^^«<^-' his
ngged schooner, orderirh"^'iT.il.*^l«'i..hy ? large sqiare-
Warauceof the rakish-IookTn/^rafrh ""'-^ ^"^ ^^^^°« the
the command, but made all hLl ?o ' ^ ^^'l^^^ *"«^tion to
aJi haste to escape the vewel, which,
116 PROrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
kn a moment more, threw open a portion of her bulwarks, from
which the muzzle of i. gun immediately projected; and a heavy
charge, of grape-shot came tearing over the deck, killing all of
his^rew except two.
The pirates, for such they were, then boarded him, and he
was taken a prisoner to their vessel, his hands and feet pinioned,
and he confined between decks, after which his own vessel was
stripped of everything of value and then sunk.
Next day he was brought on deck, when the pirate captain
informed him that he could either hold himself in readiness to
obey his orders or else " walk the plank." The ship finally en-
tered the Gulf of Mexico, where Knight made an unsuccessful
attempt to escape. The captain then required that he should
take an oath not to leave the vessel, which he refused to do,
when he was again confined between decks, and in that situa-
tion Le remained for three months, during which time the most
terrible of crimes were Committed by the pirates. He ultimately
consented to take the oath dictated by the captain, and was
a^ain allowed to go on deck. Shortly after his liberation, he
discovered that there was a great deal of dissatisfaction exist-
ing among the crew, and, in an evil moment, he succeeded in
mciting a mutiny.
The men were about equally divided, and a bloody fight fol-
lowed ; but when those who were on the side of the officers.saw
that their leaders had fallen, they surrendered, and he found
himself in command of the pirate schooner. Not liking this
dangerous position, he subsequently resolved to destroy the
vessel, which object he accomplished soon afterwards.
He then made his way into Mexico and crossed the Isthmus
of Panama, but on arriving at Tonala, he could find no means
of getting back into Chili, which he made a desperate struggle
to reach, so that he might account to his employer, the owner
of the vessel which the pirates had captured and sunk, for his
long and mysterious absence. At the former place he fell in with
a band of men who had just joined the Mexican army, who
forced him to accompany them, but who oflfered tc «'har9
generously with him any plunder which might fall into their
hands. This command was headed by an ambitious captain,
Who thought that iie could do better by detaching his men
(rem the malR body of the Mexican army, to pursue a guerrilla
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 117
Btyle of warfare. This he did, taking with him altogether about
two hundred men ; and for nearly a year they were shifting
from place to place, wherever the largest amount of plunder
could be secured.
At last their numbers became greatly reduced, and theFrench
army, having grown tired of their repeated raids, began to use
vigorous efforts for their capture. About this time the captain,
who had conceived a great liking for Knight, informed him that
he was soon to make an incursion which would probably be his
last, as he intended disbanding ^is men.
The contemplated raid was for the purpose of capturing a
large amount of treasure which was soon to be conveyed under
a strong guard, from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. Tbii
capture was subsequently successfully eflFected ; but the French
troops pursued them so closely, that the captain, fearing they
would be overtaken, and perhaps lose the booty in a fight,
determined to conceal the treasure in the mountains.
Not wishing his men to know where the gold was hidden,
one night, the captain selected him and a few other followers,
by whose united assistance the treasure was finally securely
buried. They were still being pursued by the enemy in supe.
rior numbers, and after several days, were finally surrounded.
Although his Q3,ptain had a commission from the Mexican
Government, they knew that if taken they would be treated as
bandits, and they therefore determined to cut their way through
the French liites, or perish in the attempt •
While carrying out this last resolve, nearly the whole band,
including the captain, were killed, a few of them escaping only
to be recaptured in a short time. Knight, who was among the
number, was placed in a small tent, his nands and feet tied,
and a guard placed over him. About midnight he was visited
by an officer, who, having first sent away the guard lest they
should be overheard, begged him to disclose the hiding-place
of the coin, but he refused to talk upon the subject unless his
hands and feet were first loosened.
No sooner Had the officer complied with his preliminary
terms, than Knight grasped the officer by thethroat and choked
him until ho was almost lifeless. Then stripping him of his
aoiforiB lU^d seouiing his asmsf m buoud aud gagged ths half-'
~
118 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
SZd n,rnrh • ^*««!y i^««»ing ti^« Officer's Clothes he then
aiged out of the enemy's Ime unmolested.
Knight then made his way into Texas, and thence worked
his passage back to New York as best he could. an^vineTn the
latter city some time in the winter of 1866. Bei^g^^l des^'
fcut^ condi ion he was ashamed to call upon his friends afteran
absence of so many years, and shortly met a companion with
whom he again began a career of crime, his chief object b^na
the acquisition of sufficient means to carry him back to Ch?]f
80 that he might secure the woman heCr^ welll toS
A.^Z^ »nc?ntrollable influence seemed to force him into the
^^thonl q?'' T^ ^T ^^ ^^^ P^«°?«d i^to it, irappeared
he found wtl^ir^^ ""''' *^^^P^"S ^^' ^« i" » ^e^ weeks
ne tound himself the possessor of several thousand dollars
lomrmnnfT^o ^t^®''®''*'''^? *" ^i« c"™inal ingenuity for
Stfor thlV^n,? ^'^ '"r^^^^ ^^ ^^^""'^g funds llmostVuf'
hXkL « L "P^"®' '^*'*° * treacherous friend, in whom he
&i.n fr^lf^'^'-'^^'^*''*^ * P^*« to 'Ob and murder himu
l^olX7l!t'^^ ^^ ^^« ^^^' — <l«d - -bCg
r«t«r°nfn*rKT ^.^*f«^"«^ *o get money at all hazards and
Mturn to Chih J but was arrested while Jttempting to Dern^
1« ^iT""' '""'"' ^^'^ *^« '««"^*« *« already Kd ^ ^
from w£ CLh 'Tf- '"* ''"'^ ^^™' t'^^ ^'■^"^h officer
TtS J Q. * had made his escape had tracked him to the
United States, and to the door of his cell in Sing sL and
^rttdTs^r; tr:zi 1^ trr ^r'^' n ™^""'
tj^asure had been Ld tnt Mex'S ^ThT^LTr raxld^
threatened, bullied and made liberal promises by tLsb^^^
Melohrd".''^''*-'-^^P;^^^ ""^- ^^-^^ h« hadfrght -n
Mexico had a commission from the Mexican Governmflnr.«S
l^o:::Zr^^T^::t'^y ^^^ persecutors aftLVeS
the Jidence of hi«"^^^ ifel^J!! t^"^!™-^ -^^--d
be ioved, and now b^aaTuch^ceaaSera;^^^^^^^^^^^^
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 119
effect that his disgrace should be revealed to her, unless the
location of the treasure was divulged, that under all the terror
of such a result, and the burden ot his prison shame and blasted"
hopes, the convict finally succumbed to a terrible attack of
bram fever, during the convalescence from which, as already
related, Knight made the confession to Dr. Collins, the sub-
stance of which has here been given.
But the fate of -Knight was as sad as his career had been
disastrous. For a year or two after his recovery he plodded
along, an exemplary prisoner, at Sing Sing j when suddenly
ne made his escape from that stronghold, by digging a hole
through its roof.' Then, for a year or more, all his genius was
set towards securing money by whatever means were first pre-
sented, and enough was thus gained to enable him to purchase
a small ship, with which he set sail for Chili, but while his ves-
sel was off the coast of Cuba, it was run into by a Spanish
man-of-war, and instantly sunk with all on board ; so that the
little Chilian girl still waits for her absent lover ; the kind old
shipowner still waits in vain for his missing vessel ; and the
vast sum of gold taken from the luckless French still lies buried
from the eyes of greedy fortune-huaters, in the rugged mouu-
tun fiigtueases of far-off Mexico. ' ^5
.1
CHAPTER Xn.
CRIMINAL INGENUITT,
iHB real talent frequently displayed by criminals, not
only in concocting schemes for plunder, but in various
_ attempts to secure liberty after they have been grasped
m the clutches of the law, is simply remarkable.
In noticing these matters, as I have been compelled to re-
peatedly, I could not but reflect that had this genuine genius '
been devoted to honourable pursuits, how ^rpatlv wmiM cnomfy
have gamed thereby. Not half the assiduiV and patience "tiui
I .
120 PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES. '
;S'some ^r g'r.a?'* ""' "^*" "-P-^We, many men rich,
burne, Jack Cantor of ESP^^^f 'T'""^^' "^« ^'^ ShL
stance illustratiVe of tWs fe^^^^^^^ "^^^^^ ^^' *°°<^fa«r in-
notice, which occuv^iniepZf^'^^^^^ "'^d^' ^Y
1869, although the prisoner was^n^^^ '° '^' «""^"^«'- «^
awaitLgSlrtSrr^^^^^^ ^^"-- He was
incarcerated, he exercised th«n,.?? ^1^7 '"^^^^'^^ ^^ was
severance in attempts to esca^^^^^^ '^'^^' *"d P«r-
from, or who he waS. ufhad simnl^K ^"^'^ ""^'"^ ^« ^a«
the local officers for an adro'ifbuSj a'nT ^Ftrt'^' '^
awaiting his turn for a card of +£S' ? lu^o °^^®"' ^^s
tiary-one of the homeless hou-^- '^ ^*' P'"^*""*
wretches which infer£k„itv ;ftK\r^'^'^^^ characterless
pose great burdens upon socle 1^1^'?^ ^^f' P'"'""««' *«d im-
their lawlessness. C wi 111 .n^'' *• f ^^"'^ ^*««1^ ^om
attached to him, had he nr^PvlL ^ ''° '^^^'^'^ ^^^^^^ have
Bity to regain hi'slfberty ^ ^'^ inordinate propen-
waf ^c'ot'rTd I'thT ic't o? dtn^'^^^^-^T ^°-« ^^^ ^^
old saw.flle, which ho 3 i„ !„„„ °?'»"i«d » pwce of rusty
of wood he neMer t" en tatw^i''*^ 5"' ":''»'«''" Pi'>»»
split it in pieces and made a Lni^ 5?"^ /e™'"* » «''*'. •"
, penter's steel square, only tWe T^J ' ""^ ''?'* "^ « «'^-
the ends of two^iecis aS aZef ™"™"° P""' •'^ 'J^"«
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 121
a Kg; from a portion of heavy metal taken from his ration di.h
.f}r T ""T ""'"-dishea had two handles'but aS tht
got old, and were banged about with no gentle handK, Z
wlK.""* P"'°°'"; "■'•" "'«*'' lost a handle a"dwfre used
ha^^wSL i^ir^tltX-tlt, ti^gttiXtth:
"S'r '?^"» -SedtAv;Sor^'^^^^^^^^
s: iz prs:rn;L' ztt^i^t^ rw^
^-e^fPljicafon. the samesaoriaoe, tL same uprem^patieJoe
Cfit rf Sire."' ""* ""'"T "•x™ ""^ invenTon'^ trthe
m^ flmoue" ''"'"'■""«'• """''I 1»« ""de this impri«,ned
taken a portion of his shirt, and unravelled from°t hundreds of
TndTp. nTheS t^'' T^ ^"^'"\^^ ^^ ^^^ *^»^- tht th "ads
was founVtT I* «t»^g» nearly two yards in length, which
i':t':^:^i^::!^zx: " ^'""^ ^'^^ -perLt as the
whS'and"nLIr/ "^**^^ ^"^^J^ *^« «'°o^« 0^ t^e pulley-
122 PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
The whole being completed, he put his apparatus through
ihe grating «ud carefully felt for the keyhole by delicately
moving his machine from point to point until the key entered.
tint the poor fellow had miscalculated somewhat, and the key
thougn It entered the socket readily, did not pass some of the
obstructions of the lock, and when he pulled on the string
which he expected by the aid of the pulley and square would
have the effect of turning back the bar, the strain from the
leverage on the shank of th? key was so severe that it broke
the key, leaving a portion of the key in the lock.
An officer observed this, and also heard the disapDomtel man
exclaim : "Damnation I I'm np in a balloon this'time 1 It's
all over. The damned thing^s gone."
At this moment a prisoner passed his cell, to whom Williams
whispered : « For God's sake, pull out that key I "
His cell, however, was then examined. The ball and chain
had been removed' from hifi leg in a truly ingenious manner.
A piece of hard wood from his stool was fitted to the hole in
the leg-iron and a hole was made i.< '.his piece of wood a
little smaller than the screw, the end being sewed with a black
Jinen threaa. When inserted and turned, the thread cut strong
enough to turn the spring and unlock the irons. .
These are merely instances of his inventive genius. Proba-
bly not persevering or talented enough to accomplish a single
honourable and good thing outside of prison, his creative
faculty, when he was himself caged, was simply boundless.
Remarkably observing, he readily adapted means to ends,
and seemed to make everything subserve his purpose. Having
nothing in his possession in the shape of tools but the rusty
piece of old file, everything else needed was made from articles
in his cell. Although sixty-eight prisoners used similar articles
m their respective cells, yet this man, in his persistent efforts
to escape, gave the officers, more trouble than all the other
prisoners. His intention on this occasion, as he confessed, was
to secrete himself outside of his cell and attack the officer on
duty at night, and with a view to deceiving the officer on his
rounds, Williams had arranged a stuffed 'figure on his bed
using for the purpose his drawers and some straw from hia
mattress, putting his^boots on the legs of the figure, and attach-
ing to It the ball aud cliaia from which he had go luccesBfiillv
QleMrea ui« own leg, '
f
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 123
Wm'!!m?^'''^«'**n^^°^ *". "^' ^""i*n* attempts at escape
CHAPTER xm
A CLEVER BANK R0BBER7.
'EARLY every manner of bank robbery will be fonnd
explained under different subjects given in this book
of sketches and reminiscences, but I doubt whetheMt
IS possible to find elsewhere throughout the records oT or me so
cool and audacious, and yet so shrewd and weLplaZd a
This bank is located in the old district of Kensington which
in 1864. The neighbourhood surrounding the bank is orinc^
SielTr'^ of shipbuilding and manufacturing estaS
ments and is uot, by any means, considered one of the most
attractive localiljes of Philadelphia. The isolated posftioTof
the bank from the other banking-houses of the city necTssarilv
caused Its surveillance by the police to be much ?es8 ThI
building occupied had been remodelled from 1 substandal
safes, was hardly the sort of a structure necessarv to such a
rng^'/saitnrbij^^^^^^^^ '- '^^ ^p«-^^- '^
nary care and iud^mpnt. as *>- v..,:i j._ X ^V^ences ot ordt-
poiitts about it." "" -«uum^ uaa eo mmy wealc
.1 'i
■t ■
it
124 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
y..^*^^ !^ t^-fr^^^ ^'^'f" ««^™«^ ^ entertain, however
r*ffnf H ^'f ^'"^'^'"g /ni^'ht tempt some of the or. inarynir:
LL/k ^^ locality to break into it for what slight p un fr
might be gecurea about the offices, and, at first, only one watch
man was employed ; but. finally, as he probably gotTonesJmr
offlo.™ P^T'",' °^ *, '''''''^ watchman was urged upoT^'e
officers, and reluctantly secured. These were provided wh
huge revolvers for close work, if it flver should come to tit
attll i;^r' ^"' ^^"g'^g^y g^^e that might be nece sa y to
attack at longer range This much provided for. everybody
fek happy and safe m the condition of the bank and Itstret
But these precantions, such as they were, were of no avail
Trickery, and that of the most Idroit and skilful kind
accomplished, as it ^Iways does in criminal matter what no
force or ruffianism could hope to attain '
1R71 11'*°*' ^""^ "^t^^ '" ^?* afternoon of the 29th of January
walhmin P*"! '*"'^/' ^^^ ^""'^ There were present onT;
CoStr%"n°«T^ ^^^^^' * gentleman named Mc^
LonnelL One of the strangers was dressed in a fuU police
uniform carrying a club and wearing a shield ^
"Is this Mr McConnell V asked the policeman.
I OS sir, he replied ; " what's wanted ?"
" Well, It's just this," said the policeman, in a brusaue hnsi
TnToTtl'; ^ /-^--t-'-meLing, of 'couL'^Ki:
an of the district-" sent me over to caution you folks to use
a httle more vigilance for a timp. Several suspicious charac'
tew have been slouching about the neighbourhood."
*f f Jo " kI-? ' *^f 1". yP"'" «*^^ McConnell, really gratified
Sw^wm K*"'''" o^kindness on thq^part of the lieStenant.
waTm refeptl''"'^''"^ '"'^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ '' '"^^ ^^^ '^
McConnell (iter giving instructions to the watchman and
promising to have word sent to his companion to Ton hand
»t the bank an hour ear her than usual, took his departure,
i be policeman and bia n^mr^a.^: — '■-.-i.—.j _,*,.,
i- -M — . ^...^j..„iiiU4a .vivciuu aooub ine place
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 125
for a little time, chattinj? pleasantly with the watcHman. and
finally started away, remarking : ^
u \n *^ L® ^^^^ *"^ *®® y^" during the evening "
All right— I wish you would," said Holmes : " but do you
know, I think it's all fudge I " » , um ao you
"Well, whether it is or not, / tell you- ,hoot the fir$t mm
who attempts to enter the building tonight / "
" I'll do it, sure " rejoined Holmes, with a nod and a wink.
wlf l"" ^*S ^^T^\ '7® *'^ f""y prepared for anybody."
Watchman Murphy.had not yet arrived, but when he did
come Holmes told hira of what had occurred, and the two set
IT^^ J f^'"f ^"^ ^'"^''•, ^*^" '^^'^^^^^^ ^«f« cleaned,
reioaded,and placed conveniently upon a table ; and the loaded
guns m a neighbouring closet were examined, while the two
men cracked all sorts of jokes about a possible attack, and how
they would distinguish themselves heroically should one be at-
temp^edt
Between seven and eight o'clock a tap was heard at the door
and Holmes remenabering what the policeman-as he supposed
him to be_^had told him, concluded his 'friend had returned,
and without the slightest suspicion of wrong, opened the door.
in " \l^l^^'' r '^*'°' '^ t'^ ""^^ y**'^ «*^ *^yi°g to come
m, said the policeman, laughing.
"Some of you fellows ought to be shot, the papers say,
re-
Who's this with
plied Holmes, shaking his hand heartily.'
you I "
"Oh, only a neighbour up in Spring Garden Street, that's
trying to sell me a little place up there. Come in, Bob," he
concluded, addressing the alleged neighbour.
Bob did go in with the rest.
"We thought we better come around and see how you are
gettmgon resumed the policeman; "the lieutenant thinks
there will be an attack made to-night. He wouldn't give me
any particulars. You know these d d police officers like to
appear wise.
Holmes was a good, honest soul, nearly sixty years of age
altogether unsuspecting of evil, and Murphy was not much
younger, while being altogether as simple. The policeman and
UIS iriend WftrM nKlrurl tn a\\ A,^^^ ^\^l~\. i.1 J- 1 rn,,
^ 1 ^ "I'll- *. "" ■ ■ •-'"""> ""iv" uiu}- uiu. men a
regular storyteUmg time was entered into. The weather wm
4
326 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES,
ies came up. SnTw^s aft JitfS 1h2''''^^Tu*"^ bank-robber-
his friend wonderfulTy en erSnin T'' *"?5.^' policeman and
Pf this descriptiorirVu^^^^^^^^^^^ watchman with stories
phy to take l™lk'as fafX ct„ere t'H°'1'" **"■
tomers near the bank as they came in ' ^^"^^^^l^^^g cue-
the'lrmC^bf^tf^^^^^ Holmes and
men said he was tSly Sty anS Z ""'""'f ""^ «^^^«
get him some water Aa tli f ^^ ? holmes volunteered to
of the bu?lXj, he wailed w^^^ i" ^he rear
lowed by the 8tanjrrih«w"-l'^''''^^°"' ^''^S fol-
water h'e was selTLm beMnrhi: Its'ty '"T"^ ^^«
gag thrust in his mouth. ' °*^ ^®^^' ^'^^ » ^ope
In vain he tried to free himsplf u^^ * •
handcuffed, and rendered entirdy hdp™ *T w ^Tk"' *^^'^'
ned mto the cashier's room »^I ^ejPiess. He was then car-
of the rascals placed JstTi" 1^ ^ "^"^^ ^°'''' ^"^ °°®
He had not been ioCli ?hl 1^ " ^T^ ^^''^ ^^'^'
l^e heard the dooT oj^f ^nd^t n X^'i^eT^n'""^ '^'°"
struggle and a faint cry, and a heaW faH nnnn fi, ^«'^ ""^^ «
his feet doin/it withht h»!?= ^-'u^' '"coeeded in freeing
behind him. °Thrnei.hh„,?™t' "^ "''* "ruffled" or tied
notim, b„t I^LtlfJt^lr.T?/,™"^^-!''™*' polio,
vice, of . bl«ksmith werlTounTneoiZr "'"'"'"'' '"* "*
$
CO
5
VES.
of subjecu
nk-robber-
Beman and
ith stories
> resources
nsisted of,
I use, and,
n's know-
ler, when
d to Mur.
direction,
ng about,
•king cus-
Imes and
ne of the
eered to
the rear
eing fol-
iving the
d a rope
^n, tied,
hen car-
and one
im.
, before
was a
r. His
jed and
I there
jple of
noises
freeing
or tied
I police
he ser-
m
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 129
Now here was a piece of business that deserves high rank
ftowng the most brilliant of bank robberies. The whole job
winch was planned and its execution led by Frank MdCoy or
"big Frank, ' something about whom will be subsequently
given, was one which showed, in its entirety, the most carefiil
calculation of time and conditions, the ablest judgment of
character, and the most consummate daring and personal bra-
very ; and IS only another illustration of what I am continu-
ally urging upon bankers and business men, which is simply to
fersonally know that their safes and vaults are constantly and
completely guarded, and that far greater precautions should be •
Now, in this instance, it was developed that Murphy was a
shoemaker, and was in the habit of taking his « kit " of tools
to the bank and, through the night, of doing various pieces of
cobbling for himself and friends: This fact alone prevented
a discovery of what was going on in the bank in time to frus-
trate the robbery ; for the neighbours were accustomed to hear-
ing the shoemakers hammering, and the genuine police were
also accustomed to it The hammering within the bank on
this night was repeatedly heard by both the poUce and those
livmgm adjacent houses; but Wta not given any particular
attention from this fact The robbers had shrewdly calculated
on all this, and this weakness of the bank management ia p«^ .
mitting anything besides constant watchfulness within ^e
building, proved the robbers' strength.
Too much blame cannot be attached to such negligence on
the part of bank officers. The cashier's first duty on being
apprised of the threatened danger was not merely to take thS
matter so airily, but to have doubled" the force within the bank
and then provided watchmen on the outside to keep an eye
not only upon any persons skulking about the buUding. but
close guard upon the inside guard themselves.
I have found in my almost unlimited experience in these
matters that it is often a good thing te have watchmen watch,
mg watchmen.
But the negligence of the Kensmgton Ban^ officers was not
at all exceptional Bankers, from a policy of false economy.
will only provide one or two hhl ft»llAi»^a o^ «,«♦-! _u •"
•choolbo^ might easily oyercome; take no preoautioiu to m«
i
130 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
that even tnese men are responsible, or at least ever vigilant
and then, after a few years of this sort of « economy," have the
pleasure of coming down town of a morning- to find their bank-
ing palace in h hubbub, and treasure enough taken to have pro-
tegted their places absolutely for a quarter of a century I
The robbers of the Kensington Bank secured upwards of
seventy five thousand dollars in cash and Government bonds
not a penny of miich was ever recovered, nor were any of the
perpetrators ever apprehended, at least on that distinct charee
Frank McCoy, the leader of the Kensington Bank robbery*
. with "Jimmy" Hope, "Jimmy" Brady, and Joe Howard!
another combination of notorious bank-bursters, were, in the
fell of 1873,- arrested for participation in the robbery of the
First National Bank of Wilmington, Delaware. They were all
convicted and sentenced to receive forty lashes at the pillory
as well as ten years' imprisonment.
About eight mbnths subsequent to their incarceration they
escaped from prison at New Castle, where a steam-tug had
been provided by friends, and thus were for a time placed be-
yond the clutches of justice.
They were, after a time, re-captured, but managed to escape
and immediately set about coij^ummating a plan for the robbery
of a bank at Suffolk, Virginia. In this they .were peculiarly
unfortunate, being arrested in the very act. McCoy made a
strong fight for his liberty, having large means at his command
and consequently plenty of friends and the ability to secure
able counsel But he was finally convicted on the strength of
the testimony of my son, William A. Pinkerton, whom^ as a
mere matter of justice to a suffering commercial community, I
authorized to proceed from Chicago and complete the robber's
unmistakable identification.
But the same parties, at different times, again managed,
through consummate skill and lavish bribery, to effect prison
escapes before the expijation of their terms of sentence, con-
tmumg their career of crime. Their present whereabouts are
att follows :
"Big Frank" is still at large, making his headquarter!
among the criminal gentry of New York city.
^^" Jimmj^" Brady ^as arrested for a brilliant piece of shop-
iUimg iii iNew York citj, after a running fight "on the street
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 131
with the officer (this sort of procedure i)eing called in the slang
of criminals " running a muck"). He was recognised as an
escaped convict from Sing Sing, and on all the indictments
found against him was finally given fifteen jears' imprisonment
and sent to Auburn for thdt term, the prison of that place
being his present place of residence.
" Jimmy" Hope was apprehended at Deep River, Connecticut,
for participation in a robbery of the First National Bank at
that place, and, while awaiting trial for this crime, was taken
on a requisition to Dexter, Maine, for the robbery, in company
of " Sam" Perns, aiia$ ♦' Wooster Sam," of the Dexter National
Bank, and is now awaiting the disposition of his case at that
city J while Joe Howard, the last member of this particular
gang of most dangerous men, was captured for complicity
■with George Mills, alias Bliss^ a/ia« White, and " Pete " Curly,
in the robbery of the ^st National Batik of Barre, Vermont,
and, also being recognised as an escaped Sing Sing convict, was
returned to Auburn, to serve his unexpired term, and is now
within its safe walls, in company with his old friend " Jimmy"
Brady.
CHAPTER XIV.
A BURGLAl^'S DEATH:
■ i
, BOUT midnight, on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1879,
a waggon, to which was attached an antiquated sorrel
horse, whose four feet shone through the gloom, was
driven on board the boat at Astoiia Ferry, Brooklyn, New
York. The floor of the waggon wag covered with some loose
straw, and upon this was laid a peculiar-looking obje.«.t, covered
with two stable blankets and a piece of oil-cloth. Upon the
driver's seat sat two men, rough-looking customers, who might'
be readily mistaken for street hucksters or tramps. Silently
ih« boat crossed the river, and upon landing, the waggon warn
132 PKOPESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
driven away m rapidly as the laboured moyementg of the atiff-
jointed animal would permit.
Over Harlem Bridge they rattled, and by a circuitous route,
as though their inteption was to evade-a pursuit, they reached
a lonely place called Tramps' Rock, near Yonkers. Drivina up
to the edge of the woods, the two men alighted, and going tS
the rear end of the waggon, caught roughly hold of the burden
they carried so far, and drew it towards them. Then taking
hold of either end of the mysteriously enveloped bundle, which
appeared to be very heavy, they entered the woods.
Alter walking, or rather staggering a short distance, they laid
It down and proceeded to remove the covering which enveloped
• -J i*j Z^^'^m*"?^ ^^™ °^ » ^^^ was exposed to view,
ngid and dead. Taking from his pocket a pistol, one of the
men leaned over the corpse andplacing the muzzle close to the
white forehead, aeliberately discharged it. . Then laying the
weapon down withm reach of the stiffened fingers of the dead
man, they silently left the spot, and entering their waggon
drove away m the direction in which they carnl '
A few days after this, some farmers in the neighbourhood,
passing through the wood, discovered the lifeless remains whicll
had been so secretly and mysteriously deposited there. The
authonties were at once notified, and un investigation com-
menced. Inquiries soon developed the fact that the dead man
was none other than George Leslie-aHas George L. Howard—
a noted burglar, who was well known in criminal circles, for
his daring and boldness in the precarious occupation he had
followed, and whose skUl and success had excitld the wonder
and admiration of his companions in crime, as weU as both
police authorities and detectives.
It was at first supposed that the man had committed suicide,
but from the discovery of two pistol wounds, and both from a
ditterent weapon the belief was forced upon all that he had
wa?found^ ^ ^"^ ^^^"^ conveyed to the place where he
The body was claimed by friends and decently interred in a
cemetery m New York, and, after an unprofitable in vestigatioiL
the matter passed out of public notice. ^
A brief hiatorv nf fchia ramai.1r<>KI^ .^ A _
interwadng ' --«=«» «.a«^tw mau uaijf J20« prove qq.
PROPESSrOiTAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 133
GeoigeLeonida* Leslie— or as he was more widely known.
George L. Ho^ *rd— was born of English parents in a little vil.
lage in the State of New York. His father being quite weal-
thy, and idolizing his son, gave him an excellent education.
He graduated at a western university before he was eighteen,
with high honours. He was bright, intellectual, and developed
much mechanical ingenuity, and high hopes were entertained
by his father that a brilliant career was before him. Prior to
the completion of his studies, however, his father died, and
alter a time his mother remarried. The step-father was not. as
might be expected, a great favourite with George and his sister,
and serious famUy difficulties were engendered in consequence*
Mr. Leslie, at his death, left a large sura of money for his
children, but placed the control of it in the hands of his widow
and very soon after her second 'marriage the custody of this
money was transferred to the step-father and was eventually
swallowed up m his business.
Of course this action created much trouble and dissatisfac-
tion m the family, and George, being of an impulsive disposi-
tion, accused his step-father of robbing them. The result of
this was, that after the impetuous boy had bitterly upbraided
both his mother and his step-father, he was driven from home. ,
Ihus cast upon his own resources, he led a wandering, vi-
cious Ufa He engaged in business in Milwaukee j was proprie-
L- o. i®^ ^" ^*" Francisco, and, later, had established him-
self m St. Louia
, He soon, however, fell into bad company, and the war break-
ing "':« about this time, he, in company with one Mike Staf-
ford, became quite notorious as a bounty-jumper— makin? a
great deal of money in that way, and being always succeslful
m escdping detection. •
He soon made the acquaintance of James Dunlap, Robert
Scott, and others of that Uk, and quickly developed into one
ot the most reckless and scientific burglars and « safensrackers "
m the fraternity.
He was in Chicago at this time, and, being hard pressed for
money he proposed to some of his "pals " to attempt the rob-
oery or a sate m a rtrnminonf Ka..ij.:^~ i — ~— :- al-^ .?i- . ^
- .,„„„, „....,..„jj_ jjj i,iiai> ciiy, of
and gagging "him—
game.
overpowering the watchman and " bucSng
a process that is known as th« " atick up^'
134 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
« ^hy," sai4 one of the company, "Pinkerton's meu watch
*f^*n®'/" ,!*'? ?*" 18 around there uimost all of the time.-
" Well," replied he, " we can tie him up."
"Yes," urged the other, « but the sergeant goes around every
half hour, and the man will soon be missed."
" It wouldn't be much extra trouble to dispose of the ser-
geant, would it 1 " said the reckless man.
" Well, even then," persisted his more timorofis companion,
the regular police offlt<5r will make his round, and he will dis!
coyer th> absence of the private watchman outside.""
Theresnohelplor it, then," at last said Howard, "the
policeman will havp to be tied up too."
His companions how wer did not possess the reckless cour^
age for an undertaking that involved an attack Upon four watch-
aba™d*o"ned" ^ ^^ '^^ ^^^^^ °^ Howard, the "job" was
' ^■l'' ^^^?' ^? °*"® ^ Philadelphia and engaged board with a
widow lady, in one of the most aristocratic localities in the
Vuaker City Howard was a very handsome man, polished and
well educated, speaking the French, German and Spanish Ian-
guages, and being respectful aad assiduous in his attentions to
the ladies, and off-hand and good-natured in his intercourse with
the gentlemen, he soon became a general favourite. He had in-
troduced himself as George L. Howard, and represented that
toe was engaged asia revenue detective under the Government
About this time the " Beneficial Savings' Fund Society " in
that city was entered and robbed, the safes broken open, and
one million three hundred thousand dollars, in bonds, securities
and money were carried off, and soon after the revenue detect-
ive disappeared.
The lady with whom he boarded had a very beautiful and
accomplished daughter, with whom Howard soon became inti-
mately acquainted— a mutual affection being the result. Two
or three years after his disappearance from Philadelphia, he ac
cidentally met this young lady in Baltimore. Their acquaint-
ance was thus renewed, his long absence satisfactorily accounted
lor, and they were eventually married.
.ffll^*5' }^'^\ in company with.two other burglars, Howard
attempted to rob a jewellery store in Norristown, in Penns-l^
vanla. They wtn diacoyered in the act and were'aarprierb/
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 135
a Stern commanfli to surrender. This command his two com.
panions at once obeyed, and throwing up their hands, were se-
cured, but Howard, springing behind an awning post, dre^ his
pistol and defied the officers to arrest him. Eleven shots were
fired at him, but, strange to say, not one of them took effect.
He sprang away, but was tripped up after he had succeeded in
wounding one of the officers. The three men were then locked
up, but Leslie, offering bail, was set at liberty, and forfeiting
this, he never appeare<l for trial. His companions, however,
were each sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
It was after this event that he met the young lady whom he
afterwards married. Howard and his bride returned to Phila-
delphia, and lived in luxurious apartments with hi8 mother-in-
law. He was devoted to his beautiful wife, and lavished upon
her many costly gifts. He entered the highest circles of society,
and by the brilliancy of his conversation, and the wide know-
ledge which he evinced, he at once obtained an entr6e into the
mner-sanctuary of Philadelphia aristocracy.
In 1871, Howard, in collusion with some companions, was
concerned in the successful robbery of the Kensington Baftk,
an account of which is given elsewhere, and by which they
secured $1 00,000. He was not discovered, however, and engaged
m several very daring robbgries in that city shortly afterwanls.
He remained in Philadelphia until 1873, making frequent.
vmta to other cities— assigning to his wife bis duties as an
officer of the.Government, as a reason therefor. To follow his
numerous burglarious undertakings would be both tedious and
laborious, but a careful estimate which has since been made,
discloses the fact that during his career he must have received
as his share for the various ventures he engaged in over half a
million of dollars.
Finding that Philadelphia was getting a trifle too warm for
him, he removed with his wife to Brooklyn, and established
•himself at the Clinton House, in that "City of Churches."
Here be became identified with some of the most noted bur-
glars of his day— and his keen perceptions, matchless audacity,
skilful mechanical power, and suave manner soon marked him
as a virtual chief.
-,fi wsg an ardent loTur of good music, and was familiar with
icience and litenture. He frequented the opera, and seemed
il'l;'"'"
136 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
to take more delight in the iweet Btraina of Verdi and Doni-
setti, than m the vulear amusements in which his companions
indulged. Ho was also a great favourite with the ladies, but
in hio mteroourse with them, was always gentlemanly and i^
fined.
lie made a specialty of "the '-safe combination locks," an
invention that, it was claimed, would defy the operations of the
most skilful burglar. Whenever anything new was invented
he made It his business to discover the secret of its manipula-
tion. He would purchase a safe or a lock, and would not le-
imquish his task until he had become thorough master of all its
intricate machinery. For this talent he was much sought after
by the burglars from all sections of the country, and he was at
one time interested in or had knowleuge of most of the success
till robberies that took placo in the United States. It has been
confidently stated by his associates that there was not a com-
bination lock in existence that he could not open.
After Howard removed to Brooklyn, he became intimately
acquainted with Shang Draper and "Billy" Porter, two bold
atfd daring burglars who had amassed quite a fortune. Both
of these men were married, and to beautiful women, arid the
rumour soon became current that Howard's attentions to the
two ladies were a source of annoyance and jealousy to their
husbands. Whether these rumours were founded upon fact or
were the idle inventions of enemies, I am unable to say, but
Howard continued assiduous in his attentions to his own wife
who loved him too devotedly to indulge in a momentary bus-'
picion of his faithfulness.
About this time he was connected with an unsuccessful at-
tempt to rob " The Manhattan Savings Bank " in New York.
By deft management cne of their number was admitted as a
menial m the service of the bank, and on a Sunday morning the
burglars were admitted. The safe was secured with a combina-
tion dial lock, with the mechanism of which Howard was per-
fectly conversant A hole was bored in the door of the vault
under the dial, and a stiflf iron wire was inse.-ted. Three of
the four tumblers were in use at the time. Two of thm were
thrown into an unlocking position, but the third crftild not be
moved : nor could t-.liA Kurorlom A^t^^.^:^^ «,i 4.1.-: .1...1
uon« were at fault.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 137
After vaiious unsaccessful attempte to force the resisting
lock, they were compelled to abandon their labours. They
puttied up the hole, painted the putty, and then cleanly sw^pt
up the steel filings and unobservedly departed. In the morn-
ing the vault door could not be opened, and the maker of the
lock was sent for. That gentleman succeeded in opening the
door, but was surprised to find some difficulty in working the
combination, and he removed the lock for the purpose of ascer-
taining the difficulty. When the plate was removed* the
puttied hole was discovered, and the proofs of an attempted
burglary presented themselves to view. To their consterna-
tion it was found that if the hole had been bored an eighth of
an inch lower, the tumblers would have been aligned and the
door opened.
In December of this same year Howard discovered.that an
actor at the Park Thektre was paying attentions to h's wife,
and he afterwards surprised her in the act of writing a letter
to him.
His jealousy was at once aroused and he treated her very
harshly, and immcuiately sent her home to her* mother in
Philadelphia. He then sold out his luxurious furniture and his
extensive library, and became reckless and dissipated in his
habits, frequenting houses of ill-fame and consorting with ab-
andoned characters.
In February, 1877, however, he again became reconciled
with iiis wife ; but his jealousy was rxot stifled and he insisted
that she should remain with her mother, while he returned to
New York and continued his wild manner of living.
The wife followed him and soon obtained her old control of
him, and in April he rented a ];ieat little cottage on Staten Is-
/and, and bringing the' mother of his wife to this place they
again commenced housekeeping.
He so-^n grew tired of this, and his wife and her mother
again returned to Philadelphia, while Howard went back to his
old companions.
On the 22nd of February, 1878, the Dexter Savings Bank of
Maine was closed at its usual hour. James W. Barron, the
caahier, was in the habit of working after office hours, and b«t
reiaaia^ iu the bank that aftoiuooa. As he did not rekuB
'1 i
138 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
nonie to Urn his family became uneasy about him, and some of
. them went to the bank to ascertain the cause of his absence.
On entering the building they were confronted with evi-
dences of a struggle in the outer office, and a further search re-
eulted in the discovery of the body of the cashier jammed in
between the outer and the inner doors of the vault. The man
had been gagged and bound, there were several severe wound*
upon the head, and a slip noose had been drawn so tightly
about his neck that it had cut through the skin. He was alive
when found, but died within an hour after his removal
All that the thieves succeeded in getting was one hundred
dollars from the bank and five hundred dollars which they M»ok
from the pockets of the murdered man.
In this affair, Howard, although not concerned in the mur-
der, was connected with the attempted robbery, and he be-
came considerably alarmed at the closeness of the pursuit that
was at once commenced. He fled to Baltimore, and while
there he learned that his wife was visiting in the same city.
He called at the residence where she was stopping, but
failed to find her at home, and upon inquiring of some of the
neighbours, he was informed that the house did not bear a very
good name. •
Nfeeting her upon the street shortly afterwards, he attempted
to draw his pistol and threatened to kill her. The lady, how-
ever, stoutly asserted her innocence, an4 Howard, becoming'
mollified by her explanations, repaired with her to the house,
when he liscovered that she was simply visiting an aunt, who
was a very respectable lady.
Howard soon began to evince a decided melancholy, and
seemed tp be in constant fear of assassination. He told his
wife, at one time, that he had done something that would yet
result in his death.
What that something was, remains a mystery to this day—
and no one has yet succeeded in discovering the causes whicn
led to his being murdered.
He returned to Philadelphia with his wife, and one .evening,
while in the Continental Hotelj he indulged in a violent quar-
rel M'ith some noted thieves, several of whom were suspected
•gainst whom no definite proofs could be adduced, la this al-
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 139
tercation he was openly accused of an attempt to betray hit
friends, which so incensed him that he struck his accuser in
the face.
The quarrel grew furious, and finally one of the men de<
parted suddenly, and it was alleged in quest of a pistol to shoot
Howard. The matter was finally settled, and the party be-
came apparent friends once more.
His old companions began to display in a very decided man-
ner their suspicions with regard to him, and frequent mutter-
ings foretold the coming of the Rtorm. Among those who
evinced the most unmistakable a?itipathy towards him was
Shang Draper, with whom Howard had always been upon
terms of the closest intimacy, and whose friendship heretofore
had seemed to be undoubted.
It was alleged, that while Howard and his wife were living
in Brooklyn, they were frequently visited by Mrs. Draper.
She was quite a handsome woman, with a fair complexion and
a very neat and attractive person. Her eyes, which were light
blue, were lar^z*^ ' ressive, and, it was stated, dw( t more
fondly upon t j,udsume Howard than was befitting the wife
of another.
Howard's pleasing manners had made quite an impression
upon that lady, and they became more or less intimate, but not
to the extent of arousing the suspicion of his wife, who was
perfectly cognizant of the intimacy existing between them.
Draper, however, is known to have been exceedingly jealous of
Howard's attentions to his wife, and those who knew him an-
ticipated trouble in consequence.
Howard was also unfortunate enough have excited the
jealousy of " billy " Porter, by the polite attentions which he
paid to Mrs. Porter ; and one time when Porter was visiting
Canada he got into trouble, and sent for his wife to come to
him.
She came, accompanied by Howard, who actively interested
himself in behalf of his friend. Upon their arrival Porter up-
braided his wife severely, and gave vent to his suspicions of
her intercourse with Howard. This matter soon blew over,
aud frequently_ thereafter both Porter and Draper availed
themselves of lioward's skill in vadous operations in woich
tiiey engaged.
1*0 PBOFESSIONAL THffiVES AND THE DETECTIVES.'
on one oocsion, after robWDg a LfeZ^l *''«""r, «nd
hidden near tte scene "/JbetlbC^"''' "^^ ^ '-'»
was allowed to denarfc imnn ?• ^®.^?»^d surrender the monev
turned faithJlyThL Jriefcir^ ^^'« *^« ^^d, Tnd r^!
It :„t t-'^'P^'"'"^^^^^^^^^ '^« promised restitution
in <»uT4fermoney3\h^Zf **• ^«« «««Pected of dealing
attempted to fasten Ion htm som«"'" •/'^^^"' ^^ ^^^4"!
tion in the "shovihg^f tCq^e^''t°«^^^^^«P«r^4a^
these men-a person by the n2m« Af fi ^ ''^''^^ T^'S^^^ "of
son selected to entrap Howard L/ •ff*f*~'^»«'^« P^r-
2,^ ^or the crimed ^^rtl^^l^ ]^^ £;
«olrdlt hr^^^^ r having been
Tersation agreed to sell h,W packa " nf""' *^'. ^ "^^''^ <^»-
the rate of two thousand dollars fnr^fi counterfeit money at
quent meeting was arranged fnr of ""^ ^"°^'"«^ A subse-
appointed, both i^n madfthefr kn^^^ ^''^P^^' ** *he time
cessary delay the quondam dr.?^^**'*"?^' ^^^h'^"* «nn^
spurious notes, and Howard nS"^' v'''^"^ his package o1^
dred doUarsgenuine moTey w& h^h Jf''^'* '^' ^^^ hun-
sooner had Sergeant disoofed ofThf . \®®" promised. No
h-Pfson than^e attempted toa^^^^^ about
but the athletic burglar deliveredTi^i*?^.^^' *he offence,
nose ofhis assailant Ind sue S "P^'^ ^^e
, Considerably damaged anH ^iS^ j? P'°^-
tive stool-pigeon r"pSd S> the offi!f ^/I^'^^^^^^^ ^^e deteo-
port the result of hi^s iS ^e/vif ^ Heri\'7v!^^«'« ^ «-
and disappointment awaited him fnT*„«S '* *?**^her surprise '
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 141
toe money for ten or fifteen dollars in good bUla, which lay
open the top of a very comfortably-sized package of neatly
trimmed wrapping paper. The wily Howard had been entirely
too "fly" for the gentlemen who found themselves so egre-
giously duped.
He was afterwards arrested, but in the absence of legitimate
proof of his guilt he was discharged.
. Just prior to his decease Howard, in partnership with Por-
ter and Irving, was engaged in a. silk robbery in the vicinity of
New York city. They succeeded in carrying off about six
thousand dollars' worth of silks, and escaped detection.
. The owner of the store was an Irishman of very eccentric
habits, and who had no confidence whatever in the security of
banks. He, therefore, acted as his own .banker, and it was
alleged would secrete his money within the folds of the silks
which constituted his stock. Upon this particular occasion, it
was ascertained, the careful storekeeper had concealed about
fifteen hundred dollars in one of the rolls of silk which these
burglars succeeded in carrying away. *
Many think that Howard found this money, appropriated it
to his own use, and declined to divide with his " pals," and by
some this action has been regarded as the cause of his death.
Whatever the cause may have been, the man was foully
murdered. Whether Shang Draper, in a fit of jealousy, mur-
dered the disturbei- of his peace, as he is reported to have done
in a similar case which occurred previously, or whether Portei
and Draper, joining in a comjnon cause in which their " domes-
tic honours" were outraged, slev/ the suspected cause of it, or,
yet again, whether protesting thieves, quarrelling over a fair
division of the spoils of their criminal ventures and exasperated
*t the supposed treachery of their comrade, fired the fatal bullet '
naay never be known. '
George Howard has paid the fearful penalty for his crimes,
%nd a disgraced family and a sorrowing wife are alone left to
deplore the ioM or hail the relief which his murder haa occ».
uoaed.
a
m
142
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
LIGHTNING STEALERS
A3n>
THE DETECTIVE.
, CHAPTBfi I
TELEGRAPHY AND CRIMINALS.
*^d1rte^^ntlT'^/°^P"'^*>^'»Pid fortunes a
may note the proei-esfl thaf K„ «««! • '^eco'as ot the past, he
celry as the^oftp:^^^^^^^ P-.aent
been bro^t toastateofluSrnet^'eW
approaches are as yJoZZT.llZ'::^^^::^ ^'^^^
hur^m^inZr;^^^^^^^^^^ the^ot;:. of the
developed and so iimVifief that ilnll?"^' '^* ^^e, been so
We or tobe defended,'and Wl^^^^^^^^^^^
of all, has become an open book eventnth?. ''"V , "^® *^®*^^
Perhaps in no other Ucut has thVe^^^^^^^^^^^
ment and progression been mor« Tn7rhlA\u ■ , advance-
of the commence of the wo,Tl"d t^^ ''' '.•' *^J^""«^
appliances which have bruihfc ?h« nV 'T^^''''' °^ '^^^^
their great variety of Drodnci««-? ?" *^^ '*"^^' ^^^^
nectioi Thr^t^amshTn Dlot ^° ^'^^^^ «^'^-
kar hroad arm JJfi^K. ?„Pi°'i8^" the waves and carries within
a. ,._ _, x«.vi^jiage «i iuxuriei and necessitie*
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 143
between our shores and foreign lands. The railroads which
stretch over our vast continent their network of iron and steel
levelling distance, bridging the valleys, climbing the mountains
and leaping the flowing rivers, carrying into the far-off western
wUds the sturdy emi^ant and the ambitious miner, have per-
formed giant labour m the development of the resources and
industries of a land richly endowed by nature with all the ele-
ments of wealth and sustenance.
The barren prairies have yielded to the ploughshare of the hus-
bandman, and v^st fields of grain are waving their luxuriant
forms, where but a short time before roving herds of animals
graxed upon the plains, undisturbed by the crack of the rifle
the click of the mower or the advancing stride of civilization.*
Fror. the Atlantic to the Pacific, towns an4 villages and
r ^ lave sprang up almost as miraculously as though under
ich of the wizard's wand : the growing and wide-spread-
ing population have given an added impetus to the inventor and
the manufacturer; new industries to supply new wants are con-
tinually being developed and utilized for the benefit of mankind.
Delving beneath the surface, the sturdy miner forces from
their hidden beds the coal, the iron and the precious metals,
thus contributing to the comfort of a people, advancing the
progress of invention, and adding to the material wealth of a
great and growing nation.
But even these appliances are insufficient to keep pace with
this onward march of civilization and of commerce. The means
of communication between distant points must be more rapidly
and securely established. The systematic transportation of the
mails, however expeditious it may be, is no longer available for
the practical purposes of trade or the conveyance of intelligence,
which must be instantly accomplished in order to be of benefit
or value, and to supply this want the inventive minds have been
labouring successfully in the production and use of the electric
telegraph.
No longer must trade remain inactive, awaiting the ordinary,
but somewhat tardy, transmission of intelligence, but with the
quickness of thought the electric current darts from continent
to continent, over the land and under the sea ; and the whole
world is now. as it were, within uneakmo' d'ata""" ««'' "•»"'.
•peaking termi^
144 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
The ipiping notes of peace or the trotni/et blasts of war aw
heard m our own land simultaneously with their utterance, al-
tliough the scene of active operations may be thousands of
miles away ; .and the pulse, of th«. American market beats snon-
taneously with the fluctuations of the London Exchange or the
1 ansian Bourse. The imaginary girdle, of the sprightly Puck
has becpme a living reality; the genius of humanity has
snatched the lightning from the gathering clouds," and the
wonderful m nature has succumbed to the wonderful iu man.
As the subject of Telegraphy, with its uses,and abuses^ is to
lorm the basis of the narrative contained in the followin<^ pages
a short oompendiuii? of the most important phases through
which, as a science, it has passed from theory to practice, from
speculation to an established and important fact, may not be
out of place. • • , j u^
Long before Telegraphy attained its present perfection by
the introduction oY voltaic electricity as i«s motive power, indiv-
iduals and nations were in the habit of communicating inform-
ation of battles, defeats and victories by means of beacon fires
Bignds of sounds, of dumb signs, and of lamp signals, as pro^
posed hy ^neas. ^ ^ ' i*^"^
The flag signals, as universally practised at sea for communi
eating between ships, has long been in successful operation
^ Jlrf ^^'^^ilS results. The " TeUograph " of Chappe, invented
in 1792, and brought into use during the French Revolution
• was another step in the direction of making « conversing at a
distance a practical success. This device consisted simply of
a cross-bar, erected on a pole, from which arms were suspended
and by means of ropes the arms were capable of a variety of
movements, which, by a systematic arrangement, were easily
operated and understood. . ^
« Jrom this arose many plans of a Telegraph, notably the
"Semaphore, ' a French modification, which came info use in
1816, and is in practical operation to-day on some lines of rail-
itad for signal purposes.
The North American Aborigines made use of regular stations
and spelled words by means of fires of various hues and sub-
Btances, and the Indians of the North-westem Territory made
use of this means to convey the information of the annmach of
Ueuerai Fremont as he passed through their regions! '
PROFESSIONAL TfllEVES AND TflE DETECTIVES. 145
But m the meantime, in 1745, Franklin had flown his kite,
and had drawn the electricity from the clouds, while Newton
and others laboured to bring it into general nse.
The eavliest records of this power of transmitting the electric
fluid to any distance, of which we have any knowledge, carries
as back to the year 1727, when the annals of science tells us
that one Stephen Grey, a pensioner of the Charter House, Lon-
don, made some random experiments which led to the inference
that electricity could be transmitted through strings and wire.
He employed a wire about seven hundred feet long, suspended
in the au: by silk threads, and connected it with an excited glass
tube at one end, while another person observed the electrihc*-
tion at the opposite end.
Various attempts were made after that time to ascertain the
distance to which the electric fluid could be transmitted by an
insulated wire. The inquiry was taken up in 1733 by Dufay
and Symner, but no fresh results seem to have been obtained.
Then came Franklin, and a little later Dr. Winkler, a German
Professor, became identified with researches in physical experi-
ments, but even at this time no one seems to have had the re-
motest idea of turning it to any practical purpose. In 17i6
the " Leyden Jar " was discovered, which tended greatly to as-
Bist experiments in the transmission of electric power, and about
that period the names of Desaguilliers, a Frenchman, and Dr.
Watson, a Welsh Bishop, are recorded as being connected with
electricity.
The latter stretched a wire across the river Thames, over the
old Westminster Bridge, in 1747, and at a later period he re-
peated the experiment by transmitting an electric charge through
a wire 2,800 feet long. In the following year he succeeded in
opei ting through 10,000 feet of wire, suspended on wooden
poles erected on Shooters' Hill.
Dr. Frankhn made similar experiments at Philadelphia in
the year 1747 by stretching wires across the Schuylkill River ;
and Duiac, we are told, experimented in the same year on wires
which were extended across the lake of Geneva ; but nobody,
not even our own great genius. Dr. Franklin, seems to have
DM'boured the slightest suspicion of the great results to which
these early inquiries would ultimately lead.
In the ye«r 1774 Le Sage, a Swim physiciAn, operated •!
146 PRO^'ESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Geneva on a telegraph comprising twenty-four insulated rt
he wires, each wire connected with a pith ba e ectroSt;;.
which corresponded to one letter of the Slphabe tlT^C
therefore, we must date the ripening into a system of Te dS
of transmitting^intelligible sounds, Ind to the sls doctor
Th?«f fnT^'^ l*"" ^°^°".' ^^ ^"^°S gi^^^ it a practiXorri
This instrument was submitted to Frederick the Great but
found no lavoui with the Prussian king '
. . The introduction of the railroad, with its various attendant
requirements, peremptorily demanded the speedTdevelopmeS
of some practical system of telegraphic cSmmunicIt oSa
general spirit of inquiry and experimefat manifesLd itself and
an instrument invented by Mr. Wheatstone wa^ in actWe on
r a^Br-r ^^^ '^^^' °^ ""^ '^'^ ^«^^«- ^^« *<>--rLoI
n J"" uf'^It'^r,^*"'"^!*^- ^' ^°"«. of New York, however
undoubtedly belongs the Itle of having been the fir!t inrento;
of tne art of writing legible char.c ers%t a distance by means
of electro-magnetism, and to our own time and goneratioTha
dZ. fh 'fi' ^"Y «o successfully performed of tal ng and s'b
duing the fiery electrical current. In 1837 MorseVtel^ranh
was first publicly exhibited in New York, and w^arSe
co^ised as the most simple and efficiont^though stillTncom.
plete~but seven years af.- in 1844, it was brought ktopra^-
Iwl tT*"'^.-^''''^'' °.^ Washington and Balt^ore had a
tual telegraphic communication. *« "au ac
From that time we may regard the system of tele-raphv as
a successful and satisfying science, .und, yielding to the inc?eLd
Si" ^'7?^' 'I ^""^ T^' prodigious and asiundinf stride.
Oceans and territories have been wired by the galvanic thread
and "the uttermost parts of the earth'' have^C^broS
withm the circle of civilization. Drought
It would seem, to an intelligent observer, that a science eo
important as this should have thrown around it alUhe saft^
puards that are so essentially necessary to protect it from tht
improper uses of those who may seek to prostitute itTthe
own purposes, and in the following pages I shall endeavour to
portray some of the abuses of thi! valuable medium of com'
niumcation, which, even in the_ absence of restrniS. and
i;«««uuiK innuenoes, i was enabled to remedy, and. in'some
rei»peot«, to preyent, ^' ' ^"™*
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TItE DETECTIVES. 14?
CHAPTER It
r'" """"" '"^ ™^ — -ON «CHAN«..
- systematic serenTv by the fZ. "?'^ ^"^^ °*' ^J°» «nd
cation of telegraphic fnf/rmatior^wl?\''''P^^°'^ *»^ P"Wi-
examination, would be di/cov"red S. iT ' -"^^^ ^^bse^uent
fu . The stock and gold exchtt ^^ '^""^"^ ^^^ untruth^
agitated by conflicting^ sUteml?/ \^r. ^'""^ continually
of public opinion utte'ndantunn A^^^'-' -^^ *^« «^"ted state
lation, which seemed a? tha Z^^t 'P'"* o^ reckless specu!
the entire communi^! wag fc^irit • ^ u*'''" poBsessiSn of
results. ^* ^*^ accompanied by most disastrous
. of^rgTf^^o^S^*^^^^^^ intelligence
was made the subject of a "& attendant loss of life,
predating the stock of the coJSolfW?^"^' ""^''^^ ^^ ^^
would compel worthy and ne«X ? " """"^^^ *° ^e "U"red.
investments' at ruinoJs picrwWnr/^ ^T' '^ '^^^
would thus be enabled tj Sch tbL i ^^'^"^'"^^nt operators
those whose limited means d 5 nn, ["I*' t' ^^^ «^P«nse of
risk of holding investS^oLnlr^^' *^'"^]^ ^"'^"^ <^t«
Aiother point of attack see^pTt. A ''T'^^^**^ »n«»fe.
ship Company, and the repSf loss nf^' ^T^' ^^" Steam-
that line was frequentl/tKir^^^ -^^^^^^^ ''""''^''^ ""'^^
men who had invested iu the canlflnt'^u'*'"^*^' ^««in«««
while the designing and corrZ 1 °'V^ *^** corporation,
^heinrelTftLT^^^^^^^^
and more legitimate inCmentr S. '''*'"-^'"'« *^*^ o<^her
tion of this circulating med?um at tljT^T'''^ '^e posi-
jumour, currently repor™dwm,l5;!? J,""? '^'**^ *^« ^"ghtest
Change," and i„^a feVlouVrhiil^l^'^l'^.A^^^ its.effecf - on
^.--ould be discovered, milUo.;ai;r;S Si^S^^^
14s PROFDSdlOifAL THIEVES AND THE ©EtECTlVES.
mendicants, and the ruined gambler of to-da> would become th«
wealthy broker of to-morrow.
During the month of October, 1867, a number of these ficti-
tious despatches were sent over the wires, and, being published
m the reliable daily journals, at once obtained credence. The
whole wide range of the numberless investments of the capital-
ists of the country were compelled to submit to the influences
which these startling and erroneous reports produced. Steam-
ship and railroad companies, mining enterprises, insurance as
Bociations and banking institutions, all came within the scope
of the attacks from these unscrupulous, but seemingly well-in-
formed, gamesters.
The evident air of truthfulness and the unquestionable cha-
racter of the transmission and reception of these messages were
unmistakable, and, acMed to this, a number of despatches to
private parties Connected with the corporations, conveying the
same information, at once disarmed any suspicion of the genu-
ineness of these evil tidings.
General publicity was immediately given of the alarming
news and the frightened stockholders of these mammoth cor-
porations were filled with dread and consternation at the effect
this would naturally have upon their investments. Millions of
dollars of property would be reported as lost at one fell swoop,
and this information was usually sufficient to cause intense dis-
may and to have a seriously depressing influence upon securi-
ties generally looked upon as safe and profitable.
At the " Exchange " the scene frequently was one of excite-
mert and frenzy— the pale, hag^,ard faces of the anxious indi-
viduals who, having unbounded confidence in the safety of the
company, had selected their securities as a profitable investment,
and who now contemplated with amazement and alarm the
disasters which foreboded ruin, the completeness of which they
endeavoured to ameliorate by a hurried disposition at immense
sacrifices. The "Bulls" and the "Bears" of the market, the
•' knowing ones;' who, regarding any startling information with
delight, were clamouring noisily in their frantic efforts to buy
and sell the doubtful chattels, contributed to the production of
a scene at once painful and exciting; while in the background
stood the Machiavelian nrew. nrhoaa villaimr Viori ^.^^ a ^u^
general »care, and who now took advantage of this golden op.
lasurance as
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 149
portunifcy to enrich themselves at the expense of their less un.
Bcrupulous victims.
T« one who has never had t\.6 opportunity of witnessing the
wild and extravagant operations of the speculators in councU
at a time of rite excitement, but a meagre idea can be given of
the tumult and confusion which are its attendant circumstan-
ces; and it IS probable that, in no other condition of excite-
ment, do men, as a collective body, so entirely give themselves
up to the exhibition of passion, and so OHtrageously and reck-
lessly exhibit their animal propensities.
The scenes at % gambling table, where men of the lowest in-
Btincts gather, are not so noisy, so violent, or so repulsive to
the better attributes of the man as the riot in the "Board"
room. Men at a prize fight compare favourably to these gen-
tlemen on « Change." A pack of wolves, famished and furious,
suddenly come upon blood is the nearest approach to the howl-
mg fight of these men over the fluctuations of the market. Men
are fighting to get in, begging to get out, and men are fighting
their way out They are wUd with some frenzy that in the
cooler atmosphere of life is never awakened, their eyes gleam
strangely, their nerves stand up upon their temples and necks,
they scream, gesticulate, and thrust each other out of the way,
and shake their memoranda at each other like signals of dis-
tress.
The momentous importance of the transactions, which, until
late years, were never known in these transfers, can be read in
the laces of the operators, their principals, and subordinates,
and It requires no moralist to discover that here is the quint-
essence of human avarice and unscrupulousness, or that every-
thing else in the breasts of these men is overborne by the one
dominant passion of life, fanned into a roaring flame by the
momeut 8 opportunity.
The excitements thus produced were only temporary, for
searching inquiry soon developed the fact that the burning of
a steamship, or the failure of a company, were fabrications, aud
that the telegraph had been successfully manipulated to further
the designs of those who, taking advantage of the fears created
by the information thus conveyed, had been enahlfld tn dAnr«.
eiate marketable securities and purchase the same at 'th*
suddenly reduced valuation. «•«♦•• ww
1
!
1' ''^ a^^w
1
u S I'J %Wm
I
fP' '
M
150 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETEGTIVES.
But this iR but one side ot the picture, it does not tell the
story of the troubled hearts and saddened faces of the men who
wearily entered their homes when the labours of the day were
over ; it does not tell the story of the men who li ft those homes
in the morning in the possession of wealth and came back to
them at nightfall bankrupts. Nor does it tell of thfe after con-
sequences, when luxurious homes were to be given up, and their
possessors, after the enjoyment of diligently-acquired wealth,
were compelled to buffet agamst the contendiug waves of
poverty and want
The situation became alarming; the telegraph authorities
and the community realized the necessity o. prompt action in
order to discover these frauds, and to prere-^t their repetition
if possible.
The prospect was rendered all the more doubtful from the
fact that all the relative circumstances pointed conclusively to
the conviction that some one, who either had been or was at
the present time in the employ of the Telegraph Company, was
m active co-operation with this movement. The manner of
transmitting the messages seemed to be regular, the forms were
obsei-ved with religious truthfulness, and the general correctness
of the management of the entire.affair clearlv demonstrated the
fact that the persons interested in this matter were adept in
the manipulation of the telegraph, and intelligent observers of
the vagaries of the money market.
It was therefore determined that every effort should be made
to unearth the scoundrels who were thus preying upon the pub-
lic, and the Telegraph Company resolved that no stone should
be left unturned ia the thorough investigation which thev de.
cided to make.
Their reputation, and the saftty of the financial circles
demanded it, and the result of this inquiry will be shown her©,
alter.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 151
CHAPTER in.
ICY SERVICES ARE ENGAGED — A VISIT TO THE OPERATINO
ROOM— SUSPICIONS— THE INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
^T was at this time that Mr. William Orton was President
of the Western Union Teiegraph Company, a position
which he held for a- number of years, and the duties of
which he fulfilled wita rare ability and fidelity. It may readily
be i agined that these revelations were exceedingly annoyin<»
an perplexing to him, and, as he was held mainly responsible
f the proper and successful management of the affairs of the
company, he. determined to begin an active inquiry and a vigo-
rous crusade at once. The manipulators must be discovered,
and speedily, and no eSorta should be spared to accomplish
this result.
For that purpose he decided to call into energetic co-opera-
tion the resources of my detective bureau, and calling upon Mr.
George H. Bangs, my General Superintendent in New York
city, he related to him all the particulars, as far as known, of
these operations, and requested him to undertake the task of
tracing them to their inception, and discovering if possible, the
parties who were identified with them.
From the account thus given it seemed very evident that
these spurious despatches were manufactured at and transmit-
ted from some point in the West, where, beyond the reach of
successful detection, they could tap the wires, and by the use
of pocket instruments either receive information of importance
and prevent its further passage eastward, or successfully for-
ward the bogus intelligence by preserving all the forms of num-
bering and cipher necessary to establish perfect confidence in
its authenticity.
There also seemed to bu indubitable evidences of the fact
that some of the employees of the company were actively en-
eased in thia work, tm hv nn ntfior mpana /.rtiiM fU<^ «:-^
machinery of the company be so successfully employed;
J' 1 1!
H
I
II
152 PROFESSIONAL THItVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
Mr. Bangs immediately oommuaicated the result of tbli
Interview to me, by a cipher despatch known only to ourselves,
at my main office in Chicajro, and together we determined to
make a thorough and systematic examination of the various
offices of the company, with the view of discovering any sus-
picious persons who were in their employ, and by that process
be enabled to labour intelligently in the work of detecting the
guilty parties.
Consequently, on the morning following the receipt of this
intelligence, I called at the office of the T legraph Company in
Chicago and had an interview with General Anson Stager, the
then Superintendent of the Western Department I found
him fully alive to the importance of the occasion, and disposed
to render whatever assistance that was in his power to com-
mand to further the object desired. I related to him the
information that I had received ; stated my opinion as to the
complicity of some of the employees of the company, and re-
quested him to conduct me through the operating rooms in
order to aSord me an opportunity of scrutinizing the various
persons in their employ, and perhaps, by that means, be enabled
to discover if there was any one employed in that office who
was liable to suspicion.
We ascended to the upper story of the building, where we
found a large number of operators, both male and female, busily
engaged. The steady clicks of the instruments were the only
Bounds that we heard as the various messages were being re-
ceived and despatched, and I thought, as I watched the silent
workers, and listened to the methodical and regular ticking, of
the wonderful ingenuity of man, and the results achieved by
his labour and invention.
Here, perhaps, were flying, as upon the wings of thought,
the tidings that would carry to a happy family the clouds of
death and disappointment ; here the stirring items of a war of
men, a story of desolation and of carnage ; and there the joy-
ful announcement of a happy marriage, or the depressing news
of financial failure. Far and wide over the broad land wero
speeding these messengers, and yet t^ieir only recorders were
the dumb, mechanical registers, which worked on regardless of
f.nA AttAA^ nt f.VtOII* rknafafinna m> ^ItA infln/^noA virVtiAK ^V>a«
— "I t-rtvtt'Tf v» VXXV IU2«UV(iW IT«XtVU vttw
e](erted upon pommiimtie&
nvES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 153
lult of tlm
ourselves,
ermined to
the various
ng any sus-
hat process
itecting the
npt of this
Company in
Stager, the
I found
id disposed
ver to com-
bo him th«
>n as to the
iny, and re-
^ rooms in
the varioui
be enabled
i office who
', where we
nale, busily
re the only
•e being r»-
1 the silent
ticking, of
chieved by
>f thought,
) clouds of
of a war of
jre the joy-
issing news
1 land were
rdera were
igardless of
r*xtvu
Thinking thus, 1 passed carelessly around, as though engagea
in an ordinary examination of the various workings of the
company, and actuated by no other motive save that of curi-
osity. While thus occupied, and engaged in a casual conver-
sation with General Stager, I noticed one young man, as we
approached him, turn suddenly around, with a start, slightly
change colour, and then immediately resume his occupation.
Ever and anon, howev >, I w >n.ld find his eyes wandering to
the direction where w were. J immediately became suspicious ;
the conscious look of gi. 'fc cont < not be mistaken, and I felt
reasonably sure that U^'s ivas ' le of the individuals I was in
search of.
Long experience in the business of a detective and in deal-
ing with men of all classes and conditions, of all grades and,
professions, had enabled me to judge very correctly of a man's
character by his physiognomy, and I was convinced that this
young man was not to be trusted,
" What is that young man's name 1 " I inquired of Mr Sta-
ger, after we had passed out of the hearing of the individual
inquired about.
" Charles Cowdrey," answered Mr. Stager, " and he is an ex-
ceedingly smart yopng operator."
" Has he been in your employ any length of time 1 "
" Yes, for about three years, and his brother George was
with us for nearly seven years."
" Do you know anything about him, aside from his connec-
tion with the company ? " I asked.
" No, I think not ; he was recommended by his brother
George, and upon examination he was found to be pretty bright,
so we gave him a position."
** What wires does he work on ? " I asked.
" On the western wires from Omaha, Salt Lake and San
Francisco," replied General Stager, suddenly looking up into
my face, as though he began to understand the drift of my ques-
tioning.
My suspicions became almost realistic certainties upon the
receipt of this information, and I decided to have this young
man carefully watched ; to place some one in direct communi-
noft/\*i Vsrl^Vft Vkivm AVt/1 «4^ v\j-hmn« l->1r
V-^TVI-VSS TT -Vil ZXSJJl^^ CS£^\ft| ""
toTer hii doiuffi.
VVOQ
154 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.'
After we had gone down stairs 1 inquired ot Mr. Staler ii
phcitly and who, combining the duties of a telegraph operator
with those of an embryotic detective, would bf of serdcelS
the investigation which I now contemplated
von l2f ''X^''^^'- Stager, " I think I have the very person
II ^^^.' ^}^^^^ IS a. young man at present in this office who
*s bright, active and trustworthy, and I think with T nrrl^^r
understanding of his duties, he\ili anUS^tt^p^n^osL^^^^^^^^
"Send him to my office then, at seven o'clock this evening
. After some further inquiries as to the residence of Cowdrev
in.7r"'^ ^t''' l'''^ ^-^ ^«^^« «f Gene^ll Stager and
returned to my office, determined to impress into the service
the person whom he. should designate for that purpose if Zn
examination, I should findhim sufficiently able anTrus^wort^
ni no f '^'°^^y ^^..^"P"^^ "P«° resources and indiviJ:
lials not under my immediate control or in direct connection
with my Agencies; but as the only operative upon mXrce a^
that time who understood the science of telegraphy ^m absent
upon another investigation, I was comnelled, S ITforce o
circumstances, to avail myself of the opportuiiJ^Thus afforded
of using an employee of the Telegraph Company,
At the time appointed, the young man selected by Mr Sta-
ger made his appearance, accompanied by that gentleman and
announced himself as Frank Osborn. After a few inTuiries I
ound him to be exceedingly bright, intelligent anTrS anx-
ious to undertake the novel duties that were des^ned for Mm
T,lZ^:ro:T'' '"- ^^^^^ ^'^^ -^ tocom^met^^L^l^i
ployment, without any apparent cause, and thlt heThouTd ex
press himself in unmeasured terms to fcowdreyrwith whom he
was TV .11 acquainted, against the company an^ thin ? ha
succeeded in inducing Sis confidence, t^kid Wmself tJ^the
8cnem-s of those with whom h« wa- wn^J^!: „J5'lV„ ..*f
wiiix vnem in thejr undertaking.' "'^ *"" '"^^ '»"*"
PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE LETECTIVES. 155
I found Mr. S tager to be deeply in earnest in this matter ^
his long experience and quick foresight enabled him to make
many valuable suggestions, which I cheerfully accepted, and
between us arrangements were consummated which gave every
indication of eventual success. As he was about leaving, Mr.
btager turned to me, saying: "Major, we are upon the right
track, and between us these scoundrels will h,m a hard time :
we shall rely faithfully upon your wisdom and determination
and be assured that al the resources in our power shall be
placed at your disposal."
The General was evidently in earnest, and with his assist-
. ance I entertained no doubts of the result.
CHAPTER IV.
'*MT OPERATOR" DISOHARGBD—X SECRET MEETING— I SET UP
A BRANCH OFFICE OP THE TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
JHE foUowing morning, according to the plan already
formed and understood between General Stager and
. . n»y;fli; young Osborn, whose position was immediately
adjoining that of Charles Oowdrey's, was summoned to the
office of General btager, and by him informed that his services
would not be further required by the company, and Osborn re-
turned to the operating-room, apparently in great anger at the
injustice that had been done to him. He related his grievance
to Cowdrey and threatened to repay the company for the
injury they had inflicted upon him.
As he was about leaving, Cowdrey caUed out to him to come
back, and, upon his returning, Cowdrey said :
"Frank, meet me to-night at the Eandolph Hotel : I want
to see you about something particular."
"All right," replied Osborn, "I will be there."
In the evening Osborn repaired t" t.h- »'"*'»i "»~~Ji «~j
shortly afterward' Charles Cowdrey came in;accompS"by
another individual, whom he introduced as George Van SteiiL
!
156 professional'thieves and the detectives. '
thft^^u *°^"'gi"g >? » <irink at the bar, Covdrey pronosed
that they should take a walk, and, lightinV cigars theXun
ered out and proceeded toward the lake front of Z cit/ whe^"
after walking a short distance, Cowdrey turned to OsbL anj
what \';m y ' '' ' ^^«' ^-« '"^^ opportunity, |ou wTs"
" Well, if you join with us, you will have an ODDortunit^ nf
accomphshmg both objects," said Cowdrey ^^^ ^
Osbom immediately signified his readiness to become a nartv
to any operation that would enable him to revenge Self upon
eritrtCCtd\'*"? ^'^^' ^r^ conviLedThisTn-
cerity, then mvited ^im to the residence of Cowdrev whern
L'^^^edTy^? ^h^pir ^^-^-' -^ -^^ talkt^ut:
the hanaspmest dwellings in that part of the dtyf the interior
was luxuriously furnished with all tne appointmente that wtlth
Twl f.T'^"''- and an air of elegance Z maSfest thi^ulte
This fact occasioned some surprise to Osborn, as he could scarce
ly understand how the remuneration of a telegrSh oneSo;
could procure the comforts which he here saw SavTH?
fo^ebore to make any remark, however, as th^tiTotce ted fhe
itkeTfhe^irir^^^^*^ ^^«ot
Being apparently well satisfied with Osborn's sinceritv th«v
proceeded to fully divulge to him their pla^of opeSn J' an/
as the pai oulars of their movement were^bSrreC^
Osborn's amazement became almost unbounded. So Wouthlv
were their plans matured, and so carefullv were thertrackJ
covered, that detection seemed almost impossible. In dmot?
every main office some employee of the comZy had bee^se
cured who was identified with the scheme and fiom«nf f hi
most prominent brokers in New York citv~m\"n^wr/J^„?
fWMiuing wa« aoov^ Buspicion, and who occupied high plaie^ "i
PKOS'ESSIONAL THIEVES AKD TfiE DETECTIVE?. 157
mnn anoial
the community — were found to be the prime movers in t^hia sys-
tematic attempt to subvert the telegraph to the base purposes
of stock-gambling and respectable robbery.
He discovered also that the so-called Van Stein was no other
than George Cowdrey, the brother of the present operator
Charles, who was compelled to disguise himself and change his
name on account of information previously received that inqui-
ries were being made in regard to former operations.
After identifying himself fully vrith their prospective schemes
and promising to meet them at some future time, when noti-
fied, Osborn took his leay« and reported at the Agency.
It now became necessary to adopt some measures that would
prevent the successful transmission of the messages through the
collusion of Charles Cowdrey, and, as it was equally necessary
that such measure : should be taken without exciting the sus-
picion of any person connected with the company, I deter-
mined, after consultation with General Stager, to convert my
private office into a temporary branch of the Telegraph Com-
pany, and to have all the messages to and from the West, pass
through my hands before reaching the main office and Charles
Cowdrey.
To accomplish this object it was necessary that the wires of
the company should be introduced into the building that I then
occupied, that all the necessary working machinery should be
set; up there, and that trusty men should be selected as opera-
tors to receive the messages, and subject them to a rigid scru-
tiny before transmitting them further.
In accordance with these arrangements, the next morning
one of my operatives presented a letter at the office of ihe Com-
pany, apparently . emanating from General Grant, then acting
as Secretary of War, stating that the exigencies of the Govern-
ment service required that wires should bo introduced into my
office, and requesting the Company to have the necessary ar-
rangements made to accomplish that object.
Of course this was a fabrication, but 1 had been so long con-
nected with the Secret Service of the Government, and had
been identified with the Government officials in almost every
movement relating to the detection of Government malefactors,
vuav viiTJ Lri.trs'uzit-'a.uxt-rM vi rjut/ii zx wixiiiittsitvttrvtvii ?Jv^,ti"?s»-f »■»■«? ?f-.,r
•urprisd on the pact of the telegraph officialsi and the necessity
i
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. i
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158 PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. '
had been «uo»Xur?Ln^°''„7tE*' "F'",?"'' "> "y ^i<"'Z
the lightning were S St ml™ 1 «««%«"t conductow of
How ite wXCe «a t ' r'*'* jk^Power of language,
the moans of despaiTr'T ^^^""^1^' »' '""gk'^ and to
criminal broughtTo baV and thl „W "" " ""J ''"^P^""'
offender, who^reali Al/th^ &tSTt°h?!"'-™""«
hrad\^tSt%X!;^,lrdr'M^^
whose badgea of Smv l^f i!"\'''^'', ^^" ^"^^»^ murderer,
wrists. ^ ^^""^ ""*'* '^® «^^«^^^«« that encircled hi^
criSb:is\'h;t^nTpiteT^^^^ '^^^^K^^ «"«»« «nd
make the heart feel sad I hZ.u f"'" ^* J'^'*'*'«' ^o"ld
ground with the w^^^^^^^^ bowed to the
heaped upon them fh^Jhl a ^^'^ "^"'"^ '^«"' actions l^ad
she pleadSfor meicv L Ir T;^^ *?' ^''y^'' ^^ ^ mother as
laidlwnher li^ Unv LnJ'/'''''^rr she would have
room, after the close JJ a JltTofttld ofT '''' -^'^^""^^
«ad at heart and wearifld in m?^J t ^^ of trying incidents,
pie, and that throU JTeSoZZfii^ u "! '^^"^ P**
of the law were brouiht L n.^; l, '^^ the guilty transgressors ■
honourable wrre^rSld r^d'lrn'edT'"'' '"^ ^^""'^ "'^
and rwa'°Sot ^1^'* "" "" "' "''^^ "■<* "^O-J.
people whonTTn'o^v^ kn"et 1^ ^^ir.uT* :'f »-->"•
d^oover, 1 w« to obserr. the "opemioi 7Z"^^Zfj
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 159
rascals whom I intended to make an example of, and to inter*
cept the fictitious items that were intended to operate 30 start-
ling^y upon 'the money markets
CHAPTER V
INVESTIGATIOIT8 IN NEW YORK CITY— " JIMMY " AND THE NEWS
STEALERS — A NICE LITTLE PLAN HAT WAS SUDDENLY
FRUSTRATED.
EEANWHILE Mr. Bangs was pursuing his Investigations
in New York city, and with some degree of success. He
hadf ascei'tained the name of the party to whom the con-
firmatory telegrams were usually addressed, and was now en-
gaged in the attempt to discover who the person was.
The telegram was directed to a Robert M. Bronson, at a
certain number on Broadway, and an operative was immedi-
ately detailed to go to the house, inquire for Bronson, and,
under pretence of requesting some information from him, ob-
tain a description of the yidividual, and thus be enabled to
watch his movements.
Upon going to the house mentioned, Mr. Hamilton, the
operative, found it occupied by a French family, consisting of a
man and wife and one child, who rented to Bronson the* front
room, on the second floor, and who evidently, by reason of pre-
vious instruction, conveniently knew nothing of the gentleman
except the fact that he was very seldom in his office ; that he
only came for his letters, and did not have any particular hours
or times for attending to businc sb. It was determined, there-
fore, that Hamilton should be engaged by the Telegraph Com-
pany as a messenger, be intrusted with the delivery of mes-
sages, and in that capacity carry a dispatch to the unknown and
Beemingly unapproachable Bronson. .
It is tttrauge, uometimeH, huw discoveries are made in a di-
rection in which no inquiries have been instituted, and how
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ICO PROFESSTONAL THIEVES AND THE t)El'ECTIV?;a,
frequently indi- iduals literally stumble upo;. ka .wledga Th.
man who, chmb.ug a mountain in t!ie W<-t and^^inJIf
his ascent, caught at a erowiuff hn i. fo . \ . t " W^"^ ^^^
etHu.1. 01 a bSorm at sea, by angrilv B^r\lan<i t-h ■ i.»,fl * •
broju ..- circUMoribed manner and whV A iT.t. il i" "
wnen, just as he had passed out of sieht of fch« hiin^4„™ u
n^t^/wIrthrnVr r^ y°""« ^^"^^' ^^<> ''^ «lso con-
reTofTh« w ^- n'"""?^ ^^ ^'^ authority among the
fofif ^u^* ""P"" *" subjects, from a horse-race tf thl
' t
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 161
to Bare the other disclose his mission, and he awaited Jimmy's
explanation. After a slight hesitancy it came :
"I say •24'" (which was Hamilton's number as messen^
get), " hadn 1 1 better help you a little this morning 1 "
« Oh, no 1 " said Hamilton. " I guess I can make out my-
self. I know the city pretty well, and I guess I can get along
fast enoiigh." . " °
"S'pose I take those cables addressed to Morgan & Co. and
Jennings & Bro. I'll do that much to help you along, and I
won't be going out myself for a half hour." i
Hamilton detected a shade of anxiety on the countenance
of the persistent Jimmy, and he thought that he appeared a
tnfle too willing to be of service on the simple score of good '
nature ; so assuming a knowing expression, he quietly asked :
" Is there anything in it 1 "
Jimmy looked up suddenly, and then, with a wink of his •
eye, he took Hamilton's arm saying :
"Come in here out of the way, I guess we can dmy on
On stepping into .an open doorway, and concealing them-
selves from the view of the passers by, Jimmy revealed a
state of affairs that occasioned Hamilton considerable surprise
It appeared that for a long time a systematic scheme had
been m operation, by which many so-called respectable brokers
would become possessed of reliable telegraphic information
prior to Its reception by the parties to whom such information
was addressed, and at whose expense the same was obtained.
Ihe scheme consisted in bribing the messengers, who, upon
the reception of information of a character calculated to have
any effect rfpon the markets or the stock board, would deliver
the mess^e first tox)ne of the parties to the bribe, and after
he had had an opportunity to become possessed of and use the
lotormation for his own profit, the messenger would deliver it
to the party addressed.
"Now," said Jimmy, "you can make a dollar apiece on
each of these messages, and nobody will know anything about
To Hamilton this information seemed almost incredible,
and he decided to inform the Oompanv of the digfinvftrv whi/>K
he had unexpectedly made, so telling Jimmy that he would
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162 PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND^THE DETECTIVES,
think about it but tbat he was afraid to do anythina of th«r
JubU'*' '^ '''' '^"' P'°"^«^^^ '^ ^k *o him i^KpoVtt
Upon reporting his information to Mr. Orton on his return
measures were at once taken to discover the extent of ^m!^'
ceeding, and after a diligent inquiryjwas Pertained ha^;
general system of bribery existed, and thaTnTlessXn fif?L
of the messengers were working in collusion wihhesebro^^^^^^^
and supplymg them with information designed for nfi?
people Of course these employees we?e afonce dischaJl^d'
and active measures instituted to prevent a recS^enieS
events. Jimmy suddenly found his occupatioT gone and
there was "weeping and wailing and gnashina of te«tE»
among the stock-gaxnbling fraternity, whoTund Lir systa
of news-steahng suddenly brought to ah end. ^^
*!, S^*"^™?*^'°'' *h"« obtained related exclusivelv fn
the gold stock and market reports, both foreLTn^om^^^^^^^^^
It can readily b* imagined in those days of speculation W
important a few minutes' anticipation^f neTs "^tht'be t^
those who, taking advantage of any sadden risT or fall in
pnces or any intelligence of an unusual naturT would Z
enabled to profit by their rascality, by th^recStion of th«
news thus surreptitiously obtained J^ '^"^ ^teption ot the
The chief object of the Company beine to nreservfl Anfim
secrecy m the transmission of thVdespa4e' Mr OrJontS
exceedingly exercised at this <iiscoverv an he w«« «3f
relieved when the measures taken had' pr^ need th^rS
desired, aUhough he regretted the absence oHnyl^wt^^^^^^
would enable him to punish those who had been^^lty^f tt
-JL^fT/'^.u'r «f /'^rise^ that while the statute books
are crowded with laws for the protection of almost eve^ right
and for the punishment of almost every crime. nothwSl
be found which would afford an opportunity of Sfng the
individuals who were thus engaged in the nefarioHHSt In
of Btedingnews^ intended for°others than thm 'elves and
convertmg it to their own base uses, and the onTsIfetv d^
ponded upon increased vigilance on the part ofTe S^apt
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 1C3
CHAPTER VL
mr TEMGRAPH OFFICE— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS— THE TELE-
GRAPH AS A DETECTIVE-.A LEAK STOPPED— A DESPATCH
FROM FORT SEDGWICK.
;HE wires having been duly introduced into my office, and
the necessary working machinery having been placed in
position and in good running order, I was prepared to
hear what other people had to say, without the necessity of be-
ing reciprocally communicative.
As Charles Cowdrey was detailed for night dnty, and as the
daily business of the telegraph. compaiiy would have been ma-
teriaUy interfered with by this interception of intelligence on
my part ; and as there was no reason to fear that any attempt
would be made during the day to use the wires illegitimately
It was decided that my branch office should only be in active
operation during the night. Trusted operators were detailed
for that purpose, who were to be at their post from six o'clock
in the evening and remain until the next morning to receive
all messages that came over the wires, detaining such as might
be deemed suspicious, and forwarding all the others without
delay.
Soon my little room, dedicated to far different uses, resound-
ed to the clicking of the instruments as they conveyed far and
wide the information they received.
" FrOTi ■"' 'd to world the conriere fly,
Tht u 1 winged and shod with fire |
, The angel of the stormy sky
Rides down the 'lectric wire."
A very short experience as a superintendent of an impro-
vised telegraph office convinced me of the magnitude of the
labour performed by these silent workers, and the wide and
rapid and varied dissemination of intelligence throueh their
agency. o ©
I was rr^ iicularly astonished at the manner in which intelli-
gcuee oi jMj importaut item of news was communicated to di»
164 PKOiTr
S^
t
4
.1 ^1
il«'
^AL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
jnetropditan journals often conWn.Tee „rf:„rco"LlTf
telegraphic new. which, at the usual rate of ch ^735
,wl°]"^' °™ '"'^ •'^y°"^ "»' ^biUty of even th^ W'
u.g London newspapers to pay daily. The inquiry then is W
wliat arrangement, therLfore, is the press from Main. T-S ^
supphed with every important eve/t whirtr^.'^reul Z
Zl:LZ ™"°"'"^- "i'W" a few minutes of iulZ
OtWr . r'^ ''''?*' *" ''"^'J"'"'"^ "ere to be in I^ewyork
Cn'^rt ?^™iiT '.'- »".'!>• P™«Pal cities of U^-
citief \sub?e,'u^X to r-frrm^SoHf ^his"" ^" ''""^
nparlv oil n,« ^„i luiiiiduion 01 tliis association.
part of this ..ntry isX^^f'! fi o IT :°rSr„S
in New York, copies of the «=.r;e being droDOfi,' It .n ;?..
me,hate points on the rou... and thro^ther^ts : the coun'
try being supplied ft. the ' atral office. ^ "''"
the lirrr/rit" t/^ ,f "' ""^ P'^=« "P""' "o™" over
wie wires d jring the n ht, "nmencnK about six o'ol„.!lf «ml
concludmg generj^lly about one o'clock in th, ,„rnin° but n„1
uifrequently It has continued as late as four o clock Sid some.
^^IStV :"il!i" 'r.'«.'een.thati';:2''nrX
--, — oj, o^..x«t.t..=. iiitauugn only working upon th*
OTVAWn.4- J-kMn
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 165
western wires were kept busy during tHe Hours which ther
occupied this improvised station. ^
I have attempted to give some faint idea of the maeiiitude
of this system of telegraphing, but its practical workmrmus?
be seen to be appreciated. wumiugH must
Jt Z that i<,?nTh''i^.' '.-^'^^^ ^ P^*y«^ «° i^P^'rtant
part, and that is m the detection of crime ; and many instances
are upon the record where, but for the agency of the electric
cuirent, great criminals wc'.ld have escaped ?Jom justice and
their apprehension would ; ..e been a mater of imlos biHtV
The murderer, after the commission of his crfme seeks
safety in flight, and, entering the railroad train, is sor^apldly
speeding away from the reach of his pursuers : but mo e
swiftly than the locomotive, a little messenger is win^'in^Tts
Iff frl'°? '^\rr' ^"^ J"^' ^' '^' g""ty «»-« ifliagines Sim!
self free from the law s pursuit, the hea^ hand is laid upon
his shoulder and he is in custody. The telegraph with the
rap.dity of thought, has anticipated his arrivalfrnd officers to
whom the nature of his crime may be unknown butTo whom
hX forThpl^-P'^'".^^ ^T g^^«°' ''''^' ^i-' *°d h^
r.»^l Went is told as having occurred in England a few
years o.u)ro the date of our story, though many such have
transpired since, which may be worth repeating. ^
Fn?knr^ -^V^ ^''?^'^ the chief cashie? of the Bank of
Lnglana received a notice from Liverpool by electric tpl«
graph to stop certain notes of large amouL.' Ae T^.lt.
mg the descriptions were placed upon a card and given tr. ibe
proper officer with instructions to see that no persoS ex.' ...ged
tl .nt'^^'^K- ^''^^ ''" ^^°"*«« '^^y ^'^^ presented^at
speak a word of English. A clerk in the office, who spoke
cerr4'''''""^fi!^^ ^T' ^^'^^ ^« <^«<^l-re.. that he had^ rt
fjnnn Jr/"" ''^ the exchange at Antwerp six we^ks before,
notes hldnTl^^" books, however it appeared that the
an^fh. f "'^u**'^'' 'T"^ ^"^"^ '^« ^^^1^ about fourteen days,
and^thereforeje was detected at once as th^ utterer of a false!
«mWi,o^'^^°™^*^ ""f «.*"'Vt.r» ^ii<^ forthwith locked him up,
•ud the notes were detained. A letter was at once written to
4
166 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES
The person now m custody advised him to stow his vri."^'-
m his portmanteau as Livflrnnnl ..a . 7 " valuables
for a £an to walL W wi h L I """^^ dangerous place
at the old BaUevVC. Tttl. .ft!; I ' m'T ^'" S"'"* »°
been robbed of a \&RV^oxmtTc^t ^ J^ r''^ '*^'^ ^^*^
Vestigation and searfhina^nn!.- ^^*^*g«' «»^<1 after careful in-
Buppfsed ?h!ef had left u^nn^^^^^^ ''^ ascertained that the
having i„ hi, posseiioKoh «*J^fcl. A^ S "".^kP r"
rmmediately arrested Wr..„lf u ?°««*8'' '''«» ">« *"
he directedXdd be rn^eved^^ ""rf "f^e trunk, which
J^Now. I w«.t to know how you knew that I waa on thi,
« Si' "u!!!'?'* *«. "^S"'. " I gnessed it"
never saw
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 167
« ?h ! l^T'"^^ ?.* ^?**^' ^^•" «aid the officer.
"bufLwL Sder'did"^^''*"^ '^^ nonplussed individual;
trunk .rquTcklyr?^^ ^'^- ^^^ ^'^"^^ *^ g"««« out my old hair'
ranlVbtf^^^^^^^^^^ -^ <^-k lantern'^;i
TeleS-aph Somnfnw'''r^ f '^^^ *^°^«' ^^^^^ ««abled the
it
!
t
m
168 PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
W.S „oe.ved fro. li„ i„ .i, ^^:,X^ t^'XSt.
send at once. ^ * ^^"^ «o"^e one unknown-,
OSBORN."
the scene of operations 'at Forlsed ™fck ' '^ ""' P"'?"''- «»
to his line of dS^d S i ^rr*^' ""J? ^"" ™'"><=tions as
whatever hazard; * determnation to perform it at
CHAPTER rn.
fi^^hrcrdrt's°i^''li?''T ■" ■"' op"""'™" "it"
. ^ report prfo? to the «ce£ '^TT "' "l" *''"''■«"•
{n the preceding ehapter aC wl'^th'ff'' ^'^"^'^ *»
been previonsly described, he retoSn 1,- \^T?^- *' ^^
pared to await developments rll ? ''" ^°'*' """^ Pre-
just as he was about to"etirefor?h.„-''.T'°«' ''»"«''^'-.
by the sudden appearance of 4oieS„3l?° ""^ ""Trised
JT'l'-IV,""''. '» Wm unknown Tho?e'±LrrP?"»^ '•r
.^.=u uun ,nat something unusual had o«i™i Ij^oTgdng
<k'
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 160
to Osborn's room Cowdrey immediately closed the' door and.
producing a revolver, said threateningly • ' ^
"Osborn when a man's life is in da4*er there is no use in
wasting words. I want you to get readf to go with us at once
do you understand me ? " ° °°^®'
"Put down that pistol and tell me what is the matter " sairl
Osborn, who was not at all dismayed by the menaTifff attitud^
°^' NeTrSVhft tT:. ^^^^^" '*^ ac^relnrmS!
onee,7plJd^^^^^^^
Osborn believing it best to comply with the demnd of
Cowdrey, trusting for some favourable%pportun ty to c^muni
eate with me as to his whereabouts and destination at oZsi^
e'S'tht "chorTb-^ ^"'^"P^"^ *^^- when";;lnd wh ?:
ever they chose. This prompt acquiescence on the nart of
Osborn seemed to disarm whatever suspicions Cowdrey may
opi^ rdirftr ''''-' "^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^« — ^----
JrA^a^ ^u-^H *°^,^^^®'' *^^ various articles composing his
wardrobe which he designed taking with him. he announced
his readiness to accompany them, fnd Cowdby and Sis "m
pauion having previously made all iecessary arraLemente th«v
were soon on their way to the great West.^ ^"'*'' *^'^
coW 1 ^^^ demeanour toward Osborn, though friondlv and
^eemingly careless, was watchful in the extreme as though S«
inti ^'' nT'^' "°^ '^^ determined th^no action ?f his
hi?resoTv«d't ?r"P' ^^^""*^^«^ ^"^^ C.born,di covering
^L but Vo^^ '"'''V^^' would arouse further sus^
ption, out would yield a ready assent to everv Dronnsifinn
ittlT'^'' "^ *""^ establish that confidencJ S was
absolutely necessary to the success of his plans.
He consequently made no effort to communicate with
Cowdrey had provided himself with all the necessarv im
pfements for tapping the wires, and his proviLns werJnT;
c«Dplete; everything connected with t.h« J.?.! L!l!f-_"'^''
SSUn^' ^T ^''''^i' and Vpo^nityTri? ^a^;
iwiang to put them into practical operatioa. / wai
'VT
U
in
170 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Arriving kt the city of Omaha, in Nebraska, they took the
Union Pacific Kailroad for JuJesburg ic Colorado, where they
disembarked, and, putting up at a hotel in that place, they ae-
termined to remain a few days preparatory to starting out upon
their campaign of rascality.
What a wonderful transformation this far western country
has undergone in a few years I Only a short time before thia
the great plains and majestic mountains were given up to the
roaming bands of Indians, and save the occasional advent of an
Adventurous miner or hunter, the red man held undispute.i
sway over the fields and forests ; but the steady march of im-
provement and civilization was ever onward, and in its passage
towns and villages sprang up almost miraculously. The broad
fields were teeming with their wealth of grain and other pro-
ducts, the railroads stretched their great lengths over the con-
tinent ; the telegrbph flashed from ocean to ocean ; the school-
house and the chapel reared their modest forms, and the effects
of education and well-directed labour were everywhere made
wonderfully manifest. Here too followed, as a consequence
the capital of the country ; money, that great incentive to am-
bition, the motive power that stimulates the energies of man
was to be made, and the forms of its manipulation necessarily
followed ; and here in this far-off locality were found bankin".'
institutions, and all the materials of financial and commercial
exchange.
The next morning George Cowdrey went to the bank in
Julesburg and presented a draft for two hundred and fifty dol
jars, on J. R. Bronson & Co., which on the second morning fol-
lowing was duly honoured, and with the funds thus obtained
the party proceeded to equip themselves for the journey before'
them. There was still some danger to be apprehended from
roaming bands of Indians, and this fact necessitated the pro-
curing of rifles and ammunition ; and, being provided with
these, together with such stores as they needed, on the third
day following their arrival the party took the stage for Fort
Sedgwick, located upon tlie stage route a few miles westward
Here the party alighted, and proceeding to the telegraph
oace they made inquiries as to communications existing be-
direct communications could be obtained Cowdrey attempted
PROFRSSIONAL THIES^ES AND THE DETECTIVES. 171
i^JL?H*^^T™*'''.*^*.'.^ ^^^*^^ » dispatch in reference
15 wiMf^'^''^^'^? °t "^'T^ '^^^'^^ i" Montana. This was
r«1l.T'!^ * TJ^^u '^^T^ "" *^« P^^<^ °^ the operator, and as
he hreatened to liave the party arrested if they persisted m
delttT?^' or remained in tie town, it was thought best to
cuired ^^ "'' accomplished, and much danger in-
..?^nn''^ however, had, unobserred by Cowdrey or his com'
^^^^a'T^'T^ *° ""''^^ '^," ^^P*^«h which I afterwards re-
ceived, and also a note to the operator, explaining the situa-
mlir' «°"^""^g instructions to whoeVer came as to the
addres^ n?r;!? ^t*^"f ^"'g him to forward the dispatch to the
threw Inn fl' 7^''^ ."u°'*' ^ '^hey were about leaving, he
confederates "^ ^^^^ ^^"^'^'^ ^^ '^^'' °^ ^^
nfl!lr!!'' '" had ^business," said Cowdrey. « and now there is no
Th' r' ^'^^ ^""^ '!J ^^P^"^ "P^'^ o"r own resources."
fh«i„ll ^^ proceeded on their way on foot, having provided
ratTulnntr^ V'^'^T'"' ^^' ««^«^^^ ^^^^^^ determined to op
erate upon the wires at a point where they were assured thev
rtte^^L^rSmTs^ '''' ''' -- successfully e^r^j:
anything else but pleasant Tramping all day over he rugle^
roads and campmg at night with no%<>vrering ov.rthem bub
he blue canopy and the bright stars, their experience wScid
£ tTr"""' ""''^ the luxurious ease and comfort to whth
indLi^lrVu"'^'"''^"'^^^"^^' ^»d had it not been for the
1„mT ' ^^^ i'"? *° <>hem of prospective fortune, they
would have retraced their steps and returned home. ^
mini %^''^P^y T^^^ '^ this inordinate desir^^ for gain in the
Tnurlrf ' '^'^ fT'' ^"^ ^^^^«hip wi: be endured foJ
the purpose of accomplishing it
frui wl*"^^'"? '^''^ ""^^ '""^ ^*^ the near future the golden
Bi^n vn^lT.r.V"'"??*""'^ ^"^ ^"^""^y' ^°^i «o listens to the
siren vo.ces that lure him on to destruction and di«-ra«« • fV...
iTvSlf i'^r "' T''T'^. institutions, who,"to~ gralii> *ii i^
tra>agaut taste and a desire for the good things of the woiH
172 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
%nn» his honour 11^ the dost and is at hit compelled tj faw* fh*
iilielfc timi fil '"^*^'" .acqu'sifcion of wealth has from the
Svipir r ^'° Pofsession of the minds of men and mould-
ed their characters and dispositions.
tl,J?^ ?ncient alchemists, who devoted the best energies of
Segals and from^:r^ l' P^«^"^^ ^"^^^ ^o™ ^Kser
metals and from mmerals, and whose futile efforts to equal the
bnU ancy and value of the diamond by the carbonizing of other
tkuitv nf fr^^" ipatermls, are so many evidences oftheaa!
tiquity of this craving of the mind and heart for wealth whi'ch
So Jn'2"""H '^' t"^ ^'''''' °^ ^^^'^^ ««d economy
oo, too, with the modern speculators who ftr« frf-fHr,™ +1,^;-
•mh and shrivelling their hLrts in h7contola"Se^J
»"nf tit:!rf t^- '"^^ "^ a^r.c=
Go into a faro bank, and look at the anxious faces ofihrt
men assembled there. All their nerves seem to be strained to
their utmost tension as they watch the turning of the luckv or
the unlucky card ; oblivious to all else, their thought are
LstTd of '^ "^r ^^\\'i««^"ne of chances, which e^Sally!
Sgg^l "^ '^'"'' will leave them and their familS
•Inf?!?. l"^ FT P"«°°«,a»d there you will find men of bright
tie^ who Svfr T"f ^'^'^^S^^' ^"^ ^*"g«°d business fS
ties, who, by the patient process of honest labour, would have
accomp ished their heart's desire, but who, yieldbg to thTs
golden tempter, have overreached themselves 'and bJougi? ruin
and disgrace upon all associated with them. ^
temnti'-nff"-^ ""'-^ !^''' 'Jen, having yielded lo the base
tempter, suffering privations ^nd endyring hardships which in
W«r'' ^"^^^T"" '^ "^^^^ "^°"«^' w«"ld have restraiied
^r natures and more determined spirits than they po^
Eeaching at laet, after a toilsome journey of several davs it
remote position between the north fork^of the P atteT ;er
and Cooper;« Creek, and in direct communication bet^^n
v-Hiiia auu am i^oke Uity,they determined to begin operation*'
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES ANl5 THE DETECTIVES. 173
!fLT o :, *i ^^-^^ prepared the message which thev d^
eTi Ll^uTerLmll^'^^' and enabling the'cVn^ J^tlt
durel Th^ fnlln • ^''i 'f '*' ^^^^ ^°"'^ natura ]y be pro-
daced. The lollowiug is the dispatch prepared to be foi-warded:
urpy,^ .,j "SanFraxcisco,Cal., Oct. 1867.
com'^te ^T ste*?L*^J^' f^^ ^«^* ^^^«^^ ^-« f«« and
P./fic Mail Line which saii*ed itoT^ "i""' ■^^^"'^^' ^^ *'^«
l^o.t,«, ca^rried off Tlar^'e tortTol o?"Ihr??' and, taking to the
Mre Fly rescued a lanm nmnW *\^ ^ treasure. The steamer
haa takL them to San Francisco ff^T^' '^^.r^' ""^
]ia'.< also gone down the harhm r +!. ; i, ^ steamer Chrysopolis
and h/ving'^.ppe':,,. 'hey aroae,
i^^gau tUeir p.epar^uons forthe tapp'iul orthe'^^i;;^''^' "'^
174 PROFESSIONAL THIeVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Be!ng provided with all tlie appurtenances for the labour
before them, and having fully arranged everything for the con-
templated work, they spent the remainder of the day in resting
and idleness, awaiting the coming of the evening in order that
Charley might be on duty to complete the task which they
began.
As the time arrived, G^eorge being provided with a pair of
climbers, ascended to the top of the pole upon whiclj the lines
were suspended, and in a few moments, he had successfully at-
tached the ground-wires to the main line ; the electric current
was conducted into the earth, and then, applying their pocket
instruments, they were enabled to work with all the facility of
*a regularly-organized office.
Ascertaining the number of the dispatch which would
follow, their instrument was soon in operation, and in a very
short time the lying dispatch was on its way, and should
nothing occur to stop its passage there would be a stir upon
the market and " Pacific Mail" would be a fruitful subject for
manipulation by the conspirators at the " Board."
Having finished their task, they skilfully removed theii
attachments, George Cowdrey ascending the pole and perform-
ing the labour. He had just finished and was about to descend,
when he was startled by an unmistakable yell that foreboded
danger.
Immediately turning around and looking in the direction
from which the sounds came, he observed a party of twelve or
fifteen Indian hunters, about two hundred yards away, running
with full speed towards them.
To escape seemed impossible, and to remain where he was
involved a danger he did not care to incur, so he quickly de-
scended from his lofty perch and rejoined his frightened com-
panions, who were trembling with fear at this sudden and dan-
gerous interruption of their operations.
On came the Indians, shouting and yelling in a manner
which caused the blood to curdle in their veins, and so, with-
out further thought of anything else but safety, the trio of
wire tappers gathered up their guns and ammunition and
sought to escape th«ir pursuers by flight. It was of no avail,
however ; the Indians were more fleet of foot than the fugi-
tives ; and soon overcominijc the distance between them tuj>
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 175
roanded them; and the others, finding it impossible to resist
This was a novel and unexpected ending of their hopes of
fortune, their dreams of wealth, and instead of reaSthe
rich reward they ha4 expected, they found themsefves i^Va^
Slpositiol''^'''^'^ ^^'^ ''"^ P^^"^"^ doubts of the" ?utur^
CHAPTER VIIL
THB INDIAN CAMP—THE ESCAPE OP OSBORN-
CHARLES COWDREY.
-THE ARREST 01
. SBORN and his companions were securely bound by their
dusky captors, who manifested very extravagant symp-
toms of dehght as they performed the operation. Each
of them were then placed between two of the Indians and in
this manner they returned to their camp, stopping on the wav
to take charge of the various article, which had been abandoned
by the wire tappers m their hasty attempt at escape.
During that painful march, theminds of the three men were
cruelties of these dusky hunters, and they had every reason to
in. iriS..^? S I' '^^"/<^^?«,^f particularly dggravating-hav-
Xo a^H W •'"''^^ ""'u '^'' ^^^'^^^^ in the interests of
justice, and having no share in the prospective gains of the
n I'tlf'.-'"^ not regard his present position with^anydLree
of sat sfaction or philosophy-and not being either by nature
^cre shtuTd V'f ^' -^ '^'^^^'""^^ '' "»^ ke a bold ^ort to
Sl^.K °PP'^ft""^ty occur. His companions seemed,
however, to.be utterlv broken down • th^;. <•«*.« -^ j J '
and witk u^ suUenneas of despairth^submitt^i'^i^^tl^k^
176 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
tors, and anxiously awaited tha operation of event* that were
either to seal their doom or to promise release.
They ware conducted back to the camp of the hunters and
securely fastened, while the Indians devoted their attentions
to the articles they had captured. To them the telegr tph had
long been a source of wonderment and opposition, and any-
thing connected with it attracted their attention and seemed to
excite their anger. Many times they had taken down the
lines over jvhich the messages were sent, and the company
would thus suddenly find their connections broken off, so that
much time would be lost, much labour consumed, and consider-
able, expense incurred in repairing the damage done, aside from,
the personal danger which those who performed this labour
were compelled to incur.
As the darkness of night settled down upon the scene, the
prisoners, who were closely pinioned and watched, and whose
minds were filled with reflections far from pleasant, were con-
ducted to a small tent, and being placed under the guard of a
stalwart Indian, were left to what repose they might be able
to take, their captors having previously taken the precaution
to bind their feet, in order to prevent any attempt at escape.
Osborn resolved to make the effort that evening, and after
his companions had settled themselves apparently to sleep, he
silently began to work upon the cords which bound his wrists.
By untiring and desperate energy, he at length succeeded in
freeing one of his hands, and in a few minutes more both hands
were at liberty. He breathed a sigh of intense relief when
this result was accomplished, and then set to work to loosen
the pinions upon his feet, trembling with fear and anxiety lest
he should be discovered, and his rising hopes dashed to the
jground. Having the use of his hands, it was nut long before
he was enabled to remove these bonds, and he found it almost
impossible to restrain an expression of his joy at the success
which had thus far attended him. But he dared not speak or
stir ; the silent guardian was seated at the door of the tent,
complacently smoking and uncomfortably wakeful, and he
could see the rest of the band gathered around their fire a short
distance away, engaged in the same solacing occupation. He
must wait a more favourble opportunity to make the attempt
«t escape, and so, settling back upon his blanket, he gave him
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 177
self up to mental consideration of the dangers and difficul.
ties which surrounded him, and, of the possibilities of success-
fu ly getting away from the vigilant eyes of those who were
getting him and his companions in durance. Cowdrey and
the other were overcome by the events of the day, and, fatigued
both m mind and m body, were lying by his side, and their
heavy, regular breathing convinced him that they were asleep.
One by one the circle around the fire grew smaller .and finally
the dying embers were deserted, and he was left alone with the
grim watcher at the door.
The death-like stillness that prevailed was oppressive in the
extreme, and to Osborn the time dragged slowly along, as his
mind was occupied with conflicting hopes of escape and fears
ot tailure. After watching for some time, his heart gave a
leap as he noticed that the head of the Indian jailer was droop-
ing on his breast, and listening, intently, he heard the unmi^
takable breathing of a sleeper. Quickly and silently he threw
ott the blanket that covered him, and crawled stealthily to the
side ot the tent opposite to the entrance ; slowly raising the
canvas from the ground, He pushed himself partly through,
feet forenaost, when the sleeping Indian started from his slum-
ber and looked into the tent, to assure himself that all was
right within. Osborn did not stir, and the quiet which
reigned convinced the watcher that, everything was as it should
be, and he composed himself for another nap.
After waiting sufficiently long to convince himself of the
soundness of the slumber of his unsuspicious guard, Osborn
again attempted to withdraw his body from i\xe tent and by
slow, stealthy movements he succeeded in placing himself out-
side of Its enfoldings. AU was quiet as the grave ; Ids exit had
been unnoticed, pnd he could have shouted m rery >oy at the
possibility of safety, which now seemed so immi.^.^nt!'
Moving noiselessly away, he was soon out of hearing of the
camp which he had left, and he paused a moment to determiua
upon his course of action. Having full knowledge of the road
they had travelled in reaching this place, he determined to re-
turn to Fort Sedgwick, in the hope that his surreptitious mes-
Bage irom that place had been properly forwarded and r«fiflived.
ma that the person desired would, by this tiiao, be found
^i
m
178 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES,
•waiting him, or some knowledge of hia ni'vements ascertaihed
Meauwhile Conway, in accordance with instructions received
from me, had proceeded on his way, and without accident or
delay had reached Fort Sedgwick about the time that Osborn
was making his escape from the camp of the In.Iians, and goin^
at once to the telegraph office, informed me of his safe arrival
and awaited further orders.
While these events were transpiring my telegraph office was
in constant nightly operation, but without discovering anything
of a suspicious character, and the officers of the company were
considering the advisability of removing it, vrry much against
my earnest remonstrance, when, early one eve' ng, just as I was
preparing to leave, the premonitory signal was given, and in a
short time the message containing the information of the loss
of the steamer Cheat Republic, with all its attendant particulars
came clicking over the wires. '
Admirably done, gentlemen ; the regularity of thu trans-
Tti\^iiMm was perfect, but unfortunately for the suc-^ess of your
pli!;s my office was in operation, and the cipher by whicii these
im'^ma were usually sent had beefi, at my suggestion, chan^red
tm dajB previously, and all regular correspondents had been
duly uotified of that fact.
iir^i f"""^^**' suspicion at ones attached iiself to this message.
We felt that we had the evidence that would convict the par-
ties of the attempt to tamper with the wires and to forward
the bogus intelligence. The trap had been laid and the unsus-
pecting swindlers had fallen into it. I therefore determined
to catch Charles Cowdrey in the act, and for that purpose I im-
mediately dispatched one of my men to inform General Stager
of the state of affairs, and to request his attendance at my of-
fice for consultation. Upon his arrival the facts, as above re-
cited, were communicated to him, and his eyes brightened per-
ceptibly at the recital. After du£ consideration of the matter,
It was decided to transmit the message received ; to have a
watch put upon Charles Cowdrey in order to ascertain what
action he would take in sending it forward, and if he attempt-
ed to do so to arrest him in the act, thus having indubitable
proof J* gainst him of complicity.
This action beinff fnUv am<a<a/1 im^n n.^^^■^^ csl
pwued by oae of my men, returned to the office of the Telegraph
reneral Stager
PROFESSIONAL T^TEVES AND TttE DETECTIVES. 179
Company, and stationing thtraselves in ^u • .
operating room, prepared to watch %i« P'o^mity to the
Co»rdrej. ^ ^ ^ ^*^^ *^e movements of young
In a very few moments the auick ^ar «f *v. r,
covered the unmistnkabl' amnaTll T ^^J^^ General dis.
t on of the suspected me sage and he a' l^^^M^' ''''^^
start given by Charles as he\ came awa tl''^ ?"' 'H^'''
despatch he was receiving ' *"® ^**"^« of the
geSter^ tlnVwitV?iir:r^-r^ Charles Cowdrey's fin-
it to its easteL^St/ofaT^^^^ ^'^ f— ding
heavy hand was laid upon his in,W "^ ?"""?"' ^^^^^ ^^^t J
denly ar .und. his frightened t.fjl ^u^' ^ ^" *"^°«d '^^^
era! Stager and the stoHdZk onhel '^' '^"i/"^« ''^ ««°-
he had been caught and hliJ f ^tective. He knew that
that of his associftes was known to *thr' '^1^^ ^"°^« ^^^
him. ^^ ^°°^n K> the men who stood before
an:fficttf\tTa'rin^^f^^ -jth this gentleman ; he is
Stager, sternly. ' ^^°" "^ "'^<^«'' "rest," said General
ch^:^^;S4 -t^e -bmittod ^--^^ ^the
to account for th. unlxpected dLnl ^^^^y'-^^^^^tly at a loss
doubt of the wJ eabouror dtC^^^ »°din
his enterprise. aispo«,ition of hia companions in
the^J.^rf'h: Te£=1Jl "' "«,»' f»' tampering with
J«d bogus tote4ZT^^n'!^'a'°hlf" «°W""8 '» f""
default of baU, he 4s oiinitt JST *• '"*™'? ^"'e 8*"". in
liis oOenoa, omnutted to piuoa to await a trial for
. 1
IMA3E EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
//
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t L£ 12.0
IL25 111 U
IJil
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T^i_
_Sciaices
Corporation
33 WIST MAIN STRIIT
WnSTBR,N.Y. MSM
(7I«) •72-4503
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180 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND JHE DETECTIVES.
OHAFTEB IXi
IBB DKOOVERT OF OiBORN'S FLIGHT— UK8UCOE88FDI. PURUUn
— A GAMP SUDDENLY DXSERTED — ^LEFT TO DIE— BISGUED,
BUT AGAIN MADE FBI80NERS.
"^pRANK OSBORN, worn out with fatigueand almost starv-
qTcf ing, at length, reached Fort Sedgwick, where he found
^^^ Conway impatiently awaiting him. His escape had not
been discovered until he was far out of reach, and he heard
nothing to indicate that he was pursued, but his journey had
nevertheless been a painful one, and bis condition on hia
arrivid at the Fort was most pitiable. The suddenness and
secrecy of his getting away prevented his making any prepara-
tions for an extended tramp, or of securing any provisions to
sustain him upon the way, and consequently he presented a
picture of physical and mental fatigue most painful to witness.
However, after being refreshed with a bath, a change of
clothing and a good substantial repast, he was conducted to
bed, when after an invigorating sleep of several hours, he felt
BO much improved and recuperated that he announced himself
ready to proceed the next day in compimy with Conway in the
attempt to capture the two individuals with whom he had been
associated, and who were now still supposed to be in charge of
, their dark-skinned captors.
It was decided to request a guard of soldiers from the Fort,
M it would be impossible for these two meii to successfully cope
with the number of Indians who had accomplished their cap-
ture, and as the attack had been made by the Indians in violas
tion of the terms of treaty then existing, and of the promises
of peaceful behaviour, it was thought that a salutary lesson
should be taught them lor this warlike demonstration.
Major Larkin, who commanded the small body of troops at
the Fort, after hearing the particulars of the affair, the object
to be attained in recovering the tw9 telegraphic manipulators,
and the prompt administration of justice, at once signified his
frillinKuesa to' assist tho detective in procuring the reieaao of
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 181
Cowdrey and his companion, and ordered a guard of eight men,
under the command of a sergeant, to accompany them.
Being providad with horses, the party started from the Fort
early the next morning, resolved that they would accomplish
their mission and return with their prisoners.
Let us now return to the camp which Osbom had so uncere-
moniously left on the evening of his escape. The sleeping
sentinel dozed on at intervals, then, starting up suddenly,
would listen to the heavy breathing cf the sleepers within, and
finally, apparently well satisfied that all was well, would again
drop off m slumber. Thus the long night passed away, and as
the first famt streaks of morning light came up and illumined
the darkness, the camp resumed its usual activity, and prepar-
atious were made for the morning's repast. At this time one
of the Indians came to the tent for the purpose of relieving the
hunter who had stood guard at the tent of the prisoners, and
as It was now fully light, his quick eyes at once detected the
absence of Osbom. The alarm was given and soon the entire
camp was aroused. Consternation and alarm sat on every face
and instant orders were given for. the pursuit and capture of
the runaway.
In a few moments the men were divided into squads, and
they started off in various directions in the hope of overtaking
Osborn and bringing him back to captivity, but at nightfall
they returned unsuccessful, as the reader already ia aware of.
No trace had been discovered of the missing Osborn and the
chase was reluctantly abandoned.
The Indians were now thoroughly alarmed. That Osborn
had escaped was now an assured fact ; that his destination must
naturally be the Fort was also undoubted ; and if he reached
there in safety and told his story, what \^ould be the result?
Knowing that they had been guilty of wrong-doing, and feel-
ing that punishment sure and severe would follow, their only
altwnative was to get away as rapidly as possible. Hastily
packing together thtir camping utensils and whatever property
composed their outfit, and placing them upon the backs of th*ir
ponie«» they prepared to leave the place.
A consultation was held, the question of the disposition of.
the remaining prisoners was vehemently discussed, and it Vaa
aaauy aeeided, m order to prevent their giving any alarm, to
in
ill
1
J
if
yuiiii '
Vjl ■i*';|
liiNS
182 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
lie them securely to the treei and leave them to be disooyered
by whoever shoulil come in search of them.
This being done, and all tho preparations being made for de-
parture, the Indians hurried away, resolved that they would
place as much distance as possible between them^lves and
the pursuit, which they felt confident would follow.
The condition of the two men, who were thus left entirely
alone, was a fearful one, and their feelings may well be imag-
ined. Between sentiments of anger at Osborn for what they
considered his desertion of them, and with fears for their safety
and sustenance, their minds were filled with many conflicting
emotions. Then, too, came the horrible fear that their crime
had been detected and that although Osborn might succeed in
bringing the troops in time to rescue them from death, they
might still be compelled to suffer the punishing iufluencei of
the law.
Slowly dragged tbe long day to its close, each moment as it
* passed being fraught with intense mental suffering to the two
bound men, who, by conversation, endeavoured to assist th*
passage of the far too slowly moving time. As night, with its
dark enveloping folds, settled around them, their suffering was
augmented, and they vainly attempted to seek some respite
from the strain upon their minds in sleep.
Ah, gentlemen 1 how much easier would have been your
position to-night could you havb nestled down in the warm
coverings of the couches in your city home. How much tor-
ment and pain and mental agony you would have been saved,
had you refused to listen to the golden tempter that lured you
to your ruin, that brought you at last to the dangers of these
western wilds, and now has left you to suffer and perhaps to die.
I woqder whether the certainty of punishment will ever op-
erate to prevent crime, and whether tlie piteous picture of the
suffering criminal will ever have a controlling influence in de-
terring others from the commission of acta that lead to the
same results I
I will not linger over the sufferings which these men endured
during the days and nights of their horrible and lonely cap-
tivity ; a captivity which comprised a living death, and which
hunger and thirst and mental torture combined to mal.s them
rrtsin ivr ucaw
:r« ^* i.^__ «j r
a ivasusxi nxiut a uic vi wiivf ouu icor*
be discoyered
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 183
It is enough to know that when Osborn and his military e»
eort amved. they found them utterly exhausted, and on^tlTe
'^^:^^1irtl,^:r''^^^ prevented'themcJrfn'g
rfw alr^^XJlP"^'™;' '^ '^' ^"^^*"« --^'i ^ "-'e-t
woWlS^o'saiwV''" '''' '"^'^ ^'^^ ^ overtake then!
The next morning after their arrival, and when they had
almost entirely recovered from the effecUi of theTr hard eLen^
ences, Con^-ay informed these dealers in false information of
This was the last blow, and, submitting without a word.^fey
allowed themselvei to be pinioned, andfbeing placed upon he
tram, they were soon whiriing along the road to thecTtyof
Chici^o, where they werr to be tried for their offence. ^
thfnl.'i!. fr"^' ^'^°r ^""i ^°"^*y expressed their warmest
thanks to the commander of the Fort and his men. who had
treatment of them while they remained.
n
OHAPTEE X
SN PRISON— LEGAL QFESnONi
^ioZiw. P?- ^"'PP?*^^® ?«c°"^d upon that return
journey to Chicago, but to the discomfited and detected
T?5?" t^he time passed heavily and slowly. The
returns which they had so ardently expected were not Llized
and mstead of gaining for themselves the competence they had
laboured and ndced their liberty for, they w.re now being con-
ducted as prisoners to answer a charge which might involve
impnsonment, and certainly carried with it disgrace and dhT
Ill
at nni
1 ■
1 '
i
' ^
184 PROFESSIONAL IHILVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
Upon ftrriving in the city they were at once conveyed to my
office, and then they seemed for the first time to realise the
desperate strait in which they were placed.
" George Cowdrey," said I, after they had been seated, " yea
are aware by this time that you have been detected in an at-
tempt to tap tfie wires of the Telegraph Company, and to im*
pose upon the public a despatch containing false in formation,
which might have resulted in serious consequences to many un<
suspecting people. It is equally certain that you were not alone
in this movement."
*• Does Charley know that 1 have been arrested 1 " inter-
rupted George.
•' Your brother dees not know that you have been arrested,
from the fact that he was arrested before you, and while in the
yery act of transmitting the message you had sent." said I.
«* I do not understand. How could he be suspected 1 " asked
George, in evident perplexity.
" Come, come," said I, "there is no occasion for prolonging
this interview, but in order to convince you that everything is
known, let me show you a telegraph office which I have estab-
lished npon my own account," and I pointed to the machinery
which had not yet been removed.
George looked in the direction indicated, and realized at otua
the means that had been employed to secure his detection.
" Now, sir, if you will listen further, you will understand that
when your despatch was received here, but a few moments were
necessary to inform General Stager, and but a few more wero
required to catch your brother in the act of forwarding it»" said
I, sternly.
" I see it all now," sirid George humbly ; " we have been
fairly caught and must abide by the consequences."
" George," said I to him, "the company know that you have
not been acting alone in this matter ; they know that behind
you are a combination of men with money to profit by the scare
and anxiety which your-despatch would have occasioned, had it
been properly received, and this combination must be broken
up. The company are determined upon this, and you can as-
sist them if. you will"
" How much will it benefit me if I do so I " he asked, with
&n 6ng€r lOOa IS ulS
ymA 4-Vi«* tya tmrr^nlA ill-
rECTIVES.
.Treated 1 " inter-
" he asked, with
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 185
ttaately divulge what he knew, if he was properlj han.
From time out of mind, we have heard the adage repeated
?n rlnt'- ^'"« " Honour among thieves," and ft mayTeJ^
m remote mstances such a virtue has manifested itself, amid
such associations; hut it will generally be found that when
of the law slowly enveloping him, he will in a large majority
ifetr; "The'Jh"'"' 'f'Pr''? *^'^h« expfnsms;
Slt^?,?% Tl^/>^^^r y^^^rred to being blinked com-
pletely out of sight, m view of prospective safety being gained
by a timely forgetfulness of its existence ^ ^ ^
"George," said I, "I have already told you that the com
Enn^f^n^'^STT.^ *? ^"T««« *^« combinationVyou Z
thriliri^ ^^}^' ^'''' *^f y^"'" f"''*^*^ conne tion with
Yn?m« v^'"^' """^ y^ • ^^'^ °° ^"S«^ b« °^ «°y ««™e to them
You may, however, mitigate the rigour of the prosecution of
C w^*^ ^'^*^'' ^^ 5 divulgence of the facts which wil
wn?.^.«nf'f»,''T"'''' ^""i '^ ^*P«°^« "P«^ 7«*» whether you
will accept the clemency thus offered."
"Give me until to-morrow to consider the matter, and vou
shall have an answer," replied George. ana you
" Take the time you have asked for," said I ; « but. if to-mor.
row passes without this information being forthcom'ingri wTu
not be answerable for the consequences. The officers will ^ow
take you in charge and you will be duly committed."
r...Zi1 ^°^^;^y »"d his companion departed, and I felt
n^nT^^ ""* '^*' ""^ ^°"^^ ^^ ^'«°» ^^ to onr advance
upon the morrow. ••"«»5w
Upon a consultation being had with eminent counsel grave
doubts were expressed by them of the existence of anffaw
hlZ;°"^^/r^ *^' ^^'"'«« *>^ whi«h these parties were
charged, and it seemed possible that our labour would be^x-
pended for nothing. Ve had, however, accomplished onJ
object, we had captured the active malefactors, and weiS in a
^hir^ ^ ""^rj ?he ways which are dark and the Jr Lks
which are vam,*' of those who had conspired wiih them in this
L irn T^ ' fi?^' *^'"^"'^«' '^ °« ^"^i'^^l punishment could
be meted out to them, we would at least be enabled to nrZl.
• repettuofl oi tfaeir danijerous operationa, " "'
m
!t S is
i^
i
180 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
The opinions fcxpresaed were as various and conflicting as
could well be imagined, from a purely legal point of view, and
there seemed to 1^ an absence of any law that would meet the
ease at issue. .... *
That -such a state of affairs should exist in this age of pro-
gression seemed almost astounding, and that an enterprise as
far-reaching and important as the telegraph system had grown
to be should, at this late day, be found to bo entirely unpro-
tected, was a discovery as vexatious as it was incomprehen-
sible.
Laws have been enacted for the protection of every con-
ceivable right and industry, and yet we discovered that the
telegraph was entirely unprotected. It seemed utterly in-
oredible. . . - . ^ ,.•
The most stringent laws were in operation for the protection
of the mails, and an attack upon a stage-coach carrying the
same had been held by law to be a capital offence. Now the
question came naturally— what are the mails? Simply the
medium by which the people correspond vrith each other, and,
if necessary, transmit articles of value, such as drafts, bills of
exchange, and money. Yet, should these articles be stolen
frov the mails, no one questions the right of the Government
to try and to punish the parties who may be convicted of such
action. , ° . .«
Now the telegraph, owing to the scientific progressiveness
of the human mind, is onlv another mode of securing such cor-
respondence, and of trafficking in much quicker time with the
urticles of value already mentioned. ,
The wires encircle the globe, are used ia all the ramifications
of business ; and are they not entitled to the same protection
as a means of communication, as are post roads and the postal
facilities of the United States, or of the world 1 Science is or
ought to be protected by the constitution which guarantees to
protect inventions and inventors, and is not telegraphy an un-
questioned science 1
The mind of man is like the waves of the ocean— ever rest-
less, ever in motion j it is ever seeking to solve the causes of
creation, and are they not entitled to all the protection possible
to flacnre the fruits of their inventions and discoveries 1 Com-
QiQO »eose answers loudl7 in the aflirmative, but it seems, in
PKOFESSIONAL THIEVES ^ND THE DETECTIVES. 187
(his matter &t least, the law-making powers answer equally vo.
ciferously in the negative.
It was contended by some of those learned men that there
could be no property in electricity, because it is one of those
Bubtilo elements in which no property can exist. This view
seems equally erroneous, as electricity for telegraphic purposes
is created by the combination or decomposition of certain mine-
lal substances which are themselves property. Again, it can-
not be urged for a moment that there is no property in steam,
which is equally as intangible as electricity. Nor can it be as-
serted that a person would go unpunished who should tap the
boiler of his neighbour and appropriate the steam to his own
uses. Ether is also a subtile element, but it is a substance, and
consequently a matter of property ; so also with gas.
The miner, deep in his subterranean cavern, produces the
coal which, upon being ignited and subjected to certain influ-
ences, produces gas, and, in connection with water, produces
steam. Would it be contended for one moment that gas is not
property as well as steam 1 And if electricity is the result of
chemical decomposition of certain mineral substances, why
should it not be considered property as well as those other in-
tangible elements 1
Yet we were informed by those learned minds that not only
had no law ever been passed protecting the telegraph, but many
gave it as their opinion that no authority was ever vested even
in the Congress of the United States to pass any such. In
other words, that a man possessing the requisite ability might
successfully steal communications from the wires of a telegraph
company and escape punishment, while he would be rigorously
dealt with should he perform the same action upon the mails.
So conflipting, however, were these legal opinions, that the
authorities of the Company determined to test the matter by a
trial, but in advance of that action, and in view of prospective
failure to convict, it was deemed advisable to get, if possible,
from George Cowdrey, in advance, the information he pos-
sessed, in order to expose the so-called gentlemen who com-
prised the moneyed portion of this combination, and to pre-
vent their obtaining any further guccess in their n)»nner of
working.
hi I
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188 PEOFESSIONAL THIEVE^ AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER XL
IN PRISON— A woman's VISIT— A CONFESSION- A MKBTINO 01
OENTLBMANLY RASCALS INTERRUPTED— THE ACQUITTAL.
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»HE following morning I waited upon the captured mani-
pulators in their confined quarters, and found George not
quite 80 desirous as I could have wished to comply with
the demand I had made of him on the previous day.
" Well, George," saiS I, good-humouredly, upon entering,
" as you could not come to bee me, I thought I would pay you a
visit. The old idea of Mahomet and the mountain, you know."
George amiled faintly, but it was evident that he was ill at
ease. He seemed to have only recently appreciated Osborn'g
participation iu the affair, and yet, knowing full well the posi.
tion which he occupied, and that, with the information I pos-
sessed his hope of escaping from the charge must be very lim-
ited, he hesitated to do what was required of him.
While we were conversing, the turnkey announced a lady
as desiring to see George, and inquired whether he would havi
Ker introduced at once.
" What is her name ! " inquired George.
« Miss Lizzie Coyan," answered the turnkey.
At the mention of the name George flushed slightly, and,
thinking that her influence might profitably be exerted upou
him, I suggested that she be shown up at once.
He hesitated a moment, but finally tamed to the keepei
and said, " Yes, let her/come up now."
In a few minutes a very beautiful looking young lady, very
well dressed, and apparently in great distress of mind, entered.
She threw herself into the arms of George and sobbed con-
vulsively, while he in vain attempted to restrain her tears.
I realized at once that this girl would be of incalculable
heRefit to me, and after she had become subdued, I addressed
T ^_A>.>~.«^I ti<%n /^>(* f Ko /<ir/>i>inQfannaa anrpmiiiii inor l)mtl*trA
" lUsuiiuc^-i ii'-'t ■•! viiv ...1 .?...?...-- -.. «—..——-•.•-—_ — ^-
UVl
Cowdrey, told her of the necessity of his divulging to me the
ulging to me the
f PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AKD THE DETECTIVES. 189
lames of his confe<lerate« in Now York, and requeated her to
080 her influence in producing the desired result.
I soon ascertained that I had a powerful ally j Lizzie whom
I discovered was of good family, and who loved George with
all her heart, aud desired to save him from the punishment
that seemed to be inevitable joined with me in the endeavour
to induce him to give the names of those who were connected
with him, and who were to realize the lion's share of the pro-
ceeds of their r^cality.
Our joint efforts were too much for the stoicism of George,
jind at length, yielding his objections to our combined argu-
ments he confessed the entire conspiracy. I will give the
story as he related it
» Two years ago I was employed in the New Yo'-k office
of the Company, having been transferred there from Chicago,
and as my position was a good one, my salary was proportion-
ately large. My associates at that time, however, were gentle-
men whose incomes were much larger than mine, whose habits
were extravagant and whose frequent dissipations, in which I
as frequently joined, induced the expenditure of a great deal
of money—more than my means justified, and I was continu-
ally fretting at my lack of funds, and regretting my inability
to live in the style of those who were my immediate friends
and acquaintances.
" One evening about a year ago, I was sitting disconsolately
among a few of my friends at Delmonico's, and ^Ue every
one else was enjoying himself, my spirits were di kd by this
#ant of money, and my enjoyment dampened by the fact that
1 could not travel with the rest.
" While thus sitting, an elderly gentleman whom I knew
very well, Thomas Fielding by name, a large operator in gold
and stocks, and whose wealth was believed to be enormous, ap-
proached me and requested a few minutes' private conversation.
I immediately went with him to a retired part of the room,
where our conversation could not be heard by, any one, and
signified my disposition to listen to any proposition which he
might have to make.
J*!?® t}»en broached the subject of my finances, of which he
display. -. considerable kaowiedge, and said that he could place
me in a oosition whex* I co>»w —iUAtmHy increase my income
%
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IDO PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETKf:TlVK8,
and command a position or Tn<T»'ppndpnc«. Ofconnio, nn offr
■o tempting as tins (Imrvfd my attention, and I informiMl him
of my wilhngness to nerve him in any way, by which tho r«.
•ulta 8o ardently ilesired could l)e arrived at
" He then informed me of an jwsociation of brokers, which
had been formed with a view of having mesB.igcs containing
information in reference to certain stocks, come regularly over
the wires in order to oi)erate u|M)n the markets, which woul.l
bo materially aifecUul by the inforniution thus received. He
further informed me of the names of several of the party,
among whom I recognised several of my most intimate friends
at that time, and then he mentioned the fact that I had been
■elected as the operator to be relied upon, and for whose bene-
fit a considerable amount of money had been subscribed.
" This offer wfs too tempting to be nifused, and I at once
signified my willingness to join in the movement. My experi-
ence as a telegraph operator, during the war, was of such a char-
acter that I could tap a telegraphic wire at any point, take off
any dispatch I desired, or forward any that was needed, and
also repair a wire as neatly as anybody.
" My brother Charley being in Chicago I knew that I could
rely upon him, to assist me in forwarding any information I
desired, and also to furnish me with the ciphers in use in
transmitting the various telegrams which would ordinarily con-
vey the information such as was desi^^ned to be manufactured
and forwarded.
" Thus prepared I at once began my operations, and from
many points I was enabled to impose upon the credulity of
thfa people information with no foundation except in the brains
of the shrewd brokers and capitalists who profited by these
transactions. I was very successful until this last attempt,
which you all know about, and which, if it had not been for
that infernal Osborn, I would have succeeded in too."
Another ingenious device that had been contemplated by
these conspirators was to procure an ordinary telegraph pole,
have the same hollowed out through the centre, then ship it
by a privately chartered vessel to some point upon the Pacific
Coast. Arriving at the point designated the pole would be set
up in the »>lace of one of the Tf] ' ^
i^tmnt%v\V% Omma><.am*>'— .— ...1
general oie, the arms with their wiiM would then be arranged
PROPESSIOWL TlffRVKS AND TrrK DETKCTIVKS. 101
opoD thU hollow pole The wiro« would then bo conductod
down through th« pole thuH 8et up, an<l carrio.1 underground
™ tn^l"« ""^T!"^ hundred feet, where th-ne manipulator,
were to have erected a wooden shanty supplied with all the an-
naratuBof a reg.darly appointed telegraph office. From tl^
.atteries thus estal, >« hed wire, were to be again run throngh
lr« nf ?r ^f^ "i. '^T ^T''^ *^" westward t<, the terminal
office of the hne. liy this plan every meHsage that passed over
the wires ot the Telegraph Company must neceHsurily pass
through he improvisiMj office of these lightning stealers, and
no inaication would be found upon the outward lace of circJm-
ir'nS"?^ """"'^ ^''^^'^ * .li«covery of their machin Jot™.
Ihe plan thus siiggesU^d was finally abandoned -why. It was
notstated-and tosuy that 1 was surprised at the audacious
invention, winch, had it been carried into effect, migh have
been successfully operaU,d. and escaped detection for a Ion'
Ttrn^arlatl^n ' '""'^^ '' ""'''''' "^^ ^*^«^'"«« ^ ^ '^^^^
That the plan was feasible there could be no doubt, and niv
surprise was augmented as 1 oonsi.hred its abandonment ^
George Cowdrey was very explicit in his statements, and
from hia manner ,n making the disclosures I entertained no
doubt of their entire truthfulness.
By dint of forcible inquiries I acquired a full knowledge of
ho extent of their transactions and of the wide-spread JbZZ
ions which controlled their movements. Ho gave me a listTf
he men who were identified with the combination, and I wi
utterly amaaed at the revelation thus made
Men of undoubted reputation, office-holders of high reoute
olirth":? ' ^^'*^' of Congres8-a law maSr. ^SS a
yioater of the laws he assisted in making- were found eniraaed
m his work. The list, however, was undoubted" and /only
f„ / .K . ^u ^'""^ ?r^''"^y ^ ^^^ "*™«« comprising it from the
fact that heir publication now would answer no good purpose
thlr'f^mm:^'^ """' to bringthebiush of shamed theSof
The information was also given of the time at wbiVh *hi«
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192 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
telegraphed to Mr. Orton, tue president of the company, who
commanicated the same to Mr. Bangs, with instructions to wait
upon them, inform them of the discovery of their schemes, and
warn them against further continuance in their nefarious work.
In accordance with these instructions, Mr. Bangs, on the
evening succeeding the reception of this intelligence, which
was one of their nights of meeting, in company with one of my
operatives, repaired to the place mentioned, and, noticing a
light burning in the room reported to be occupied by Bronson,
they went up stairs. Upon knocking at the door, Mr. Bronson
himself appeared, who stared in astonishment as he saw the
impos^g figure of my General Superintendent filling up the
doorway, with the full glare of the light reflected upon his face.
Mr. Bangs, noticing that several gentlemen were present,
immediately pushed his way into the room and confronted
the surprised individuals, who were at a loss to account for
this abrupt intrusion, and were apparently dumbly awaiting
an explanation.
" Gentlemen," said Mr. Bangs, "the cause of my visit, will
be apparent when I inform you that George Cowdrey and hia
associates have been arrested and are row in prison at Chicago."
There was a simultaneous movement, singularly expressivt
of astonishment and alarm, manifested upon the announcement
of this information, but smothered ejaculations were the only
responses that were attempted.
" I have further to inform you," continued Mr. Bangs, " that
the name of every gentleman connected with this scheme for
furnishing lying information by tapping the wires of the Tele-
graph Company, are fully known both to myself and to the
officers of the company. Every movement of George Cowdrev
has been watched, and the fullest knowledge as to his conneo*
tion with you h also possessed by us."
"Did you come here. to insult us 1" inquired a pompous,
little, red-faced gentleman, whom I will call Mr. Jamison, assum-
ing an air of angry importance.
" Not at all, Mr. Jamison," coolly and politely replied Mr.
Bangs, " and you least of all — and when I tell you that it was
a draft upon you which George Cowdrey had cashed at the
V.^..).- «r T..1»~l......~ ^«.. .~.:il ..«J i.._J 1 A. t . ,. ,
vaiia. £tu uuicouuijj, jruu tthi uuuciobauu IIUW UtteiiV ildiOUlOUi
this assumption of anger must appear to me.''
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 193
Mr. Jamis' seemed to comprehend the situation, and his
anger, real or assumed, at once subsided. He was not sure how
much ^as known, but he had a pretty well defined idea that our
information was undoubted.
"What do you want with us I" at length inquired Mr.
Bronson, with an air of indiflference he was evidently far from
feeling.
'• I want to inform you that the Company possesses sufficient
information to warrant the arrest of every man present, which of
course would not be a very pleasant proceeding for many of you
who have reputations to lose ; but that they do not care to take
such a course at present, and desire simply to warn you a? st
any further attempt of this kind. Should you, however, n«tko
any further efforts to tamper with their wires, the law must take
Its course, and a full expos6 of your transactions will, at least,
be made, if you do not receive a sentence of imprisonment.
And now, gentlemen, having accomplished my mission, and
given you the information confided to me, I bid you good
evening— but beware how you proceed further in this work."
Saying which Mr. Bangs bowed himself politely out, though
his fingers itched to pounce upon those rascally well-dressed
men whom he knew the law was powerless to punish.
It is needless to say that this visit accomplished aU that was
desired ; the parties interested realized fully their position, and
knowing something of the operations of my Agency, they felt
satisfied that further attempts of theirs would be followed by
serious results to them. They disbanded at once, and I have •
heard no further action of theirs in this direction, which
rendered any labour of mine necessary.
The trial of the Cowdrey brothers came on, and upon a bill
of exceptions, filed by their attorney, and duly argued, a decision
MfBs rendered, which prevented their being tried for the offences
of which they were charged, and they were consequently
Their transactions, however, were made public ; the nature
of their crime was fully known, and, although they did not
suffer the penalties of the law, their honourable position in
society was gone ; they could no longer associate with the friends
of thetuaegoMby; thai? attempt" '- " ' '
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104 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
failures, and everywhere amid their old aeaociations they fournl
themselvefl ostracised and shunned.
The stigma of the criminal was attached to them, and they
found no one willing to acknowledge their friendship or to
further thsir interests, and they finally disappeared from the
city.
Thus ended the conspiracy which had for a long time con-
vulsed the money markets, and which had contributed in ren-
dering houseless and homeless many deserving people, whose
investments were prejudiced by their criminal and illegal trans-
actiong.
CHAPTER XIL
rosoma by telegraph— a bogus draft for nine thou-
SAND DOLLARS CASHED.
, ITER the conclusion of the trial, and although they had
failed in being convicted, their disgrace was so publicly
known and commented upon as to make their further
continuance in Chicago a matter of impossibility. Foiled in
. the attempt which they had made, and reduced to penury by
the results of these transactions, which had failed to yield
them the extravagant return they had so fondly hoped for and
expected, the situation of these brothers was certainl/ not an
enviable one. Their luxurious home was given up and disposed
of, no one would give them employment, and they suddenly
disappeared from Chicago. I was inclined to believe that thei:
lesson had been a salutary one, and that nothing further would
be heard from them of a nature that would render them amen-
able to law.
Several months after the events heretofore narrated, however,
I was waited upon by General Stager and informed of a success-
ful attempt that had been n^ade to swindle the First National
B^k of EmporiA. Kansas tilA rlAfjula nf whinli a*.^ «a «n.IU»k.
. NINE THOU-
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 105
The bank had opened their doors at the usual hour for busi.
ness ; the clerks were in their places, and the officers busily
engaged in the various duties devolving upon them. Money
was being received and paid out with the strictest observance
of the forms of business, when a young man, well dressed and
gentlemanly-looking, entered, and requested to see the president
upon business of importance. .
Mr. Crosby, the president, was notified of the presence of
the stranger, and immediately invited him into his private of-
fice. Upon entering, the young gentleman presented a draft
for nine thousand dollars, upon a well-known banking institu-
tion of New York city, and requested to have the same cashed.
The draft was signed by Martin and Edward Paxton, and in-
dorsed by Joseph Paxton, who was represented as the father of
the young man.
The interview in every way was pleasant ; the young man,
who was Martin Paxton, informing Mr. Crosby of their inten-
tion to purchase a farm in the vicinity of Emporia and enter
mto the business of cattle raising, and Mr. Crosby promised to
telegraph to the parties in New York, and should the reply be
satisfactory he would take pleasure in cashing the same. Mr.
Paxton informed the accommodating president that he would
not require more than one thousand dollars at the present time,
but would take certificates of deposit of the bank for the bal-
ance. The manner of the young man was cordial and buai-
ness-like, and after promising to call upon the following day for
an answer, af^er a short conversation upon general topics, he
took his leave
Mr. Croahy immediately telegraphed to their agent in New
York, and also to the banking institution named upon the draft,
and before the opening of the bank upon the following morn-
ing answers were duly received— one from the bank, announo-
ing the fact that the draft was all right, and one from the agent,
certifying to the responsibility of the parties and the genuine-
ness of the draft.
During that dar Mr. Martin Paxton called at the bank, ao-
companied by his brother Edward, and they received from Mr.
Crosby one thousand dollars in cash and the balance in one-
thousand-dollar certificates of deposit upon the "Firtfc N**
tionai Bank of JSmporia."
■Kit
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190 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVRH.
The draft wai duly mailed to thoir agent for colloctinn at ih«
New York bank, and its payment expected, m a matter of
course, but what was the surprise of Mr. Crosby when, a few
days afterwards, he received a dispatob, of which the following
is a copy :
*' FiKST National Bank, Empobia.
" ^axton & Son. t9,000| draft not good — hare no aooount at the
bank.
"DONALD, SLAWSON & 00. '»
Mr. Crosby read the message carefully, every word of whicli
seemed to burn itself into his mind ; the perspiration broke in
large beads upon his forehead. Could it be possible that thi»
information was true 1 But, no i there must be some mistake
Did he not have a previous telegram from the bank, certifyin^r
to the correctness lof the draft, and did they not also have tlut
confirmatory evidence of their o^- n agents, Donald, Slawson &
Co., in New York, to the same effect 1 There must be some
mistake, but evidently a mistake of considerable importance ;
and Mr. Crosby, as he laughed lightly at the error committed
by so large and prominent an establishment as the one in New
York was represented to be, could not restrain a cold shiver as
he cdntemplated the possibility of the error being upon the
other side of the account
Putting on his hat he hurried to the telegraph office,, and
with ti embling fingers and anxious heart| he wrote the follow*
ing, which he dispatched at once :
"Donald, Slaitoon & Go.,
Broadway, New York.
" Yon telegraphed us draft and M. and E. Pazton were oorreot
on 16th inst. — we hold the bank for^Ue same.
"H. 0. CROSBY."
This dispatch was sent at half-past four o'clock in the after-
noon, and, of course, no answer could be expected until the fol-
lowing day, and as business was over at the bank, Mr. Crosby,
with his mind filled with many conflicting emotions, wended his
way slowly homeward. His slumbers that evening were not of
that rest-giving nature which had usually been the case with
him i the horrible nightmare which beset Jiim seemed to r»-
I
ooaunt at the
ust bo sumo
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 197
solve itself into a hideous distortion of a hanker'a draft and
the figures 19.000 seemed to be the burden of a song of^^^^^
rhe next morning, rising unrefre^-hed, physically and men-
t«.ly exhausted, he hurried to the bank, half hoping, half fea"
mg for the result. He would soon know the worst, but of
course, there was some mistake ; it could not be that they had
iH^en deceived by the first information, and the mistake he wm
sure would be rectified in a very short time. '
The minutes seemed like hours to the anxious man who
counted their nassago ; the solemn ticking of the clock had an
ommoussouncJ which foreboded danger.wid although he en-
deavoured to shake off the feeling of dread and apprehension
which overpowered him, he coull not rid himself of the fea?
ShortllTft«/r''"'1 7"y eventually fall upon the bank.
bhortly after two o'clock the messenger boy entered, and on
receiving the message, Mr. Crosby, wfth eager haste tore off
Its covering, and. upon perusing its contents, Sank heavily ba^k
L him.'''' "°* ''*'*"''^ ''' ^^' ^"^''^^y ^"^^«" "^«»^e
"H. 0. Oeosbt, Impobia, Kansas.
"We sent no dispatch on the 16th or at anv ntli«r «i'm.> i« -«i
"DONALD, SLAWSON A CO."
itself M^'fer"'^ -^^A '^" • '* '*1*'"*y ^^«* ^^""^ P^-^'^^fced
Itself, Mr. Crosby repaired again to the telegraph office and re-
quested an examination of their records, which, upon bein^
jlu y made, disclosed the fact that his inquiries had been S
larly forwarded, and the replies thereto regularly receivfd
There could be no mistake about this, and, somewhat XvS'
he reques ed the operator to inquire at the next principal sS:
ZTwn'^^'^Tr^'^^i^ ^^''^ '''^'''^^ at and forwarded
froni that point. This was done, and the return message wm
to the effect that no such dispatch had been received, fnd^
Tsirs Donald ^kf ^''" T^ '''^'' ^'^^ '' returning, with
Messrs. Donald, Slawson & Co., or with a bank in New York
thJt!!;j,-7"/°'?"S*'^.^ ^ '^^''^^' *>"<^ pending ha solution
the certificates of d^pdsit mr- uJ£ and the different
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198 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
otber banka must be notibed of tne fact, in oraer to prevent
their n^otiation by the parties who had thus fraudulently ob-
tained them.
It see'med to be evident — and upon no other supposition
could tbe facta be accounted for — that the wires had been tap-
ped, the Inessages to New York city intercepted, and the bogus
information wired to Emporia — and that this had been done at
a point between Emporia and Kansas City was also reasonably
sure.
The notification was immediately issued to the various banks,
prohibiting payment of the certificates, and Mr. Crosby noti-
fif^d General Stager of the situation of affairs, threatening at
the same time to hold the Telegraph Company responsible for
whatever loss was incurred by these dispatches.
Of course General Stager indignantly repudiated the claim
thus set up, unless it could be proven that some employee in
the regular service of the Company had perpetrated the fraud ;
but for the purpose of preventing a repetition of such an at-
tempt, and in order to secure, if possible, the men who had
thus imposed upon the bank, and bring them to justice, he de-
termined to unearth the parties, and to |>ut an effectual stop to
their schemes of forgery and robbery.
CHAPTER XIII
BICXKtNISINO OLD FRIENDS— THE DETECTIVE ON THE TRAIL-^
VALUABLE INFORMATION.
FTEB listening attentively to the recital of this daring
and successful swindle, I at once made up my mind to
the fact that George and Charles Cowdrey, and none
other, were guilty of the act ; and I resolved to hunt them
down, and bring them to summary punishment. I commu-
Xiicavuu uiy uuiuiuu bu vrciicrai »Laj^ci, ttuu ttos suiucWIlau
doubtful of the correctness of my surmiBeSj but decidedly anz'
THI TRAlIi-~
I'BOFESSrONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 199
funs that the villains should be arrested. Accordingly, the next
morning, I dispatched an operative on my force, Mr. James
Bodgers, to the scone of operations, to work up tlid case.
Mr. Rodgers was a man of fearlegg courage, and one of the
shrewdest and sharpest men in my employ at that time ; he
had previously been employed as a telegraph operator, and was
thoroughly acquainted with the country in and surroundine
Emporia. °
He was thoroughly instructed as to his course of proceeding,
and after providing himself with all necessary articles for his
journey, he started West, resolved that upon his return he
would be able to report the successful capture of these daring
rascals. *
Upon reaching Emporia, he called upon Mr. Crosby at the
bank, and received from him full particulars of the transaction,
which did not differ in any material respect from that fur-
nished by General Stager; and he also obtained an accurate de-
scription of the two Paxton brothers, which corresponded ex-
actly with that of the Cowdreys, so that no doubt existed of
the identity of the men ; and, animated by a desire to show
these gentlemen that there was a limit to their immunity from
punishment, Rodgers determined that they should be taken,
and that every effort of which ie was capable should be made
to accomplish that result.
In ordet that Rodgers might fully understand the manner in
which these Paxton brothers operated upon the bank, Mr.
Crosby produced the telegraph messages originally sent, at the
time the draft was presented. Immediately upon the depart-
ure ©f Martin Paxton, after having made arrangements for the
cashing of the draft, Mr. Crosby went to the telegraph office,
and wrote the following despatch, whic^ was sent from the
office at Emporia.
" To DowALD, Slawson & Co.,
" Broadway, New York:
'liT^®/®"*! y"** today Bight draft of Martin and Edward Paxton
on Merchant s Exchange Bank for ^,000. Ascertain if cood and
Muwer by wire.
" H. 0. CROSBY, President"
Ill l!!':>i
200 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
The next morning the loUowing telegram was recetved i
"H. 0. Orosbt, President.
" M. & E. Caxton'a Bight draft for ^9,000 all right.
*• DONALD, SLA WSON A 00. •
And one was also received from the bank, conveying the
fame information.
There could be no doubt of the correctness of these, and
accepting them as genuine, the money had been paid as already
described to the swindling brothers ; since which time nothine
had been heard from them or their draft until the unexpected
intelligence that the answer to the original telegram was a
forgery, and that the first messa^a had never been delivered
opened the eyes of the bank officials to the astoundint' fact
that they had been made the victims of as precious a pair of
scoundrels as ever Went un whipped of justice.
The wrath of Mr Crosby at the Paxtons wa« unbouiided :
he threatened and fumed and cursed them with all the vehe-
mence of his angered heart, and from the depths of his troubled
soul. And with little wonder. He had heretofore been re-
carded as an eminent authority by the trusting depositors of
his bank ; his word was law among the subordinates in the in-
stitution and among the customers outside of it: his opinions
upon financial matters were regarded by every one as the
utterances of an oracle. But now to find himself outwitted by
a pair of inexpenenced sharpers, and to have the profits of his
little bank for several months thus unceremoniously appropri-
ated, was too much for the dignity of the important president
of the important httle bank at Emporia. It was no wonder
therefore, that the exuberance of his passion found vent in ex-
pletives both loud and deep ; and resolved itself into the set-
tled purpose to leave no means untried to bring the swindlers
to account ,
Mr. Eodgers, being acquainted with the manner of working
which these brothers had adopted, and presuming this to have
been done by them, of which fact no reasonable doubt seemed
possible, determined to discover at first the exact point at which
the^ work was done, and, providing himself with ammunition
aau. provisions lur a hw days' tramp, he proceeded along the
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 201
line of the telegraph, in the hope of ascertaining by examinj^
Zmpm^d^ ^""^''^ atwhic^the tapping of Wwires wa.
Leaving Emporia early in the morning, in a very short time
he reached Junction City, and, upon enquiring of the operator
there he learned that the two brothers were known to him
they having been engaged in the rather questionable businesi
could1e"|ven '''' ^""^ ^"'^'' '^ ''^'^ "^^ P^^^^°"« '««°^^
It seemed that they would come to town periodically with
one or two horses or ponies, dispose of them, and then, after a
t\tT "^^^'«;P;H«'^' would disappear again. Nothing seemed
to be known of their whereabouts, but the operator recollected
their having been in town during the time that the draft was
being negotiated, and he recalled, also, the fact that they had
made some inquiries m reference to the messages that were re-
ceived and despatched at this office.
Finding that he could not obtain any definite information
Rodgers proceeded on his way, and, when about a mile out from
Junction City, he found the unmistakable evidences of their
having been at work. The wires had been cut and repaired a
ground wire had been attached, and pieces of copies of old me^
sages were strewn about upon the ground. He also found an
envelope directed to « Miss Lizzie Coyan, Kansas City "the
remains of a camp-fire, an old jack-knife, and an unopened box
of sardines, showing conclusively that the boys had boarded at
their rendezvous and lunched at their impromptu office.
There could be no doubt of the manner in which this opera-
n!?7fi, f T u^V *'^^ *«Iegram8 to Donald, Slawson & Co.
and to the bank had never reached a further destination than
this spot, and, by the aid of pocket instruments and an inornate
knowledge of telegraphic manipulation, the messages dated Tew
York city, and carrying assurances of the correctness of th*
draft presented, were sent from this place.
Truly a daring scheme, and, as results thus far proved, a sue-
cessful one ; but, like all attempts te defraud, while success may
c own the primary eflForts, there is a swift and terrible avenS
justice that follows upon the heels of crime, and, eventu^auf
brings the oflfenders to a realizing sense of it« n„ni»K;n" !/
uueucer " - -— J- ««g 4ii4-
^ Hi
:,(
202 PROFESSIONAL TfilEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
f' ;
i!
Thus far theie rascally brothers had succeeded in accomplislv
log their object ; the bank had been swindled, and they were
in the possession of their ill-gotten gains ; but the detective waa
upon their track ; silently and stealthily he was pursuing the
traces of their operations, and, in a moment of fancied security,
they were to realize that retribution follows quickly, and that
crime must eventually be discovered and'criminals punished.
Having discovered where the work was done, and with the
directed envelope, wliich was to form the basis of his investigiv-
tion of their whereabouts, Rodgers returned to Emporia, and
that eyening took the train for Kansas City.
After a few enquiries he ascertained that Lizzie Coyan was
an occupant of a house of ill-fame in the place, kept by a Mrs.
Wilson, and to thid house he at once repaired, resolved to get
from htr whatever information she possessed of the present
hiding-place of the brothers.
Uporii being admitted into the house he inquired for the girl,
and presently a blooming young woman about twenty-three
years of age entered the room, when he instantly recognised
her as the young lady who during the trial of Cowdrey had
exhibited such a devoted love and self-sacrifice for George, and
who at that time was quite a beauty and very much respected
in Chicago, but who had evidently fallen from the pale of
society — probably through her affection for this man — and was
now leading a life of shame.
Speaking familiarly to her, And representing himself as a
friend to George Cowdrey, now known as Martin Paxton, and
desirous of helping him, he informed her of the fact that he
was in danger, and stated that if she would inform him where
Martin could be found she would, perhaps, be the means of
saving him from being arrested and imprisoned.
*' I would lay down my life for George Cowdrey, and any-
thing I can do for him I will willingly do," said the girl, while
the tears welled up in her eyes.
She then told Rodgers that the two brothers, whom we will
hereafter call by their proper names, in company with some
hunters, were encamped upon the Republican River, near
Beaver Creek, and that the camp was known as " Honest
John's" — a wild desperado, who wis the terror of the sur-
rounding country ; whose name ha4 been associated with many
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 203
deeds of violence and bloodshed, and aboirt whom many storien
of cruelty and rascality were related.
As the girl related these facta to the detective his mind in-
voluntarily reverted back a short time, when he had last seen
her, mingling in good society in the city of Chicago, the centre
of an admiring circle of friends and acquaintances, and whose
face was then lighted with the brightness of purity and happi-
ness ; and then contrasted her present position—a resident m
a house of prostitution, in a far western country, the sport of
rough and hardened men, inured to the roughest experiences
of lite, and mingling socially with those whoso presence and
association, a shprt time ago, would have created only the feel-
mgs of loathing and disgust.
However, this is only one of the many phases of human
existence, and the dark curtain might be lifted from many
lives, revealing many such stories, many such experiences, and
the pall of death might be raised from the shroudings of many
miserable forms who, in their early youth, gave promises of
beauty and purity and goodness.
After ascertaining the place of retreat of the brothers,
Kodgers bade the girl good-bye, and returned to Emporia. He
communicated the result of his discoveries to me from that
point, and requested further instructions as to his course of
proceedings before attempting any aggressive measures, which
would, no doubt, be necessary in order to take the villains in
the security of their camp.
I immediately informed General Stager of the results which
had thus been arrived at, and also of the fact that the Cowdreys
and Paxtons were the same parties, and requested further
advice from him as to our future movements.
Mr. Rodgers also informed Mr. Crosby of the discoveries he
had made, and of the knowledge which he possessed of the
hidzng-place of the fugitives, and received from him full au-
thority and instructions to attempt their capture ; which au-
thority being fully indorsed by General Stager and myself, he
immediately began arranging his plan of campaign, and also of
providmg himself with lufficieut aid in case of leaistancfl.
'mfEnaiO'SAL THiEVJib AND THE EETECTIVE8.
CHAPTER 2IV,
Df SIAROH OF TEE PORGERS-A OAMBLINO EXPEMENC«~A
TRIAL BY JUDGE LYNCH.
HE adventure promised to be one of dancer, and in con
sequence Rodge« found great difficuify n obtlTn,
of "HfnestToW'lr'"^ to accompany him. The faS
aim with tla ?fl ; ad circulated far and wide; his unerring
rre^rd of human l^^.' If^r^^ble courage, and his recklesf
uisregara oi numan hfe, had made him an obiect to be fearPil •
1 th r,ir >.? il?''"''"''*."'* Cowdrey t>roth«r« in the camp
attempt with him, le succeeded in enlisting the services of
S^l»ejtaTe«ri-S£
ine gJcms gf the ai ;;^; a > ;h^ . nn^ oI*: *^ *i. ,' V°e
when, after
>h*o^ had elttr to the nearest market
'eoi to the tiuders, they would^ ^tb
^■,
BRIBNOJB— A
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 205
hunter, after a season of h .r ' wnrL- k«„ • j , y * sturdy
d »«i.Kared ; tl,e m»n tl.fn, maddened by iLor Sle^ra?^
atlm losae., „„„ld. upon some pretext, engago' a Sand
;« zr;:;" rhT"' '";!i'"K"'j' """-/without tfei^igh^
est ceremony, a hole would be dug in the ffrnnnrl l,;a k i
interred and the attendants at his Funerll wo'uld resul het
game as though nothing unusual had occurred
waiting for their team, wS'L^^^^^^^^^^^^
disregard of the value of money, when thrdeln of pTay ot
« r Ti'u^^''^' *^' °^»°^« of reckless men. ^ ^ ^
T Kni . .*J * P'"^"^ So»d season," said Byfield, « and after
I had counted up my profits, I found I had eight hundred do)
ars m cash, a good horse, a pack mule, a rmM^ revolvers a
dog and a meerschaum pipe, and I started oJt to look aro"' ^
newTu:;af^T;„r'"' I met a couple of fe^ows wTomI
lit W^rtt ri""^*"* "-ey naturally mZt to
^bnt I had th 1 ■ t V. =• ,t ^^ ^^ ^o""* ^ ^ost every
■ i^ersand A^^ ^^J "^>^ f'^ and then my rifle,
ers ana < i- I staggered out of the place, and made im
/ii>umd to borrow a revolver and shoot myself ^
I walked out to the edge of the town and put mv hand to
my hip pocket to take my revolver. I did not find a^/re vol ver
t: l^t te Wat ri-LT^j^^^
again. I won a little mone
pipe,
nA 4-1
ould. with I '""^^ ^^ ^^^ At last I 'won twelve hi^dSd doU^^
down to play
v ^"g> rovoivers, rifle^
iaoM
s
I '.
!ij:
206 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
hatid. The fellow who was betting against me had jacks, but
I had tho queens. When I gol up from the table* it was day.
light in the morning, and I had eighteen hundred dollars, be<
sides the things I started with. I went down to the house,
borrowed the landlady's Bible, and took a solemn oath that I
would never gamble again as long as I lived. I never have
since, and I never will"
This is but one of hundreds of incidents which might be told
of these sturdy, hardened men, and to Rodgers, his present ex-
perience was a revelation. He had, however, a mission to per-
form, and he resolved to accomplish it at whatever hazard.
His companions consisted of three hunters of the better class,
although one of them was deemed a little unreliable, but he
was compelled to accept him, owing to his inability to secure
others. The first, Bill Byfield, who has already been spoken
of, a tall, broad-shouldered man of immense physical strength,
and generally believed to be honest and trustworthy ; the se.
cond was a short, stumpy German, whose rightful name was
Jack Dumpel, but who generally received the title of •• Dump-
ling Jack, a steady, honest fellow, devoted to the cause, and
as brave as a lion. The third was an Indian half-breed, known
far and wide as " Friday," a most successful hunter, but not
considered of the most trustworthy character, and who was
generally regarded with suspicion by his associates.
-Securing a mule team and four ponies as the only means of
conveyance available, and with all the appurtenances for sleep-
ing and cooking, the detective and his party left Fort Riley, and
started on the journey to the camp of " Honest John." They
had procured some uniforms at the Fort, and so disgtiised as
United States regulars on a prospecting tour, they commenced
a journey that was as novel to Rodgers as a balloon voyage
would have been to the Pilgrims of the Mayflower.
Their way led through the wild and beautiful country along
the shores of the Republican River, and had- the excursion been
one of pleasure, it would have been greatly enjoyed by the
hunter detective ; but his mind was too much occupied with
thoughts of the duties that lay before him, and a desire to be
successful, to enable him to give much thought to the beauties
of natuie that were so lavishly spread before him.
PHOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 207
Game was abundant, and " Friday " an flT*.pll«r.f «« i
well titoTror^r '"' ^^^i"^^^\^^'Z
JDonotony of their journe;, until on eUl„g"they hj'et»t\'
large camp of huntera near to a place called '?EagU B^nd " td
He had frequently heard of the doings of Judee Lynch and
the precipitancy of his legal operations was fSiuK' £
• X^fT *^!? *''"''®^ ^^ ^° *^e afternoon of a beautiful dav
in October, there were evident signs of commotion witSnthl
camp Something unusual had happened or wraboutoocci^^^
and feelmg naturally curious to ^tness any event that Si
be of mterest, they halted their team, and f^tenin^ thefr ™ fli
wteTh;;\eZld' their way into' the ^rr^f'S^p
posbg ^ ^"^"^^ * "^^^ "* '''''' '^^''^^S and ruggedly il'
Eodgers inquired th^ meaning of this strange proceeding
of a person near him, and was informed that the pe^on who
«ras kneeling there was a horse thief who had beeTcantrred
tha morning and that he was being tried for his offence
It appears that the stealing of horses or any o her tran;Dorfc.
able property was not generally considered a grieTus crime ff
ZZTT^ T"" * '''""8^^' ^"^^^^'^ * thief eSed thrsTcr'ed
precincts of an organized camp, and plied his vocation [h«
penalty was death, sudden and iWevocable ^^'Z^'***^^"' ^^^
One of f hi\ I ' '!f *PP'*'"^ '•^ ^« substantially as follows • •
Une of the hunters, the ostensible leader of the caVnn Zla^u ' *
possessor of a remarkably fine horse, which wt the^ob3 ?
[ns especial pride- and solicit.,d«- J7"k!? I^.__f_°^J^' ^^
Uunt the night before, he l^die^^ii t^r^i;:^^.^^^^
1l
I 'i
ill:
««fl
lit
' 'lii
11
208 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
aud being tiredand wearied with the fatigues of the day, had
gone immediately to sleep. The barking of a dog disturbed
bis slumbers about four o'clock in the morning, and remember^
ing his horse, he pulled aside the cover of his waggon and peeped
out — the animal was gone. A hurried inspection showed that
the fastening had been drawn, and the horse, with a bridle
and blanket, had gone off".
Arousing the camp, they hastily mounted their horses and
started in hot pursuit of the absent quadruped. A trail was
struck, and at a point about half-way to Washington the pur-
suing hunters espied the horse, and seated upon his back was
the individual who was now being so informally tried. The
rider made no resistance when he saw the dangerous ends of
several pistols look him square in the face, but suddenly turned
the stolen horse around, and rode back to the camp, surrounded
by his pursuers, i
Upon arriving at the camp, word was immediately given that
the thief had been captured, and a crowd of men, and one or
two women quickly assembled. A short conference ensued ;
the delay aud uncertainty of the administration of justice in
the nearest town was briefly discussed, and then the decision
that the thief should be hung forthwith was arrived at without
a dissenting voice.
It was at this time that Bodgers and his party appeared, and
the sight that met the gaze of the surprised detective was terri-
fying and grandly impressive. His sentence had been com-
municated to him by. a deep-voiced man, who seemed to be the
spokesman of the party, some rope halters were taken from the
mules at the corral, spliced and fixed around the neck of tho
condemned man, while the long end was looped around a crooked
limb of a tree over his head, and then the culprit was told to
pray.
The mockery of this proceeding struck painfully upon the
mind of Kodgers, but he was powerless to interfere ; the deter-
mined faces of these men denoted a fixed purpose, and that
purpose the death of the miserable man who knelt before them.
With pale face and faltering speech the poor wretch began iiis
prayer, but not to any one of the many unseen gods was his
invocation directed. His face was turned Cowards those who
were about to take away his life, and to them he prayed musk
riK^ESsroNAL THIEVES J^D THE DETECTIVES. 209
that he^haragr^ermerelvTnV'f^.' '? "^^'^"^ °^"«^' «"d
where he was tl be jStylhe" 0™'; ''"^ "^ ^"^^^S^^'
the^Trtri^Xn'!"^^^^^ Patiently, to
few seconds, concluded rfei^^^^^ ^'^?' *°S«'^«r for a
would give thenameof thpl^L f ^"T®'' V^®' Providing he
was obLned S man fn f h« tT ""^T ^^" «'^^«^ P^^pW
by any such ,,. i^CaiVand^f^^^^^ 'f ''^ *" '^^'^^ ^^'
to hoist him up ^ ^^' ^""^ *^® ""^^^^ ^as sternly given
reu?rK!ttme'd tTff "l^?.? "''^ good-will ; a shriek
and which chnied thrbtod oWV^l' l^'^ ^''^' ^^ ^^^ f°'e«^
a sickening senLtio'n a hb hVarl'lnTi'tt'? ^^^^^
man was danghnff in the air M»% "i- r^ , ® ^^^^ ^^ *he
twitching convulsivelv KSir» f '^ ^''*°'^^' ^'^^ ^^^ "^bs
noraoref MeToS Jl« f! w Tu^ ^^^^ ' he could stand
ful spectacle whtKre^^^^^^ -^^ f^""^'. ^^ ^^^^ ^^ead-
and he endeavou ed i^^ain tfsh^t f/'' J- ' ^"^'^ °^ J"«"««'
its lonfli^'uf li^^^^^^ 5^ added aLherto
over. ^' ^^ *^® masquerade of vengeance was
I
CHAPTEB XV.
I ^'
I i
210 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
pentled form of that murdered man would come up belore inm
in spite of every effort to efface it from his memory, and tlie
mists of the night were yielding to the soft breaking of the
ruddy beams of the morning ere he sank into a restless sleep,
and temporarily forgot his painful experience.
The next day they resumed their journey, and at about eight
o'clock in the evening " Friday " informed them that they were
within a few miles of their place of destination. Rodgors,
therefore, determined to encamp for the night, and then, early
in the morning, after their ponies had been refreshed with a
good night's rest, they would ride down to the camp and at-
tempt the capture.
This proposition was accepted by the rest of the party, and
after the discussion of their plans for the morrow, and deter-
mining upon th^ir mode of attack, they retired to their yraggon
and to rest.
They were all astir early in the morning, and after attend-
ing to their horses, and partaking of breakfast, they decided to
leave the waggon and ride on to the camp of " Honest John,"
unincumbered by anything except their revolves, riflea and
ammunition. ♦ . i. •
The morning was beautiful and exhilarating, the nver was
rippling and dancing in the bright beams of the sun; the
leaves of the trees had assumed the beautiful colouring which
nowhere else is seen in such rich and varied beauty as in the
western forests ; the air was balmy, and- the sky rolled away
in a grand expanse of blue, unflecked by a single cloud. No
time, however, was to be given to the admiration of the scenes
around them ; a duty lay before them, a duty which might
involve danger to life and limb j and so, with their minds filled
with the task before them, they rode silently onward.
Rodgers noticed a peculiar expression upon " Friday's" face
which aroused his suspicions, and he^ determined to keep a
strict watch upon his movements, to prevent any treachery
upon his part, and not let him out of his sight until their mia-
sion was accomplished. He rode up to Byfield, and com-
luunicating his suspicions to him, directed him also to keep hia
eye upon the half-breed.
After a half hour's brisk
nuu,
mviiLu.
^% camp, which consisted of a large Government tent, and a
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 211
corral for animals, and without being discovered bv anv of fl,*
occupants, who had not yet, it seemed, maTThei/apZrani
r^Tarifor %^ rr' -la t^a? .^^H^^te
X Sal l^nToLdlM rairMtttL^K
the journey, and his countenance brightened perc^t'^^^^^^ "'
Upon approaching within a shoFt distance of the* tent
Rodge^s posted his men so as to cover each side ofit, n case of
an attempt on the part of .the persons he was in search '7 to
l7d^^tw*:^?tLte; -'- ^ ^^--> theylolML?
just as Charley Cowdrey made his appearance, iblly dressed
b^th hrf '' '" ^""^' ^°^e«^ ^^*°««<J. and ^entTng
both his weapons, commanded Charley to throw down hi!
pistol and hold up his hands, and threatened toTe in me of
refusal. Charles looked hurriedly around, and findinrthf
tent surrounded and resistance useless, thew his weapon on
ttfr^^'^r^ did as he was commanded Kodgers then p W
the handcuffs upon his wrists, and proceeded tp^ search hL IT-
800, leaving the others to prevent the escape of George^o
was mside the tent. An examination disclosed about Ti hT
dred dollars in money, a watch, a small revolver, and two of
leXobtS ^ '°"" -''^«-^« -^^^^ ^^ bee'n?o Wu!
bS5 *" ^® ^*? completed his search he heard a cry from
Byfield.and on looking suddenly around, he discovered Geore^
t^nld T« r ■ '"^ ''""''t '^' ^^^'^ ^^«^« *h« ponies were fS
tWaJftTd'^^^^^^^^^ '^^ *«^* - *^« "^« g-ded by
Rodgers quickly placed the captured man in charge of the
Bu^t^f'^L'f? v"'"?. ^" ^^^'}^ ^^ ^«"°^' h« started in pur! •
suit of the fugitive George, who, turning around, faced his Eur,
« L'n o^f 'n '/P^?^ ^*?H™d towards the'ponies. ^ .
Jitop, or I will fire 1 " exclaimerl RnHtrAr- fi«-ii«« u ;~^ -•
ble to reach him in time to prevent his mountiifr"^ " ""*^'
m ]
212 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TflE] DETECTIVfiS.
« Fire if you will I won't be taken from here alive, an^ 1
wUl seU my life dearly," answered Cowdrey, desperately.
It was not Eodgers' purpose to resort to extreme measures, the
man mast be taken alive; and finding Cowdrey disposed to
offer resistance, he resolved upon his course of action.
Running to his own pony, which was standing near the en-
trance of the tent, he mounted just as George Cowdrey reached
his animal, and Rodgers started in pursuit.
His animal being fresh, soon overtook the one ridden by
Cowdrey, and when within short range of the escaping crimi-
nal. Rodgers drew his revolver and fired twice in rapid succes-
sion. Instantly there was a fall, and both horse and rider
were rolling in the dust of the road in hopeless entanglement.
Rodgers, hastening forward, found that the Pony t^a-^/^^^^
upon Cowdrey, and pinned him to the ground ; he had fired
at the animal and thus secured his prisoner. As heapproaclied,
Cowdrey reached for his pistol, and threatened to shoot the de-
tective if he advanced, but Rodgers, nothmg daunted, steadily
approached the man, saying : ..,,,„
« If you attempt to fire, I will kill you !
Cowdrey, realiring that further resistance would prove tatal to
him, as the detective was evidently in earnest, threw do^n his
pistol, and thq detective then advanced and took him in
^ Cowdrey was suffering very much; the pony had fallen
upon his leg, and had evidently broken it the pam from which
became excruciating ; but the horse was finally removed, with
the assistance of Byfield, and the wounded man, who had now
fainted, was conveyed to the tent and properly secured and
After this had been accomplished, Rodgers turned his atten-
tion to the half-breed, and, levelling his pistol at him, said
'^-y'^f cowardly traitor, you shall pay for this," and then
* cUr«;ted Byfield to handcuff him and shackle his toet.
"Friday" glared at the detective as this was being done,
but he resized that he had been detected, and that his half-
formed purpose to leave the party and alarm the neighbour-
ing camps, in order to «iteuipt a asbcuo w. tue prisoners, R^
been foiled.
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 213
On G^eorge Cowdrey's person the remaining five certihcatea
were found, and Eodgers, in order to prevent further accident,
cut the signatures from them, thus effectually destroying their
usefulness. Dumpsl was dispatched for the waggon, which,
soon arriving, the men were placed therein, and the homeward
journey was begun, Kodgers' bosom swelling with honest pride
as he thought of the success which had attended his efforts, and
of the report which he would be enabled to make upon his return.
Nothing further occurred upon the route, and the party
reached Emporia in safety ; the two prisoners were transferred
4o the custody of the officers of the law, and locked up to await
a hearing. Eodgers, regretting his inability to deal with the
half-breed as he desired, reluctantly allowed him to go his way,
and after thanking the others for the services they had reu'
dered him, be settled with them in accordance with the terms
of his contract.
At the next term of the court the two Gowdreys were placed
upon trial, and the testimony being overwhelmingly against
them, they were convicted and sentenced to a term of imprison-
ment which will afford them ab opportunity for mature thought
for the formation of honest resolutions.
The question as to liability was amicably arranged between
the bank and the telegraph company, and Mr. Crosby, highly-
elated at the successful issue of the matter and the capture of
the criminals, was disposed to arrogate to himself the credit of
the affair, but in this, however, he did not succeed, as the fame
of Pinkerton and hia men had been too firmly established to be
appropriated so easily.
With the imprisonmv>iit of these two brothers the attempts to
interfere with the teiegrapn ceased, no developments of a similar
nature having since oeen made, an^ aitnough the interposition
of the law had been refused, the vigilance of the officers and
the integrity of the operators are sufficient to insure the safety
and secrecy of any message intrusted to the company for trans-
mission.
To George and Charles Cowdrey it is hoped that the lesson
will be salutary and lasting, and that their after life will be
devoted to honourable pursuits and honest labour. They have
craliiicu. Tfiiau lu is uv ica>c a uumo ui uuuiiui'b Tur LIIO Iiurusiilps
and ezpoaure of western life, in the hope of illicit gain. They
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214 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
have known what it was to forsake an honourable calling for
dishonest practices, and they have seen that home taken away,
themselves in want, and they know too surely what it is to bear
a felon's jaame and wear a felon's chain.
Mr. Orton, the valued president of the company, has passed
away ; the harvest of his life, devoted to the science of tele-
graphy and to the performance of noble, manly duties, has been
gathered in ; a brain, wearied with the perplexities of business,
and active to a wonderful degree, is at rest, and as I look back
to my intercourse with him in connection with the matters here
detailed, I pay a tribute of respect and esteem to a great and
good man, whom it was a pleasure to meet, a privilege to know,
and an honour to be associated with.
General Stager is still an active worker in the service of the
company, and bids fair to live many years longer to fulfil the
duties whidi have been so admirably performed by him during
a long series of years. I have enjoyed his friendship, and trust
that his declining days may be filled with the honours and i»
wards of a faithfoi offioer and a steadfiBat fhend.
IjJWi
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 215
THE
EDGEWOOD MYSTERY
AND
THE DETECTIVE.
CHAPTER L
rH« CRIME OF MXTRDER— ITS PREVALENCE— ITS APPARENT
INCREASE — ^AND SOME OF ITS CAUSES.
■HAT a sad commentary upon the refining and benefi-
cial influences which advancing civilization is sup-
posed to exert upon the hearts and minds of
humanity is found in the almost daily incidents of the takin"
of human life, the frequency of murderous attempts and the
reckless disregard of personal safety which are everywhere
apparent.
Day after day the newspapers are filled with the horrible
particulars of some revolting crime of this nature. Day after
day the public mind is appalled by the sickening details of an
attempt by reasonable, thinking men, to imbrue their hands
m the blood of their leUows, and a limited investigation of the
criminal calendars of the various courts of justice will convince
the most sceptical that this species of crime is alarmingly on
the increase.
Nor is the monopoly of this work of human butchery con-
fined exclusively to the masculine portion of the community,
or to the lowest conditions of society ; the hydra-headed mon-
ster extends his slimy fangs through all the ramifications of
social regulations, and a record of his detds and the knowledge
j
I
I
II
III
,, i
i I
1 1
VA
4
I
216 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
of the wide-spread dicseinination of his poisonous influences
would dismay the casual reader of human events.
Into the palace knd the hovel — the peaceful village and the
crowded city — the marts of trade and the sanctum of the
scholar — he winds his insidious way until all grades of society
are placed undei* contribution to appease this thirst for blood.
The red hand of the murderer is found encased in the
delicate glove of the latest foreign importation, quite as fre-
quently as it is discovered to be hard, horny, and a stranger
to the niceties of dress or immunity from labour. The gentle-
voiced and handsome-faced woman is quite as adept, and often-
times quite as reckless in the use of the pistol and the poniard,
as are the " desperate characters " who infest our cities and
render life unsafe, and "a •' Smith & Wesson," at short range,
has not unfrequently been employed as the active medium in
the settlement of a lover's quarrel, the reparation of wounded
virtue, or in the determination of a breach of premise of
marriage.
Through all grades of society stalks this grim, hideous
monster, and in his wake follow hundreds of human creatures,
gifted by nature and education with attributes fitted to adorn
the highest circles of society ; with intellects that would make
them leaders of men, walking in close companionship with the
brutal ruffian and the debased and ignorant marauder. Eugene
Aram linking his arms with those of Bill Sykes — and the dis-
mayed and disheartened communities await in vain the coming
of that modern Hercules who shall, with trenchant blows,
strike him to the ground, and free them from the horrors of
his operations.
To the just reader of current events, or the intelligent observer
of the affairs of society, who construe aright the principle of
cause tmd effect, the solution of this vexed question of human
depravity is not altogether a mystery.
In my experience of thirty years, spent in the detection of
€rime and criminals, during which time I have had an intimate
acquaintance with the modus operandi and the formula of cri-
minal trials as well as criminal transactions, I have often felt
utterly di&gusted at the maudlin sympathy and mawkish seuti<
mentdity which instantly attaches itself to the person of » cri-
'^1
s influences
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 217
More particularly is this manifested in the case of the men or
jromen who are placed upon trial for murder. No sooner have
the criminals been arraigned and entered the plea of "not euiltv-
than they are surrounded by a coterie of sympathisers, and that.
eo ]7^ <^ompo8ed of the most respectable portion of ou^
No thought is apparently given to the poor victims who have
been hurried out oi existence, with no note of warning, and
unsiinven have been ushered out of this breathing world No
Bor -ow IS manifested for the family thus suddenly depri;ed of
a projector and provider, or the home that has been bereft of
afa.her or a husband ; but the low-browed villain, whose hands
have committed the damnable deed, and whom the law is seek-
ing to punish for his crime, is held up by these sympathetic
addlepates as a victim of persecution, an object of pity, knd
sometimes as a martyred saint F^i-y, anu
Not long since I attended the trial of an individual who had
m a fit ot jealous rage, taken the lifo of his yourg and hand-
some wife, and had literally emptied his revolver into her bodv
and whap was my surprise to see the gentlemanly criminli
dressed in immaculate style, with bouquet in his buttonhole
and furnished, I was mformed, with fresh flowers every day by
his admiring and sympathetic friends, for the adornment of his
person, the court-room and his cell. Flowers for the murderer
while not a blade of grass was waving over the neglected grave
cheJishY ' ''^"'^ ^' ^^^ '^"''^ *« ^^^^"^ «^d to
AU the ingenuity of the most talented lawyers is brought
mto service ; all the legal technicalities are resorted to, and 6vfrv
operation of the law and the proper punishment for his ofi-ence •
If a' If ^^r^^- ^^' ^^''' ^^^' '^'^^ ^«"ld-be and self-consti:
tated philanthropists are, perhaps unconsciously, but none the
less surely, contributing in a marked degree to the spread of
crime by depriving it of its worst featurls, and screening i?s
deformit.es with the vail of a maudlin and misdirected sympt
thy for those who trangress the laws. ^^
Aiiother idea that seems to have great influence, not only in
podacing popular sympathy, but in forming the v.taJ. !ff
Junes, la the Uwposition to treat with incredulity the w'eight
'I
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218 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
and operation of evidence of a circumstantial character. W«
matter how perfect the chain of proof may be forged ; how cor
rectly and consistently every circumstance may be portrayed :
how distinctly r \d truthfully every action of the accused may
be traced, or how thoroughly eveiy attendant incident may
corroborate the theory of commission of a crime — unless the
testimony of eye-witnesses can be procured, who are prepared
to swear that they saw what was intended and artfully designed
to be concealed, and who detected accidentally that which was
carefully planned to escape detection— weak-minded and sym-
pathetic juries will debate very long jefore accepting the res-
ponsibility of It conviction, and the result in many cases is, that
the aggressors escape the punishment they so richly deserve.
Upon the general subject of circumstantial evidence, there
has been, and will continue to be, a diversity of opinion an to
the wisdom of relying implicitly upon such testimony as being
universally sufiBcient to convict. It is true that the records of
some cases of criminal trials show conclusively that men have
been convicted and sentenced upon evidence adduced of an en-
tirely circumstantial character, and that years afterwards the
true history of the crime has been revealed, which proved be-
yond doubt that the person thus punished was entirely guilt-
less ; and it is aiso-a cause for serious regret. that men have
been executed upon such testimony, who were afterwards
proven to have had no knowledge of the crime. But in the
great majority of these instances, and their numbers are hap-
pily very few, it will be shown that such tjonvictions were the
result of a great moral excitement, in which an insatiate public
appetite for justice must be appeased, at whatever cost.
These instances, however, form the notable exception to the
general rule, and the fact is patent to all, that in the great
preponderance of cases, particularly that of the taking of human
life, the evidence of a perfect and conclusive circumstantial
character must inevitably be relied upon, and being of a thorough
and convincing nt ,«ure, have produced the conviction of the real
offender. . .r
In the following pages I shall attempt to depict a crime, the
detection and punishment of which clearly illustrates the im-
portant nature of circumstantial evidence, in the development
of a theory of criminal action, in which no poiiUve proof co^li
^^m
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 219
be adduced upon which to base an examination or to •onatrucl
a theory of operation.
In placing before the reader the facts of this case : the dig-
covery of the murdered body; the subsequent identification :
the tracking of the murderer and his final conviction, I shall
endeavour to show the importance of this much-abused, but
none thfl less effective agency of detection, and "which eventually
resulted in the vindication of outraged law, and the punishment
01 the guilty, *^
.!l<
n of the real
CHAPTER n.
EDGEWOOD— THE FINDING OP THE BODY— THE EXCITEMENT 01
THE PEOPLE— A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY INTERRUPTED.
jHE romantic little village of Edgewood was situated on
the line of the Erie Railway, in the State of New
Jersey, and but a few miles distant from New York
city. It was a beautiful and picturesque spot, and being in
close proxinaity to the great metropolis, Of easy access, and
combining all the advantages and refinements of city life with
the invigorating and healthful influences of a rural residence
It was largely peopled by mercantile gentlemen from New York!
who with their families made this delightful locality their place
of permanent abode. In addition to these, the inhabitants
also comprised some of the oldest and wealthiest families of
the btate, whose large and commodious residences, broad fields
luxuriant orchards, sloping lawns and noble old trees all conl
tnbuted to render Edgewood a scone of rural beauty seldom
witnessed.
Here, in the peacefulness of luxury and rural repose, dwelt
a community of refinement and wealth ; all being socially
equal, the congenial and affable associations of all were assured
and, undisturbed by those foolish and vexatious questions of
Mste md status, which the residents of large cities are con-
tmually being exercised about, the tima naam^ hanr^iiir o«j
pleasantly aiona ' ""' ' ^*'*'**' """
jir
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^i '^1
220 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Crime was ooraparatiyely unknown, and save as the informa.
tion was conveyed to them through the medium of the news
journals, their lives would have floated on in calm serenity and
moral repose, untainted by the contaminating influences of an
association with evil-'loevs.
On the Sabbath day the little village church was the scene
of many a pleasant greeting and hearty hand-shake ; friends
separated for a week gathered in little knots around the door-
VFays and discussed, with the gravity of legislators, the impor-
tant social events of the preceding days. Young men with
bright eyes ^nd glowing cheeks, home, perhaps, from 'some
distant educational institution, would recount their experiences.
Coy maidens would blushingly and shyly descant upon the
merits of the various swains with whom they were acquainted,
and with quiet mischievous badinage would force the modest
little victim of then* raillery to confess, with hesitating speech,
the object of her preference.
Thus would the time be passed until the solemn bell sum-
moned the gatLered crowds to assemble for the daily worship j
then with huslied voices and noiseless steps they entered the
chapel, joined in the songs of praise, listened to the words of
wisdom, and gepar ited for their homes upon its conclusion,
with the inward solace of the morning's benisons.
But I desire to speak of another Sabbath that dawned upon
this quiet, happy little village.
On the fourteenth of March, in the year eighteen hundred
and sixty-nine, the people had assembled for evening worship
in the little church. The opening hymn had been sung, and
pleading, earnest prayer had been uttered, and the village
Dominie had just announced his text, when the solemn still-
ness was broken by the sudden entrance of a well-known citizen
of the place, whose blanched face and agitated manner at once
conveyed the intelligence that something dreadful had happened.
"A man has been found dead on the common near the
church I " was his startling ejaculation.
Immediately the congregation were upon their feet, eager
questions and hurried answers followed, and then, in utter dis-
regard of the unfinished religious ceremony, the entire assem-
bly, with one accord, hurried out of the* building and hastened
to the scene.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 221
It was, alas, too true. There, m close proximity to the
church, upon the white snow, glistening in the moonlight, with
face upturned and rigid, lay the body of a young man, still and
cold in death.
The discovery had been made by a Mr. B. A. Jessup, an
estimable gentleman, who, in company with two others, were
wendmg their way to the chapel for the purpose of attending
service, and, being somewhat belated, they concluded to shorten
the distance by taking a diagonal pathway across the open com-
mon which intervened between the road and the church. When
about midway across, Mr. Jessup, who was in the advance,
tripped accidentally over some object, which, at first, was
thought to be a lay figure, which the farmers designate as " a
flcare-crow," but, on stooping to make a closer examination,
the horrible discovery was made that the "object" was the
lifeless form of a human being. Horrified by the discovery,
and realizing the necessity of communicating che intelligence
to some one who could act advisedly and with authority in the
matter, or, perhaps, acting upon impulse and with no definite
object m view, Mr. Jessup ran quickly to the church, and with
out preliminary or introduction, conveyed the startling intelli-
gence which had so suddenly alarmed the assembled worshippers
and brought them so hurriedly and affrightedly to the spot.
The appearance of death at any time is sad and appalling.
The cold, white face, and eyes that seem to be staring wildfy
into futurity, and which loving hands will gently close, ever fill
the heart with sorrow ; and it is not strange in this instance,
when those who were gathered around, who had so suddenly
been called from a scene of peace and quiet happiness and
brought to stand face to face with this dread monitor in itS
ghastliest form, that a thrill of awe and fear should pervade
the entire group. Strong men stood momentarily irresolute,
while the young people clung to each other in affright, and
some time elapsed before any one could sufficiently recover to
attempt the investigation necessary to the discovery of the full
facts of the case.
An examination, however, being had, disclosed the fact that
the body was that of a man entirely unknown to the villagers,
of evident forfiiorn evfranfmn nrnhoKltr ri»n.^«» G^^ l„„l.:
wid apparently about twenty-eight veara of age. It had been
' 1 -, •,
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222 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Stripped ofite odter clothing, and was clad only in vest shirk
^dTdi tatX'^^hi^'rA ^f-^ ^"^ T t' "-"iL'ri^
excel Jt ^y^:^^to:l^Z'^ruo tr^^^^'^^XZl
were shapely and fitted neatly to the feet ^ °^^"*^»^ture,
Ihe unknown victim thus discovered was endowed wif),
finely shaped hai^ds and limbs, was poesesled ofTh?.^ ^
face, surmounted by curling licks of dXrown ^rZ
the upper lip was concealed by a drooping, dark musS'e. it
[hattZ?n?V? "^"' '^' body gave^Listaka^l evidence
W nn.t- '^""f*^ ""*" ^*« » genUeman and a foreigner
w?!r f'""«8'«d desperately for his life. * """""nate
aBra«i? tT«^f 'T "' ' ^'"*' ""«•« "«" «> painfully
apparent, it was also discovered that life had Iipp n AMi„„* f
iir'ir''.'^ *"^ ^7 '^** »^««»^« h«d been c;;ried from he
lHH?tnr^®°'®°*. P^°d"c«^ by this event, even in this auiefc
luce rapidity, and the entire community becamA ihih.,fl,i ri/k
gl!?!;f!V^?.l*??^'' ^? ^^"'et^^g out this mysterious crima
s.v«n„« « Tiuuiuiwoa 01 tiie outraged laws of the land! and'
PROFESSIONAL THtEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 223
discovering, if possible Vho the unfortunate man was, who had
thus met a violent and untimely deathi
Of course, as is usual in such cases,, the wildest rumours were
circulated; the imagination largely supplied the deficiency of
facts, and the vaned accounts of the occurrence differed as
widely as the antipodes. Great crowds gathered around the
viUage. store the following morning, and many and surprising
were the opinions offered and the suggestions made.
The inquest was held on Monday morning ; but no evidencfl
was ehcited that would dispel the doubt and uncertainty as
to the Identity of the murdered man, or of those who had
caused his death ; and at last, finding it impossible with the
limited information then possessed or accessible to proceed to a
successful determination, the jury were discharged, the head of
the murdered man was severed from the body by an eminent
physician, placed in. a hermetically-sealed jar of spirits for
ideatihcation, and the body was interred.
A meeting of the citizens was called, and a committee was
appointed of the most inflnential and wealthy gectlemen to
prosecute the ^.quiry ; money was liberally subscribed, and it
was resolved to at once. employ the services of "the best de-
tectives m the country " in unearthing the dreadful mystery.
Iheteeling of alarm and indignation was so intense that the
young and njore exuberant spirits threatened the formation of
a vigilance committee ; but yielding to the wisdom of older
heads, the excitement resolved itself into a deep-seated deter-
mination to discover the murderer, and bring him to justice
through the lejjal chanueU and by the recognised legal meana
224 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER m
J I
i
THE AGENCY IS EMPLOYED— AN EXAMINATION OP THE FIELD—
THE INITIALS UPON THE GARMENT — GENERAL SUiPlGIONS.
^N the eighteenth day of March, foar days succeeding the»
discovery of the body of the murdered man, as related
in the preceding chapter, Mr. George H. Bangs, my
very ahb and efficient General Superintendent, arid my sou
Robert A. Pinkerton, who was then and is now in charge of
my New York office, were seated in the private office of the
Agency, when three gentlemen were announced as desiring au
interview upon an important matter. The proper direction
being given tbey were admitted, and upon presenting their
carda wer;^ discovered to be a Mr. Thomas Sharpless, Henry
Thornton, and B. A. Jessup, members of the committee ap-
pointed by the citizens of Edgewood, and instructed to secure
the services of the Agency in discovering the identity of the
unknown man, the cause and manner of his death, and, if
possible, the arrest and punishment of the party op parties who
should be found to be implicated in the dreadful affair.
*" Well, gentlemen," said Mr. Bangs, " please relate to us as
clearly as you can, all the circumstances attending this affair."
- It has always been my rule, and that of all persons connected
with my Agencies, to require from every one who either desires
my services, or who is engaged under my direction, to give full
and explicit accounts of whatever transpires in connection with
any matter with which they are identified. I have frequently
found that some apparently unimportant incident, some half>
remembered fragment of conversation, or some trifling ill-con<
sidered remark have been the means of affording a perfect clue,
and very often have enabled me to construct a theory, which,
but for these " trifles light as air," would never have approached
a definite determination ; hence the direction of Mr. Bangs to
the gentlemen prq^ent to bo explicit in detailiug thu cifduui'
utancea atteudins the object of their visit
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 225
.u^'T'vT' ^^5^^««5' ^?« r«» an attorney at law who re-
«ded at Edgewood, and who had volunteered to assist the
prosecuting attorney of the county in the investigation of this
matter, and who seemed to be the spokesman of the committed
at once comphed with the request. He detailed at length the
finding of the body by Mr. Jessup; the alarm at the church^
ascertain who the murdered man was, and the entire absence
of any clew as to the place where the murder was committed
or any trace of those who might have perpetrated the deed.
After adjusting the necessary preliminary ^arrangements, Mr.
Bangs agreed to take charge of the matter and Jive to tZ
personal supervision, the gentlemen retired, leaving the J
addresses in case their presence should be required at any time.
The outlook wa^ certainly not very promising, it must be
confessed, and m this confession both of the gentlTmenToberly!
and with evident sincerity, coincide^'. There seemed to be no
stjrtmg-place, no point of attack, and so, without further con^
aideration, they determined to visit the locality, examine the
ground, question the villagers, and then they would be the
better qualified to act intelligently in the investigation of t^
seeming mystery. * ^'
u^" ?l^°A"'''^-°f "^<»™i^& therefore, Mr. Bangs, accompanied
by Robert A. Pmkerton, left New York, and in a shortS
found themselves in the pretty little village of Edgewood, S
a^so found Mr Sharpless awaiting their arrival, who conducted
hem mmediately to the scene of operations. Upon an ex-
amination It wa« found that the place where the body ™
found was withm a short distance of a piece of woods wid
withm a quarter of a mile of the railroad depot fbr the f^U
prmts which were said to have been discovered in the Sunday
jFening had been completely obliterated by the crowds whJ
mil, A '^"«/«troyed one opportunity which possibly
i deferl '"'"'^ ^^^^' ^ *^® discovery of t£e mul;
^ The doctor who made the postmortem examination of the
my of the deceased was next interviewed, and gave them his
I opinion, founded nnnn fh« i.«=.,lf» ^e u: I P y tuom iiiB
i inoninr' *i,-fc ^^T "r'H ""r'° ,"^ ,"'" FCfHonai ana scienuiio
»n«uuy, thak on* of th« wouads had b«en caused by a thaip
''^^.
226 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
instrument, and the others by » blunt on^, probably by the ba^
rel-stave that was found near the body ; that the skull was
fractured in two places ; that the right eye had been forced
out, and that the victim must have been dead over forty-eight
hours at the time of the finding of the body, and that the
wounds were sufficient to have caused death.
They then made the acquaintance of some of the villagers,
and very quaint and curious was the information they received.
It seemed as though every man had resolved himself into au
amateur detettive, every one had a particular theory of hia
own, and between the recital of what they knew and what they
imagined, it was almost impossible to arrive at any definite in-
formation. After repeated inquiries of numerous individuals,
they at last found something tangible, and which approached
something like information. Mr. Aaron Bronson, who accom-
panied Mr. Jessup when the body was discovered, informed
them that he saw the tracks of a man going from, and return-
ing to, the woods, about thirty yards distant from where the
body was found ; that the tracks coming from the wood were
long, and deeply imbedded in the ground, as though the parties
who made them were burdened and hurried, and that those
made in returning were lighter. He also informed them that
upon an examination Of the clothing of the deceased he found
the sum of thirty-five dollars in the pocket of the vest, which
seemed to him to be conclusive evidence that robbery was not
the cause of his death.
Mr. Jessup and his companion both confirmed this statement
It was also ascertained that several of the residents had re-
marked a noticeable resemblance between the deceased and a
person who, on the Friday preceding, had inquired of them the
proper direction to a public house kept by Jacob Gross ; which
house, it was ascertained upon enquiry, did not bear an envi-
able reputation, anc^ was frequented, principally, ^by serving
men and pedlers. The proprietor was known to be . a man of
no character or principle, a gamester and a drunkard, and was
shunned by the residents of Edgewood. His wife was a vul-
gar termagant, whose violent temper and coarse language were
well known, and universally condemned. Popular opinion and
a general suspicion seemed to attach to this couple, as being
in some way implicated in the mjstery^' and the fact of the
' f ?'ii
PEOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 227
deceased having made inquiries for Gross's Hotel becoming
known, convinced many that they had some knowledge of thf
occurrence, which they could reveal, if they were so disposed'
■everal other circumstances of a suspicious character ^vere related
XhT.?/S*^''.^°f -^^'P^^' ^'^«^' *^d*^i« amiable w^
tTvi» J ^^^"^^^ °^ importance by the embryotic detec'
tives whose name was legion, and which seemed to them to
pomt unequivocally to them as the perpetrators of the crima
^ Not feeling at all convinced of the force or weight of such
information, but desiiing to derive all the information possTble
from every available source, Mr. Bangs determined toCire
into the movements of the two Grosf's, but in a banner thit
would occasion no suspicion of his intention, and by persons
entirely unknown to the villagers, and disconnected, appareX
SiTavTanTtCtodr' '^'^^^ *^^ detectives were^s^upro^^d
. It has always been an undeviating practice with this Agency
wZ.n/'^'''5>^' ^^^^Ij'^^i r^"' '^ information conLctJd
thothTJTf '"'' '• ^f^-' '^^'' °^*y ^« ^«<^i^edi and, al.
though I may be convinced in my own mind, that the result
of such inquiry wil not shed the faintest ray of light upon a
h™!^i''TK°^^!.^°P'^''' investigation, yet I have very often,
by puraumg these devious ways to the fountain of truth, disi
TJ^fl'^'-\':h'^^ ^^^^ eventually led me to complete sue
cess m the right direction. ^
Mr. Bangs, therefore, selected from my force of operatives
LIuS:;'l^T^?^°^^°^*^ byname,W directed to
assume the role of a journeyman painter, to take up his resi-
dence temporarily at Edgewood, and to gather whatever Tn-
formation he possibly could, in reference to the suspected man.
Gross and his wite ; to get- into conversation with them, and
to endeavour to ascertam from them all the facts which thev
rrt^nW^ *•" ^ 'I possession of, in regard to the mov^
ments of the person who had inquired for his hotel, and who
was believed to be the person who was afterwards found mur-
dered, as previously detailed.
But the most important question yet remained unsolved,
m, the identity of the murdered man. The discov^rv of hS
ti!TX^l^^^l ""^ residence his occupation, aU seemed to'defy
the efforts of those who had previously attempted to arrive J^
228 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
any information in reference to the said affair; and after foui
days of inquiry they had given the matter up in despair, and
the question seemed now as completely enveloped in mystery
as ever. ^
Of the hundreds of people who, attracted by the publica-
tion of so unwonted a crime in that peaceful locality, had
thronged to view the body, not one was able to say who he
was, or that they could distinctly remember ever huvine seen
him before.
This information Mr. Bangs was determined to obtain at
first, as he felt confident that without this knovledge the de-
tection of the guilty parties would be utterly impofasibL, and
that with it he would be enabled to proceed with confidence
and with assumed certainty of eventual success.
• The two gentlemen, Mr. Bangs and my son, therefore made
a careful examination of the clothing found upon the body of
the murdered man, and the only thing that was found, that
would in any manner serve as a mark of identification, was
that the letters " A. B." were worked in embroidery upon the
shirt which the deceased wore j and this fact, it was resolved,
should be the foundation-stone of the structure of their in-
quiry.
With this information obtained, and after having made a
complete survey of the ground, they returned to New York
City.
CHAI^ER IV.
THE VALUE OP LITTLE THINGS— THE IDENTIFICATION OP THB
MURDERED MAN AND DISCOVERY OF HIS RESIDENCE.
jT is a remarkable subject of consideration what small and
apparently insignificant causes will oftentimes produce
wonderful and revolutionizing effects ; and yet the world's
hiatoiy contains many marked evidences of the great forces
«OF.SSIOKA1 THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 2"9
Of L in ' °P^^^*^°"« ?f everyday life in society or business
a„d_^y the »o,t trUbg oiroumstancea to the m<^t c»dS
Such was the experience in the eolntion of the mrsterv stt^l,
«sr;o£aw:tf:2°4fd^"""'""'"'"''^
niVffr ''■*^'° "^^ *'^''" "'"™ t" New York, Mr. Banra caused
S ?rpVer/n"„iL^Ke'°citf "'-^'"'" ^^"^^
t"^ti»ir^ ^ontr^ -was
i^^^o^etn^:,;^^^^^^^^^
»9Metrr.-rii£SS
If
\h
230 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
who was known to him, and who had been missing for aeveral
days.
An appointment was made, and on the following morning
« person, very gentlemanly in appearance, and a German, waa
announced as desiring an interview, and upon his entrance,
proceeded at once on the matter in hand, and his narrative is
, concisely as follows :
In the month of October last (1868), a young Gerinan artist,
answering to the description that was given to him of the
murdered man, engaged a room from him on the second floor of
the house in which he (Kuenzle) lived ; that the young man
. informed him that he had just arrived from Strasbourg the day
previous, and had been recommended to Mr. Kuenzle by some
iriends of his, whom he became acquainted with on the steamer
in coming over j that he had occupied the room until the ele-
venth day of the present month (March), when he left home
without having apparently made any preparation for an ex-
tended or protracted journey, and that since that time, neither
he nor his family had seen or heard anything of him. Upon
reading the notice in the papers, the letters with which the
clothing of the murdered man was marked attracted his atten-
tion, and as the name of the gentleman who lodged with him
was Adolph Bohner, it seemed to him at once to be reasonably
possible that they might belong to the missing occupant of his
room.
• Having previously taken possession of the clothing of the
deceased, it was produced, and immediately identified by Mr.
Kuenzle as belonging to Adolph Bohner, except the hat which
was found upon his head, which he did not recognise as ever
having been worn by him. Thus the question of identity was
settled beyond doubt, and biight sunlight of success began to
dawn upon the vision of Mr. Bangs, so long obscured by doubts
and aggravating perplexities.
While these revelations were being made, and the unravelling
of the tangled web was becoming more easy and certain of
accomplishment, quite a difiFerent scene was being enacted ia
Edgewood.
From the very commencement of the legal investigation
into the facts of the case, the inhabitants of the village and
environs seemed to have resolved themselves into a joint stock
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 231
company for the wftolesalo manufacture of wUd and excitinff
ZffJ !-^^ *^' mvention of an overstrained imagination,
that the sensation, created -ere of short life, and they quickly
aTdtTeLlrC '^''' ^^^ ^°' ^^^^^« -* ^- ^-W
^n.IllT^''-.*?''^' v-'u'°u'^^*V*'^'*^^ inexperienced detectives,
so-called with which the place seemed instantly to swarm
dazzled by the reward offered, had been carrying mS
with a^ high hand i^ that hitherto undisturbedTnd peaceful
And here, let me say, by way of parenthesis, that I never
«Z^lu ""'""^S-i "'y labour, time, or skill are not expended
upon the possibility of obtaining tho sum offered by a citizen
or a community for the detection and punishment of a crim-
mal ; but my operations are based entirely upon t^ distinct un-
derstandmg and agreement of a business character, and the
acceptance of my terms for such service.
Chief among the gentlemen ambitious to achievp the renown
and greatness of a successful detective was Mr. James Byerly.
[nLS?V^ '^* county, and it must be confessed thkt his
intellectual acquirements he could not write his own name)
Zn'"h-^ fited b,^ for the duties he so magnanimously Tok^
upon himself; linked with this, an experifnce of two long
years spent in the arduous occupation of serving warrants and
1 gal notices had, as he fondly imagined, furnfshed him with
iegaj knowledge and natural sagacity necessary for suc-
cess and added to these, the self-sufficiency of the individuS
amply supplied all other defects, real or imagined. "''''^'''''^
an Jf Jf«fK« f ^° '"^^""^^ ^^** something ought to be done,
and that he, of course was just the man to do it, and he at
Ztie« f?V? "^^^*^^T ^i^«ly'/«^y lively, for thi auspected
parties at Edgewood Gross and his wife were arrested at
Tfrk h ^ T^^^ l^ave^been expected, in the absence of any
Foofe adduced upon the hearing-for the reason that no time
was given for their production, even should any exist-they
gZ"! "^""''^^y ^'"'^t'f^' A boy who had run away from
Orross on account ot bad treatment, was next pounced noon •
he was traced to N«w V^rt Kj.«„^h u».i. ,_/ " , .^, ".P°° »
uigMr. Byerly, with ft sagacious shake of his empty head.
232 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
dedjirod that he possessed the unmistakable air and manoet
of a murderer, the authorities were compelled to release him
for lack of any evidence whatever to hold him. Mr. Byerly's
ardour was by no means subdued by these unsuccessful eflTorts,
and this boy having stated that he spent the night of th«
Saturday preceding the finding of the body at the house o/'
an inoffensive, hard-working Dane named Hans Schreiber, the
undaunted and atnbitious detective 'discovered in that fact un
doubted evidence of the poor weak-minded Dane's complicity
in the foul crime. (I verily believe that, had the boy slept in
cow-shed, the pertinacious criminal-hunter would have procured
a warrant for the arrest of the inoffensive bovines upon the
morrow.)
Consequently, acting upon this undoubted and, to him, in-
fallible evidence of gtiilt, the doughty sheriff at once descended
upon the unsuspicious object of persecution and locked him up
for a hearing ; but in this master-stroke he was doomed to
another disappointment, while the consequences of this rash
arrest were nearly fatal to his victim.
In the middle of the night the prison authorities were
awakened by loud cries emenating from the cell where Schrie-
ber was confined, and upon hurriedly donning his clothes and
hastening to the spot, the poor man was found in an alarming
condition of mental excitement ; crying, groaning, frantically
clasping his hands, tearing his hair, and muttering in his native
language. A physician was at once sent for, and also the rector
of the village church, who was conversant with the language
spoken by the prisoner. Upon their arrival the distress of the
poor man seemed pitiful in the extreme ; he smote his breast,
and with his eyes upturned towards heaven, uttered passion-
ate prayers und lamentations.
"My God i Why am I suspected 1 My heart is clear I"
He said it was impossible to eat or sleep, or even to think, and
that wherever he wont the people would point to him, and say,
" There goes the Dane, who killed that man I "
The physician stated that, unless some measures Were taken
immediately, he despaired of the tnan's reason, and earnestly
urged the authorities to take such steps as would secure an
early hearing, and if no evidence could be produced. thi;t he be
discharged. Accordingly, the next morning, an examination
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 233
the murder of 'the anknown^r'^"^""' pn-oner with
^erel^nTi^T^^^^^^ ^ longU.e before
never afterwards seemed to t^lhl "l",^.'*'' ^""^y* »»<i ^^
happy man that heTafon^ Lwn t^r. ''''^' ^'^^'^"^ ^^
Mr Brckm^^fror'^f -"^^ '""'^'^y Prevented my operative
upon the presumption that the body found on th^.t^Tfu
evenmg was that of a German vedler ^hnh.T ' ^^^^^^^
in the neighbourhood dvi^a hii^,S ^ a ^^'^/PPeared once
a sigh of disappointment as he thought of the ahtt^riZ j
Bofar beyond the reach nf hia i;r«,"f i ^«« g"ttenng reward
II
t 1
i ■
CHAPTER V.
THE MURDERED JLIN.
^^t?« nS" ^°"°^^°g th« ^"0 Of Mr. Jacob Kuenzle to
' went fo^F^''' '""^5"^^ ""''} '^*^ g«°tleman Mr. BangJ
«r.« . ^. 'iP Edgewood, m order to afford Mr Kuenzl« S^
•VM* «*'««- '"'''° ""'"'"," ,'^*' ^''"' ^^^' ii^nenzle, with tearful
•ye,, at once recognised the features of his unfortunate lodger,
234 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
ijna »hiu tbe question as to who the murdered'man was be«»me.
definitely settled and the work of tracing the perpetrators of
the awful deed, their detection and punishment, was intelli.
gently commenced.
^.?o^ "/"I?'°i-*^ ^r York city, they proceeded to the resi.
dence of Mr. Kuenzle, and thence to the apartment formerly
occupied by Adolph Bohner, for the purpose of examining his
effects m. the hope that something would be found that would
pve fuller mformation of the young man, furnish some know-
ledge ot his associates, and by that means enable them to form
*®?T **PiP*<*" ^^^^^ possible cause of his death.
Mr. Kuenrie, having a duplicate key, unlocked the door
and, upon entering the room and throwing open the shutters
the bright sunshine -revealed a very comfortably furnished
apartment; the arrangements were very neat and attractive
and gave evidence of the habits and tastes of a gentleman of
education and refinement. In the centre of the chamber stood
a table, on which was a student's reading-lamp, and surround-
ing It were a number of books, all of an advanced character, and
showing evidences of having been frequently used, and aiong
them was found a large diary, written in the German langua<'e
which seemed to contain a very fully written account of the
wnter^i naovements, his daily transactions and the various
thoughts that occupied his mind. On opening this book it
was found that the last entry had been made on the tenth day
of March, and concluded with the following sentence, which
seemed to have been written just previous to the gentleman's
retirement to bed : " To-morrow mU go to Edgewood, N. J., to
"^L^A^^fl^l^^f^' ^^ Promises to pay his indebtedness to me."
Ah I Adolph Bohner, how little did you think when in the
peacefulness of your own pleasant chamber you penned those
words, that a stranger's hand would be the next to open your
little book, and a stranger's eye would read the story of your
lite ; little did you think as you wrote those promises for the
morrow, what that morrow was to bring forth ; still less did it
occur 10 you that the visit so innocently planned, and so pleas-
antly anticipated, would be to the locality of your death [ and
that when your head pressed the downy pillow's that evenin<T
and you resigned yourself to repose, that the next sleep tha
Tisiszns. ^^li rruuxt* wc iiiaii ivuj^ siuup caac saowB no wakms I
HtOFESSIONAL TEJEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 235
™^j?'^' •'"''''." '''»*"T of Bohner waa thought to b.
"Yes-'said Mr. Kuenzlej "I know him Tery w.lL bnti
have not seen him fop two or three months." ^ ^ ^ ^
sMr.a.n;"'"'' "'• ^'"»"'7 intimate friendaf «ked
Srpe;^h^h°$K-is->--™
u Ru y°"„^°°r **^ '^«^' «v«' having quarrelled ? »
quar?irUtr'Bl^^^^^^^ t^ -r
money wi hout gettingT^^S ^^^t^^^^^^^^^
and upoh the next request, he refused to lend him any mo3
Did you see Franssen here after Bohner had refused S /^
tinue his loan^l " asked Mr. Bangs. *°°"
Mr* Bnhni?ff "'^ ^''- ?''""^^*=' "h*<Jid not come again, and
frl fli "^^"^ ""^ '^°^^ ^ afterwards, that he had gTe iway
from the city, was working in some country town and h«
thought, was trying to do better." ^ ' ^"^^ *^®
« wZ ^!u ^^^^ become acquainted with each other! «
Why, they came to this country in the same 8team«r . fl,^^
tTw St ' ^**',*^l' Franssen was a wild, bad fellow and
rnn^Lf?5°^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^""^^ T"""^^^ ^^^^ ^^s man Franssen was
S f 1?* l" '^""^ ^*y "^^^ *he «^"^der of Mr. feohner The
fSr hi /' '""''"^^"^ "^"'^"^ ^'^"^ h" fr'e»d. and being iefusSi
ha£ -J?."'^' *'•*'• S^^^S *^*y' *he description givfn of ^
S .1^ ^i'P°'i^\^°' ^""^ *he fact that Bohner wMt^vS
yZuV^' day following, being his last appe^anTk .C
York, all seemed to favour the theory that FranMen ™^n
236 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Mr. Bangs determined to discorer Franssen's whereabouts,
and watch him pretty closely, and, in the meantime, to care-
fully read the diary of Mr. Bohner, in order to ascertain the
full particulars of his antecedents, and the extent of his con-
nection with Franssen.
ill?™ I
CHAPTEE VL
THE HISTORT OT ADOLPH BOHNER — ^HIS CX)NNECrnON WITH
VRANSSEN Aip THEIR DEPARTURE VOR AMERICA.
S learned from his diary, the story of Adolph Bohner,
was quite a romantic one. He was born in Strasbourg,
the capital city of Alsace-Lorraine, in the year 1844.
{Strasbourg was then in the French departmeilt of the Bas-Rhin,
but through the operations of the Franco-Prussian war and
the treaty of peace at Versailles in 1871, is now connected
with and made a province of Germany. This beautiful town
is situated on the River 111, one of the tributaries of the Rhine,
and is built upon a level plain nearly six miles in circuit. It
is surrounded by a great wall with all the military accompani-
ments of bastions, ditches and outworks, and its famous clock,
built by Isaac Habrecht about 1070, is renowned as one of the
greateint works of its kind.
The river, with its many branches, flows through the town,
and is crossed by innumerable wooden bridges, contributes to
the healthfulness of the locality, and the people generally are
a hearty, healthy and somewhat independent community.
The father of Adolph was an extensive manufacturer of
woollen goods, who had by his own eflforts and the economy of
his household — a proverbial element of German domestic rule
— succeeded in accumulating a sufficient competence for the
support of himself and family. He was thus enabled to confer
upon his children all the advantages which education afford 9
aad young Adoiph's boyhood passed niuid tbu comfof ts of huiav
uiurui ui uoiutf
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 237
jua tne acquisition ot sjich usetul knowi^dgii as would fit him
for an active struggle with the world. ^
The family of old Herr Bohner was one of the happiest in
Strasbourg; nowhere within the seven gates of the town cou S
there be found more real domestic pleasure and happiness than
under the steep roof of the lofty, well-built house, where ete'v
evening could be seen the jolly old father, with Ws pfpe TnJ
1 ^r^'l'^ ^''' ' ^^ ^^PP^' ^«^^«d-faced and roundKed
frau and the noisy, chattering, playful children, who made the
old house resound with their merry peals of laughter
Adolph had early given evidence of a genius for paintinc.
and some of his crude sketches were held up by h s pS and
dQtmg mother as perfect treasures of rt. ^As theCg?ew
older his Ideas and ambitions b. , more expanded ^andU
was found necessary to foster . .recocious talent bvth«
guiding hand of a skilful teaoner. HirpZres was L
rapid, and a-brilliant future was predicted fK m b^thol to
otaffectlon"'"'' "" ' "'"" ^' ^"^^ '""^ himTe^anXct
Thus the time passed until the boy was old enough to ner-
form military duty, when, according to the laws then exbtfnT
de^Te^m^Pol*^ ""^ ''''' ^^^ ^ *^« standing^^fu^f:
Thw was the first sorrow that had come to him. for it neces-
stated a parting from those who were dear to him and "n ad
M i^te wit^'7r"^.?r'" '^^ '^'''^ itintoCheadt
all m love with a beautiful young Alsatian maiden, who re
turned his passion with all the intonsity of her warm German
nature, and the separation was all the more painfulTn this a^
count. The parting between the young lowers w^affectin^
and sorrowful, and with a heavy heart AdolTshZdered hi
musket and went ofi- to the camp, while RoL returned w^^^
ing to her daily household tasks. ^^urnea weep-
Among the ^sociates of young Bohner was a fellow^tudent
bythename of August Franssen, a wild, reckless boy/whose
«^ Ifmness and incorrigible tomper had been a source of erelt
johcitude and anxiety to his parente, and whose freauent^t^
burs^ of anger and exhibitions of piecociourcru ra ret
dered him obnoxious to his schoolmates and oIJZu^.
oererai y^ before Adoiph's entrance into tiTe-army/Iu^";
238 PllOFESSIONAL THIFVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Franssen had ran Away from home, and after a life of vaga.
bondage and lawlessness had returned to his native place but a
short time before Adolph's departure.
His life had been a precarious one, and not very well calcu-
lated to exercise a restraining influence upon the evil elements
of his nature. He had floated through the most of Eurone
rnTh«'Tfl/""^"^T^.^^^*^ ^i'«d alternatei; in S
in the Isle Napoleon ; had been a member of a gang of doubtfu
characters m Naples; a soldier in the Swiss Guafd at Rome
Con"«^lnif T ^^i ^f a roaniing gypsy life in and around
Constenlinople and finally, after a life full of adventure, and
not of a character calculated to advance the peacefulness of his
disposition, he returned home, and was welcomed by his parents
with some of the joyfulness that is.said to have been assocLted
with the home^omipg of the '• prodigal son."
Franssen too, it seemed, had cast his eyes and set his affec-
tions upon the lovely Rosa; but she, knowing his early history
and his questionable career, ahd also, it must be confessed,
ePtertaining a profound regard and affection for Adolph, re-
fused to listen to the vows of the nomadic August. This re-
pulse filled his heart with bitterness, his soul with anger and
hJLT*!^ ""i "?" be expected after the restless, aimless life
Inn^.^fl" ^^^^IfSjov several years, that young Franssea
would settle quietly down to the dull routine of a shoemaker's
lit^his father was a prominent maker of shoos in Strasbourg
and desired his son to follow in his paternal footsteps-and
consequently he hailed with delight the information that he
was required in the ranks of his country's defenders
Coming from the same locality, the two young men were
assigned m the same company, and an intimacy sprang up be-
tween them, which ripened into a sort of quiescent friendship
on thepart of the quiet, thcughtful, undemonstrative Bohner. for
the wUd and reckless vagabond Franssen, which was repaid by the
other with a secret dislike and envy, which was carefully con-
ceased; by an assumed demeanour of friendliness and confidence.
Amid the scenes of camp life, military manoeuvres, and the
stimng incidentsof a soldier's Ufe, varied by an occasional
iv.„v. o^ s^-sesse, wuieh they would spend at home among the
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVfi;s. 239
joyfully homeiarA ' ^^^ '"^^^ ^^^^^S °»en returned
heItZ:t^&^7^Zi^t'fi^'^''' "P- the return of
kind, wai witnessed by A ^'.71'"^'"^ 'i"^ demonstrative
demonstration of a^ton^ThEHrhad"^ ^'"'^S^'^'^P^^
very much exasperated and nnili * ^ T^- ^^ became
from the spot, utterin^mn; J ^® ^ "^'^''^^ ^^°»«eJf. lie fled
the unconscious loverf X wr?^^" '\' ^^''^ ^eads of
happiness of each otheVsacieTvTo Z """'*" .f '"''^'^^ ^^ ^he
was transpiring around them ^ ^^ *"^ attention to what
the^Tun^co'pTe^"nroXl^d' t^7^ ^«PP^ -^ bright to
Franssen's jealous nrsion 3 ^Vu^^""'^ ^^ discovered of
pleasure of''their eSence or T^^^^r'"""^'^ 'o mar the
promises of the future fulfilment of the bright
frie^d^loTd^ eltirtftf ^?**^' 'r"^ ^^ ^^ »^"
business there, and Se ttttZ''''^ ''^'' ""''^ ^'"^ ^^
World filled him with a desire to .^^f. T'^^^ °^ *^« ^«^
judge for himself of tl\Z"tior oTtSs' ?eT D^at'?'' 'j
then%^oXlh .^^liltb:;^^^^^^ -^- (- ^« «e a^l
land Abert, aK^^pe^Xnc^e^^^^
opportunity to "see the worU »' ^A u*^''^'^'''^ him every
once accedfd to the younrm^'« r« '^ .^'"^' *1.^ ^^^^unes, at
pare for the journey "^ ' *°^ ^^^ ^"^ P'«'
Bo^nerto^SilTr^^^^^^^^^^ of young
accompanying h^ and i,^ conceived the idea of
atd^a^ou^^lVt^^^^^^^^^^
or approval to his aWs sc^^^^ i'l "^ ''^^'' ""^^^ P*t^«»~
to aSL him to ^cr .nt:r:„f 1^«_P«'^!'»^^^^^^
about, -w* i„f«rmflH f».«"»™";r' ""•'W''^''"'**^ *^^ ni8 traveiUnff
•» -«ued the young gentleman that he must settlf
■'
240 PROFESSIONAL THIEVFS AND THE DETECTIVES.
himself to business hi home, in order that he might become,
what his father was, a good shoemaker. The old gentleman,
you see, was an implicit believer in the old maxim, that ** a
shoemaker should stick to his last."
This denial, of his request, «nd the dashing of his hopes foi
adventure, aroused the wild spirit oftJ.e wilful young man,
and he determined to go whether his father consented or not ;
and, of course, as the consent was out of the question, he must
needs go without it.
Ascer'^tining the day on which Bohner was to take his de-
parture, he quietly made all the. arrangements necessary for
leaving, and not being very scrupulous in his moral proclivities,
he did not. hesitate to rob his father, and to steal from him the
amount that he oonsidered necessary for his purpose. He there-
fore secretly made his way to Havre, and was safely on board
the steamer before yohng Bohner, accompanied by his father,
mother, and sweetheart, arrived.
Of course, the scene between these loving people who were
about to be separated for a long time was alfecting in the ex-
treme ; but over the horizon of their hopes of a speedy and
happy return there came no premonition of the terrible *''\te in
store for their loved one, and no vision of the lonely grave in
that £tf-off land of strangers.
CHAPTER VIL
THE SUBFBISE— THE VOTAGE — SEA-SIOKNESS AND lATE
ABBIVALi
'OXJNG BOHNER'S surprise may well be imagined,
when, after the vessel was comfortably under way and
he was standing by the side, looking gloomily and dis-
Bontolately at the almost indistinct and rapidly disappearing
figures upon the shore, he felt a sharp tap upon his shoulder.
Mid upon turning suddenly around, he found himself iace to
face with Franssen.*
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND TfiE DETECTIVES. 241
Explanations followed, and though Adolph by no means
justified the faults of his companion, or was disposed to be
wwy grateful for his society, he was compelled to accept the
situation, and be as friendly as possible.
The voyage was an uneventful one, and except so far as
concerns the two persons with whom our story has to do, un-
worthy of record. Neither of them having had a great deal
of experience iu travelling upon the sea, they were not hard-
ened to the tossing of the waves, the 1 rching of the vessel, and
the general feeling of discomfort that began to take possession
of their inmost souls. A slight storm, shortly after the ship
had left port, completed their misery, and very soon they both
succumbed to that dreadful disorder known as sea-sickness.
The bright dreams of ambition that had floated through the
imagination of the anthusiastic young artist ; the golden visions
of the glorious and happy future which had dazzled his eyes
and encouraged his hopes, now faded away before the dreadful
reality of the failure to keep anything on his stomach. How-
ever, lis trials were of short duration, and after the observance
of the correct rules of diet, his digestives triumphed, and he
was soon enabled to enjoy the novelty and beauty of an oceaa
voyage, undisturbed by anything more' serious than occasional
thoughts of home and those he had left behind him.
Not so, however, with his more highly tempered and bilious
companion, who, not being very considerate in his mode of
living at home, and paying but little attention to the laws of
diet, became an easy prey to that " destroyer of hope and pro-
ducer of melancholy.' Many a time, as he lay groaning and
sighing upon his bunk, cursing his fate and everything else in
general, he was disposed to regret that he had ever attempted
the journey he was now making, and for a time, too, perhaps,
he forgot the evil thoughts that filled his mind towards hia
more successful rival, who ministered to his wants, endeavoured
to cheer his. disconsolat:. spirits, and who used eveiy means
in his power to make him comfortable and contented. It was
not, however, until the voyage was nearly over, and the waves
and weather became more calm, that he was able to trust him^
self to visit the deck and enjoy the fresh breezes and the beautiei
vt oc^ttu gfuuduUf.
i
242 PROFESSIONAL THTEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Better would it have been for Adolph if his companion liiid
not lived to reach the shore, and far better for Franssen would
it have been, if the dark waves had washed over his body and
covered the grave of a man with no stain of human blood upon
hid souL
Such was not to be his fate, however, and they both arrived
safely in New York and landed upon the shores of the great
metropolis. Bohner at once sought the abode of Jacob Kuenzle,
to whom he had been recommended, and Franssen, whosw
means were limited and whose future was undecided, located
at Castle Garden, until he could definitely arrange his plan of
I stion.
In a short time he was enabled to secure employment in his
distasteful occupation of a shoemaker, but not having paid any
attention to his woi^k at home he found it very dircult to re-
tain a position for any length of time. By nature indolent
and extravagant, and possessed of a wandering reckless dispo-
sition, his earnings disappeared as rapidly as acquired, and his
friend Bohner was frequently called upon for loans to assist
him out of his pecuniary embarrassments, and to afford him
opportunities for gratifying his tastes for dissipation. At last
this became burdensotoe, and Bohner refused emphatically to
advance any further sums for such purposes, without any return
being made, or any prospect, however remote, of its ever being
. done.
Franssen then left the city, obtained employment in the
country, and almost entirely disappeared from Bohner's notice,
until, after several months' abse ?e, he suddenly appeared am
requested Bohner to visit h'm at Edgewood, when he would
repay him the amount that m as due him. What followed that
fatal visit, the reader has already been made acquainted with.
■••ilWWW
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 243
CHAPTER VIIL
OK THB TRAIL-A YELLOW D0G~"tH01T ART fln W^
YET SO TAR." ^
plidty iJ;, the my'telTorir ' "^ W»«ou of, .r com-
hU detection, Mr. Ba°« at I^^„''"''''J'5°' '''"' *« <l"'y of
denoe he had re,SiS^d ?"'°.P™f I'^'o^'upon the evi-
the outraged la^*^ ""* *• """"P" "» t«k of vmdicating
the'nat'ofts^rMrdlZ T"'"^ 'JT* «""»»■ ^
Ban, who had S he™ 1° V-™''? ''"«'"• «'i™ y°""g
»nve«e fluently S ^S ^11^? ''■°™»^'"S, who could
and he was deputed for the nfZI ?5^ ^'■"?'"' ''"'8''»S«»
.boute of the suspected mal^ "^^^ "' discovenng the whe%.
the^CkZp'tf rnV'^rdef & N -« '°f "°'^^ *» ™i'
ploy Franssen had once b°n to l^.7-^°i^' " "'"'=« »«■■
St the time he worki The™ in? V '"•?■ '"' "™»' ■""""«
were his associated ' "'^' "^ P"'''''''' <» «■"! out who
pelled at iLtokchtvTh^fr'^''^^^^^ *^^<^ h« ^aa com-
months before sin^Xh SI V-Jk ^^^^S^^ *bout three
-5, , uiiu, auu xransseu toiU hiiq
244 PROI'ESSIOl^AL THIEVES AND TSE DETECTIVES.
he WM going horte to Europe ; that he had no money, but
would work for his passage over. After receiving from Mr.
Schneider the names of some of the places that Franssen fre^
qiiented, he took his leave.
He next proceeded to a saloon kept by a Oprman widow
fair, fat, and any ag'^ you pleased. Upon entering he called for
a glass of beer, and invited the blooming and corpulent widow
to join him, whicH she did very willingly, and after indulging
in a couple of glasses of the beverage, the landlady became
quite good-natured and communicative:
Mendelsohn asked her if Franssen had been there lately,
saying at the same time, that he would like to see him, as he
was from the same part of the country where he came from.
" Ach 1 " replied the elephantine widow, " dot Franssen, he
was a leetle black beast. He have not been here for two or
tree week. He mak^ me a debt of him for two dollars, und den
he no comes around anymore.''
" Do you know where I could see him 1 " inquired Mendel-
sohn.
" Nein, I don't can tell," she replied j " he got a gal Louisa,
by der house of de corn or round, but maybe she don't can't
tell neider, I don't know."
After receiving full information of the residence of the fair
Louisa, Mendelsohn took his departure and proceeded to hunt
her up. Upon inquiring at the " house of de corner round,"
he was informed that Louisa had removed a few days ago to
Jamaica, on Long Island, and was living on a farm. He deter-
mined to see her, and taking the train fberefor, Mendelsohn
late in the afternoon found himself in that beautiful farming
diptrict in close proximity to New York.
The large, comfortable, and well-built houses, and the capa-
cious farm buildings, were very attractive. The well-cultivated
and fruitful fields were already beginning to put on their robea
of green, and were looking beautiful in the light of the de-
scending sun upon an April day.
Ascertaining that the house where Louisa lived was about a
mile and a half from the Eailroad station, Mendelsohn in vain
endeavoured to hire a conveyanco for the purpose, and was at
lust eompelled to travel thadiatange on foofe.
k \
uired Mendel-
e, and was at
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 245
H^?!/™?^®"^ *^**"^ merrily, contentedly admiring the bofco.
ties of nature every where spread before him. and ^niovine the
recreation which the walk afforded, when suddenly ffird a
Ht fled sort of yell behmd him. and turning around, discovered
nlf •r'^^'r^'-^^y"""^ ^^^ ^^ ^^1^^»". ank evident?
possessed with the intention of devouring him. Now if there
was one thing that Mendelsohn detested more than another iJ
wa. a yellow dog-ye low dogs were a perfect nightmare to
oZ'tinlT Ti '^' ^'^ ^^'^''' •^"^ ^^^^ ^"^^^'^ of sausages at
one time, and that m consequence yellow dogs had sworn eter-
nal enmity to the whole rac\ of Mendelsohnl iWver t^ue
that was, there was no doubt of the enmity (,f the one behind
upon the duties of ne hour e materially hastened his pace and
infi W r^ , ' ''f '^^'' ? ^•S^'^ l' ^^« -f °° avail ; the
infuriated yellow dog wn^ a better runner than the frightened
trv ht ^if-; ^^^"l^^^r.^'^ i° «heer desperation was forced to
try his agil ty m climbing a tree that grew by the roadside.
He had just succeeded in catching hold of one of the lowei
branches, and was in the act of drawing his body up beyond
the reach of harm, when he felt a sudden snap behind and
rea ized with a thrill of horror, that the yellow dog and hb
coat-tails had formed an intimate acquaintance ; giving himself
.8 rong and desperate pull, which lifted the animal sole three
teetm the air he reached a position of safety, and the dog, not
beingof the "iron-jawed " species, unable to hold himself above
Su .1,^ ^^ ''r^^'J" f. ^'! '""'^' '•elinqui^hed his hold and
fell to the ground and Mendelsohn rejoiced that the stren-Hh
of his garments had prevented the beast from lunching upon
cassimere and buttons. Not to be defrauded of his victim in
this manner, the d©g squatted himself under the tree, and bv
repeated and savage barking, gave assurance of his intention
to faght It out on this line if it took all summer "•
The position was a very provoking one to the poor detective,
but happily was destined to be of short duration; for very soon
he heard footsteps approaching, and the dog, findin > other and
more available game, left his guard and proceeded to attack the
intruder. But this time he found an enemy who proved to^
weU^irected blowe with a heavy stick ihich he carried, coi^
4
246 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
pelled the eanine -^gressor to beat a haaty and yelpinir wtreaL
"Hello, mistei i'-aaid the stranger. "I iraeaflTn viITZi.
down now. de dog dou't vas here al'y more.^ ' ^"'^ ^"^ *^"*'
Hrnnn^^t i.^l'^^u^*^ ^^'"^^^ ^«g"« h'« d«««ent, instantly
dropped himself to the ground, and thanked the ne^ comer for
the unexpected^but very grateful relief he had afforded h'm
He proceeded on his way without further molestation and
arrived at a.t at the house where the girl Louisa was dlkifed
and upon inquiring for her he was shown into the ^ cheu
where the young lady was engaged in the domestic occuS
of preparing supper, She greeted Mendelsohn with a frS
fn^;' ^'*;?^ '"'P'"^"f ^""^' *"^ in a constrained manSer
and no wonder, poor girl ; she had been leading a wild and dis!
•olute life in New York; had been an inmate of a house of ill
frh'r t^*^ '*' '*'" '^^' ^y "^^ ^«^^^ «f i^«r parents and hel
inability to support herself otherwise; but at last becomin '
tired and disgusted with her mode of living, she had eS ed
herself with the gentleman at whose house !he was then work^
Xrv nf r'^ ^ ''^°'°^' \ ^^*^« ^«^i«d her the shame and
misery of her past career, and to strive to walk in the path of
S^ M f! 1"^ "^ •*• ^^Y °°' *° ^« ^°'^^«^«d ^^^ then, Tat she
Bhould feel suspicious of a person who had inquired for her bv
name, and who was entirely unknown to her. ^
t^lTl fS ' ^'^- '"f ^^% ^'"°*"y °^ ^i« P^^ition, and desirin..
to obtain the required information without excit ng the susnf
tTaKlwL^T^^5^^^'^^^« true intentions, iSmedTer
that he was a friend, and at one time a fellow-workman of
Franssen, who desired to serve him ; that he had obtaTned for
him an exceUent situation in the shop in which he himself was
engaged, but that he could not find out where he wasTn order
to communicate with him, and that, learning that F^anssea
was paying attentions to her, he had come fo? the purpose of
mquiring from her where he could find him. i'^^Pose oi
"Why," said the girl, in astonishment, "he has just left
here, and if you came from the station, you must have pas ed
him on the road ; he has not been gone twenty minutls."
, Mendelsohn's chagrin at this piece of news may well be
imagined ; he cursed that yellow dog in his inmosTsoul and
When he thought that it mJst have Sen th^iZ he w^ lik
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECHVES ^47
he could be found; and that fact was some coLS'^ven
in his pat and aggravating disappointment ''''''''*''^- ^«"
He hastened to inform Louisa that he had miss 1 H^ wa
and must have passed this house without recog2 nVt ami
ha^ i^race his steps, which accounted for wSl^^";,:::^
;; Where is he living now t " then inquired Mendelsohn
I don't know and I don't care," replied the Xl
You have not quarrelled, I hope 1 " said he.
Yes, we have, and I hope we have parted forever He .'«.
a mean little beast, and I never did like him. He knew that ?
wan ed to get away from the life I was leadingfthat I wanted
to be a better girl and live an honest life, and h°e carpe out here
of Uvtnf^Pw P^'^r f ^'"^'^S "»^ '^ g'^ back to tTe dd way
of living. He says he has got some money now • but monev
or no money, I will never be again what I have been and I
never want to see him again ! " ' * ^ ^
" Don't you know where I can find him ? "
•..nf ^ 1, '^P^''t f-.^'^' " ^ ^^^ "°t a«k him, and I did not
want to know ; but if you go to Egbert's beer saloon on For
Byth street, you can find out all about him " '
Mendelsohn, finding that he could gain nothing fnrH...
from the girl, and satisfied as to her tf Zfulness toll hi«
^ve hoping that he would be in time to catch'^^^^^^^^^^
he station and, by accompanying him on the train be enabled
to form his acquaintance, or to find out his place of abode
In this, however, he was disappointed, for the tra n harl Ipff
when he reached the station, and he was'compelled to i^aft t
patiently an hour for the next train, which he tool .nV^
urned to New York, not entirely unsucce^M. but d'ap^ofnted
at the opportunity which he had. missed, of findinrtS^PpTson
i^SinrcS^' *"' rendering further effort^s ^IZTT
H
I
248 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER IX.
ZGBEBT'S saloon — "OLD SLEDOX" — ^TRACKS Of THB
MX7BDERER.
r direction of Mr. Bangs, the following day, Mendelsohn
proceeded^ to the saloon of Jacob Egbert, and upon
entering, found quite a motley assemblage gathered
together. The place seemed to be the resort of idle mechanics
of all trades and branches, who, however varied their occupa-
tions might be, united upon one subject at least — the love of
drink.
Mendelsohn ordered a glass of beer, and seated himself at
one of the manj^ tables that stood around the room, in order to
survey the scenes around him before commencing operations.
A strange medley of human beings was presented, and over the
ceremonies presided the fat, red-faced and quick-sighted land
lord, ever on the alert for the many calls upon his fluid re-
sources, and equally quick-sighted as to the coppers of the
poor devils, who spent their earnings for his beer, while their
families were starving at home.
He noticed one man who seemed to be acquainted with every-
body, and whom everybody seemed to be acquainted with.
He was greeted with a certain reserved, grudgingly-bestowed
good-nature by the tipplers, but the good-nature seemed to be
of a forced character, as though they felt that their salutations
were necessary, yet they would prefer to let him alone.
Leaning over to a man who was sitting oppo "te to him, half
asleep and probably half intoxicated, Mendelsohn inquired of
him who the individual was who seemed to be so well ac-
quainted and so much at home.
The stranger thus accosted turned round, and distinguishing
the person pointed out, said :
" Why, that's 'Old Sledge,' «ae rummest old duffer about
He knows all the boys, he does."
** What is his business V inr;Tnred Mendelsohn.
" Well, if you've got a watch, or old clothes, or any old fur-
Aitore that you don't want, and if you can't get anything to
S {
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES i.ND THE DETECTIVES. 249
driak, which you do want, that old cove will take *em off your
hands, and won't give you too much for 'em either."
Mendelsohn thought that this fellow must know something,
if anybody did, of the man he was after, and so, sauntering
carelessly across the room, he sat down alongside of hint
After a few minutes, in which he took a mental survey of the
mdmdual, he carelessly asked him in German :
" Has August FrauHsen been here to-day, doyou know T
"No, sir," replied the gentleman addressed, « I'm waiting
for him J he promised to meet me here this evening, and I want
to see him."
"I want to see him too," replied Mendelsohn, «I want to
find out something from him ; won't you take a glass of beer."
Mr. Schlentz— for that was his name— accepted the invita-
tion very readily, and they goon became engaged in general
conversation.
As the time wore on and Franssen did not make his ap-
pearance, Mr. Schlentz began to grow impatient, and finally
got very angry at his delinquent debtor, for so Franssen proved
to be, and denounced him in unmeasured terms.
" When did you see him last 1 " at length inquired Mendel-
Bohn.
"Last night— he came to my place about twelve o!clock.
I was m bed, but he woke me up and wanted to sleep there all
night Well, I let him do so, as he could not get in where he
worked, and this morning he borrowed two dollars from me
which he promised to pay to-night, or bring something as
security." °
" Where does he work 1 "
" I don't know, or else I would go after him there," replied
the "Old Sledge."
Mendelsohn discovered that this « Old Sledge," as he wae
called, was one of those individuals who would advance any-
body DQoney who had something to pledge for its value ; that
his trade was quite extensive, as the people with whom he c'ealt
were an improvident set, were idle and dissipated, and that
bchlentz, it was suspected, was not, as a general thing, very
particular in Jnquiring into the question of ownership of any
srtaci6 that woi brought to him iis (joUateral for momj 4»-
'I
4
250 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
" Has Franssen borrowed money of you before I "' asked
Mendelsohn.
" Yes, often," replied Schlenta. « The last time was about
the eleventh of March last. .He borrowed some money to go
to the country to look for work, he said. He returned on the
next evening very late, and said that he could not get any
work ; but that he had met a man there who had a gold watch
and chain, a pair of pantaloons and a coat, which he had bar-
gained for, and which he would give me.- I told him not to
bring such things to my house, at which he seemed to get
angry, and shortly afterwards went to bed. I did not see him
again after the next morning until last evening."
" Did he bring you the things he promised I" asked Men-
delsohn.
" No," replied Schlenti. " I asked him last evening what
the prospects were al^out those things, and he told me he was
afraid to bring them just yet,"
Mendelsohn felt as though he had at last struck the trail,
and that by following up this money-lender, Schlentz, he would
be enabled to finally discover Franssen, and learn what he
wanted to know. After a few remarks, he excused himself
and left the place, intending to keep a sharp look-out upon
Schlentf, to see with whom he left the place, and then to follow
them.
Meanwhile Brockman, in his capacity of house painter, was
pursuing his investigations at Edgewood and the surrounding
country. He learned that Franssen, or a man answering to his
description, had been employed for a short time in a small
town a few miles distant, and he immediately proceeded to the
place mentioned, took up his quarters there, and instituted in-
quiries.
He found that the shoemaker oi the village was named
Thomas Hitner, and, ongoing to his shop, found the gentleman
disengaged and disposed for conversation.
Ho inquired if a man named August Franssen had been
in his employ, and was answered that such a person had
worked for him, but that he had left, and he did not know
what had become of him.
Mrs. Hitner, who was one of those talkative creatures, and
who roioiGed in evorv o^portunit" to *"-- '^^^i*'- ^Vsa i»
■ ■m ■■■■■ ..vl^n^ eil.^% I.>««A.*« XaIV
w vvji TTunv ouo auurr, buiv
DETECTIVES.
II before t "• asked
ist time was about
jome money to go
ie returned on the
iould not get any
) had a gold watch
which he had bar-
told him not to
he seemed to get
I did not see him
ng."
edl" asked Men-
ast evening what
he told me he was
struck the trail,
3chlentz, he would
d learn what he
3 excused himself
rp look-out upon
»ud then to follow
lOUse painter, was
the surrounding
1 answering to his
/ time in a small
proceeded to the
and instituted in-
llage was named
ad the gentleman
ranssen had been
ih a person had
he did not know
ve creatures, and
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 251
S'^srsii^-^r^j^^^^^^^
on March 13th (the SaturZ befor^^h \''5 *° 7""'^ ^°' ^^em
man was discovered) ha /.wIT]^/ ^°u^^ °^ '^« murdered
since which time theVhad no? Teen nl if '^T ""'" '^^ 22nd,
She also stated that The same eveninTinTlf^ anything of him!
sation, he inquired how far Pdalln f ' " ^^^ '°"^«« of conver-
he had heard^n NewToJk wh'rhe h'Id^'^^^^ ''^^5 ^"^ ''^^
a young man had been murdered Lf,"'"'^ 'T® ^'^°°^' ^^^^
clothes on when found aS inoulld if >^'^°°*^' ^^° ^^d no
he was told about it by a younrman w^ ""W' «« ^^'i
saloon in New York ^ ^ ^ ^^"""^ ^® ^ad n^et in a
tha?i^rarse^nClf h^^^^^^^ ^n^-d. The fact
four hours before the bodv w«« T.' ^ '^"''^^'" "^^'^^ twenty-
dence that he knew sometTiL TtT^' "^"' ^°"«^««^^« «vi.
another link to the cha^n ttwi l • ""'T'^T' ^""^ ^^
eventually destined tot^g ^ mZat'^^^^^^^^^ ^
(V BUC aUCTTt
tolv
CHAPTER X
BL0OI,-.IAINED hIx Se^"™'' OWNEKSHIP OF TM
r^ a man answering the descri Hon f S ^ ^'^ **«"
he therefore crossed the street anH K- ti ^^anssen enter;
that were hung at the wTndiw^ t H^ ^^T^^ ^^« blinds
directly to the ta^lewlLrSlenul ''7'/ ^T ^^^«°««
him familiarly, sit dowronno f^« !n^f
versation. ""PP^"''® '« ^'"^ »nd engage in con-
gW\:e"TL^!l!L drinking a
Briskiv -dM^ndeis3;ia;;;:ss;^;;T^j^^^
i
252 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
few blocks and halted in front of a dark, sombre-looking "-.no-
ture, over the door of which appeared the name of JOSxi^pP
SCHLENTZ, Junk Dealer.
Schlentz opened the door and they entered, and af^er re«
maining inside a few minutes, Franssen came out alone, and
bidding Schlentz good-night, started oflF.
Mendelsohn followed him unobserved, until he came to a
store on Greenwich street, occupied by Jacob Gehring, as a
boot and moe store and dwelling — and, opening the side door
of which with a latch-key, Franssen entered.
Feeling satisfied that Franssen was then engaged in the em-
ploy of Mr. Gehring, and could be found upon the following
morning, Mendelsohn returned to the Agency, .*nd finding my
son, Robert A. Pinkerton, the Superintendent, still there, hav-
ing been detained by spme important night service, he com-
municated his intelligence to him, and was directed to go to
Gehring's on the following morning and solicit work as a shoe-
maker, and by that means endeavour to cultivate the acquaint*
ance of Franssen.
Accordingly, on the next morning, Mendelsohn presented
himself at Gehring's store and solicited employment. He was
fortunate enough to find a bench vacant, and upon his state-
ment of his ability to perform the labour required, and express-
ing his willingness to commence his duties at once, he was
conducted to the workroom, where, donning the leather apron,
he was scon engaged in an occupation he had fondly hoped that
he had relinquished forever.
Mendelsohn's first day at shoe-making was a veiy long one,
and when at last the time arrived to lay aside his work for the
day, he did so with a sigh of relief which was as genuine as it
was profound. During the day he had, however, managed to
get into conversation with Franssen, and knowing his weakness
for the female sex, he had related some curious and amusing
incidents in relation to his experience with them, which pleased
Franssen immensely, and on leaving the workshop that even-
ing he invited Mendelsohn to take a glass of beer with him,
which was accepted, and they proceeded to a saloon in the
neighbourhood for the purpose of indulging in the favourite
beverage.
PROf'ESStONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 253
HaviLg made arrangements to lo.lge with Mr. Gehring, and
by that means to be nearer to Franssen, he was rejoiced to find
that he was to occupy the same room with him, and would thus
be enabled to watch his every movement. Mendelsohn, there-
fore, began the active operations of the campaign.
The evening passed away without any eventful incident ;
Mendelsohn and Franssen strolled about together, imbibed a
glass of beer, and then returned to their home, when, feeling
very much fatigued and sleepy after his hard and unusual day's
work, Mendelsohn disrobed and retired ; Franssen followed
shortly afterwards, and they were both soon wrapped in repose.
About midnight Mendelsohn was awakened by a loud noise,
which resembled the cries of a man in distress, and which, he
found, were uttered by his room-mate Franssen, who was evi-
dently the victim of an alarming attack of " night-mare." Up-
on going noiselessly to the bedside of the troubled sleeper, he
found Franssen with his eyes distended, his face distorted as if
with fear, gesticulating with his arms, and crying :
" Oh, my God, Rosa, do not look at me so I I cannot bring
him back to you. He is dead I I saw him 1 He is dead ! I
see him now lying. upon the snow. My God I my God 1 I can
see him now!**
He turned suddenly and awoke with a shudder, when his
eyes, glassy and with an expression of abject terror, met the
gaze of the astonished Mendelsohn, who was standing beside
him. Quick as thought he jumped from the bed, and, with a
tiger-like spring, flew at the amazed detective and grasped him
by the throat.
" What did you see t What did you hear t By God, I will
kill you ! " he exclaimed. _
Mendelsohn, recovering somewhat from the surprise which
this sudden movement had occasioned, and being desirous of
avoiding any suspicion of his having discovered anything from
hi£> assailant, answered :
"What the devil do you meani Are you crazy 1 I have
sedPi nothing and heard nothing. What ails you 1 "
Franssen looked searchingly into the face of Mendelsohn,
who bore the scrutiny without flinching, and then, with an as-
sumed laugh, but with an evident air of relief, withdrew his
hands from the throat of the detective.
■
I
254 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
ing, and a horrible 'iJeamTwas Lo '' "Il't ^T ^ " ^^^a^'
spoka « I hope you wm CZll. *°? 5?/hu.idered as he
thin^ and I a^ sj.y tht feed you' '^' '^^^ "^'^^ -^■
go tf^L^t^aCbu^^d^^^^^ "and no.
and tossed uneasily 3^4 "uT"'' "'''^^' ^^^^^*^" ' ^'^ ^^Hed
finally settled in to^a troubled .] I ' " ""'""^ '"^ ^^'"^^l^'' '^"d
bloodshot It was ver/etlj^nt th^rf ""'?' ^u^ '"' ^^^^ ^^«^«
of that ie.t-giving naturfS rn« '?^"°'^''' ^^^ °^^ been
^ Having .o^e t?me to sp^^^^t?o^^^^^^^ °^^"^^-
for the day, *hey strolled out nd of. ^'^''•"' «««^«ienced
<^nce. Fransse. ^.^as Sd l^rVvo ' f ^^ ""^ -^k"^ u* ^*^^^* '^i^'
previously worked whom h7hJ ? "*'' JS^'^^ ^^0°^ he had
who waslntroduc VUorendett"'a j7 K ''T '''^'' ^"^
the usual salutations, a proDosal w«-^^"^ Knowlton. After
dulge in a morning drhkanJ^LT- "'^^^^.^"^ accepted to.iu.
ing saloon for tlmt p^p^^^^^^
the beverage. Knowlt'oSessl^'al^' ""^ ^^^^^^^^^-^^
of me^r tiralo'l'^^" '^ ^^^^ ^^^^'^^^^^ ^at you bought
ily^roTelg til'anS^^^ «-»^«^' ^«t, hast-
« Oh, 1 trfdedTt for this one '' b^i^^^^'^^'^'^t^y ^« ^'« «°»Id :
Which was a black fe?tnfL?n^' r^'"^ ^'"^ '^^ ^^^ ^^e wore,
« You made money by tte trff T' '"^ T^^/. '^^^^
Franssen evidentl/dTsired to 11 ^T" '^'^ ^"owlton.
»o. with the remark that tJienrnfif^^ ^' conversation, and
thkt he must go to work Zit^LZ^'^ ""'1 ^^'S^' ^« «^id
«hop to be o|ened,":n7 h" and'KS- *\teT 'V'
good-morning, and went back to Geh inot ^f l^"^"^^'^'^
At noon Manri^ic^u -..^^ " 'jcjiiings to work.
At noon Mendelsohn rerinrfo^
H Of *e o«nvera.>i„„ i-'V.^^rrt^l.rr.^.X.XS^'J^
t'S-^FESSIOxVAI TiTTEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 255
ffieiiibmng that Mr. H i-enzle was unable to recognise the hat
found v.pon the body of Bohner, he resolved to visit him and
ler^rn from him what kind of a hat Bohner wore when he left
home. He also instructed Mendelsohn to take the hat found,
to find out whero Xnowlton worked, and to ascertain from
him, without exciting suspicion, whether ho could recognise it
Si the o.no lie Iiad sold to Franssen, and which he had inquired
ubt'Ut.
Ut. K jouzle, upon being questioned by Mr. Bangs, dis-
tinctly recollected that Bohner had worn a new black felt hat,
which he had recently purchased, and had not worn very fre-
quently.
Mendelsohn returned to his work, and ee'^reting the hat
wlich had been furnished him in his trunk, interrogated
Fu issen in regard to the man they had met that morning.
Fru^issen informed him that Knowlton worked for Mr.
Schueider, where he himself had been engaged some time ago,
and ac* Mendelsohn knew where Schneider's place of business
was, having been there inquiring for Franssen, he determined
to go that evening, and interview Mr. Knowlton.
Accordingly, after supper, taking the hat with him, he went
to a store where he was acquainted, and leaving his own hat,
he put on the light one, which had only been stained on the
inside, and repaired to Schneider's shop, where, fortunately, he
found Knowlton standing in the doorway smoking.
He accosted him familiairly, and after a few minutes* con-
versation, invited him to take a walk, which Knowlton as-
sented to, and they proceeded on' their way ; after walking a
little while they entered a saloon, seated themselves at a table, '
and called for their drinks.
In touching their glasses, which is a proverbial custom
among Germans, Knowlton noticed the hat which Mendelsohn
wore, and after drinking remarked, laughingly,
** So you'ro the fellow Franssen stuck with my old hat^ are
* this your hat that I traded with Franssen for my
bl> 1 one ? " inquired Mendelsohn.
i looks very much like it ; let me see it," said Knowlton.
i^iundelsohn removed the hat from his head, and handed it
'0 ^liowlton, who, after examining it carefully, said ©mphati-
256 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
" my, of course it was minet I'd know it among a thou
This unquestionably decided the identity of the hats, and
^as another proof of FransMn's connection with the murder
oi his friend.
Aye I restless and uneasy you well may be, poor, dream-
haunted victim of your own vile deeds, for conscience is an
ever active and ever present accuser. How many times as
labouring at your daily toil, and with whistle and sous, yoJ
attempted to shut out the thoughts that would come in spite of
you, has the pale face of that boyhood friend come up before
your startled vision. How many times has your empty lau^h
of maudlin mirth been silenced by the sight of that ghastly
face, that, m defiance of all you could do, would come in
between you and the foa^iing liquid with which you endeav
cured to drown remembrance; and when the shades of nic^ht
are gathered around your sleepless couch, when all the earth
seems "wrapt in dark and dreamful ease," and you seek in
vain for " nature's sweet restorer," those cruel wounds, bleed-
ing afresh, wUl come before your view, crying out for justice
and for vengeance I » « *
Crouch and cower as you may, the dreadful spirit will not
down, but, like the ghost of the murdered Banquo, will fret
your soul, until your days become a buiden, and your nights a
uving horror. -» .^ o »
if '*
CHAPTER XL
THE DETECTIVE IN LOVE— A PAIR OF GLOVES AND A JOB 01
PAINTING— GROSS BECOMES COMMUNICATIVB AND IS A VIC-
TIM OF WIFELY GOVERNMENT,
'HILE these incidents were transpiring in fhe city of
New York, Henry Brockman was pursuing his inves-
tierations in tha vininifv nf tv,^ «:ii.,^ ^u^ '•
murdered man waa f^"--"
ITECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 257
Being invited to remain at the residence of Mr. Hitner to
tea, he cheerfully accepted the hospitalities so kindly offered, in
the hopes of receiving further information of Franssen's doin"a
while there, and was soon engaged in social converse with the
shoemaker and his loquacious wife. Mrs. Hitner was a decided
and an unremitting talker ; her information was as varied as the
inhabitants of the place were numerous, and poor Brockman's
ears fairly ached with the deluge of information that was
poured into them. In the short half hour that intervened before
the table was prepared for the evening meal, he was made as
thoroughly acquainted with the entire neighbourhood as though
he had lived there during the whole of his life. He learned from
her that Franssen, during the time he was working for them
became intimately acquainted with the servant girl, Julia ; that
he had taken her out on several occasions, and that shortly be-
fore he left he had given her a pair of kid gloves, nearly new
and 'which he said were too small for him. '
Julia, the girl, was a neat, comely-looking maiden of about
two-and-twenty years, and who had already cast her friendly
eyes upon the good-looking detective, and Brockman deter-
mined to pay some attention to her, in order to get a look, if
possible, at the gloves which Franssen had given her. He
therefore, began to talk to Hitner about some necessary paint-
ing, and upon Lis offering to perform the labour at a remark-
ably low price, he was engaged to paint the outside front of the
house ; and he also arranged to lodge with them until the iob
was completed.
^alia was a young girl who was very susceptible to flattery
and Brockman soon won his way to her good opinion by . ,{v
well-timed compliments of her cooking and the neatness with
which everything about the house was arranged. She was
rather vain, too, of her handsome f^ce, and Brockman, pursuing
the victory he had already gained, did not fail during the even-
ing to quietly inform the young lady of his admiration for her
beauty.
After the usual household duties for the d&v had been per-
termed, Mrs. Hitner desired Julia to go to ri „ store, a short
distance away, and Brockman immediately ofiered to accom-
pany her. which oflTflr was moof frran.VncNT „«„ i„j v— ^^i
WuBhmg young damsel, who evidently felt highly flattered by
II
i!
f f I'!' 'i'
258 PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETE^llVES.
the very marked attentioris ot the gallart young painter, whose
good looks had already served as a pasbport to her youthful
a£fections.
The evening was a very beautiful one; the moon was -'^^
ing brightly, and the stars twinkled in their far-oflf setting of
blue ; the grass and trees were putting on their spring suit of
green, and, basking in the beanty of these surroundings, the
young detective and the blushiug housemaid wended their way
to the village store.
The life of a detective it will be seen, is not always asso-
ciated with the hardened c irdnal and the details of his crime.
There are many bright spots in his existence, and, although he
may be engaged in an investigation which contains within it-
flelf all of the depressing influences of depraved human nature,
while he may be required to be intimate with violatora of the
law, and to greet socially the suspected thief and murderwr ;
yet there are constantly recurring incidents of a pleasing and'
happy nature, in which the bright sides of life are shown to
him in all their vividness of colouring and sweetness of exist-
ence.
So it was this evening, while walking with this young and
blooming girl, whose love of flattery was, perhaps, her only
fault, and whose heart was as pure as the skies pbove, that
Brockman felt pleased and happy at the lot that had fallen to
him, and endeavoured by cheerful converp^^-ion to contribu e
to the enjoyment of the occasion.
From Julia he learned that Franssen v(&a disposed to be
very attentive to her, but that, forming an instinctive dislike
to him, she had endeavoured to repel hi advf,.;ofeb, which, hov
ever, never assuming an offensive form, gave Lar no occasiou
for treating him in any way other than friendly. She said that
he had accompanied her twice on short visits to friends, and
that on one occasion he had given her a pair of kid glov but
slightly worn, and which he said were too small ft r Jm
Thus the evening passed pleasar'ly away ana Erockmn' con-
gratulated himself upon the prospective success of his mission.
The following day being Sunday, Brockman invited the
young lady to accompany him to church in the evening, in the
hope that she would v/ear the gloves and thus afford him an
opportunity of examining them, and, if possible, having them
PROFESSIONAr THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 259
Identified ; nor was he doomed to disappointment, for, as Julia
came down stairs arrayed in lier '* best bib and tucker," look-
ing very charming indeed, she brought in her hands the gloves
which she designed to wear, and walking to the mirror to ar-
range her bonnet — a failing that all of the sex are believed to
be afflicted with — she carelessly threw them upon a table,
while she performed the momentous operation.
Brockman as carelessly picked them up and lightly examined
them ; they were of a light brown shade, of good quality, d
had evidently not been purchased by Franssen for his own use.
Upon turning them over, ho noticed with intense satisfaction
that the letters " A. B." were marked upon the inside, thus
convincing him that another of the missing articles of the mur-
dered man's wardrobe had been traced to the custody of his
late companion, who had no doubt been his murderer.
Upon icturning from tu' church, Brockman turned the con-
versation upon the gloves, "d remarking that they were too
large for her, and that he w. going to New York in the morn-
ing for his tools, o.t'ered to pres. ""t her with another pair. This
she blushingly, and with evid' nleasure, accepted, and Brock*
man, under the pretence of n; achmg ' e colour, which she ad-
mired very much, obtained possession ^hem upon their reach-
ing the house. The next morning tli< j were brought to the
Agency, and Brockman returned to Hitner's house prepared to
finish his job of painting, and carrying with him a new pair of
gloves to adorn he hands of the pretty Julia.
Having accomplished the object of his visit, and finishing
the job of painting, which he had engaged to do, to tho satis-
faction of Mr. Hitner, Brockman received his pay, and with a
sly kiss f"om Julia, and a promise to come and see her soon
again, lid took his departure from the hospitable residence of
the friendly shoemaker.
He then returned to Edgewood, and took up his quarters at
the hotel kept by Jacob Gross, according to the direction of
Mr Bangs, who had a firm belief that Franssen must have
■topped there, prior to the commission of the deed. These
people, owing possibly to their precipitate arrest, and the un-
successful attempt to con r^ct them with the crime, wht u the
investigation was so agg. ssively begun, by the inciefati^abie
and indiscreet Sheriff Byerly, had maintained » zuf d silenco
...♦
2C0 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
about ererything connected with the murder, fhis action waa
m itse f, suspicious, and Mr. Brockman was directed to operate
skilfully upon the shiftless landlord and his ill-tempered^w?fe
It has been very truly said, temper is a very good thine in
a woman; so good a thing, indeed, that she should never lose
It , and 1 am seriously inclined to tl is belief. It is a matter of
ffatpi' ^7«^«\^/^«>,^er Mrs. Gross had ever heard this fact
stated before ; but, if so, she had evidently forgotten it long
since for the ease with which she continually lost hers wm
wonderful The frequency with which her outbursts occ"rr^5^
and the slight causes which produced such terrific results, were
a marvel to poor Gross, v/ho w^s usually the victim of her ill-
fheTil :?tTraS"^ '"''^' '"' ^'^ ^^'^^^^^^ -P*^«^
w«!T.?ffl*^''I' ."■"''' ^^« «^'g^te«fc allusion to that occurrence
was sufficient to arouse the latent passions of the inn-keeper's
Tft.-*'!? r'°^ f° r""^ ^^^ expression upon her customers
or friends her unlucky spouse became the target of her invec-
tives and the recipient of her spleen.
. Fully aware of this weakness of the amiable lady Bi'ockman
proceeded cautiously with the conversation, in order that he
might lead up accidentally to the forbidden subject. He
accordingly, after tea, invited the landlord and his wife to ioiil
with him in drinking a glass of beer, and as both of them were
Je Ted "^ ' ^" ^"^itation was cheerfully ac-
K«5"J?k'^? influence of frequent potations of the home-brewed
beer of the henpecked Gross, the conversation became friendlv
and communicative in the extreme, and Brockman, after speak-
ing about his business, and his not being able to obtain as touch
tlthX fi ^T^^ like, and soliciting a job from the landlord,
. WW " f r-^'^^n ^^'^ "' securing, carelessly inquired :
that I heir ? ^ * ""'''^®'' "" ^^'' neighbourhood,
lo Jf ^^'I'r^^'^^ ^T'. " * '"^'^ ^*^ ^^""^ <^own by the church
last month, and nobody can tell who he was or who kiUe.l
"But don't they suspect anybody?" asked Brockman.
_ Suspect anybody ? " broke in the wife. « waU. T «hnnU o..y
the/diuj they suspected everybody; th^y even arrested mc
'f^fMf:
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 261
And my oia man nere, and he is such a tool, that 1 waa afraid
he would ^et us both into trouble with his nonsense."
" Is that so t " said Urockham, " why, what could they have
against yon ? / »»o
** That's just it," again spoke the wife ; " because we keep a
hotel Mid some Jew peddler was known to have inquired the
way to our house a few days before the man was found, that
numbskull of a sheriff had us arrested for killing him "
" Yes. and that ain't all," interposed Gross, " the people
who were crazy about the affair, came down heie in a body'
nnd they went through my house, searching for evidence : but
they paid more attention to my beer and cigars than they did
to anything else j but they've got to pay for it yet, I tell you "
Mrs Gross was here called away to attend to some custom-
ers at the bar, and the conversation was continued by the two
men. •'
" Were there no suspicious characters around here about that
time that you noticed 1 " asked Brockman.
• 'u^®^' \\^^^ ^^*^ °°® ™*°' ^® ^^*^ l^ere to supper on Friday
night, and he went away without paying for it, too," replied
trross ; but I was so mad abput being arrested myself, that I
would not tell the darned fools anything about that 1"
"What kind of a looking man was he 1 " inquired Brockman.
^ VVe , said Gross, '-he was a small-sized, dark-complex-
ioned fellow, with black hair and mustache ; he had on &lwht
felt hat, and said he was a shoemaker, and that he was goins
to New York to get work. I don't believe that, though • 1
believe he was nothing but a regular tramp ; he didn't pay for
his supper, and left about seven o'clock and I haven't seen him
"What are you talking about, you old fool t " yelled out the
shrill voice of the enraged landlady, who had returned .ind
heard the latter part of her husband's reply ; " do you want to
have us both in prison again ? • Will you never learn any
sense f you ought to be sent to a lunatic asylum, and I believe
there are plenty there that have got more brains and better
sense than you have ! " "owwr
Here the good lady's anger got the best of her judgment, and
She raiiea at tlie umVtutiato man with all the vigour and fbrea
ot a " Five Point" virago.
tS I
262 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES
IrnnI ^ i! V^^ver, having obtained all he wanted fo
hZTV- ""^ ^T""^ °° ^««*^« to interfere in a ouaTrel of«o
CHAPTER XII.
THE nOME OF BOHNER-A HAPPY GATHERING-DREADprrr
TIDINGS-THE DETKCTIVE'S LETTER ^^""^^^^
^HILS these investif:ations were being made and these
dammngproofs againstFranssen weTe being gathered
hearts of pe^t^ndT^^^^^ .--' ' '- ^e
tornbythetidingsTthTdeafchnl^^ being tortured and
andha^yreturn^i:jtdtl^^^
felt the necessity of informing them of the fate ^fthli^"^'
murdered, and alo the effo'Tsti^^^^^^^^
the guilty parties, but carefully omiTtTngtTLTtfonth^l'^
cion that was attached to August FrlnVen. "" '^' ''''^"
we will precede the letter upon its lournev ar„l o»«-^ •*
reception in the home of the Bohnera ^ ^' ^^ *"""* '^
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 263
DREADFUL
Since the departure of their son, the parents had pursued the
even tenor of their way. The old father attended to his businesa
with the regularity of a town-clock, and in the evening smoked
his pipe and drank his beer with all the composure and happiness
of a lord, and the good wife went about her daily duties happy
and contented with her lot, and every now and then would
think lovingly of her absent boy, and long for his return. In
the evenings she would sit beside her husband, and between
the stitches of the warm socks she was knitting would weave
also<a bright dream of the future ; her boy's return^ his happy
marriage, his fame as a painter, and the comfort and happiness
which was to surround them all in the bright days to come.
And then Rosa would come tripping in, her beautiful face
aglow with thoughts of the love of the young artist ; and during
the cozy evenings she and Frau Bohner would build wonder-
ful castles in the air, bright with the beauty of loving thoughts,
and strong in its foundation of loving hearts.
Upon a delightful evening, late in April, the happy family
were gathered together — the father pompous and expectant,
the mother hopeful and anxious, the children quiet, and evi-
dently knowing that something was to follow the return of the
servant from the post-office. A steamer had arrived the day
before, and a letter from Adolph was anxiously awaited. A
knock at the outer door gave notice of a visitor, and soon ^ter
old Herr Fraassen was am; junced, who failing to be favoured
with letters from his own son, came to hear through his good
old neighbour the intelligence he so ardently desired.
The usual greetings over, Herr Franssen fills his pipe, and
joins the happy and expectant group. After a while a gentle
footstep is heard, and Rosa, accompanied by a younger brother,
makes her appearance. She cannot wait the dawning of the
morrow for the news, but must anticipate the message by com-
ing herself to hear from her beloved to-night.
Every face beams with the radiance of expectancy, and
every eye is sparkling with the pleasure of anticipation, when
the door is opened, and the servant, whose arrival has been bo
anxiously awaited, enters with a countenance far from assuring.
" Well, sir," asked Herr Bohner, " where are the letters t
pd qaiok« sir, we are impatient."
264 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
oo^^:Z^^::Sl£':,^'^ ^^ ^^^ endeavours to
But stay wh--^ hZTu. ^™«st overpowering him.
P08t.mark^s Ne; York 3 'wf ''"'"'''^^"^-^"^^^P^' ^^ose
Adolph must be ill and unabir .?' T'"gf.«o unfamiliar ?
vent useless worriment totht Ha '^"''' f "'^ ^" ^^^«^ <^o P^e-
the services ofTSd to trantl'.f ' "' '^^'^^^ ^^^ P^^^^^ed
hands he removes t^ cove in" ^d-r^''?' ' ^^'^^ ^^"^"^'^
the contents. He does not reader i^ ''"^^^"l ^^'^^ P^''"^^^
pale, and with a prTverfuf crv y^ MvTJf 7.^^'.^"^^ ^"^"«
paper drops from his nervelessVrLn L/u ' u^J ^'^ ' " ^^^
and seem^to lose the poTvt of^ctToT ^'"'^ '" ^'''^'''
memWs^rh;:^?;jX"wt''^ 'f.'l^ r^^^^' wonder-stricken
cause of th s sudd™ ^emo L" F.o^'"'^'^^ ^^^ '"^"^^« ^he
hearts of all; forebodings d^;i. ^'f« P^«f, ^ea^ily upon the
and in the eic LS -fnd 1^ ^"l- t^^^^^'^^ ^" ^heir minds,
the courage to reaTthe fatal Z^r^,'''? moment, none have
Presently oldXr F^^^^^^^^ ^^^"^ "^y«^erv.
though silent SDecf.fnrTffi?''''^^ ^^^ ^"'^'^ an interested,
fallef rn fve^In I sL^fflv ' T"''. '^'"^^>^ "^««' P^^'^^ "P the '
Me is visibly aCd^i'^^:'^^^ ''^'. "^r""^''^ information,
reached, the^futf devolving unnn' r"^ u^'"" '^' '''''^''''^^ i«
''idding'the frightened Ami v^b^ T ^^^^^es apparent, and
stillness, and with a ouivpH„ j]*' '^''"!? ^^'^ 8^"*'^ breaks the
of the news whfct uirE'Sus"^^""^ "" ^^'^^"^ ^^^P^
cu^ SSSlll^r ^^r b^^ ^^« °^ ^^^ ' What
fate I And here, in this disHnlr ^ *^1 "^^'P '''"^ ^^^^ «f
of a son's foul murder is c«nST.'? ^'°™''- '^ ^^"o^Iedge
the lips of the mn wbnrn K '^^!^ '"^ ^ '^"«^«" f^«^ily fy
♦..„,« nf fat " r. murderer calls by the tender-
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES ANp THE DETEOTIVES. 265
The eltect ot this revelation may be imagined ; it cannon
be described. The father^ whose every hope was centred in
his boy, and to whom his letters were a never-failing source of
pleasure ; the mother, whose clinging arms had held him to
her loving breast, who had watched his path through life, and
who had loved him as only a mother can love ; the fair maiden,
who was so soon to have called him by the tender name of
husband, and whose future seemed so bright and promising —
all thoughts, all feelings, all emotions seemed to blend in one
common oppressive sense of despairing sorrow and grief.
The children, too, though still too young to fully appreciate
the solemnity of the occasion, were awed into silence by the
events tl\at were transpiring, and huddled together with startled
eyes and wondering faces.
Herr Franssen, too, who realized fully the anguish of the
gentle people who surrounded him, and who sympathized so
acutely with their sorrowing, seemed utterly powerless to ren-
der any service, but stood as though deprived of speech, and
silently wiped away the twinkling tears that would fall in spite
of all his efforts to repress them.
We will not linger over the painful scene, nor attempt to de-
pict the anguish which settled upon the hearts of all as they
realized that they had for the last time looked upon the face of
their darling, and whose loved form was laid away in a strange
lanil and in an unknown grave.
The father went about his daily duties, solemn and thought-
ful ; the mother, who had grown old in a single night, per-
formed mechanically, but with breaking heart, her household
labours; and Rosa, whose hopes in life had departed, and who
had, with tottering feet, groped her weary way homeward on
that fatal night, had lost the charm of healthful beauty, and
went about her homo lik^ one bereft of reason.
Something must be done, however, and after writing to Mr.
Bangs and thanking him for the information so delicately con-
veyed, and for the efforts he was making to discover the
murderer, the old father decided to come to America himself,
visit the grave of his son, and, if possible, to render whatever
aid lay in his power toward the approhension of the slayer of
kin hnv
J,
m
Ir.i'!..'
■my I
■ p
rmi' 't
m-:..
m -
266 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER Xm
TEE MURDERER AND THE DETEOTIVE-REMORSE-TIRED Of
LIFE— AN ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.
'm0^'^A^ leave the apjed and sorrowing father, who biddin.
experience of ne^riy tSy ' ra and rjl.^"' '""" "''' ~1
the detective force'^conn^tenymVAgSLrrhrr:
- ■^" --i^iiiitia.o are puijisaed, while
ISE — ^TIEED Of
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 267
(he great ones labour on uamolested, and it is not an unusnal
occurrence, that a share of their ill-gotten gains finds its way
into the pockets of the individuals who are supposed to be
exercising their ingenuity in the detection of the crime, from
which they are reaping their harvest of bribery.
This practice, does not, however, affect the true theory of
criminal detection as carried into successful practice, and I have
yet to employ tho first criminal as an operative on my force,
and have yet to fa J of success when success was possible.
A detective, to be at all successful in his calling, is required
to be of a well-developed mind, to possess a clear and compre-
hensive understanding, and to be able at all times to assume
any position that may be requisite for the accomplishment of
the object he has in view, and he must also be prepared to
saorifice, for the time being, his finer sensibilities, in order to
cope successfully with those who have rendered themselves
amenable to law, and who are destined to suffer its punishing
inflictions.
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Mendelsohn
should feel a wholesome disgust at the low brutality of the man
with whom he was then associated, and with whom he was re-
quired to be on such intimate terms of acquaintance ; but the
cause demanded it, and, making a virtue of necessity, he per-
formed his duty, and with what eventual result will hereafter
be shown.
Several days passed without any event transpiring that fur-
nished any additional facts in relation to Franssen's connection
with the murder. He performed his labour in a dull, mechanical
way, and his evenings were spent in paloons and in beer drink-
ing. Mendelsohn had endeavoured by every possible means to
win his friendship and inspire his confidence, but thus far was
only partially successful, Franssen seeming indisposed to be at
all communicative, and averse to conversation, i axJl, beav/
melancholy seemed to have settled upon him, f. il oftr}>itimes
while at work the vigilant eye of the detective v oula observe
him start suddenly from some deep reverie and isliake himself,
as though endeavouring to throw off some heavy burden that
was weighing upon his mind
>x«««« ^j%w* An.. ^At'j'j'^^kv^^ka.
ui;t7 \za\ jtrxi. :_ri;ixiici-i^i ,
It/Mm
Franssen, it will be remembered, had at one time worked fyr.
268 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
• sen's dark face turned to a deatWv IX^'r^^'^'"' ^^^nt
trembled nervously as he Lke thL. tx^"'' ^'^^ ^'^ ^^^^d
frightened, devilish manner as h^-!"! .u^'' ^^'' ^^^^^d in a
•ne hft them from the paper until th«? ^H '°°'«°^«' «or did
A 8 range fascination semed to ovpr.n^'^^-"' ^''^^ completed
spellbound by the information ZflT ^''"' *"^' ^s thoul
muscle of his frame" eeZ^f. '^ ^^ ^^« reading, not a
deadly pallor of hTs^^ e^l' ,CVat th°°^ ^^^ ^'^'--^"g
character far from agreeable ^^^ *^' "^«^^^S« "^as off
sad n:;f ^fpr ^Tne';: ^t^' £ ^^^^^^ ^^^ - of the
family at home ^ ^ ^'' ^t'^'^ ^^ brought upon thatTovin.
IetfeJ:rn^sstToltedli^ ^^e reading of the
senger of death, then drooDin^ thl ''^"'^S/t the silent mes-
got up from his bench, andTtf a muftS ^''"^ ^' "^'^^«' ^«
the room. ' " '^"'^ * muttered curse, strode about
delsoha'''' '^' "^^*^«^>^'-ns8en,anybad news!" asked Men
wittrS^Jr^t-t^^^^^^ t *^e detective, and
save upon the faces of the dWu^'' Mn;. ^ ^"" f "^^^"^ ««es,
- w.h that he .as ,e^^^ antrd Htic^: aT^
in '^i~^^^ the hope that
his guilt. -^ "^^^^^^^ ^ould divulge something of
his^^so'^ctfon J^h'cHmeZ! )T' "^l"'' ^^"^' bunted by
fear that now overcame hl'tad^'w ^^T'^ '^^ '^' S^^^fc
delsohn waited in vain foj^'re^y ''''^' *° ""^^' ^«d Men-
B^^^i^r::^^: ^i^ t:xr ^ ^^nef that
dulged m the security of S/n "fhl^'' *'"*^ ^" ^*^ ^n*
knew who he wa« n, where he wis W "'^ ''°' ^ut himself
IROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES, 269
That beliet haa been so tightly hugged to his breast, had
been even in his lonelie&t hours an anchor of hope to his de-
spairing heart, and it had been so 6udd<!nly and so strangely
dispelled and taken away from him, that he was left powerless
Iroin surprise and fear, and, it must be confessed, from remorse.
Let us do this miserable mau the scanty justice that he de-
serves. His life had been a wild and reckless one ; his asso-
ciates, although of his own choosing, had been of a lawless and
disreputable character, and however much he may have trans-
gressed the laws of society and of government, I do not be-
lieve that until that tjme his hands had been stained with blood.
It is not strange, therefore, that, linked with tlie sleep-disturb-
ing visions that had made his slumbers far from peaceful — the
day-dreams of that upturned face that ever and anon appeared
to him, even in the fancied security of his position — that this
dreadful information of the recognition of the murdered man,
this knowledge that search was being made for the murderer,
<hould fall upon him like an avalanche that burled beneath it
all his hopes of safety and plunged him at once into
*' Regions of sorrow : doleful shades, where peao*
And rest can lie ver dwell; hope never come."
Without answering his companion's question, he walked
back to his bench, picked up the letter, and crushing it in his
hands, thrust it into his pocket.
During the remainder of that day no word escaped his lips ;
silent and grim, he laboured on, and when the day's work wa»
finished he laid aside his tools in a dazed sort of way, as though
his mind was far away, and his thoughts were occupied with
other things than implements of trade.
The same reticence was observed at the table, and as he
arose, after an ineffectual effort to eat, Mendelsohn caught a
glimpse of his face, which caused him to start back in horror.
There was something in the expression of his eyes and in the
tirm set of his lips which he had never seen there before, and
which gave token either of a deep despair, or of some fixed
resolve.
Mendelsohn at once made up his mind not to lose sight of
him, and so, hurriedly rising from the table, he hastened out
ftud found iJ'ranssen puttisi^ on his hat as thous[h about to leave
I'll
II' '
'fy
270 PHOFESSIONAl THIETE3 AND THE DETECTIVES.
the house. Mendelsohn then nasspH nnH «- - «
. went out he followed him keeS'«^ffl • .i''^- ° ^- ^'*'^"«>»
had never seen him take before, ^d S/ned it t„^S°''°
then, leaving the place, he started on a SValt 1» a'^I '
te\hTSiSrprtrthrs.£l^^^
once agam t. drain anoth^r^W the S^Za 'r' &'"=
^C4^;Va:^c"^.fc-TxS!S°^
foUowing swiftly and noiselessly ' """^ ^'' '^^^^^
wh^fhe\tni^r hr/ s.^ sl r r r tr-^^
shoresofwhatwasthen to him aTreL L^^^^^ 'T^^^ *?^
. had parted from his boyhood friend w?-? «^' and where ha
the arms of death ^ ^^' ''^** ""^'^ ^*« «^««Pi«S io
the brink of tEe rivf r, he pt^aC' hld/rr trC "Z
^|prplT^ra™-c;^inr"""^
'Stop 1 What, in God's name, are you ^oine to do ? »
Franssen, start ed and surnrised tuvr.^^.!r^ ? i
«'Siret;;"-2£?"^-J" ^^
w befoJe^X LnV^'" i'*"" "'^'"■eKles were not so Here.
CTIVES.
'n as Fransseu
n hia rear to
not elude hij
ng «p to the
1 Mendelsohn
to the dregs ;
: towards the
wharves and
ir, but on, on
quietly and
hted ferries,
g and going
It; stopping
lor — then on
is known as
i his shadow
IT structure
ouched the
id where he
in
tiim
on, or
at led him
pot, where,
ort though
tutes upon
leap. His
sprang for-
lo ? "
ind, recog-
hake him*
•t so fierce
'' this sud-
had beea
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 27l
subdued, •id he finally submitted quietly to the restraining
arms of the detective.
"What does all this meanl" asked Mendelsohn, when he
had grown quiet and stood sullenly before him.
"It means that I am tired of life, and that I thought to
have ended it there," said Franssen, pointing doggedly to the
" Are you crazy ? " exclaimed Mendelsohn.
Franssen laughed, a harsh, grating laugh, and shuddered as
be answered : " I was, I believe, but it is over now."
Yes, the devil within him was quite dead now; the forced
courage which had sustained his coward heart had quite sub-
sided, and he walked subdued and silent beside Mendelsohn on
tbeir return to the residence of Mr. Gehring,
Not yet shall death claim thee for her own. Justice has an
account to settle with thee, and the trial balance will soon be
drawn.
CHAPTER XIV.
A NEW RESOLVE— A NEW YORK CONCERT SALOON— NEW AND
IMPORTANT REVELATIONS— PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT— A
PAWN nCKET.
J HE conversation between these two men, so strangely as-
sociated, and who had so recently been actors in a
drama of so serious a character, upon their walk home,
was neither animated nor interesting. Mendelsohn in vain
tried to induce his companion to unburden himself of the
weight of anxiety and mental distress which had led him to
the rash act, but Franssen was too thoroughly occupied with
his own thoughts to be drawn out, or to join in the conference
which the other sought to engage him in.
He experienced, it must be confessed, a feeling of relief in
— -i"-.^ .■=viii flic vuuocqucauca VI uis Luiaporary ireaK oi lu-
«amty ; but with that consciousness of relief there came also
IEC?-«»«
4i
1*^
[f'lr
ili'
272 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
a deep eense of fear and dejection. One thought would recur
to him amid the chaos of his meditations, one impulse seemed
to rule the entire nature of his rtfiections, and one fact was
dreadfully apparent to his troubled mind. He could not re
mam in New York; he must get away from everything tint
would tend to connect him with the murder of Bohner, and ho
must place between himself and that sorrowing old father a
distance that would prevent the possibility of their mertin-
Ihen, too with a quaking heart he thought of the law's pursuit'
should he be suspected ; yes, he must go away ; there could be
no rest or safety in this crow.led city; ho must seek some r*-
luge that would hide him from the vigilant search of the dt-
tective and the iron grasp of the law. There must be safety in
flight, but to remain longer where he was would be dauijeroua
and latal. & "
These thoughts were continually filling the mind of this
hardened man, who but a short time bef , had been so inte^it
upon self-destruction, and under the it . I. .nee of this prospect
ot safety and this imagined immunity 'n>m punishment his
spirits arose, and he seemed disposed to i hi ow off the burden
which had so fearfully oppressed him, and ;.,o be more cheerful
and companionable.
In this transition from despair to hopefulness, from his men-
tal depression to buoyancy and spirits, Franssen only illustrated
m his Ignorant and brutal manner, the changes in temperament
that take place in the minds of all evildoers, whether Intel-
lectual or uncultured.
The conviction that comes to everyone who is guilty of crime
that they are deserving of punishment because of their trans^
gression of the law, is universal ; high or low, ignorant or pro-
found, they cannot escape the painful emotions which are the
ofispnng of remorse, and which, to finer natures, are so violent
of uUt"^^^^^"^ ^ ^° ^^ equivalent to the severest punishment
In the operations of conscience the element of remorse is the
one which most distinctly comes into eonsciousness ; its lessons
are being constantly forced upon the mind by t,he events which
are daily transpiring around them, and which inevitably tread
upon the. heels of crime. Hence a universal conviction pervades
aw vx vrimiaaio luui- & man s ''sms will find liim
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 273
out," and however successful he may he in concealing his guiU
from his fellow-men, and however fortunate he may imagine
himself t > oe in escaping their cen ure or punishment, there ia
an inward intelligence he cannot evade, a power within him-
self from which he cannot escape, and in this condition of mind
he is, accordinf^f to Aristotle, *' neither brute enough to enjoy
his appetites, nor man enough to govern them."
It is not to be considered strange, therefore, that this man,
brutal and ignorant as he was, sh Id so easily yield to a frailty
which is C' mmon to all, and thai, ifter a temporary experience
of vanity .. d woe, in which his animal nature had been " w orn
to the stumps," he should so naturally change from a desire for
death to a dread of its consequences and a longing for life and
safety.
Linking his arm in that of Mendelsohn, they walked along
the lighted streets, and at length, feeling the necessity of mak-
ing some explanation of his strange conduct, in order to disguise
the real intentions that animated him, and to secure the secrecy
of the only man who knew anything about the trausai tions of
the evening, he addressed the detective :
" What do you think of my crazy fit awhile ago I " said he,
assuming a carelessness he was far from feeling.
" What do I think I Well, I think you must hav been hard
hit by something, to lead you to such an act. What is the
matter, is there any trouble over in the old country 1 or any-
body dead 1 "
" No, no," quickly answered Franssen, " nobody dead in the
old country — but — but — things are not going right with me
here, and I must get away."
" What is the matter, some love scrape 1 " asked Mendelsohn.
"Oh, no," answered Franssen, in a troubled, perplexed
manner, " nothing of that kind ; but I don't get along at all,
my mind is troubled, and I can't be contented here."
They were now passing a brilliantly-illuminated saloon, from
which issued the sounds of music, of clinking of glasses, and of
gay laughter, and Franssen, partly with the -view of turning
the conversation from the channel into which, in spite of him-
self, it was drifting, proposed that they should go in.
On entering, an animated scene was presented to the view j
tables and chairs were liberally distributed around the gayly
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274 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES Al^D THE DETECTIVES
stage was erected, whioKro'lied ^ifh n°.1, "" "" '«'°'>" '
of scenery and foitlkhte Sll *," ** "PPurtenancos
miniature theatl^*^ '""'^ » ""^ "=1°" rMomblMce to a
viiclZltoZIfTt/cwX^M"" °? "" P"- "> -"■
family connections, had been lured tn/h?'^ ^ ^^'^' ^"'^'^
vice by the seductive smiles of one of tL ^^r/^^ P'f'^ '^
society, and. fomettinry fhl^ I- t.- . , Pamted devils of
and the 4e riu to^h sl^t^^^^^^ ^«. T^. '<> ^'i'"-!^;
the temptafionssoalJraJitrylisXd^^^^^^^^^ '''''f ''
purauing a life of profligacy an';ilXSity '' ^'"*' ^"^'^^^
rob his trusting emnlove? nfTh« J ^^ebauchee, he was led to
thirst for VleJJ^ShlL^^^^ ^ gratify l.U
this very den of licentinnt «n1/ *"^«'";»1 amusements, and in
Mendelsohn and was reman^iTf^? ^' ^^^. ^««« f«»nd hy
law. It is tCld story rd now 'i: ^''''^t''^ ^'"^^ ^^ *'"'
of a prison ceil he bitteriv 2i> T b^^tween the narrow walla
whi/h are invarLlly tclntd f r,K ZS^'ll ^"' """^
dissipat on : while his fumJlv oL n j "*"^ pleasure ana
of shame aid gnomTnv whlh hi '"Pf '? *°>*^ ^^^ burden
has brought up?n them ^'' ''°^"*'' ^^** ''' punishment
Jn^d^VitTralTsrS^^^^ ^^« --- *^^H
and many r.n,gh nods of recoS^r^^^^^^ entire stranger,
winks from the women IttS h" cZcte? oTtL'"^ ^"'«"
*nce. « he aad his companion pushed^^T ^^^ tV^'
DETECTIVES.
PROmSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 275
fined L^anL'S^^^^ the .o.t «.
the male perforr^^^l.Z'l^'l'Zl^^y'^^o
artistes, whUe the discoiSant h«r^ 7T*' °*' t^« female
howevei-, enjoyed the mancouC ofThl I .°P'°'°"- ^'^n-wn,
do 80, for his laugh was amonTJu i V^'^T' **' aPPeared to
the noisiest^ of the moTley aLemwL "^"3'' '^^l hand-clapping
his potations began to have^hSr !S ' T^ "" '^* frequency of
one of the most inte^sS^^^'d ,1^^^^^^^^ ^'"^^ *»« became
interest was manifested in Tdecffinn V^''^^'^"' ^""^ ^«
jeemed to have entirely forgStZTl^'''^^^ '"*°°«''- He
he had attempted to Ue\t^?wn , f^' V'^^A^^^^^ ^^^'^
which at that time seemed heavir?u\*"^ ^."^ ^^ troubles,
At length there an^!15 ,^ ^® «>"J<J bear. ^
that is, a woman youtSrytarSnt^' ''"^V ^'^^S woman,
ful face the inark( of di^siSn t T° 7^««« «°«« beautil
,to the operation of pain TnHolT ^\^.^V^y laid to yield
lavishly applied. ShTZZs^T^^'Zt^ ^"^ ^««» ^ei^
gaudy costume, which fiff^r^lT *^, rather scanty but verv
and limbs of no m t* d^meSi^nV^^^^^^ ^J^'*^ of%houS
that was intended tol^ sXmI? ' T^ '">** * smirking smile
a voice that had eWdentlv .«f u fJ"^ «aptivating, she s!ng in
Plaintiveness, whoretfrl^'^L'" W^^^^^^^ ' ^^"«? ^^ dofeftU
other," which induced Mendds'ohn to ^^P.r''^ from each
the departed, whoever he wm unon hL *°'*"^. congratulate
ja% away from the false-LW^H^te^^^^
Upon Framwn the effimf nf i.. .
™>«1 every one of the "3.7^ &ri!,'!Sf •■• "«"'T de-
&!'«°^"'"'' "^ «' ^« fln-ss'^.^x^e'ijs.r
~ljtteS ^^rrrrP" ^ '"^ ^>'
furthi
If'
mi
i^:-
if
W^
1
276 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
much rather have preferred to get Fransson alone in order thai
he might obtain the information he desired, he reluctantly sub-
mitted to his will, and pretended to participate in the enjoy,
ments of a scene that was uninteresting and decidedly dis-
tasteful.
Scarcely had the applause attendant upon the oxit of the
repining songstress ceased, when Franssen, slapping the detect-
ive familiarly upon the shoulder, exclaimed :
•' What do you think of that old fellow ; ain't she a stunner 1 "
Mendelsohn was constrained to reply truthfully and literally
that she was indeed a " stunner.''
"That's my girl," added Franssen, **aad after she gets
through, I will introduce you."
" Your girl I " said Mendelsohn ; " why, do you know her » "
"Of course I do, and so shall you, if you behave yourself"
replied Franssen. '
A short time afterwards a woman, faded and wrinkled, but
with the remains of evident beauty upon her face, came up to
where they were sitting and quietly took a seat beside Franssen.
"Why, Adelaide, how do you do V was Franssen's greeting,
as he extended his hand. " I have not seen you for some tim;
but you did splendidly to-night."
Mendelsohn looked at the lady in astonishment Could it
be possible that this girl, old before her time, dressed in gar-
ments that once had been handsome and stylish, but which
now showed unmistakably the result of long usage, whose pale
and faded countenance told too plainly of a fast and dissolute
life, be the charming, pairted fairy, who had but a hw minutes
previously skipped so lightly upon the stage, and whose cheeks,
thanks to the artificial bloom upon them, glowed with the
rosy hue of apparent health 1 And yet such was the case.
Adelaide Smith, who now sat down to her glass of beer, and
** Mdlle. Anita Colonna," as she appeared upon the bills, were
one and the same person.
Franssen awkwardly and brusquely introduced the singer to
Mendlesohn, and then, ignoring his presence altogether, engaged
the girl in conversation upon matters which relate 1 entirely to
himself, which, soon proving to be of a character that was im-
portant, induced Mendelsohn to become a silent but interested
lifitMnAr
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 277
1 oey seemed to he very good friends indeed, althougli it must
be confessed that the affection seemed to exist entirely on the
part of I ranssen tho girl listening carelessly to his compliments,
and answering his questions in a listless, indifferent manner.
V „^^?;%I °» go»ng away from here, and come to say good-
thJou'h wiS*"^'^"' usual .preliminaries were gone
« Where are you going to f " inquired the girl, without evinc
mg any great concern at the announcement
" I don't know yet," replied Franssen. - 1 haven't made up
my raiPd yet, but I can't get along here, and I am going to get
"Well, I wish you luck," carelessly said the girl, as Muugh
his movements ware not of the slightest importance to her.
Ad, have you got any money ? I'm dead broke," suddenly
u wu ''''°''*"' ,5" T*'*'"^^ ^'' ^^"'«*^ ^« g«t to business at once.
Where would I get any money from?" she laughinelv
answered. " You must think I'm wealthy " '""S^^^S'/
/•No, I dcn't think that," said Franssen, « but I thought you
might give a fellow a lift when he is hard up " ^
" What did you do with all the money you had last month f
You seemed to have plenty then," impatiently asked the young
•• Sh-~ i " ejaculated Franssen, changing colour, and looking
nervously around, " don't talk so loud." u louKing
"I'm not talking loud," said the girl. " and you seemed to
have lots of money then, and now you say you are broke."
Ihis was important news to Mendelsohn, and he jotted it
down carefully m his mental note-book. The fact that Franssen,
who never earned more than enough moapy to make both ends
meet, should have had "plenty" the month previously was a
wufcT ^ '^ ^*^ ^°"® ^"^^^ ^°°^« illegitimate
" Well if I had it last month," exclaimed Franssen. " nobody
knows that better than you, it was a harvest for you ; but that4
not the question ; have you got any now ? I must have some.-
^^ ^0, 1 haven t got any, and can't let you have any, that'i
" Well I " iiaid Friiiiaa«n an...:!.. _*--*:-- *- i--- " ' - •*
iron t^ you won't, and that's «U about it," and then, turning to
'^ '
278 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
rt[Jk«i angrily „„t „f tfc. «H, MoCTy th^'ZSv "
who quietly mformed th. girl that h. wodd S. 'her ^^"'"'
to engage in the momentous task of Sfn^Z • !k' ".^^
'^«. H.r '^f ''^** *** "^'^ proposed, he asked :
Have you got any money, MendelsohJi t •»
T u !' ^°°^ *"*"' **"<^ Fiiinssen, "I must have aum« »«^
I haven't g;ot any ; how much have you got T' ' ""^
ut47LV„f^7ML*3L^^^^^ «•
gayingX ^ I^^f^ ^e t^Z ce^o7TK^S
we;r::"Lo\t'iS;The^^^^^^^^^ "^- -
do I know that I wf ever getVy^^y rcf^LT" ' ''"
Franssen studied a whUe, as though impressed whh th<i ««n.
rectnesi of this view, and in doabt u to C he^houW H^
then he slowly drew Us wallet from hiTprket, and"k tm
It a folded paper He seemed to be doubtfully rnniSia^S
whrM^^^r^ ^*^°^. "^^'^ aconrs^rheS tS
where Mendelsohn was sitting, and presented the ^aperTL^
" This is all that Pve got, apd you will do me a great favour
If you will take it and loan me five dollars. T n,„«fi!-
money and this is all I can give you for^t" """'^ ^''' '""^^
.rarp!?. 1*^^ ^^ ^^^ P*P«'' *"^ " ^^ •»°fol<led it he eould
scarcely repress an exclamation of surprise for the nffiLXi
niny was nothing more nor less ih^^^'^^ntick^t^aZ
tt^^^?'^'^^ ^^' ^°' * «°»<^ »»d pair of JantS'ns i^d
these articles, he had every reason to believe. haT-^-f'!^
the property of tha m.,r^«Li gj^ ^^^^ ***** *^^ *>««»
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 279
^^rXi^t ViT.Tl^' tTattetT Z' ^'^^ '*^/?
must get the money somehow" ^ "^^"^ ^*'' *^""»' *«d ^
and told Franssen that he wS give h m th^L''^ '' ^^M^'
following morning ^ ^°^ '^* ^o^®)' on the
seiLtrrdow^rn^htb'ri^^^ rfi -.^--^ »>-
pie and t/ey we^"oon^tl'dX "' "^ ^^"-
day^Jilf ^l2^i:4^T,^t:^^^^^^^^^ ^or the
ere your head wSl aga^J p7ess 1 J^^^^^^^^ ""? S''^"™^'
or your lungs inhale^the a£ of lib^ny. " ^""'^'^ '*^'^'^"'^'
CHAPTER XV.
THE FLIGHT iNTERdEPTED-THE ARREST Of FRANSSEN.
MENDELSOHN arose early the next morning, but earV
as It was, Franssen was a«fir h.f^^^ lA' ""^®*'^-y
;| Which way^ are you going I " ^ ^ '' ^**
" Well, I don't know exactly but T fhinV T «,;ii •. t> « ,
««t and thea try to work J/Z outjj''^ «° "'^"'^"»
.l..nd.l«,aa dr«»<,a lUmseif « ,„ioJdy .« po»ibIe. wd th<«.
280 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
lj"h?hLT«n"»,- ""f ^*,''?"^'^ "*"^" '''^^ 'b« "oney'as soon
M ne Had seen his fnent , he came imineHiat«W ^^ ti,! a
and reponed to Mr. Bangi the inforaStte^h d're^^^^^^^^
Lit i^y ^o-r t K.- '''' ^™ '^^^^^' -^^^^ ^« ^«^ arp^d
insSuclH ir/'^^"* with the required amount of money and
watchtf all h a ^*''° ''^^\ of Franssen, but to keep clre?ui
waicn ot all his movements, after which Ha r«*nrn^^ T /u
qut eS toS^ft ^'? «°"°^«°<^draSd wfich he ^al re
Ive him fhfinn ' ^^I'^y '^^"'^ *^« forthcoming. He
gave him the money, and rfien went to his own bench and to
ih^L^f"^^ immediately dispatched an employee to redeem
Ku«nl '."''"'^^""^ "JT '^' pawn-ticket, and sent for ^
Kuenzle. whose presence he desired for the purpose of iden
t fication. In a short time the young man returned with th;
clothing, and very soon afterward Mr*^KuenzrapXrId who
IC '^,!r °^«"^ being shown to him, immedLteTrecogS
them, and pronounced them to be the property of AdoTnh
Bohner and declared that they were the^^same which he hS
worn when he left home on that fatal day. ^*^
This gentleman, whose office was in the city, upon receivinr.
Se5~al|„jxrp-^eraS
PKOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 281
pr^~cSrb:Ci;rMT'>i" the brightness of th*
Id occasionall/J^oke ?o1;i^n .^^^^^^ good-humour,
be thatthU mao'^dliitet ^LTththeV"' j^ "*^
ishment coming unbidden to him »nT^' ? "® ^^^"^ ®^ P"""
himself, compelling him to fle^frn",^'^^^ ^^^ ^^''^^ '^i'hin
of biBfriend, and decking hTmS^?wkh Jr'"^ ^^'-'^^ ^"''^^'
pect of escape from cantur! ni .!fi • »• '''® immediate pros-
coward consdenTe toTeTmlvT'^'^'^"' "?^*»*^* ^""«^ his
himself that he'^aJVotTo ^7 ^ beTd':? J" 5^^ '^^
and so, stifling his remorse, fnd crowding out ^fK" ^•'"'^^'
vision of an avenjrine iustifiT m.J T S? ?^^ **f ^^^ ^'«^ 'be
have been singlnf ?S,m th^' U^Ll'^? '^^^'^^^ *^ ^^^
eve^ypartridg^^^
Sa«o?rssri;^A=^^ wouItte:^^^tr■
mu^^r"orrhr,?'aK;^^^^^^^ TaS^'^t'^ " account of the
rused it sUently for 8omrH™« ?^u "* ^'^ Possession, he pe-
carelessly said : ' '^"^ *"^ *^*'»' ^'^''^g to F/anssen.
waln^ft r " * ''"^^^ "^''^^ '^'' '-'^rder over at Edgewood,
detecti;e, but he^saw tWeZ iv^^^^ '"'^''^^^ *y«« «^the
quiet, eaJy exprS ofTnrw\'fClL7lr^
question of a pei«on who wL sunn^ti . k^ *'' unimportant
the answer. supposed to have no interest ia
,_ "^~y®"'.".s*a»n»ered Franssen. in r«nl» iiu,.**i. _ , ,.
«iow wiio Old it, 4o thavl" ' ^*"" ""''"^ '*°**
282 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
J' ♦Y^''' J? "^"'^ *?" f ''""^ **"^*''' •^•'^ Mendelsohn. '• Yon
•ee. thoae detectives don't tell everything they know and the
paj,. r only says that they have information wWch w^iHead
d Jir^'Trj'^/J^yy *^''**'^' »"d ^"'i not answer imrae-
1 would not like to be the man who did it. for as sure ««
fatjhe^ill be found out and then somebody will be hung "
J? ranssen dropped the hammer he was using, and. on stoon
Ihft'Jh^'M '' up. Mendelsohn saw by the expression 'o? his 2
a «hi?V^''T. ^"^ ''''''^ ^"™«- "'« ^*"di trembled, and S
a short time he was powerless to speak, but at length recover
wftLl'gVoir^ -'-''' '^ -^^ '^'^'y ''^^^^
in hif shois.'"^^""* '^' """^ ^ '*''"'* ^^^^ ^ ''^"^^ "'^^ ^ "^^ J
" No," replied Mendelsohn, « neither would I. I would not
Btand in that man's place for all themoney that could bboffe?e1
to me. He may never be found out-he may evade eveJysu
picion and escape every danger-he may never be Sd to
account for what he has done before a court of jusUce-but
. there no other punishment but this t Do you think that an v
^^nTmno''"^ '"t" ^*" ever reali^e^hatSp -nls '
&' company or alone, that dead face will glare out
Tn^L ^'^^*' •''.'", ^«*»^."nging « his etrs, L the deathlj
fingers are pointed at him, the fearful charge of Murderer/
No no, I would not be that man for all the world I >»''''''' '
During this speech of Mendelsohn, Franssen's face was a
perfect study As he spoke of the possibility of escaping
detection his face lighted up, and he listened eagerly, but at
he reverted to the visions which remorse would conjure up L
the mind his face became livid, his eyes stared wildly and
when Mendelsohn had finished he sank back and his wofk fe
from his lap unnoticed.
He did not attempt to answer, but after sitting awhile he
•«am resumed hw labour i the merry song, however, did not
d like to stand
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 283
•ome to hu lips again, aa he mechanically finished the work m
hand.
Mendelsohn then changed the conversation and began to
talk of Franasen's departure, expressing his regrets at losing
hifl companion, and wishing him good luck and a safe journey.
At length the job was finished, and Franssen, receivincr the
wages that were due to him, bade his companions good-by,
which occasioned no very serious regrets on their part, for his
manners and habits had not gained him many friends among
his feliow-workmen, and do sorrowful words were spoken as he
started to go out. " Hold on, Franssen I " cried out Mendel-
sohn, taking off bis apron, •« I'll go with you part of the
way— It's too bad to have a fellow go off alone."
Franssen accepted the offer, not very graciously, however ;
but Mendelsohn could not afford to stand upon ceremony now •
hut was rather anxious to know of the whereabouts of Mr.'
Bangs, and also to obey his instructions not to lose sight of
his fellow-workman.
Aa they passed the saloon where he had spent a great deal
of his time and the creater part of his money, Franssen pro-
posed that they should go in and take a parting drink, which,
being assented co by Mendelsohn, the two entered the " Hall
of Gambrinus."
They had not been gone a great length o' time from the
residence of Mr. Gehring, when Mr. Bangs ai • ^fr. Sharplesa
appeared, and upon entering the store and enquiring for Frana-
sen, were informed of his departure. This occasioned no un-
easiness, however, for Mr. Bangs knew that the prospective
priscaer was m good hands, and that there was ample time to
reach the tram, which he must take if he was going in the
direction which he informed Mendelsohn, and that he was
lullv provided with everything necessary for taking him either
m New York or New Jersey.
They therefore proceeded to Chambers street ferry, ftnd tak-
ing the boat were soon landed in Jersey City,at which place the
depot of the Ene Railroad was situated.
Franssen and the detective having quenched their thirst and
tht a- sorrow in parting in the foaming glass, then started for
the ferry, where, purchasing a ticket for Buffalo, they went og
uoara tae Doat, which conveyed them across the river
>?
11 i
^^ •
284 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
parties whom he e,^cted^He w^^E^Tr^
the couwe that had bettor be nnrltJlli.^ "V ^'* "'^^ '"'"•1
ing through the 'o„rcove?ed "^v k .'?' f '^"l "''' '"'^^'
Barig. suddenly step^Hut from'^oi^o/'^^^ ^'
opened into the «tr««t «n!i ./ • ® '"® doorways that
Tin. addressed thrSLmakel'.'P"^ immediately in Lnt o/
^ Your name is August Franssen, I believe 1 '»
Franssen. thus sudtfenly accosted wa. unable to do anwV
but stammer out an affirmative. "■ ""^oie 5o do anythmg
"Then," said Mr. Bangs, sternly "I .«.«o* „ r ,
murder of Adolph Bohner I " ^' "^' ^^^ ^°' '^e
of. praon ceU, tie ttarkof Sr„^?i!- u"* "" '" " '»«'•'•
.f.f
iiVi
»ETECTIVES.
icked only fifWa
loindicatiffnof the
? in his own mind
M they were walk-
' to the cars, Mr
le doorways that
iateJy in front 0/
f"
»le to dc Mything
rest you for the
spairing cry, and
)ut the iron grasp
»88ible. Finding
>thered groan he
) the oflScer, who
—the shackles of
•
nt from the one
aation quite for-
ich he imagined
too real— or of
liae in flight, ere
J was an inmate
and surrounded
Idespaix.
I > Sessional thieves and tae detectives. 287
CHAPTER XVL
TBE INQUEST— THE TRIAL — ^THE CONVICTION — INTERVENTION
OF MAUDLIN SYMPATHISERS — THE TRIUMPH OF JUSTICE AND
THE SENTENCE OF THE PRISONER.
N the following . morning the first act of the drama, so
important to this unhappy man, was perfor 1. The
news had been published the evening previous, and the
village was in a fever of excitement and expectation.
" The murderer has been taken " seemed to be the burden
of every salutation, and at almost every fireside this important
subject formed the topic of conversation, usurping, it is feared,
more elevating and more praiseworthy subjects.
What the night's reflection or the restless slumber brought
to the prisoner is beyond the reach of human ken ; what
thoughts may have come to him in the " dead silentness of the
midnight hour; " what phantoms may have been conjured up
by the disordered brain of the luckless man over whom was
hanging the dreadful charge, will never be known ; but when
the morning dawned, and the crowds had assembled to witness
the preliminary steps in this legal course of retribution, no
Btep was firmer, no form more erect, no glance more unflinch-
ing than were those of the man who stood there on trial for
his life.
He had evidently determined to face the worst that could
befall him, and with that iron nerve which oftentimes sustains
the basest human, he looked upon the gaping assembly, who
had come to hear the inquest, without the shrinking of an eye
or the trembling of a muscle.
The opening proceedings of the coroner's inquest were in
nowise different from those which characterize such hearings
everywhere. The jury were impannelled in the usual form,
the testimony was taken in the prescribed manner, and no
event of any importance occurred until the prisoner himself
was called to the stand.
. The silence at this time became almost oppressive : a pain-
lul ^tiliness seemed suddenly to fall up6n that fathered throoj^
m
288 PSOPESSlONiL raiEVES AWD TBE DCTEOTVES •
Reader, have you ever wKil- . -r
ocean, experienced that awf.Tii. "*^i°« **^«*' '^e boundless
precedes the cominfstoml ft\*-^»t*«"iWMuiet, S
heavy; the dull leafen skv Ln^5 * l' ^*'°'""« oppressively
upon the scene ; the dLh^g"Ce« ^ \T ^"^.^^"^rclosen
were surging around the sh^ S * • ^"' * ^^^rt time before
bosom, have^ subsided and tt^*'H"^^ ^^ ^ »«d fto upon tS
wme around you in one unb^ot^n^ '^ <i««P stretches f^ and
Its placid snaoothness The saSs ar«T ''•"'^'^*' »»irror.like in
I?mo7r^ ''""'^^ ««««>ingl7ro oXl'"W*t '^^^ "^^
atmosphere communicates 'itself to thno ^^^^ea^i^ess of the
of the crew and passengers in en^bll^ °" ^.^^^^ -tt-e faces
of solemn inactivity with whlTf i ^ """"""^ ^^a' appearance
and m that awful moment. whi*V** *°^ *^' seem charZ
hushed and ominously aUent wi!" ^^i^^^"*^ ^^^"e of naturois
Jiat intensity of depfessioS 'wh^^ A *"** ««» ^re filled with
i^e the y^o/derfulTa^Zof.^^^'^^^^the heart, we Tea]
the lips of the accld ' n „,^^^^^ '^ «^«' crowded room as
.wore to give « the truth"\XoZt 't S^^^ ^-^Cd'h^
I will not attempt to give h«r« A*^ 5"* ^^^ *'"t^"
pteetimony which rel^&7VunLl«^-'**"« ^^*»" *e«timony
n T^ichheattemptedTLcTunt fo'v"^'°.^"^ »«<J <J«nied^
session of the articles whicl^ u5 v ^^ ^'''^ons* and the nos-
he head of the mm^rred mi ^^»,*'-«<«d to him. AtCt
u^^rt '^^ *'«~nrg?asnf'^i^/^«^^^^^^^ but ir
tamed it the marks of the rnfli m , receptacle that con-
young life; the lips clurlesl butT' '^^'^^^ ^^^^en out h?s
of the misemble Wn Xo hid 1^!^.^ ""^^^^^^^ '^^ ^^e
ISJiH r^?' ^^ presented to h^m foiV^"^P*« °°' *nd who
W rif > «*^ed at the face of tffr ^^'''>SmtiorL With a
man, I have never seeo hii before | -
)ETECTIVEg,
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 289
It may seem incredible, but such was tli« «no«,«. *t, .
given, and no further questioninrcoufd inLT^V'^^u "^^
the stability of lii, inward teachingf' """« °°'^'' ^'^^
«bk man was duly committed fof triaL ' °"'"'"
triJtxrrvriiryLTi:;td7^'V''" "t*^" °f «>«
conviction of the Mcused. iH^, "'"'='' """'i*! in the
presented formed oTu^roken cha n ^f'"^' *''"'' ">«.«"<'enco
rSct r-Guiu/.*'''' were reluctantly compelled to reni"
J^CrTt eIS-1''*™ r'* «n engagement to
Gross's Hotel on the eJZn,; ZL Tu '"'? *" ■""" ^^ "
.»d to have JaX^^^-J^TtttZ^t'""""''^^'^'
of? mSr?„'a"dlt „r,'"i"^«^ "'' ""<> "s knowledge
gloves whiS h h:^7,:„t'^„^»-™y fully shown; tge
produced and identifier- fh.l,.t,u.' "'V^'"™"' "'»'''. were
of the murdered man wa^ pmven to hav?h ^"'1 "P^^'he head
the pawning „f the c^S^nS o^he tZ tl^^a^Tr " =
testifi,^ (ratter reSantlv S'*" ^''^'^«P V MendeChn
.We amourof Zne' a, t to tf^r'' T '"' ^^T^ " ""-^W"'
6»no gold piece which Mr K, I ^ ^^po"'""/ '<> a twenty,
in Bohner-s S'eMion »11 ,? ?>.'° '"^P''""'' having seen
»ndusivei;rtr™iit'if tr;, i';?4'^l."f - difeo'lyand
«.» firmness of the' prisoner-'. d=°^allt„°n.':'faS*tf .
I I
f.H-
290 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
account tor his movements on the days m question), tlie an.
parently well-concocted and well-defined theorv of the defencT
and the evident reluctance of the jury, Fransseu was duly ccn*
yicted of wilful and premeditated murder, and was sentenced
m? ""'^S ''y t^« n«ck until he was dead."
Thus fa the majesty of the law had been upheld ; thus far
the supremacy of justice had been maintained, and thus fir
the ability of the detective had made itself manifest in pro-
ducing this result A crime that at first seemed shrouded in
impenetrable mystery, and that had defied the efforts of less
experienced men, had, through the operations of my officers
and by the skill and energy displayed by them, been success-
lully unearthed and the criminal brought to tho bar of justice
and condemned to suffer the penalty for his evil doings.
And yet, no sooner was this result accompUshed, than tha
maudlin sympathisers, with strong minds and weak heads
came to the front in unusual numbers. They winked entirely
out of sight the damning facts which so conclusively and so
firmly placed the load of guilt upon the shoulders of the un-
grateful Iranssen, and were loud in their denunciations of the
judge and jury, the attorneys and the witnesses, and, as may
be assured, the poor detectives were not allowed to escape their
venom or evade their assaults.
The diplomatic service was brought into requisition, and the
French consul was induced to interest himself in the attempt
to procure a new trial, for the reason that Franssen was not vet
a naturalized citizen of the United States. No efforts w'ere
spared, no means were left untried, that would tend in any de-
gree toward striking the shackles from this convicted felon and
sending him forth a free man, free to pursue his work, and per-
haps to repeat his crime. *^
The enormity of his offence was completely overlooked by
these phdanthropic imbeciles in their ardour to save the con.
demned man from suffering the penalty of his crime : eminent
legal counsel were secured, a stay of proceedings obtained, and
reasons for a new trial were filed and argued with an ability
worthy of a better causa Finally, upon the important fact
being discovered that, during tho d ^liberation8 of the jury
which tned the case, they had come into court for instructioni
upon BOiu« point of evidence or law about which a doubt ex.
::i I'
2TECT1VES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 291
county charge^wkh the exnens; of"''' .5.""^ "^^."^ '''•^^'•«^' ^^e
of safety held out to the mKw. ^"''V^''' '"•^' '^"^ » hope
his doom. miserable man who so richly deserved
It may be that the testimony of thaf ni^ v i ,.
man who had sailed across the ^seL ami tt' ^'°J^«'^-^«a'-t«d
time to take a mournful part in ;h ^? ^^ ""^«<^ i»
drama which had so Sully dJstrot^/Th^^K*''.^^ '^^ «*d
family, and rendered his home so X«nl . ^5^^"'^' ""^ ^'^
upon the wavering mmds of the iurv f. ' ^^u '°"^« ^'^^^^
of that agonized flee and th, ti,7 hi S^,^' that the^sight
eyes of the sorrowing father «/ J. f . f " ^^""^ ^^^ ^^avy
during the continu!t"fce of thisTecond'tLf 'iT^^^ comfortlei
m breaking down the firm stolidTtv of ?hi ^^^ T""^ '"^"^"''^
dering him less hopeful less con// . ^ murderer, and ren-
butcfrtainit is, £t Lt":dTf'tL^^^^^ ^"fr?'
jury, m spite of their reluctance were fZfn/ *'?'""*'' ^^^
with conscience, and to render a ve£ of ?'T^' * '''^'^
second degree," and instead Tf L!- J "murder m the
tkmn " wis siritenced to alonl Sof • ""• '^''^^^^^ i7«»-
The chain was too strongly f^rt? f ^"^P"««"™ent.
those who sought to break if nnT.u'' ^'?^^ ^° ^^^ ^^^rts of
the law was vinLated anH 'tf '" ^^ ^"'' J"^^i«« triumphed,
that « the wa^otttt;,^^^^^^^^^^^ 1'-^"% -a'ii.ed
-^:n2^^A-^-^ ^^ ^-veyani
of him wCburnin^ wUh amh.?"' '!"" *^*' ^«"« ^^ '^e fa to
filled with happiness" and iov "'. ^'Pf-' ^'^°«« ^^^^t wat
lay down hereTre t^a i^im of\ f'™ ^^ ^f f""'"^' «"^
the after time, perhaps as the Hn^L T^^ ^'^"^ ^"'»«- I"
hide^nd-seek, imid the ^mon,,rll. .^^^ '° "^'"^ «P«rt at
he around, the laughte? w7 h« i! \' ""I *^^'P*''^"^ dust" which
pale, and little yefbedimld^^ little faces will grow .
story, BO sorrowful in its details of thf'' '' '^^^ "«'«« ^ the
been found dead and murdered Mnl y"U"g artist,. who had
ground upon that peacX slhti^^ri "P^," '^' »now-coyered
T.
i>i
! >
1 'I
l*ii
M
r !
292 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER XVn.
IHE 50ME OF THE BOHNERS AND THE PRI«?OV rrmr •»»
; WO more scenes and our story is told.
After the trial was over, and Fransten was conducted
to his lonely cell, public exciteftient died awav anH J^!
t«iia fv! c}. ^^ ^"® Preside, as with trembline lios h«
tells the story of hi8 journey to those ussembled-nearl? th«
Mute in their a«rony, tearful in their sorrow, thev listen to
tetThfem Si' ;r ^'^ ''r ^'" ^■«''-"g lipsof the fJther "h:
rr !i . I ^ f ory-that pale sad face with the marks of
cruel blows upon the fair forehead -tlie trial-the demeanour
of the prisoner-the conviction-and then of the littTe grave
WU . ""f P^'^ "^ '^'''' ^*^^'« ^i"'*^^ churchyard. ^
VVhen he has finished, a silence like that of the grave falls
ipon them-a silence, broken only by the convulsive s^bs of
t?l f-^'"' T'^" '"^"'^""^ ^"^' l'^"'^'>y presses tocher La
tiess ot brown iiuir, cut Uom the bruised lUhead of her dead
An-l in that solemn silence we will leave them
im^eTt^Zi^oT"' ""' '""'' "'""' ■'"°''- •««™. f"
1'. IS night, and in tilt prison the stom.fmwl lr„„.». u
gon4th«ir rounds and ieoui^ly fasS S^^^*^-- --
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 293
ah, 80 greatly I No lon"pr ;i "=^'^ Franssen. Changed,
thit rnlrked his demeaS J^e careless indifference
and distressed, he E'Crnrr^H T' ' *^"' P'^'e, •>a,..ard,
from side to s d e Sudden h.T; "^'^^^^^^jy '^''^amingand tossing
gleamingeventLu4 V^rLf "^/'-^ '^'' ^^'^ ^'^ «y«^
at the distant corr/w ^^'Y"^^'- mildly and fixedly
now you areldead I j seli all h"?^ '"? ^ ^'"'^ "«"«' ^ut
whistled as you came aloL ^r ^^^ °"^^^ "'-'^^ ' You
behind you, you dTnot Ip^^.'h ."^ ^"" ^^'^ "-^^ "^""^^ «'howas
f.ii J ' •' ""^ "*^'' s^e thatupiased arm hi.^ tu^ ui
fell, and you were down upon the iound ! IT.~ i , ^^' -^
never love a^ain and vn.,r r«„. a'ouna ! Ha i ha ! you wdl
not speak, they will hervoTr^n""'^. '' "^^"^ ' «'^— ' ^^
not touch me with tho^fi poH ^ I ""^ *'?''*' ^"^ nea^-^r. Do
clasped beSre me that nii "f ^'^'"'"y ^«^^ ' I saw them
kill me?' KiU vou f vpfH: ^^" .^"^^ «"<= • 'Would you
Rosa will be mile andTou ,^ri T ^"' ^'^ i^ ^" ''S'^^^ "ow.
have won I " and he sfnT^ hh /o^gotten I . Ha ! ha ! I
laughing wildly ^"^ ^*"'' exJiausted upon the couch,
retributioniandTJil^^ out^a Lrful
n^ifsLTAhTwSt'^^^ J'^^ t^'-^i^« h'^^ Performed his
transc^.e^s^r 3. P^'^sh'nf »t has fallen upon the guil y
of a hCr; 'alL iTt ra're [nTh'' T'^'"' "P""' ^« ^^^ -»««
hasproven withal the h.tT,j'^ ^"t which
ringj^idgment thiv.. hi K ^ """^ convincing force of uuer-
wh^wiuT" '' ^' ^^" '"^^ '^ ^'^^ ^^i^d, »hall reap he
11
294 PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
BOOMING LOGS
AND
THE DETECTIVE.
CHAPTER L
THE CITY OP RACEFORD.
;HE proprietors of one of the most extensively-known
Lumber Manufacturing and Booming Companies in the
western country engaged my services, sonfe years ago
^ discover, If possible, who the persons might be that wm
employed in stealing their saw legs and cutting them into Turn
ber suitable for the St Louis and Dubuque markets. It Cd
for a long time been the unvarying experience of the manage™
of the corporation named, that, however closely and unremit
tmgly they might watch the store booms of the mills, horver
industriously they might labour to invent and then use aU the
known checks upon the tows coming down the river the prl
duct stiU con mued to fall short, and the raw materiaFtt
mysteriously disappear. The net annual losses were necessari v
quite heavy and the du-ectorship of the company dMZll
ever might be the cost, to decrease, if not enfirdy stoVrfht
drain upon their resources. It was not only injuring^iher
business in the present, but must prove their financial rdn,'n
the future if permitted to continue. The problem to be solved
was, " Who were the depredators ? " cm w oe solved
Although business of a far different and more absorbing
nature was at that period enchaining a good portion of mf
at^ntion, and freely draining upon tlfe m?n Jd resources!
S , 5 Tf' ^ at once determined that this new task should
be undertaken. In order that I might work understandSy
in the inception of the case, Superintendent Warn«r Z ?r!
structed to proceed to the locality, make a survey of the iritui
irner was la-
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 295
tion and, upon his return, we would be enabled quickly to
decide as to the proper course to pursue. The distance from
Chicago to Raceford, the location of the mill property, was
considerable, and it was not until more than a week had elapsed
that we were fully prepared to begin energetically the real
business of the operation. xMr. Warner had well performed his
duty, and personally inspected the town and adjacent country,
the pme- lands, from which the logs were taken, the water!
course, down which ^the rafting was done, and the structures
in which the material was converted into clear lumber, siding
flooring, studding, joist scantling, fencing, common-stock boards.'
culls, and framing timber of various, lengths and dimensions!
Ostensibly in search of ties to be employed in the superstruc-
ture ot a railroad then in course of construction not far from
the neighbourhood, he made close examination of everything
of interest to us. With his report to aid, the groundwork of
the plan was comparatively easy q^ formation.
In the commencement, I dispatched Jasper Root, an ex-
perienced operative who had long been in the employ of the
Agency, to Raceford. with orders to find suitable work on the
docks, in rafting or milling, nigh the vicinity, and then to look
out sharply for mformation which might lead us to some of
the thieves. He was to report to me, day by day, through the
medium of the mail. To cover his identity and prevent su^
picion resting upon him through writing, he was supplied with
a cipher and key and a manner of receiving and sending letters,
the particulars of which I need not dwell upon
. Raceford, at the time of which I writ^, was a city contain-
ing nearly two thousand inhabitants. Picturesquely dotting a
handsome site, extending across and embracing both banks of
the Lotus river, which is navigable for smaller craft a number
ot miles from its mouth, to the eastward, the land gradually
loped down to the edge of the /orest of pine. In the west
rose abruptly a low range of tree-clad hills. The bridge scan-
mng the deep, swift-flowing waters of the river was of rustic
build and material, but a thoroughly stanch and reliable struc-
ture capable of being swung open at its centre arch to give
unobstructed passage to rafts, and such small prcr -llors and
s^am-wugs as were used by the lumbermen in sporting
lumber to market, and importing necessary stores and iupplie*
296 PROFESSIONAL T&ILVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
"ilea wa. .„ imlllXe "^ ^r» yTr Xm i^"^'"
S nH '?'"I''^ """ "' ">" "-d".°n rralreard'ra„raT
rf ?;rtrurar;„-tsr ^" ''"--'* -^ "«--"»
thor„„gl,fa,.e, ,,aralfel with anil at eK JieZ irh:t°,K "
opinion in the minds of the West SAtf" ^! "^'^^T'^ "^
the East Side Citizens "^^^/^^^^.^^^^e Citizens from those of
Uuxed arduously duriug aix d.y. .f the ZTS^^Tt^ '-
v«*v OCT-
TECTIVES.
PROriSSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 297
Mlh rested and devoted themselves to their religious duties
and the digestion of their Sunday discourse and dinners. They
gave liberally of their means for the enlightenment of the dis-
tant heathen, and the West Side contested, in this regard, with
the East Side, each striving to carry off the palm by donating
more than the other to the missionary cause.
The ladies held their sewing circles, and, as a matter of
course, there was the West Side Martha Washington and the
Last bide Martha Washington Sociable. The Oolon" con-
sumed at the one was, by its drinkers, pronounced far su'perior
to the Gunpowder of its opponents ; and the scandals discussed
by the West Side Martha Washingtonites were claimed to be
much more racy than those dwelt upon by the Martha Wash-
ingtonites of the East Side.
T i^®^® m ^ ^^^ °"® Masonic, and but one Odd Fellows'
^odge. The West Side Masons and Odd Fellows and the East
bide Masons and Odd Fellows "dwelt together in unity"
which fact gave great cause for complaint on the part of the
chief fomenters of discord throughout Raceford. It was the
mystery of mysteries, and the anti-secret-society people of both
parts of the town shook their sage heads knowingly, and urged
significantly that there must exist some vast inherent wicked-
ness m the midnight councils of the brother Masons and Odd
J- e lows, because they failed to keep up and feed the prevailin«'
village feuds. The member of these societies, however, said
nothmg m reply, but continued to live harmoniously— at least
as far as the outer world could judge.
iiaceford, from its location in the midst of, and surrounded
by, the almost exhaustless lumbering distcict, was a place of
considerable importance. A principal manufactory of, and
shipping point for, the immense product of the great pineries,
and a grand entrq>ot for goods of all kinds consumed in a wide
range of territory, it bid fair shortlv to become a sort of north-
western metropolis of boards.
It had its small East Side and West Side newspaper, the
first called Ihi, East .Side Bugle of Liberty, and the other The
u^/ ^f iVee^/ow. The editor of the Bugle wag
very bald, squinted fearfully out of one eye, and could not see
well with the other. He was short, squabbish, spoffish, and
cynisai, aau iwver, excepting by mistake, said a civil word 0/
t.
298
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
anything or anybo.ly from across the Lotus. His devil (or an.
prentice) was disgraced one day, because during Ln>W,
absence he um.lvertent Iv admitted to the coh.mns of tl,
paper a local paragraph alluding to a newly-arrived West Si,le
o? fI^ * of Miss Myrtle of the East Side Lad.es' Emporium
of Fashion. Skoob abjectly apologized for the insertion o]
the objectionable sentiment in the ensuing number of the
Byle, and wn te comp acently, that -that particular imp of
darkness had been impaled upon the office shears, and then i^.
nominously consigned to the lowest depths of the ir.kk.i^
whence he should issue no more forever." Of course t\Z
JhrVVe^Si^le '^'''^' '"''^ '^' ^"^^^ '""'^ "''^ * ""«'" P*'''^'" '^^
. The leading spirit in the editorial sanctum of r/w 5trrf 0/
i»re«/om was long, lean, gaunt, facetiou., and bore the proud
name of Jobson. He cut up Skoob unmercifully in hi,
journal, but usually laughed at, and refused to reply to his
adversary's fierce philippics failing to find any pi[h or point
in them. Jobson let fly his Bird of Freedom, without stint or
reserve, at every East Side person, thing, or institution, and
was continually urging the residents of that benighted and un-
wholesome district to " come over to Jordan's happy hn.i "
meaning thereby the West Side. The two sheets fought hoti;.
contesr^d battles upon every local issue, and, when other sni>
jects failed, metaphorically knocked the heads and chief pill .n
ot the churches together to keep up the interest. When t
pastimes palled on the public taste, Sko.i, turned to en^rav > '
with his keen pen-lcnife, ludicrous caricatures of Jobson
which had several times done service in the Bugle, was ;he
picture ofa thin, starveling donkey, with broad leather-apron
ears, behind one of which monstrous appendages rested tlie
editonal q D of TA. Bird of Liberty. Ineath the illustrl
tion was pi \-d the legend: "The Bir^d Gone to Grass I"
rhi8 8omet.av.> ro.,,;hf ^^rth a rejoinder, in kind, from Job-
8on, who also * v Je: /ae graver as well as the pen, in the
Bbape of an .1 1 r;;. wa calf; w> die identical heid and bald
pate ot bkooD. L'.uer the caricature would be found these
rustic and descriptive words: " The Meandering Idiot of the
.0«f 2e Lookinff for His Mai" "^^ ^' •• - -
Tl,.
gentle auu uarmiegs cU-
DETECTIVES.
FROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 299
ferslons, which txcitet^ the citizens to the highest pitch
never culmii.ned ia editorial duels or rencontres. Skoob was
afraid to figl.t mA Jobson did not dare to; the reader will
probably suggest an impalpable distinction without perceptible
differ. I ir '^ '^
From the sample of contents already given it will be con-
ceded that the-Raceford newspapers were conducted, at least,
with spirit and energy, if not with stateliness and grandeur.
The fall was not far advanced, and the emerald hue still
rested undimmed upon hillside and lawn. A subtle perfume
from the resinous forest trees pleased the senses, and the hum
of industry arose from the town and was borne on every pass-
ing breeze. The mills were in motion, and the whir of the
busy saws and the rattle of swift-running machinery made the
city seem, as it really was, the centre of a great And material
industry.
Of Root's journey to Raceford little neea be said. He went
first to Trafton, where he left his baggage, and, clad in a
rough suit, took cars over the North Central Railway to a
point on the Lotus, not far from Junction City, and the re.
mainder of the trip was performed upon ^he ^ood though
diminutive steamer Orient, Captain Perkins. The river ride
was an entirely novel one to the young man, and he greatly
enjoyed the seemingly endless panorama of gorgeous scenery
which was unrolled to view as tlie craft advanced further and
further up the nai'row and serpentine stream. He managed to
strike wp a frieudship with the chief oflBcer while en route.
Havin^ berved several years on shipboard, in different capaci-
ties, Root was quite at home on the water, and, unasked, lent
a hand when necessary to the correct working of the craft,
thus securing the good-will of the commander and his subor-
dinates.
The detective had been for many seasons off the sea, doing
shore duty Having in view the task before him, he rightly
conjectured that a little natural bronze-tint added to his com-
plexion, and some strength lent to his muscles would not come
amiss; hence, during the several days passed on the river,* he
remained mostly forward on the lower deck, although he had
prepaid full cabin passage. He aided in re.i^eivin" an:^- '^ut-
ing off fre^ht during the making of the different stoppages,
V 8 ri I
'm i
tliflll
N '■-1
[.1 t
PROrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
300
fcelped take on wood and m «.i.
Eang-plank, -aking''htmt f^t^/"^"' ^««l'"g '^ «»«
It was a term of excellenf tlJ^^ i^ *"^ agreeably jsp&i
he would soon havrto do. At "^7 7"^ ''^' '^ '^"P"^"^
blanket, he preferred to sleet on T'T^T^'^ himsdf in a
and near the great bell whir? T ^^P^am's deck, forwar-^
of elk-horns.. With i .1 • ^'^ surmounted bv a hu^« n
-undlv.oniy awfk'en dtow'^d t f^^T' ^- ^luKd
• • feeel upon the gravelly riZhottcl ^^u ^^'^ ^""^^'^S' of the
the machinery Incident oTlandt?' TU^' ^^f^^'^ ^^^^ce o
soon became as tawny as a SL ^^^'^^^^ ^as that he
upon, as a Sandwich Islander ^''^' ^"^^ ^ *o»Sh, to look
fromThitToL^l^^^^^^ rested on a bar
Boot worked Lke a Teio.'rUTtrt '^ ?'"-te h^
oflicer being disabled with a snr!?n«T ^ ?f '^^°°^ mate, tha
remarked that he handTd tools and^«'"^^'' !"^ '^' ^tab
«kill of an old sailor. He also int«f ,™^°fg«d men with the
niore moved up stream that H,« ' . '^* "^^^'^ ^^^ Orient once
for his labour, but the 'oner!t^« J'^'r ^^^^^^ accept pay
how Bhort^handed he war^nd ,ad"Sf '^^^"^ • ^^^^ ^e s^a^^
betwixt himself and IVoternt^r"'!.^^*^^ ^«^ arisen
JSpSJi^-^- ^^-^« sat^zi^f
bo:Zna?S.f[he%^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^.^g, when you
Trafton'* H ^f ^\ ^'"^^^ States detective in f »,. 7 ,.
-iratton. He had been after me for « , i j *°® ^"^ch at
him out, took leave of my la^dloJ T ''^^ ^^^'^ ^ut I found
hotel, gained the trai^ Xldy t m '^ * 'T ^«°f of the
reaching j,„,ti,.;^^^eadyia motion, and succeeded in
ford is your destination so i?'«T- T""'?^ *^« «J^ore. Bace ^
to me, if they are away from th^'.rn '"fi -^^ P^^««« ^^e alike
don't want eLrvhnr^.LuJ^J^^ ^^^^^^d Cltirs. Of conrc/r
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 301
•• iJepend upon me," said the captain, '« for keeping your
secret I don't love tlie revenue fellows any too well myself,
though I take special care never to fall into their clutcLes. If
there is anything I can do for you, command me."
"I know of nothing how, thank ye. When we are ashore I
may nak a good word from you in getting work."
•• You. shall have it, sir. And a hint from me is worth
something with the company and with the people of Eace-
ford."
Root returned thanks, and there the conversation was inter*
nipted by the call for dinner. The agent knew his place, and
ate with the mates and pilots well forward, while other passen-
gers partook of their meals at the captain's table, abaft in the
little cabin. '
During the same afternoon the detective had an interview
with the second mate of the steamer, in his part of the texas,
or hurricane, deck, where he was found prostrate, and suffering
great pain from the injured limb. An application of cold
water, made by the visitor, gave the mate some relief, and,
after awhile, he was communicative. Without particularly
ilesiriiig the man to keep his revelations to himself. Root gave
ont the same intimation as to smuggling that he had presented '
to the captain. The mate also promised any 'assistance he
could give when Raceford should be reached. Root left the
deck with the impression that the injured man would not be .
slow in telling his story to some of his chums in port. It was
what the detective desired. Then, if he failed in securing em-
ploynient, he could have a valid excuse, ready-made, lor re-
maining in the pinery, and, at the same time, avoiding any
suspicion that he had an eye upon those engaged in swindling
the niainifacturing company. He was aware of the fac^. that
he might find many among the logsmen and raftsmen 'who
were m reality hiding li-om the otiicers of justice, and this
hint, which the captain or mate would naturally set afloat,
niiglit serve as an introduction to their confidence. Wlienthe
tue.l detective spread his blanket for sleep that night, the
steamer was some thirty miles below the falls and but tweuty
nule« from Raceford,
I
302 PBOFESSIONAL THIETES AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER IL .
MRS. BUXTON'S HOTEL.
;HE Ormi was alongside the wooden wharf at Raceford
ready o receive her freight of lumber.lath andSl^'
when the detective awoke the ensuing morning. Afte,
a late breakfast consisting, ,n part, of fried fish, JoL and
hiscuit, he desired to see tie city, in company with'the captain
Ifvlnt'Zf P"7"'t ^'^' ^''' ^"-^g« i" Trafton, ?o a^d To
giving shadow of confirmation to his previously concocted stoJv
of a recent escape from the government officials, he was re
8 rained through lack of clean linen and other necess'ary clothin '"
fas thlM'nr^'l T !^'' congregation-crowded streets oTth
(as the captain had hinted) hypercritical city of Raceford
wearing garments, never very elegant, ai.d ckd in wS he
had performed the entire voyage from Chicago. He made
application to Captain Perkins, asking how he should extrTcate
himselt from his dilemma. With characteristic promSde
he immediately inv ted the passenger to his stateroom and
exhibiting a well-filled wardrobe, informed Root thatli was
at liberty to select and use anything that it contained Thu
instructed the operative proceeded'to make him elf at leas
presentable. There was little difficulty in enveloping himse '
in Perkms- shirt, the only trouble arising in findiSg fins wTt !
which to fasten the neck-band, that encircled his bf So Llan
slender hroat, with several inches of cloth to be spared, b"
thequestion as to waistcoat and pantaloons presented an insu
mountable difficulty. None of these articles to be fouid in
Uie captain's, collection would do. They fitted him too much
A linen coat, made rather scant in the body for its ownerTuse
as an under garment, the detective at last managedTo emp?oy
aj a loose ouster The greater proportion of the contents o!'
he closet were far too broad and expansive for conven^encS
the smaHer kinds, even, hanging from his bony frame Tke the
•toned ".hirt on a bean-pole." H, promised his Mend thU
•ETECTIVES.
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 303
it he could possibly. find the neeaea articles for sale in the city,
he would procure a temporary outfit and return those which he
wore that very day. There was a too^vident disregard of the
cost of cloth in the duster and the shirt to comport with his
ideas on personal economy, but he was compelled to take the
things. After a bath, a touch of the razor to his face, and
decking himself in his borrowed costume, Root saw, by the
cabin glass, that he was greatly improved in outer appearance.
He was no longer ashamed to enter the town with the captain.
It was well that he had waived the attempt to supply him-
self with clothing by purchase. The stores were all closed.
Not ev.^. the most enterprising merchant on the West Side,
or on the East Side, would venture to open his warehouse
doorri for the transaction of business on a Sunday. The pro-
prietors of the saloons and corner groceries were not so particular.
" Now," said the captain, " 111 take you to the best board-
ing-house, for a labouring man, in all Raceford."
" I shall be greatly your debtor ! " answered Root.
After a considerable walk the two men came to Mrs. Buxton's
residence, and entered. The house was by no means large or
showy, but seemed to be well kept in every respect. Its hostess
was not "fair, fat, and forty," but some years youuger than
that, and far from beautiful. She was florid as to face and
pock-marked j, had fiery red hair ; was angular in frame and in
temper, and spoke as fine and broad a brogue as any lady ever
brought to America from the northward of the Green Isle of
Erin. Still, she was not particularly ugly. When presented
for the first time to the view of the agent, Mrs. Buxton was
engaged, her head enveloped in a bandana handkerchief of many
colours, and her skirts unfashionably pinned back, furiously
dusting the furniture of the public sitting-room with a big
black turkey-wing.
"An' is it there you are, captain?" was her pleased ejacu-
lation, as soon as she beheld the portly figure of Perkins in the
doorway. Pausing in her labour she advanced toward the
gentlemen and continued : " How has it sped wid ye, since the
age that you've bin away 1 "
" Very well, indeed," responded the captain, glancing aboufe
mm. " You are tidying up the old house, as usual, I see.
These IlimVkAr Kmra /fa nlair hanr\n nrif K trn--'-^ ^^^^^a t "
304
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
" Yes, sir J they're n6t very particular ; bat, when they h«t
the money, they always pays well an' promptly ! "
^!Lf l»«.J",7ture the captain brought forward his companion.
rius IS Ar. Root," hesaid, " who is newly arrived in these
parts ; was a passenger on the Orient. Of course, immediately
upon makmg Raceford he commenced looking for your house
winch, 1 must tell you, is famous wherever steamboats " *
; Ihere I That is quite enough an' to spare, Mr. Perkins,
an itplazeyel You've kissed the blarney stone, sure, an' I
knows your tricks, thankin' ye allthe same fur the compliment
mtended. ^
"Well, the houses a good one, and the landlady a kind-
hearted woman, tho' I do say it in her presence, and I have
urged Mr. Root to secure board and lodging here. I suppose
that you can accomriodate him ? He'll suit you, and the per-
sons you have here. He's' an old sailor, tho' not too far in
years to make an excellent husband for as young a lass as Mrs.
rJetsy Jsuxton. ,
• /! ^r""^' l"""^ ' °^^^ ^^'^^ ^y a^ay ^id ye for a regular novel-
ist I Let s have no more on thai subject, if ye plaze."
Mrs Buxton's face and hair, for a brief period, were of the
same glowing colour.
"I was saying,'' resumed her tormentor, evidently content
with having caused her some slight annoyance, " that Mr. Root
18 a sailor, at present out of employment, and has come here to
seek work. He is fairly honest, I think, and will not be long
in securing somethmg to keep him from eating the bread of
Idleness.
"You are quite welcome, sir. The little good me mother
*°?/r ' ^*^" ^"^ ^^*^ ^^^^ ^^*^^ ^^*^® wid us ! "
Mrs. Buxton preceded the two men to the sitting-room.
You can stow me away almost anywhere. I don'* carrv a
great amount of luggage at the present time, but have sent for
my kit which will arrive in a few days. Put me in the garret.
or in the cellar, or m the kitchen, for the occasion, until you
see a chance to change me for the better. I'm not at all hard
to please.'
neldtL''"" *^® """^^'^ ""^ ^^> *•« Jiev all the space that ii
ETECTIVES.
od me mother
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 305
Excusing herself, when she saw her reflection in the mirror
the widow left the room, but soon returned, with her red hair
emoothed down, and her skirts in better trim.
*,' '^^^ ^,?"*« ^8 "o*> crowded," resumed Mrs. Buxton, " an'
wave an iligant room on the second floor front, that nades a
tinant ; an as fur males to ate— I niver saw the time when,
praties wor so raisonable or so fine ! Wid a roast duck, from
the lake, now an' thin, I'm sure we'll be able to kape ye from
starvm enthirely \" r j "*
The landlady was evidently desirous of making a favourable
impression upon the young man, so fairly spoken of by the
captain, whose recommendation carried great weight with her
Oti the other hand. Root was disposed to like her and her
house. As Perkins was about to take his leave, havin^' busi-
ness connected with the, steamer to attend to, he turner to the
widow, and, with a mock severe tone, remarked :
"When I call again of a Sabbath morning, Mrs. Buxton, I
shall expect to find you engaged in meditation, aad not la
house-cleaning." '
"Go away wid ye now ! An' how could I help it, captain ?
Mother and I are cooks, chambermaids, and iverything • and
wasnttheould lady preparin' to.be off betimes to chirch I
Uh, the dust It was that broke the Sabbath, and not me own
good turkey wing I"
The captain laughed heartily, and bade the lady adieu.
Koot, after some moments of pleasant conversation with
Mra. Buxton retired to his room, which he found quite cleanly
and comfortable. He spent the day at the house, making the
acquaintance of his fellow- boarders. There were ten or twelve
men m the place, all hard-fisted labourers, devoted to rough
work employmg rough language, and forming a rough com-
munity But they were generally good-hearted, jovial persons,
and, when off duty, quite compan"onable~even convivial
As concerned the matter of employment. Root early learned
that real work was over for the season, and apparently the only
chance left for him was in rafting, piling or loadinij lumber, or
accepting a subordinate position about some of the mills. It
was a dull season, taken at its best, and several of his' new ao-
quamtances ie«idmg with Mrs. Buxton, and who were them-
wivea restmu. from lack of demand for their services, thought
306 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
that he might possibly romain in tlie vicinity an entire month
without labour which would realize even a bare subsistence.
As for saving any money, they were unanimous that it was
simply out of the question.
Monday came, bright and balm/, and Eoot made the pur-
chasses necessary to keep him in raiment until the arrival of his
valise. He then visited the Orient, and returned the costume
he had borrowed of the captain, with thanks for the accommoda-
tion. Perkins heartily made him welcome, but, as hb was
deeply engaged in stowing away his cargo, the operative did
not remain long on board. He left the steamer, and strolled
about the town, taking bearings in the West Side and the East
Sida «
A " drive " of logs was ^xpected down the river before many
days, and Root hoped that, when it arrived, he might at least
secure a few days' occupation. He thought that he would find
an opportunity to try his luck in " riding" a saw-log without
getting " dipped." An old logsman volunteered the remark,
that, if he could perform this difficult feat, constant labour in
the busy season would be easily attainable.
At all of the numerous places visited, he received an unvary-
ing negative, in response to his application for even a tempor-
ary job. The boss sawyers had more help than they needed,
and there were loafing upon the wharf dozens of old and ex-
perienced hands, who found nothing to do. All were " waiting
for something to turn up." There was no course left for Root
but to assume the role of corvivialist, await the coming of his
things as patiently as possible, and make preparations for such
service to the Agency as he could best put in.
It was not long before he found that, as he had hoped, his
friend, the mate of the Orient, had very thoroughly circulated
the information concerning the new arrival at Mrs. Buxton's
being engaged in the smuggling line, and concealing himself
from the officers of the law. Of course this gave him good
standing at once with those who chanced to find themselves in
the same condition, and paved the way to his becoming well
acquainted with all who were employed in anything out of the
honest way in the lively little community. He therefore passed
considerable time in the drinkinD- nUpAR and hQiv1in(T-aqinor!° •
Seated his companioas often enough to be deemed no bar-room
> ir
r, and strolled
6 and the East
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES ANd'tHE BEtECTlVES. 307
oate Sin ^ l7:ii^::tT''''' -- ^ -^^
«ame kindred, and regarding wVom^hfr^^r'! P'T"^ ^^ ^'^«
erable discussion at hi boafdrn. place ^^5^:^'^'^^^' ''""«^^-
and Herculean form, bloated hv L ■ ? , "^^ °^ towering
and forbidding feSurfs and^Jn?''i ^"'^"^g^^c^^' ^ith dark -
Grouped ^ith Sis broth?; and cfusin th- f'^^^" ^ "^*^«^
ing a hard reputation in ifZ lI ^ ■'^''^ * ''*'' ^^^^-
been to trace any really criS5«r?r- '?P°''^^^« ^^ ^*d
had the ague in its chronTo^nr^ a ^ ^^^'^ ^°^''«- ^ig Bill ■
at a French saloon whe?e rIoT'^^". ""^ ""^'^^y '° ^« ^°»nd
to drive off the chills wihfre^ *^^^^" the attempt
liquor. He drank and shS and ^^^^^
was quite irnpossible for him to I'Jl"'^ l^i\^''\' "'^'^ ^^
most of. At nieht he 11a l^ to decide which he had done
pletely broken down noMn?^ ^T' ^^^^^^ '« ^^^ bed com!
^^soLofhisl?e;rmpl2r^^^^^^^^^^ Tl ^^"^
that, previous to the date of the dilth !f r ' ^^'2 ^'^'^^^^
event had occurred two v««^a 1 • , ^ ^"^ ^^^^ which
reputadoninthrSmrnitvofa^''''T^^'?^ ^^^^ »»«ld tl^e
est tnan. The same cou d not h«Tt' jf."''"""« ^'^^ Mon-
tis relatives. He had seldom Lnl *r"tW""y said of some of
to indulge to excess BufXnJ«/°-? ''"^"" ^''^ ^"^^^
of his children, the tudeVhis Vou^"^^^^^ "^°'^-
taken away, strength and good resoSnc ''^i^®' <^ay8, was
burial with her remain^ RHl 5 ,? '^®™^^ '^^a^e found
grew untidy in habrreckleS 1^"*"""^ ""'^^''^^ ^« d'^ty!
finally lapsed into thr unr Jl *°^"^^^ ^""^ behaviour, and
He had formerly filled posSr,^^^^ T'"^, ^^ intoxication.
the direction ot^rtuSenden T^^^ ""°^"'"'°' "°^''
nojonger given work reUTp^^^^^^^^^^^
inhlilSj^ofte^rori^A'^^^^^^^ ^-an
aim to become acauaintP.fwU t>" 7""" ^*°SS necessary for
'Il
m':
4V
K3i HI
■^W. Si
308 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. P'f|
more than ordinary severity, and, speaking compassionately,
inquired how long he had been a victim of the disease.
" Oh, a year or two," responded the sufferer, between his
closed teeth, which involuntarily rattled and made his utter-
ances spasmodic and almost urintelligible. " I don't remem-
ber a single week that I've missed m' regular chill, since a year
ago last month. An' I can say to ye, stranger, if ever ary mz^.
tells yer it's fun ter hev th' ager, yer may tell him fur me he's
a liar. I'll back yer in't"
It is simply impossible to describe on paper the jerky,
hitchity-hitchy, petulant and half-uncourteous style in which
the short-clipped words came from the blue lips of the sick
man. His whole person was convulsed as though from
internal commotion, and he vainly attempted to control his
muscles and nerves while l^e spoke. The effect was to exhaust
the patient, and cause the hearer to experience mixed feelings
of mirth and commiseration.
" Yes" returned Root, struggling against an almost uncon-
trollable desire to laugh, " I can feel for you, Mr. What
may I call your name 1 "
*' Groom — WiW'am Groom — but, here'bouts, I'm best known
as Bill — Big Bill Groom — ter dis-tin-guish me from a cousin,
cal-l'd lit- tie Bill Groom — curse him 1 "
" I can pity you, Mr. Groom."
It was a long, long time dnce Bill had been addressed as
" Mr. Groom," and his large, dull gray eyes brightened irnder
the momentary inspiration.
"I can feel for you, Mr. Groom," continued the new
comer. " I have been in the same boat myself, and know it is
anything but pleasant. By the way, I'm something of a
doctor — tho' more seaman than doctor — and, ^i you'll come
with me for a moment to the nearest drug store, I'll see if I
can't fix something that'll relieve you."
Big Bill was inclined to accept, but hesitated.
" No ! " he finally replied, " 1 can't 'low ye t' do it ! I've no
money t' fool 'way on med'c'ns I Really, I think ther's not a
bit of hope 1 I'm bound t' shake 'til I die 1 "
" Money makes no difference, shipmate, nor the want of it,
either 1 I have a little in the locker still* and while » lailoi
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVFS AND THE DETECTIVES. 309
n^^ a aoiiar He cant see a human being suffer I So come with
Reluctantly Bill accompanied the sailor to the nearest phar-
macy. A few shillings' worth of pure brandy, with a mixture
of quinine and cayenne pepper, were procured and o^Sie pr^
nT ^frfT^ " ^""'^^y ^''' After a couple of hour^
had elapsed, he took another, and declared, with more iS-
gible utterance, that he "felt better." The'succeeding stage of
the disease was more mild than usual, and the exfruciftinJ
pam in the bones was perceptibly diminished/ The Sday^
under continued administration of the remedy. Big Bill shook
himself cheerily, when asked how he felt, and replied:
Jist like a water spaniel after a swim- first rate ! "
He was subsequently heard to remark, that no man in the
'Str/wa^t'T^T? ^S^V^S -y^hiVS^»-^fa«Srchap
unieab iliey wanted Big Bill down on 'em 1 "
CHAPTER m.
EVIDENCE OP STRIKING REGARD.
FEW days later, when Big Bill had in a measure re-
gained his good nature, and a proportion, at least, of
his physical strength, Root, at the end of a short seawh.
cameupon him on a Saturday night in company with his
thfw^' ^^'?'^ rT ^^"^^ ^^" Groom, at Brotfs saloon, on
the West Side, drinking very liberally and playing bluff and
th« Lnni tb' "'^^\'-'^l'. f " ""''' °^^^« ^' less influenced by
the liquor they had imbibed, and, therefore, equally ready for a
fight, or an exhibition of friendly regard. Upon the agent's
^pearance m their midst, he was seized by Big Bill? who
grasped his arm and almost dragged him toward thi bar, ihere
he bluntly introduced him to those present as his " friend Root.
m::r'^i^^ ^^j!':ttji^^^^^^ -^ » "ght jovi;s
«-_„/, .^ T '"" °"°"e«^ " was giaa to meeL the com-
ply, BO he expreflsed himself, and was by no means laggard
! i it
Wi
I
I'
310 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
In improving the opportunity to corroborate the exalted opinion
which had been formed of him through Big Bill's' complimentary
mention. It was expected, and the freshly arrived toan did
not disappoint the general understanding, that he would invite
the persons in the room to indulge in refreshments at his ex-
pense. Had he taken any other course, it would have been
considered uncivil treatment of his companions.
It was remarked that the ** sailor chap " accomplished the
agreeable task with ah exceeding grace, almost proclaiming
that he had been accustomed to treating from his boyhood.
Not a man refused the proffered glass. On the contrary, all
partook with as positive a zest as though rum had been a
stranger to their lips for a month. This preliminary once per-
• formed. Root was unanimously voted one of the company, and
the peer of any " sport" in Raceford.
Jo Groom, the observer* soon discovered, was an entirely
diflferent individual frpm Big Bill, his elder brother. Two
persons could hardly have been found in the State more dis-
similar in figure, face, complexion, and temperament. V Ley
presented few outward signs that they were even remote
branches of the same family tree. Jo was slimly, yet strongly
built; well shaped — in truth, handsomely formed — of about
Che medium height, had black hair, piercing dark eyes, and
finely-moulded features. Hia visage was of that pink-tinged
olive which gives the possessor an appearance of having been
nurtured under fair Italy's cloudless skies. Wearing a long
mustache of silky fineness and raven hue, the remainder of his
face was close shaven. A crescent-shaped scar, which, at some
period of his life he had received upon the left cheek, marred
the general effect of a countenance in other respects remarkably
attractive and agreeable.
Clad in his roughly-fashioned attire, which, from its style,
showed that in this particular he was peculiarly fastidious, and
which set off his graceful figure to an advantage ; with a soft,
fnlt hat set jauntily on one side of his head, Jo Groom was,
when fully himself, a roan who had he been transferred to and
brought up in a more healthy moral atmosphere, and given a
fair opportunity, must have made his mark high above the
best of those among whom he moved. An observant person
TTt.ruxu irOv paao £;iui u^^uu uiicr avi^\:v tt ivIIvUu ^ ocvvuu gxauvu.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 311
Jo had been tolerably well educated, and was more refined, when
he 80 desired, in the use of language, than his brother, or any
of. his male relatives. He had enjoyed no special opportunities
above those given Big Bill, but had better improved his chances
and more industriously cultivated his mind, while the other
lad — their parents had but two sons and a daughter, and the
latter died in her infancy — walked in a different path, much
preferring the gun, dog and game-bag, to masters, books and
the rural academy. However well he outwardly appeared,
Root was but a short time in learning that Jo Groom was a more
feckless, more throughly unprincipled, man than the larger and
more openly wicked Big Bill Groom. For years the younger
of the brothers had been the intimate associate of gamblers,
addicted to their pursuits, and it was hinted that to his general
reputation of gamester and frequenter of haunts of vice might
be added that of sensualist and libertine. Drink and evil com-
pany had completed his moral wreck long before Root formed
his acquaintance.
Little Bill Groom, first cousin of Jo and Big Bill, was a
young person whose company was by no means sought by the
reputable ladies and gentlemen comprising good society in
Raceford. He was repudiated by the Slite of the West Side as
well as by that of the East Side. In his diminutive body were
centred, crystallized and intensified all the meannesses, vices
juid crimes of his cousins Bill and Jo, without the least scin-
tilla of manhood, honesty, or rectitude of purpose, for their
amelioration or regulation. Wh^.e Big Bill and Jo were bad,
Little Bill was simply satanic. Where they exhibited little-
nesses he was wicked. Where they had odd streaks of virtue in
their composition, he gave out only physical turpitude and
mental malignity. He was, to employ an aphorism circulating
in the town and describing him, "Little Bill, but big villain."
Ho abounded in nerve and pluck and had lived twenty years,
during fifteen of which, at least, he had been a constant terror
to all the inhabitants of his neighbourhood. Nothing very
cruel could occur but it was charged to him. Yet no real crime
had been fastened to his skirts. That he .was guilty of about
two-thirds of the aggregate mischief perpetrated in the place
was impliciMy believed. *
^m
■'im-':
312 mOFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
After the first drinks had been taken, Big Bill waxed com
municative, drew Root aside, and informed him that he knew
something of the trouble his hearei was hiding from, very tfulv
ren>. rking that he held a fellow fueling for all who we;e sirri.
larly situated, and more especially for one who was good
enough to befriend him when down with the shakes, and it
was his self-imposed task to go about among the employers and
see if he could not find work for a companion. If he secured it
Koot was the one who would be benefited. Mr. Slayton Super'
intendent for the Kaceford Manufacturing Company 'was not
sure but he would soon re.^uire more help, and if so, promised
to call upon Big Bill. Jo exerted a powerful influence over
blayton, through the medium of the manager's spouse, who
was accused of undue partiality for the handsome woodman
and that power should be employed in Root's behalf. It couli
be but a few days, he believed, befrire his comrade would have
as good a fiituation as there was in Raceford. Root was natur-
ally thankful for the efforts put forth to aid him, and made
known his feelings in appropriate terms, concluding with the
usual proposition to once more treat the company. It was ac-
cepted, and the fluids were duly dispensed and absorbed.
.Subsequently cards were introduced, and Root, who, at home
WM looked upon as a fair player, joined in a game, the stake
being but a sma 1 sum. At first Jo and his brother carried o9
the honours and the cash, in a majority of instances. This
cemented the friendship that the Groom family had conceived
tor th& new-comer. Luck seemed set against Mr. Root. Still
he would not give it up. Presently he began to realize win-
mngs. Ihis continued until he had retrieved a portion of his
former losses. Meanwhile, the frequent pilgrimages the Grooms
had made to the bar told heavily upon them, when Root with-
drew from the card-table, giving place to an entire stranger
who said his name was Bates, from Canada. For some hourj
he had been sitting near, an interested spectator, occasionally
expressirg a desire to participate in the amusement. Bill and
Jo Groom, from the moment that he discovered the latter had
money about him, seemed to absorb most of his attentioa
He had watched their movements very narrowly. Bates was
a tall, heavily built man of thirty years, with long, brown hair.
Dtuihv whiaicArfl. Anf\ email aUyiU ,>«:«, • . ° '
-iiUV
miwt SO aispro*
ETECTIVES.
iatter so diBpro*
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 313
portionate in volume, when contrasted with his muscular de.
velopment, as to attract immediate observation. He had ar
rived in town the preceding day. as he said, to secure work as
a sawyer, in one of the company's mills. *
There was something in the 'stranger's manner and general
appearance tha Root did not lika from the first, and th^e styfe
m which he noted the words and actions of thi two drunken
men prompted the detective to keep an eye upon him. Bates's
early success in the game was good. At"^ first he gained
Then he seemed to lose, but parted with very small sums of
Z7m fhT'"^ '^' '^^ '^ ^^'•'""^ ^PP^-^'i '- change and
Big Bill the more deeply intoxicated of the brothers was the
winner the spoils always coming from Jo, who, having? jus?
received his month's wages, was in funds. Bates ;as evideJdv
playing for .ome purpose of his own, into Big Bill's hands and
against Jo Groom, but so deftly was' his woric performed that
the bystanders could only judge by results, haWng no ocular
evidence that there was any cheating being done
Koot saw as much of the trick as any one, and had his sua
picions but said nothing. He thought that the brothers would
settle their matters peaceably on the morrow, without great
damagetooneor the other; and it was a puzzle to him at
lltZ^ 1 w '^^"J'^ ^*'*" ^'' ^'"^^ °" «"«^^ foolishness when
he certainly had a chance to fairly win Jo's funds. He was
evidently a proficient in the mysteries of poker, whether tr^?v
a sawyer or not Jo Groom finally grew eicTted over h^
e^i ZTil g"^ '^T""'' ^°^ '^^'^^ ^^« "ante'Ton^'
erably. Big Bill saw him and « went fifty dollars better "
Jo covered the advance-and lost, his brother ho din' four
deuces. This ended the course, Jo declaring that he was° ' too
drunk to play with even a worse drunkard than himse f "
Bates grumbled somewhat, but was careful not to go too far
being really quite content to quit where he stood. '
It was then two hours into the morning of the Sabhafli
andBrott.the saloon-keeper, insisted upo^closi ig tKace
Lutl'r '' '\' ch^rcl-going people, "ke said,Tu^ as RooJ
thought, because he saw premonitions of a storii brewin??^
tween the members of the Groom family. Big Bill ww^n^
ticularly far gone in drink. Dern«ntihW q^ouJZtiu.^.^^
«d ^ .«.^-„. ,f ^,,^ - coarself tauntS w4"bL" wS
asB
sua
l^ii' 1.1
314. PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
of skill They were finally separated, and left the saloon, each
person pursuing his own route homeward.
Big Bill, as the detective saw, rolled and tossed, making
slow progress, like a fishing-smack in a chopping sea. Some-
thing suspicious in the movements of Bates caused Eoot to
follow in his wake. He managed to do this without pressing
too near him, and in a manner to conceal his proximity from
any third party that might be in the neighbourhood. Hia
movements were noiseless. The night was very dark, except
ing when, at long intervals, the black clouds were removed
from before the face of the moon, but the operative kept with-
in ear-shot of his man, and was soon rewarded, as they were
passing through a dense grove of pines, by hearing some per-
son conversing with Big Bill.
He was about to leav'e the trail and return, thinking that
Groom had encountered one of his neighbours, when the pecu-
liarly shrill voice of Bates distinctly met his ear. He quickly
changed his mind and hastened rapidly forward to prevent any
game which might be meditated by the stranger. Before he
could gain the locality, however, there came a muffled, crush-
ing sound, followed by a dull thud upon the earth, seemingly
caused b: some heavy falling body. Starting on a rapid run,
the agent soon became satisfied, though all was silent, that he
was nigh the spot whence the noise had proceeded. The moon
gave light at this moment, and in his pathway he saw Bates,
bending over the prostrate form of Big Bill.
The meeting with Root was a startling surprise to Bates,
who attempted to escape. Drawing his heavy revolver, the
detective struck the villain a stinging blow over the head. It
was a glancing stroke, however, and only stunned its recipient,
producing an ugly and bleeding scalp-wound. It was sufficient
to give Root the advantage, which he improved by pouncing
upon the thief. Bates soon recovered his coolness, and at-
tempted to break from his opponent's grasp, but, failing, be
was quiet physically, saying :
" 1 11 be even with you for this.**
The remark was accompanied by a movement of the right
hand toward the hip, as though to draw a pistol or other
weapon. His antagonist was prepared for this, and, by the
l>^liU Vl vZiU XUWUf UratrCS I3W£X QSiTT vXiu XV2. ILTXiiUiUf^ UCCX1& XUlt£i;rlv
DETECTIVES.
ft the saloon, eaoh
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 315
of a pistol in uncomfortable proximity to his head. Eecog.
msing his powerlessness under the circumstances, he sullenlv
aropped his hands by his side. "I give it up. Don't fire. I
surrender," he said.
"Then throw down your weapon," commanded Root.
Bates let fall his pistol, which he had secured from the
pocket and previously held, partly concealed, in his right hand,
cocked and ready to be discharged.
"Now stop where you are, or it will go hard with you **
Root continued for a moment to hold his weapon pointed in
Bates 8 direction, while he gently touched Big Bill with the
toe of his boot.
" What have you done to him ? "
Bates made no response, neither did Bill move or speak.
' \\ hat 8 up Bill? Answer your friend. Tell me you are
not killed. And the operative lowered his revolver, while he
felt of the neck of the prostrate man. The artery responded
to his touch, but with a weak, fluttering beat, as though life
withm the body were faintly struggling with almost victorious
death. Shaking the supine form rather rudely, he sought to
recall the man to consciousness. In the meantime the captive
stood still, making no second effort to get away, knowin/that
be was closely watched by Root. & V
Presently Big Bill moved and turned uneasily on his side,
opened his eyes, and, recognising his friend, as well as the sur^
foundings, he said :
"Guess I'm almost killed."
" Where are you hurt ? "
"On the head— it's worse nor the agur I •
Pig Bill was evidently recovering very fast
" What did he hit you with 1 "
"His fist, I guess, tho' 'twas harder nor my head."
" See if your money is isafe."
After several fruitless efforts. Big Bill at last sat up, searched
ms pockets, and, looking scowlingly upon the thief, said:
It 8 all gone 1 He's got it ? "
^^ Can you find strength to search him 1 I'U hold him power-
^-rUtryl"
i,i !
«t.,
il'ait.ii
ikitsMnimi^Mummmmmm
I J
316 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
B5g Bill finally arose, his limbs making many uncertain
movements, and, with unsteady gait, walked up to Bates.
"Give me back my money," he said, in a thick voice, "me
it me, or, by — , I'll kill you ! » ^
Before the thief could respond, seeing the discarded pistol lyin?
glittering in the grass, Big Bill stooped, picked up the weapoij
and would have shot Bates, unarmed as he was, upon the spot,
had not Koot promptly struck up his hand.
" Hold ! Don't fire ! " he said. " We must deliver the
rascal to the officials 1 He deserves killing, but let the law
take its course ! "
Then pointing to Groom, who stood, fairly trembling with
rage, his hand holding the weapon extended, Root continued;
" Bates, turn that money over to its owner 1 " j
Thus persuaded, the stranger gave back to Bill his roll of
currency.
Upon searching Bates's person, brass knuckles, bearing san-
guinary evidences of having been recently used, were discovered,
It was with that deadly instrument the blow prostrating Bic
Bill had been given. Happily, Groom's skull was unnaturally
thick, otherwise the stroke would have resulted in death.
Binding up his hurts as well as possible, Root tied Bates's hands i
securely behind, and the three personages proceeded to the
county jail, where the would-he assassin was given in charge I
of the proper officer.
After visiting a drug store and a surgeon with Bill, and see- 1
ing that his cuts received proper attention. Root accompanied ,
the now thoroughly sobered woodman to his residence. Big
Bill's gratitude knew no limit. But for Root's interference lie
might have been murdered, as well as robbed. But for Root
the dastardly scoundrel would have made his escape — not to
speak of the relief*nis medicine had previously brought when
he was down with the ague.
" I'll not forget you, neither will Jo ! And Jo « a man of I
influence here, if he is my brother, and if, as I believe, I ml
nobody ! "
Bidding the injured man "good-morning " — for the East wai
growing gray with the coming dawn — Root returned to liiij
boarding-house, his room, »ad S<*pt
E DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVE;^ AND THE DETECTIVES. 317
f ' ■
CHAPTER nr.
EOOT MAKES A DISUOVEIIT.
i,T 18 not strange that Big Bill awoke at a late hour Sunday
morning, suffering from pain which he not very elegantly
described as a "shocking bad headache." He said he
fairly trembling with ■ thouglit the shakes were bad eno'ugh,"bu7 the knocksTrhad
led, Koot contiuued; • i •..
nerl"
k to Bill his roll of
received with the brass knuckles, from the hands of Jktes, had
left behind sensations with which, in range of discomfort, those
accompanying fever and ague were not at all comparable. Dr.
Gallup, who was called in, looked exceedingly wise, after ex-*
amming the wounds, which were happily on the thicker por-
tion of the very thick skull, and, shaking his head sac/ely a
number of times, exclaimed that there had popsibly been con-
tusion c r the outer walls of the cranium, and there was immi-
nent danger that congestion might supervene and communicate
to the brain proper, from the abraded dura mater, or substance
covering the contents of the cranial cavities. Should his fears
be coufirmed, recovery would be doubtful. The condition of
the patient's physical system made it)flammation easy. How-
ever, were the symptoms to abate during the night, when he
would come again, there might then arise hopes that the inju-
nestothe delicate membrane had been slight, and the man
would soon be as well as ever.
Big Bill listened to the venerable physician's learned dis-
qmsition, barely able to grasp but a small portion of his mean-
ing, and replied :
"I hope so, for the ague's better nor these pains, which cut
both ways at oust I "
Towai^s evening the patient lapsed into a calm and peace-
lul slumber, which lasted for several hours, and, when he
awoke, the blood-shot eyes were perceptibly cleared up : the
pinched and anxious expression of the countenance was gone,
the skm feelins' mniaf. anrl warm onA ^h" i-"".*- k-"*-', .-x—
ally aud regularly. The reaction had taken place, and, as yet,
HMabasM
iim-nmi
■!■
i i
318 PROFESSONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
SdS^?SV°^ii^'^'" ^'''^'^ presented themselves. iVigb
5 T^ 11 ?f* ?*""? '^^ '"' *"^ ^i" surprised him with -
.' Wei , Doctor, the Drnm-major is all correct, isn't it?'''
He intended to throw back at the physician one of his half
ffrri^'^l^i^r^' ;;^^mma/.r," and the man of drugs a
herbs laughed heartily over the confusion of ideas whfch E«
did not pause to correct, but continued his exaSion of th
patient's pulse, and then said : ^
"You're better 1 We may even safely say that the crisis
has been passed, and from this time forward,^w^h go^^^^^^^^
Ring, you will gradually convalesce." ^ '"
It was true Big Bill was in no present danger.
co^rfrl'° ^ ^P' r''"^" u *^'^ "«""^' ^"* ^^^ °o h«rt« to re-
cover from, excepting those inflicted upon the stomach and
f 'Tv ri^ ^^l^'"^' '' ^*^'«^ '' •« ^'^^tomary to gTve litt e
u any, heed, and he arose, comparatively well, in good seasm;
for dmner According to custom, he was honoured wth
chair near that of the landlady, who invariably sat at thlhead
ne board and poured the coflfee. with which every dinner m
^lat house was prefaced, while the remainder of the dish "
baTkwCf fathl!^^'^' "^ '^"^' '^ *^« ^-^' o^^-^-^i-r
The new arrival was already a favourite with nearly all the
bZoI'a'T T '\' H' ^°^^^«^' '^^' he always had
smile and a pheerful word with which to greet every one than
from thegeneral understanding that Mrs. Buxton wL occasion
ally caught casting her blue eyes in his direction. In trl
Jones^ the "oldest boarder," who had zealously our"ed the
who lrJ.T°'' 'h"" ' ^'^'* *^ ^^' "° small disgust of others
Vanf'Z ^J'^'^fy^' ^°^«"« to take the same course, felt tha
Tonlr! * ^*'' ""^y ^ .'""^ ^'"^ ^^'^^ ^^^^^ the aforesaid
Jones put on a sour expression, looked as surly as his round
and expressionless face and milk-and-water eyes would permit
and usually sought to pick flaws in the sailor's general deport'
But Root kept his allotted place near the head of the table,
M°?V'"^^u*^ f^' more and tried the harder to treat th
acnd fellow who kept a small grocery store almost opposite
Mrs. Buxton s house, with courtesy and cordiali^v. UndVr hhii
regimen, uoiies was first very mad, then madder, 'then maddest
DETECTIVES.
PBOMSSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 319
But the widow and the new comer seemed to care little, and
eveu preljnded not to notice the mental pangs and jealouJ tor.
tures of the disappointed suitor. Others were not so lenient
however, and did see. . They poked fun at Jones unmercifully.'
On this particular Sunday, Root did not look or really feel
aB well as was natural with him. He was not precisely ill, but
there lurked a sense of unrest about his mind, and a remnant
of bad whisky m his system, which tended to less joviality
than usuaUy characterized him. He saw at a glance when he
entered the long, low dining-hall, that his connection with the
late affair between Big Bill and Bates had just been under dis-
cussion, and he determined not to be the first to recall the sub-
ject He therefore commenced to talk to the disaffected Jones,
about duck-hunting, of which the dealer in molasses and green
tea knew about as much as Eoot did of the profession of
preachmg Jones retorted hy a sickly grin, intended to be sar-
castic and said he didn't hunt. He « was a man of peace, and
didn t believe m shooting harmless water-fowl "
"But you eat ducks, when cooked 1 " asked the operative.
Yes; but that 8 another thing," responded Jones. "I
dnnk tea, but I don't kill Chinamen 1 "
f "^;5j?fV"'^y°"*^^,H^^°S about?" asked Mrs. Bux-
ton, Whativer it is, all of us want to hear something, else
« wu ^^° ^^'^ ^"^"^ *''' ""bounded this mornin' ? " '
What was that you were remarking?" asked Root, as-
suming an air of innocence. '
" 01;. the murther an' the robbery, an' all that i Sure, an' it's
yourself that knows what we mane, so don't ye kape us starvin'
fur all the worruld like so many ducks waitin' fur to be fed "
Koot acknowledged that he knew of no murder. True
there had been a robbery in the place • it had been found out ,'
the person stolen from had recovered his money : Big Bill was
in bed with a sore head ; a man named Bates /a fn %ll S
another battered pate, the last-mentioned personage bein^
charged with crime, and having before him a prospect of doin|
the btate some service in the penitentiary. ^
J.u\^T'' ^""' »o^'" exclaimed Mrs. Buxton's mother
f°u'l^l^_^yA^r' ^ho always sat at the landlady's ri«ht hand:
Iwe W'^ninlff ^ T'"*" woman- that ever wore white
woe oap and imoked a cUy pine in the ohimaey nob. " Oh,
;f
320 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
I >: 1
:W .;
hear him I he was there 1 an' there was no murder, arther all I
Did ye iver see sich a wicked falsifier as that same Andy
Burch, who wasn't there, but said he wur, an' who comes here
this blissid day an' tells us that Mr. Root had clane kilt the
robbin' thafe of the worruld, an* helped to bury him aftlier
midnight I Worra ! worra 1 did I ever hear such a liar ] The
future punishment of some persons nade be hard above the
common. An' there was no murder afther all V
" No, Mrs. McCarty, there was no person killed."
" Musha I An' Raceford is to be beaten by that miserable
Rockton, which had an enthire suicide, all to itself, only a
wake ago it was last Wednesday ! "
And the nervous old lady wi^ed her eyes and threw back
the wide ruffles of her new cap, adorned with the lavender
ribbons, as though very indignant that somebody had not been
put out of the way. ^ She " wondered why Rockton should
have a monopoly of such things, leaving its rival, Raceford, be-
hind % " Still Mrs. McCarty was the kindest-hearted old lady
in the place, and would shed tears over an accident to a neigh-
bour's pet kitten.
" Whisht, now, mother," said Mrs. Buxton. " We are glad
to learn, so we are, that no person was mortally injured."
" An' to be sure we are— but that lying spalpeen, Andy
Burch 1 Jist wait till he comes forninst me again 1 "
Here the conversation became general, and various topics
were discussed, but the talk was constrained and uninterestiri"
until Root had related, in a modest way, the truth of the affair
in which he had participated. It was noticed by Jones, who
seemed to watch narrowly to see the eflFect, that when the
young man spoke of the pistol which Bates had purposed us-
ing upon him, the widow turned pale, and her hand trembled
perceptibly as she prepared a second cup of coffee for some one.
Mrs. McCarty grew powerfully excited, and had to be quieted
by her daughter, Jones looked on, a glum, sulky and lower-
ing individual " Poor Jones I " This was the mental re-
mark of all who appreciated bis uncomfortable condition.
After dinner, in the widow's own sitting-room, to which he
had been invited by both ladies. Root entered more fully into
particulars. The result was that Mrs. Buxton mildly rebuked
nitn fnr ** kan incr aiinVi oomnanv " anA aaiA fo^M^,.]., .
— — - — — — ST— rj -— — — •^•'—gr-r-rj f zimna 3mu| xoC.UU^Xjr i ,
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 321
"It is » shame so dacint a young gintleman should be affcher
roaming about the streets of Eaceford ^t the dead hour of
night wid such a bad, mane set as the Grooms, who we the
divil's own imps — especially Jo and Little Bill."
The new-comer was advised to steer clear of the entire crew.
j As the contrary course was in the exact line of his duty, how-
ever, Root, after patiently listening to his landlady's remarks,
promised he would "think of it" He did so, and arrived at
the conclusion that he was compelled to continue the acquain-
tance so auspiciously commenced. While Big Bill, Jo and Lit-
tie Bill Groom might have nothing to do with stealing logs, or
gelling such as had been stolen to the mills, and although they
might not, in person, drive iron dogs into timber to break
costly saws and endanger valuable lives, they were of Uie exact
class of men who undoubtedly would know something about
these transactions, and as to the identity of the persons en-
gaged in their perpetration. Undoubtedly it was Root's task
to keep up his intimacy with the Groom family.
Wandering down the main street of the place, a little later
■ the same Sunday afternoon, the operative encountered Jo
j Groom, sauntering leisurely along, dressed in his best, toward
jMr. Slay ton's residence, where he sometimes passed au hour or.
I two of a Sabbath evening. Whether his visits were agreeable
ItoMr. Slayton, or the contrary, Mrs. Slayton, as the scandal-
Imongers of the West Side, as well as those of the East Side,
hrere united in saying, was not averse to his presence.
I Koot was received by Jo with more than usujJ cordiality, and
Ihis hand was shaken with fraternal warmth. Jo had heard the
Iparticulars of the attempted roobery from Big Bill, to whom,
lupon learning of his troubles, he had paid an early visit, andi
jhe was keenly touched by the evj deuces of he devotion of tlii»(
Inew-found-friend, which he had receivedfrom his brother'*)
Tips. He was greatly beholden to Root. He would never for-i
get him for savmg Bill's life, and shrewdly thwarting the vil-J
jlain. Bates. Again he proffered his assistance in securing;
anything that was attainable in Raceford. He was on his way
to Slayton's house to secure something for his friend to do.'
oot was pleased, in turn, and spent some time in agreeablej
onversation. when it was finally arransred that, Tuesday of th*'
"le week, tfaejr thould take a trip to^Pine Log Bridge^ gom^
#
~-^y ^WiiilA^iuijSiBJH*^
322 PROF^IONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
distance np the course of, the Lotus, in company, and shoot
duck, there reputed very ^plentiful. Monday they would not
be able to leave, as Bates's examination had been fixed for that
date, but the next day they could go as well as not, both being
for that time unemployed.
Jo volunteerad to secure the loan of Slayton'a gun for hig
own immediate use, and allow Eoot to canry hi9, which was a
considerable exhibition of friendship on Jo's part, as he seldom
permitted any one to hunt with his fowhng-piece, by which he
set great store.
Then the two men separate^], Jo walking away, setting his
hat more jauntily than ever oh one ^ide of his head, taking the
direct route to Slayton's elegant mansion, s.hile the detective
still unknown as such to all in Kaceford, passed on to the river
and thence southward,^ along the edge of one of the races, or
auxiliary mill-courses, from which the town had received its
name, to the neighbourhood of Ligon's Mill. The trip was
taken, partly to find out if the Onen« still remained in port, and
partly for another purpose, connected with his business in the
locality. He discovered that the steamer was gone, having de-
parted during the previous night, and was not expected back
lor several weeks.
After looking about him in a seemingly careless manner, Root
discovered something worthy of examination, and sat down, in
the shade cast by a huge pile of lumber, near Ligon's Mill, to
study over the thing he had seen. It was an enjoyable posi-
tion, cooled by the fresh breeze which, that day, floated down
the valley watered by the river. While thus reposing, he was
joined byLittle Bill Groom, who had been engaged in fishintr
for rock-bass some distance further down the Lotus. Eoot
while none too well pleased by the interruption, civilly invited
the young reprobate to take a seat near him.
"Don't care if I do," said Bill the little, in his big basso pro-
fundo tone— a voice so deep and strong as to be notable when
contrasted with the size of the speaker— who was small, active,
wiry and weasel-like. He had the vocal cqmpass found iii the
heavier pipes of the church organ. One expected to seethe
form of the young man quiver and perhaps burst asunder in
giving utterance to his words. " Don't care if I do." said Littl*
am, M he rested himself not far from the operative. " Bin out
TECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 32.']
llBhin*. Got a few shiners. But they didn't bite>'%Bll tcday.
How are you, anyhow, since the rampagings andhittings of last
night?"
Little Bill was informed of Eoot's very good health, and also
of the fact that Jo had just been encountered on his way
to Siayton's. Little Bill received the last-mentioned item of
intelligence with a shrewd and slightly contemptuous shrug of
his little rounded shoulders, and remarked, in his, big, sonorous
voice:
" I don't half like Jo's going to Siayton's so much. He's
already got hisself inter one bloody muss there, bin told his
room's better nor his company, an' I should think he'd know
enoagh to stay away. But seems as how he won't take no sort
of a hint, without a kick, an' I'm thinkin' that 'fore many days,
like's not old man Slayton'll give him both hint an' kick' an*
the kick'll come fust. But Jo's tender place is wimnjen. Mine
and Big Bill's is whisky. I s'pose Mrs. Slayton, who's some
years younger nor her husband, has taken a sort o' notion to
Jo, an' it's got to be the talk of the town, both sides the river,
an' I wouldn't be surprised to come afoul o' Jo's dead body,
Bome mornin' early, when I'm out arter the cows, with a charge
o' buckshot ii the head. I tell yer, stranger, 'tain*t no nice
thing fur to go foolin' round arter none of these yer rapid
married ladies, even tho' they sets a trap fur ye. It's a dan-
gerous game. Fur my part, give me ducks andgfishes. They
don't never go back on a feller, and fishes 'specially alius bites
when tiiey're hungry, an^- when it rains, an' flies and sich is
scarce. I've warned Jo mor'n wonst. If he can't take the
warnin* he'll hev to suffer the consikinses."
Suddenly Little Bill dropped his fishing-pole, pointed' with
his finger in the direction of some lumber, and exclaimed :
"By , look there I"
Many of the boards were resting on the ground, just as they
were dumped from the feed-carriage of the saw-mill, conse-
quently they held about the relative positions they had occupied,
while in the log.
"I don't see anything I What is it I'' innocently queried
Soot 4
3. uiuu I. iuiuw ia:ii iiiu xjiguiis uuiungea w tne g&ng, said
LiMis Bill, in rospouae. " But^ look ther« 1 Do you Me that
*
ti
324 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
di'mond H t It's Hi Hooker's mark, an' Ligon's luill'i beea
cuttin' up Hooker's logs, or I'm a pesky muskrah I "
" Well," returned Root, with apparent unconcern, " I don't
doubt that the Ligons have bought the logs, or that they got
into their boom quite accidentally I "
*• •Bought 'em I' 'Accident I' All in yer eye, Mr. Root.
Old Ligon buy other men's logs ? He's not so green, when he
can git 'em fur almost nuthin' 1 No ! — Yet that ar' log with
the di'mond H onto its end was Hooker's property — but I'll
not say anything about it 1 'Twont pay 1"
" As for me," returned Root, " I'm sure that I've got no in-
terest in mentioning what I've seen I But I cau't imagine how
those little marks on the ends of the boards show that the log
was stolen I "
This was said as a feeler, to cause Little Bill to talk, and it
had the intended eflFect.*
** You see them creases on the ends of the boards 1 Well,
they're made with a soratcher, snthin like a gouge on the end
of one leg of a pair of dividers, which makes straight or crooked
lines on the but.tend of the saw-log when first cut and scaled.
Each mill-owner has his reg'lar mark which is recorded in the
nearest magistrate's office, an' law purtects 'eai in ownership
of all logs as has their sign onto 'em. Now pile eight or
ten of them widest boards a-top of each other an* you'll find
they'll fit- together, an' barrin what's bin cut away by the saws,
will make up the 'rig'n'l log, with the di'mond H onto its end."
Root saw very readily that Little Bill's description, while it
was not so complete as the one that Mr Warner had previously
given, him of the same process, was quite correct. Before him
was truly some stolen lumber. He made mental note of the
fact. After Bill had exhausted his store of information con*
corning marking ard scaling (measuring) logs, with the usual
processes of obliterating the characters by sledge hammem, or
sawing off the butts of the lug and then re-marking them, and
been listened to by Root — who, judging from his actions, must
have considered his revelations of very little interest— he arose,
gathered his fishing-tackle together, bid the stranger " good
evening," and waddled away homeward, for his supper. With
fodover one shoulder, a small string of bass in the left hand,
uid the right swinging carelessly at his side ; a big bunch of hii
DETECTIVES.
}ill to talk, and it
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 325
rtraight, black hair sticking from the dilapidated crown of his
itraw hat ana fluttering in the bree«e ; with dirty, bare feet •
pantaloons turned up from their bottoms half-way to the wear-
er's knees, and a long and spacious, much-tattered and soiled,
but once brown Imen coat, nearly sweeping the ground and
klging out behmd in tne wind, as he walked, he presented a
picture of active, rugged rascality that an artist would have
delighted m portraying. Little Bill of the big voice had been
comparatively successful that afternoon, hence was uncommonly
cheerful, and, while he plodded on toward the house that he
called his home, seeking some of the less-frequented streets,
probably from deference to the church-going residents of the
West bide, he hummed the quaint and ancient ballad, each
stania of which closed :
*' My name L? Captain Kidd,
As I sail, as I sail I "
When left alone. Root, without making himself particularly
noticeable— m fact, quite the reverse— found, through rapid
personal examination, that Ligon's mill had not only worked
up Hookers logs into boards, but had served those belon^^ing
to aDd bearing the marks of several othe- proprietors in^the
same mannjr. Among these the detective succeeded in jotting
down on a stray bit of paper the following : Four marked <^ .
one marked @ (Raceford Booming & Manufacturing Corn'
pany's design) ; four marked \e ; three marked [F] ; one
marked {g; two marked 1^; one marked >^; and others
not bearing theur own sign, ^. Of course, the majority of
the boards in the yard rightfully belonged there
M^'?„r2fn?''K P°'''* ^r"^- , ^'•^^^ "«^"^°«*^ unobserved to
Mrs. Buxton's house, and at a late hour that night, wrote and
maJedtomea report, detailing the circunstances' related^n
this diapter It is unnecessary to say that the eariier part of
the mght had been passed in Widow Buxton'a little back p,^
PwJmmt
326 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER V.
' 1
1:1^ li
RACEFORD JUSTICE.
J HE examination into the affair of Alfred Bates, charged
upon affidavit of Big Bill, otherwise William Groom,
and Jasper Root, with the high criAes of robbery and
assault with intent to commit murder, under the State statutes,
was necessarily held before two magistrates of competent juris-
diction. Justice Simmons, the West Side official, summoned
to his assistance Elihu Tillman, the East Side magnate, and at
ten A. M. the Monday, following the trouble, they jointly occu-
pied the little, tabled and slightly elevated platform at one end
of the small, dingy court-room, sitting upon the two high-
backed, splint-bottomed office chairs, denominated, for the
nonce, the judges* bench.
Mr. Simmons was stout, stumpy, florid, blue-eyed and red-
haired. He had formerly consumed brandy habitually, thus
providing a rubicund wrapper for his jolly, big hottle-nose, and
many a flaming carbuncle upon either rosy cheek. He was
now a temperate man. He dressed carelessly, spoke grufSy
and stutteringly, and usually decided suits justly. Wanting
in scholarship, and writing with hesitancy, as for indituig a cor-
rect legal document he could no more accomplis a that feat than
" squeeze himself throuL,h an alderman's ring." The impedi-
ment in his speech detracted materially from the lucidity of his
legal decisions and marred the solemnity befitting nuptial cere-
monies. In the latter he was frequently obliged to officiate.
He was also subject to seasons of mental abstraction — absent-
mindedness. In one of these he so badly blundered as to pro-
nounce the newly-wedded pair " m-m-m-an and w-w-wife— and
m-m-may G-g-g-od h-have m-m-ercy on your s-s-souls 1" He i
was thinking of a convict that Judge Wallow would have to
sentence to be hanged
during
the next month. But, withal,
** 'Squire Simmons," as he was usually called, comported him-
self like the upright, honourable man th.:i t he was. and cextainl? I
became a good judge of the distilled juice of the grape, somei
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 327
dmes described as "old Cognac "-so good a judge that he quit
the use of it-if not of the points in a coraplicated suit at law.
Justice Tillman, of the East Side, was thin and lath-like in
hgure, and finical as to dress and demeanour. Not very tall
but mentally and physically a prodigious man— in his own mal
ture and deliberate estimation. With stiff, dark hair, brushed
backward and upward from a low, narrow forehead, and care-
fully tucked behind a prominent pair of flabby, amply-spread-
ing ears.;. with small, suspicious black eyes; with bushy broWs
which came together across the root of a turned-up nose, which
seemed always to be snuffing some bad odour in the atmosphere :
with no beard upon his jaundiced face; with thin, pursedup
lips, and sharp, squirrel teeth ; long visage and a mock-maies.
tic mien, the Justice of the Peace from the East Side was ora-
cular, opinionated, high-flown in language, and a graduate of
the acadenoy at Yorkville. Quite Chesterfieldian in his written
style, in his own judgment and understand ii»g, he articulated
hoarsely and with a muscular effort, as though perpetually suf-
ferii;gfrom a " frog in the throat." One great point that he
usually made in the delivery of his '--non. or findings in
cases, was to flourish an immaculate vet-handkerchief and
blow his musical proboscis violentiv, as though to give point
and emphasis to his sonorous sentences. He was always anx-
ious to have Skoob, the editor of the East Side Bugle of Lib-
erty ^^re^mt, and nigh at hand, to make extended note of his
legal utterances, especially those styled by their author cover-
ing " the civil aspects of the subject."
Simmons did not « car. a Continental," he sometimes stut-
teringly remarked, -for the Press, and dried-up old Jobson, of
the tVestSide Bird of Freedom, might come and hear, or stay
away, whichever suited him best. As fur Skoob and his East
bide penny trumpet, whatever Re or it reported he did nut
mmd, and no sensible person in Kaceford would for a moment
seriously consider." Simmons also used a handkerchief, and
ms proboscis was more trumpet-toned than Tillman's. In this
th^ were alike. In all other things different
The hour had arrived.
Deputy Sheriff Babb opened Court in his usual style, which
o«^ T-ia ""^ " l:"Z :"/°f"^,'^-» -"d Luo two magistrittcs 8at, aieri
aad stiffly er«ct» behind their primitive pine table.
Ml
',' ir'
I 'ii \m
328 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
At the lefl^ and before the jastice., was the witnejiiubox .n
oM Jl-used, splint-bottom chair, mithout a vestigeTrSck
and suffering from one shaky leg. To the rilht wm tlf '
prisoner's bar, another wreck of a common chai"wk a broL
shingle replacing.the worn-out seat, and both of its forw^d su^
ports very unreliable. Across the remainder of the aD^tm3
TsSKf '"'' '?P"^^ "^^'^^^ benches, withor&^
zests for the occupants' spines, unplaned and innainted vlt kI
firT7r^°§^°u^°'°"^^ i^ *^"*h' muchScotui/elJj
■moke had stained them of a dirty yellow from end to end S
their upper surfaces had acquired polish fr^m frequent conttf
StKT P-^^°^^-'°^berleL coarse p"ii2oTplt^^^^^^^^^
Infront of the judge's desk ran a narrow shelf, for the use of al*
i?«T' ^^??« ^^fremity, next to the pri oner whoVa^^
ms place, stolid, unkempt and sullen, appeared Mr lS «
prominent criminal lawyer of the place, who had been ^4t'ed
by Bates for his defence. Little whittled aC upon a bt of
soft wood, with his penknife, and worked his corkscrew face iltc
diverse and sundry fantastic but unhandsomrshapes rhe
mentely reviewed the intricate paths through wWh he must
tr j: T :l'^A^ f^"^'^ the highway to^?hC'^tontiZ'
«nJ^f fif °^,J^^ District Attorney, rested quieUy at the S
end of the shelf, or stand. He wa^ gentlemanly, pkcid. frSh
looking, and reputed a sound, sensible lawyer ^ ^
Little was towering in stature, bony in build, unprinciDled in
ment of '^r "^'" "^ F" ^'*^?^ b^"*^^«'i abus ve KTrl" •
ment of witnesses and opposing counsel, although DosseLinffa
flow of native eloquence which he could Employ wheHbSe J
m a particularly knotty casa Bates' mat4 wm believ!S h.
those who knew Little intimately, to Ta hLd one to hand?/
judging from the many eccentric curves anS ^maces into whl^
the awyer wrought his features, and the dSgenS w?th wMch
rng off large shavings, recklessly and nervously.
book if hlnd'LT^n?? V^' ^*^y^'«' '^^'' ^ide awake, note-
Dook in hand and spectacles on nose. . Jobson was in his nlace
fh^nlT^^f^ ''^^^^ ^^^ «moke-begrimed court^room ^m^e
- -^ ■ '^^e «v"n, ttU fchac transpired about him, thinking
tBOntSSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 329
K-VSt'l^l^^"? ^^' "^'^^^^^ ^ preparation for his
hi/fect'SU'? '"^^ ''^^"^ beenconunitted within
easily and sidewise upon the witness chair. His testimonv
HMiought such conduct very "siugTrl" LitUe bTiJi S^
w"l;,Hl^''yi ^"^^ %1-gn>oinl»wM then the caU nude
ij Squire Simmons, and Ui»t. peMonage, very Dale W» h^
Sr^f h^vf" ^'°*^°' "'^I'^ oautiousl/occupieS the
2r„?^u* . "8 d"« knowledge of the frailty and uncer.
wishXoTSn in « i™' T'^y morning, pretended that he
nl «n J P' W ^"^""^^y '^^y' <» l>ring him to his honi&
2?^ wf.l";."' -"J ^*"' ^^ «*"^«^ ^-^^ d"i^ken man overThe
oblThil' Kr "' °^r ^"«' i^ "°* kiUiog, and then
S? ^r BrSf ti ''^i """^ I'^'y ""^"^^y cross-elamined by
Slalk Wrin^,i^^ '^'^'^ ^'"P""^' ^^ gi^«»» i"^ testimony
Tons S r^^ ^° occurrences at his place, "Justice Sim-
chai?^"T^ R-r-r-root I » and that individual fiUed the vacant
tdbJl^S^-^''^'*^.^; '^"^^ *^«<^' *' this stage ofTro-
BTmeS .^ Till "Pr\*^^' P^" *"** P^«P»^«d to note down
Bomething ; Tillman bnghtened up ; Simmonfl ert^vr « oho^^
more crimson in the face fskoob turned oTe^aTe^erf JoLl
ceased his snoring; Babb, the deputy^wLLrn^fei to h^
prisoner, and the spectatijrs hitchVkCt unS o^ the
^ rvxuoiacu b&ese unuiuai symptoms,
•!!.,
li^
330
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES ANB THE DETECTIVES.
lii
He was very sooq
and wondered what might be m the wind,
enlightened.
Justice Tillman, assisted and directed by Jacobs, first inte^
rogated the witness; and all went smoothly enough until it
came Little's time for cross-examination. The lawyer correctly
concluning that, if he could break down this part of the testi
naony, he might yet succeed in winning his case, had held his
chief forces in reserve, to dash them, as he expected, with
crushing effect upon the sailor's devoted head. He commenced
m a harsh and arrogant manner by Proposing unimportant and
even impertinent questions, perhaps to test the metal of hU
subject. Encounter succeeded encounter, and in every one the
lawyer came off only second best. This had consumed some
minutes, when Root noticed Jones, "Poor Jones I" sitting in
one corner, a deeply-pterested and apparently delighted audi-
tor. ^ Then the plot instantaneously flashed through the oner-
ative's brain. The jealouspated grocer was at the bottom of the
annoyances that Little had been giving and was preparing for
him. Having the key, however, the witness believed he could
solve the riddle to his own satisfaction, if not to that of the en-
tire assemblage.
"You say, Mr. Root," queried Little, in a softened and
would-be-msinuating tone of voice, "that you suspected the
defendant, and therefore followed him. Be so kind as to in-
form the Court why. you suspected Bates ?"
"He played into Big Bill's hands— Bill being very drunk
—when he (Bates) had shown, by an exhibition of superior
skill, that he could easily have won the money himself,
becond, Batfes had previously watched Bill and Jo, and par-
ticularly noticed the size of Jo's pile of money. Third the
pnsoner left the saloon ahead of the rest, and stopped, after
walking a little distance, waiting, on Big Bill's direct route
homeward. Fourth, as I moved along, before reaching the
grove, I heard footsteps near, and they were not made by
Groom, but sounded like those of the prisoner."
" That'll do, Mr. Root You were not called here to make
a speech. Tell the Court where you were born."
" In Edinburgh, Scotland."
''Your age f"
" Twenty-eighi,**
: DETECTIVES,
tie was very soon
id was preparing fer
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTITES. 331
" How long have you resided in this countrv t '
"Twelve years." '
" Were you ever convicted of any crime J "
*' No I And 1 never bad any occasion for employing a petti-
fogger for any purpose whatever."
Applause from the audience told the witness that he had
struck the right chord. Mr. Justice Simmons attempted to
cry " Order in the Court ! " but had hardly reached his third
stuttering repetition of « Or-," when Justice Tillman came to
his assistance, and completed the sentence with a profoundly
audible « der in the Court ! " followed by a resounding note
fromi his nasal trumpet, partly muffled by the white pocket-
handkerchief, which startled he citizens and restored silence.
Mr. Little whittled aw > U more vigorously at his piece of
shingle, and started o , ,y tack.
" Mr. Root, tell the Uourt where you lived before oomine to
Raceford."
" For a couple of days, at Trafton."
" Where before going to Trafton J"
"Chicago."
" In what business 1 *
"Sailing." •
" On what vessel ? "
"The schooner Maria, Charles
Boyer, master."
" What is your business here 1 "
" To enter upon some employment."
"Had you any other calling, while a resident of Chicago,
other than sailing ? " °
"Yes. I was, for a time, porter in Smith, Walker & Co.'i
wholesale grocery house, on South Water Street, where Jones,
of this city, formerly bought his stock. Just before I left,
however, Jones' credit gave out, and the firm refused to trust
him for any more goods "
" Stop I stop ! " interrupted Little. " I protest I I appeal
to the Court if the witness has not exceeded his bounds 1 "
" But Mr. Little seems to have no bounds, as concerns his
questions," explained Root.
TTnnn lioorinrr fVio ollnoinn f-^ T«~^~ -Ai. i.i . ^
fclly concentrated upon the grocer, that his malicious enjoyment
Walker, owner, Captain
932
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
if
investigation. It bad ohancTd fust at il ' ''°°'»"«»ace of the
mmd reverted to the Chicago whnll ^^^^^ ?'*°»«»* boot's
Wed where he first saw S^LIui T^^ ^'"i! ^^'^^ *»« '«"»«^-
along, been strangely fami L to h?.^ S' ''^'''^ ^'^ ^^^> a"
engaged upon peculiw servrce na^* • J^« ^^Pe^ative had been
Ca'8 porter. foV setral months In^f^l^ ^"'^^^' talker &
cognition, hence could nrrefli«; ^ht^ ^1^ ?**^ fear further re-
for setting LitUe nChhJ *^« '^"'Ptation to repay Jones
^ Order was soon restored, and tittle once more changed his
-enLlS: Z t'rfen&S ""^'S^^^ '^« ^^o-^^. -
colour of Bates's clothbg !'' "^P'"* ^^'' ^"^ What was the
thelr'^c'oC''^^'^ ^^ ^« *^fi»-tte Court can judgeof
When the moon did not shine."
«a^'ot^?.^?^'^^-^-'^^
"What did you do!"
mtlytl ^^^^iS -»' -"-, and then thumped hi. head
«S?Jou carry pistols f»
WHen I happen to be with a thief »
" Th.f8 not •^>y'»nngtjSnel2 w'^''^"''« ^ »"
»o rtnke the prisoner » "' <•"«'■<>''• Wei« you oompeUed
« W i^5 produce a pistol i " ' ^^'^ '
mu^b i^^y%la"fc r^f ^e o^- «-. - ^^^
" Wilted f " ^^'^'^'^ «iose to his cheek, and he Wilted."
"Yes."
A.iu]. nvav wl..!. ;_<«.._
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 333
"It's about what you did, Mr. Little— begging pardon of the
Court— when I spoke of Grocery Jones, awhile ago. You
ghouldn't have lent yourself to badger me, because Jones dis-
likes me and wanted you to."
Little was cornered again. There was a roar of laughtei
from the direction of the seats, and Babb, the Deputy Sheriff
had to cram nearly all of his pocket-handkerchief into his
mouth to keep from joining in the same sort of disturbance
Both justices shouted " Order I Order ! " in their respective
and strangely dissonant voices, and presently comparative
dilence was secured.
" None of your impudence, witness, if you please ; but a
elear and direct answer to my questions."
" Certainly, sir."
"Did Bates really make any attempt to kill you 1"
"Ho drew his weapon and held it, cocked, ready for use, in
a threatening attitude. You may call that an attack, if you
wish. It was as nigh one as I desire a man like Bates to get
when I'm around I "
"How do you know the lock of the pistol was set I *
"It was at full-cock when Big Bill picked it up, and is so
still. That's the pistol— the one upon the table before you."
Here was another halting place foi* Little. Skoob started
spasmodically, and dropped his note-book ; Jobson opened his
eyes ; even the magistrates were interested, and the prisoner
who had previously been gazing upon vacancy, looked up at
Little and seemed to be talking lowly to himself, his words
sounding somewhat different from those of a heartfelt benedic-
tioD.
Little began again :
"Mr. JKoot^ did you jee the prisoner take Bie Bill'i
money r* 6 *"•
" I did not. As I said before *'
" Never mind what you ' said before I ' Did yon see Bates
searching Bill's pockets 1 "
" As I said before—again begging pardon of the Court— I
did not. Bates was bending over, and his hands resting upon
toll 8 body. I^ can't^say he was searching his pockets, but I do
*ay .,e. was neithef choking him nor pulling oU his boots, and
Hu hands were in the vimnitv of the hio pocket, in which, bnt
334 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
» few moments earlier, at Brott's salooiL I had seen Groom a
poait a considerable roll of currency." "* ' "*^ **«** »'«>«» ^e-
;; ^^at aid Bill do when he arose t "
and .!:'t "7u ?**r^"^ ""^'y "^a^ ; I was not at all pleased
notes which were recognLd ^ B ?s p^^^^^^^
Skoob dropped his note-book again.
Alter a long and tedious examination resulh*n» in «« ^-
' That's all— you are a sharp witness ! "
im glad you think so ! Wish I could sav the sama «*
you regarding your capabilities as an atS y Lt I mn'T?'^
Agam the building was shaken,, even to its fou^datinr«
^J^dsmt'ToTt^lTt^r ^' ^PP-ciati^ntm^hfbS
wooasmen. Koot took his former seat, the lawyers haH tvlt
CHAPTER VI.
DIAMOND OUT DUMOND.
;HE character Root had been instructed to assume he now
.fnWW 1 T] '^*°^'"S ^^« ^^^^^^h none of the b^st when
.^nf L^K -^'^'/'r'l'^^^^ '^^^ '^^'^^^^<^ to farther my d^
S' .? -w ''^ *?3^'S^* *^« mysterious depredators In f^r
^e tengible evidence in the proper direction i^d aLl'
-^ ^x.i.od, wnicn would prove valuable in the future" but
^M'Uf:
PROFESSJONAI. THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 335
it could not be openly employed untU something additional ha4
ThiTlt: ®'f Tf '• ®° i^V«^''«»» "'"^ be continued.
fhr^itwK ""^ the osses of the Maniifacturing Company,
through the annual disappearance of its saw-log! alone! can
^ZlJ'lTJTT^ or appreciated by those unacquainted with
the deUils of the rafting and lumber-producing industry. I
AXrlT'"" ^^ 5« ^nager.that probably thirty thousand
t fh« V*' T'^ ^'" '^**u'^°^ reimbursing the corporation
for the heavy drain upon their resources caused by thieving
and roguery in its myriad shapes, and the stated yearly deficit
from this source was actually increasing with the 'apse of tinae^
Powerful efforts were now to be made to permanently put wide
all opportunities for the continuance of robberiea
Koot had received minute instructions from me, before leav-
ing Chicago, to endeavour to enter Eaceford under some real
or assumed cover m order that the parties engaged in Ulega
acts in that vicmiy might receive him with ogen arms^nd
Z r'S'f '" ^1 '^' """i^- ^'^ ^^'^ ^«*^y to accord r^ in
their midst or a place m their esteem, to members of the same
clan, than the extended guild of guilt and crimr
How perfectly the officer had been taught this, and how he
carefully obeyed my directions, has already beenXeloped
He was safely on the ground ; was well acquainted, in sSme
respects, with the men who knew, if anybody in tKighW
hood knew, aU the windings and intricacies of the bu fness to
be worked upon ; was measurably popular, and occupy ngthe
ZLr%T' \ri' ^«g«dvthat I had desired ?.e should
occupy The publicity necessarily given him iu the robbenr
«.lv^lT%'?^ and accompanying evente, was not pS
LVnlir^'^^-^TuT^^' b"*' «« *h« «««> of befriending
and probably saving the life of Big BUI had indelibly stamped
bis merits upon the minds of that famUy, as their partS
Kern VnH'"'^^'"' ^^ ^''"^ ^''''' «"PP^««d feKSn^
in fer ' ^ 'Tu incident was one of those quite common
m detective and other experience, which could not well be
avoided provided for in advance, ir guarded against rfound
no fault but accepted the resulto with as goodTgrace as p^
"^5^/Jl*?l**^^«P«'*ti^« to continue his labour^ ^
f^a.icfteci iiiau iwot s connection with the Agency Vraa im. .
penetrably hidden, the remainder waa not, dilciS to b^i
33« PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVlS.
^1" ?*?°r .****?" '^w » «nn favourite with the loueh portlwi
of the inhabitants of EaceforA His fame a. a ehw?, .1^3'
reckleei M well as brave and formidable man, had rS
even to the environs of the West Side, and of the EairSide
while there were some who looked upon him as no better than
the vagabond famUy with whose members he passed much of
^^«tS ^ "^T' ^y *^** '^''^ *^« rt .pectawTp^ple il
Raceford were all prepared to shun him as nndoubtSly thev
were prepared m the case of the Grooms. ^ ^
So industriously did the mate of the steamer Orient circulate
his story, saying that Root was flying from the United StaJ^
authorities and working in the pfne^ mere^to W^himael?
S? nW^T^r ^"^ ^'"^^ ^i* * ^^"P^« «^ ^^J" » resident
the place before he was made aware of the fact that he waa
watched and foUowed by some one. Had le lacked visuiS Td
auncular evidence, which he did not, Big Bill had riven Mm
the information that a stranger, calling hfmself K and ^
l^ * ?^?*i: ^ Y'°S>.^ "'^^ *^« ^ «o*»ceal, was 2ot fearful of
•rrest, but he thought it best to get rid of his shadower Prl
tending to have urgentbusiness at different and widely^eparated
points m the town, he tested the capabilities, patience wd
muscle of the official to the uttermost. ^ ^
The officer hailing from Trafton had not sa«ceeded in follow-
m^ him without a break, and one particularly dark night, after
losing his party several times and then picking him 5p a^fn
?n. wTt^'^'""'"'? '^ if^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^«°»«' o' to » meet!
ing with his supposed ct -federates. It was nearly ten o'clock
^fLXT''w'^i^'''J ^'1^ *^" ''""^'^y f^^^teps foUowTng
after him. Walking tor a time very fast, Root gained several
St f offi *^' *f ^ ^^*°' ^I ^"*^^S *Wli by plfrunknown
tt,. S ^r' "'"\'? ^""^^"^^ «"^^«^^y ^^"d his pursuer"
In i^^^^v P°° ^"^ ,>^^?° ^^ ^^ ^0* «^"«« the Revenue
man to drop h« g^um Passing by, pretending not to notice
his thadower. Root contmued his trip homeward, the other foT
lowing as rapidly in his wake. Up street and down streei
across vacant o^ through cornfields and gardens, over ftS
^d under n^ng. tearing thornbushes, the%iS^7mugX
ed the now thoroughly mystified and exhaustedmyrmidK
KTECTIVES.
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 337
At last, reaching the boaraing-house, Root sprang nimbly up
he staire, quickly opened and passed within the entrance.
eaving the door partly ajar. Very soon he heard his following
rieud coming after, probably to examine and learn the name on
Ihe panel Just as that jaded and disappointed individual
reached the upper step and had bent himself forwal-d to read
he words oa tlje plate by the light of a lucifer match that he
had Ignited Itoot suddenly flung back the heavy door and
stood facing his late pursuer.
1 "^°°^^*»«re, my friend, whoever and whatever you are I " ex-
claimed the angry operative, " get out from this I Go, or you'll
run against something from this'Vproducing and cocking his
revolver-" which may hurt you I If Little has hired you to
waylay me, tell him it can't be done 1 Go now, or it will be
worse for you I Get out 1 "
The still blazing match dropped from the trembling hand of
the affrighted, thunder-stricken personage, and, without utter-
lug a single word, he retreated from the spot. Root listened
until his footsteps no longer met his ear, and then re-entered
his boarding place and retired.
I^A^fu'^v'' 7^^ ^^*^**^ ^ ^^^^ y« ta^J^in' wid, last night r-
asked the lively widow, at the breakfast table, the next morn-
woi^« I " ^^" ^"^^ ""^^ ' ^""^ ^""'^ ^"""^^ "^^Shty hard
Jl ^5^u-°' "^^ ^-^ r '^^Ponded the detective, as he deliberately
flT ^ f n''°^'r"*°- ^^? '*"*^^'> "Oh, yesl I remember; i
' w 1 T-.^,""^.' '"^ *^« ^*^^' ^'^' I J"st scolded him away I "
f}.i7T f ?lr'*V •^^'?'.*'C^ *^°»gh*^ I heard yo^ «ay some,
thin about * Mr. Little 'I But I must have been dramin' 1 "
I'oor Jones looked up sheepishly and beseechingly at
Mrs. Buxton, and scalded his mouth with the hot liquid h2
unwittingly swallowed, but made no complaint.
Ihis was all that was said on the subject.
And the revenue detective took a steamer, that very day.
for home, and was seen no more in the vicinity •
JlT^ Simmons, with whom Root, after the trial, had
become rather intimate, when made familiar with the night's
adventure, laughed heartUy, at first* then assumed «ni^ of
!!:■■
f
It
Wi«-.j.ia:i«al.,
388 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES Alfo THE DETECTIVES
"I don't know much about these detectives," remarked
Boot, with earnestness, "and must say that the little I have
read and heard of them prompts me not to seek their acquaint-
ance, but it would seem that if this fellow is one of the clas^,
they are not all as shrewd or succebi^siul as they might be. In
fact, whoever employed him has been egregiously swindled.
A greater blockhead never entered public or private service ! "
" You're r-r-right, s-s-sir," stuttered the magistrate. " I'm
of your op-p-p-pinion 1 The G j government b-b-bettor gf.fc rid
of all s-s-such f-f-fellows I "
Here Mr. Simmons brought his voice down to a aoarse
stage whisper, and advised his visitor to look out fdv that,
scoundrel, Little. He suggested that, if he did not, i/he uq«
principled lawyer migjht do him some bodily harm. The oper-
ative thanked the judge for his counsel, but did not see how
the attorney, if that way inclined, could work him any damage.
It was explained to him that Little was a bad man, held temper
like an Indian, and had never been known to quit an enemy
until he had been severely punished. He would hardly attack
Root in opei daylight, or in a fair field, but, in time, manage
to press him into close quarters and then apply the law, the
lash, or some unfair form of violence without mercy. Dealing
in ambuscades, thrusts in the dark at character or life, he did
not hesitate to hire and pay for injury to the body or property
•of his foe. Controlling the East Side newspaper, and owning
its editor, body and soul, as the people said, he used both
dexterously and unscrupulously to the accomplishment of his
evil ends and purposes. Such was the general reputation of
the party that Boot had deeply offended.
After thanking the justice, and promising to be on the look-
out, the operative agreed, upon receiving a cordial invibatioo
from the kind-hearted Simmons, to call again, and then took
his leave.
Jo Groom was found by Boot, at least two hours before
noon, that day, in what was then known as "the Frenchman'i
bowling saloon," so badly under the influence of liquor that
he concluded not to say a word about their proposed hunting
excursion. Big Bill was not yet well enough to go, and Little
Bill far from the kind 'of companion he desired on any occaaiou,
ynach less as a fellow-occupant of a frail skiff« with two loaded
I
CTECTlVEfl
PftOf-tCSSlOKAL THilCVES AND^THE DETECTIVES. 339
•hot-gung. Besides, Littie Bill was less in the detective^s con-
fidence than either of his cousins. This being the situation,
he was compelled to defer the trip, and seek other companion,
ship and employment. He fom)d the latter in looking over
the newspapers, which, it being Saturday, were issued that
afternoon, and they were, to him and to others, more than
ordmanly mteresting.
It being the week following the examination and committal
of JJates, every resident of the place wanted to know what
the Bird md the £ugle would have to say about that matter.
Whatever bkoob should remark, Jobson was confidently ex-
pected to contradict- and vire versa. Both papers were issued
from their respective >ffices at three o'clock Saturdays, and
each sturdy earner .n down his respective and dusty stair-
case at as nearly a possible the same moment, to reach the
nearest subscribers if pra<-ticable, before his opponent could
get there. The East Side read its Bugle of Liberty first, and
the opposing Bird of Frr^om second ; the West Side read
Its Bird of Freedom fir-^t, and immediately afterward its
opposing Bugle of Liberty. Both sheets were very carefully
studied, even to the hit advertisement of a stray ox, or the
latest patent medicine notice. And the journalists prospered
in purse accordingly. It was even hinted by wiseacres that
the editors continually fanned the embers of discord in the
place that they might profit by the interest excited. I hope
this was a slander upon the noble profession to which they be-
longed. The West-Siders subscribed for their bitter adversary
and the Easjt-Siders subscribed for the paper printed on the
other bank of the river, much upon the principle, it is believed,
I that most men and women are desirous of hearing or seeing
j the criticisms which their enemies may pass upon them t .
any rate, this rule applied to Raceford. The two merely new3
accounts of the trial I need not give in these pages, but the
editorial remarks, supposed to be founded upon the facts, seem
BO clearly to show the temper of thb editors, and hence the
temper of the worthy citizens of Eaceford, that I may not re-
ham from placing them before the reader in their entirety.
j awre u the comment made by the fFeat Side Bird, stA. i
■n-:M
N I '
340 PROFESSIONAL THIEVIK AND TflE DETECTIVES.
THE BATES-GKOOM AFFAIR
In another column we this week give a very full and explicH
report of the circumstances attending the attempted robbery
of one of our citiiens, Mr. Wm. Groom, by a burly, cut-throat,
calling himself Bates. It is enough, in the shape of comment,
to observe, that a more deliberate and wilful trial to crown
craven theft with bloody murder was never made in any place,
and wo are induced to wonder that the citizens of Ract>t'ord,
proverbially peaceful and law-abiding, as they are, d i not,
when the facts were first made known, rise in their awlul ma.
jesty, and summarily hang the scoundrel to the first tree. Jus-
tice, though sometimes a little slow in reaching a conclusion,
is BUT© to be made apparent in the end, and,
i
"Though the mills of God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceeding small ;
Though He stands and waits with patienot^
• With exactness grinds Ho alL"
And Bates will, after the next sitting of the Circuit Courtj
probably have an opportunity to see the outer world as others
see it, who gaze through the iron-barred casement of a State
Prison. We heartily commend the act of Judge Simmons, in
holding Bates under heavy bonds, that he may no longer roam
at large. "Were the prisoner, in truth, to appear upon the
streets, he would be sure of meeting violence at the hands of a
justly enraged people. But what shall be said of a lawyer, of
the surpassing genius of a Little, who so prostitutes his learn-
ing, his talents and his profession as to lend his aid in shield-
ing such a man as Bates from condign punishment 1 He places
himself simply beneath contempt, and his reward will be the
scorn of all honourable West Side citizens. What deserves to
be written of a section of our fair country which harbours
within its limits so disgusting a creature as Little 1 The ver-
diet might well be : " Anathema maranaiha 1 " The mystery ii
that the heavens do not fall and extinguish that immoral por-
tion of this people, or the outraged earth, which they cumber,
open wide its jaws and swallow them up in the midst of their
•wickedness. We intended speaking at length, in this connec-
tion, of the part taken by that stranger among us, Mx. J;Coot,
DETECTIVES.
PB0FE3SI0NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. .')41
bat only space remains in which to say that he acquitted him.
self handsomely and exhibited the fact that he was more thaa
a match for the mendacious Little, in a battle of words, as he
had previously been for Bates in the handling of carnal weapons.
The article in the East Side Bugle, etc., was somewhat dia-
fiimilar from tha foregoing in matter, manner and conception.
It employed the following extraordinary l&n^\id'^c :
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOT UN G I
After a careful perusal of an extended an ! ?:;:.dte report
of the facts connected with a recent occurreuue on the West
Side, the attentive reader will be quite prepared to render a
determination, equal in solemnity to that wlaich we have
reached, and this conclusion will undoubtedly be that no
greater scoundrel, at the present time, in this country or in any
other country, remains unwhipped of justice than the man,
William Groom, generally denominated by his vile associates,
"Big Bill Groom." If there crawls, under the blessed sky, a
more despicable brute and villain than Groom, it is that per-
sonage called Root, who appeared, in the trumped-up case al-
luded to, as chief witness for the people, under the too-evident
tutorship of that acme of all that is Satanic, Jacobs, the Prose-
cuting Attorney. United and almost superhuman eflForts,
aided by — we grieve to say it — Justice Simmons, were put
forth by Big Bill Groom and his quondam friend, Root — par'
noUle fratrum — to extinguish or crush out our worthy Mr.
Little.
By false-swearing, which was palpable to the most careless
hearer, they endeavoured to show that the man. Bates, a poor,
friendless orphan, just from the East, and one whose good char-
acter had never before known blot or stain, was a grovelling
plunderer and would-be shedder of human blood I A darker
and more atrooious calumny was never sought to be forced
down the throats of the goodly people of East Raceford. An
uglier and more brazen falsehood never issued from the preju-
diced lips of lying West Siders, and that is saying consider-
able. But all they could do was not sufficient to silence Mr.
AdttTO ui uuuTiufe uia viiuiib. sjiy i\ii; uiiuc S wonurous SKlii AS
a criminal lawyer ; by his scathing sarcasm j by his powerful *
r
S42
PROFESSIONJLL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
'«•
and unanswerable logic, the witnesses for the prosecution wej*.
thunderstruck and theoretically annihilated I TherreadvT^
mrns wereepmed; their batteries turned against th^^^
Mr. Little, it is the unanimous remark of all who heard him
S oJr; II^ "'*' ' *^^'° ^'^^°^^' -<^ brlJght the acS:
sations of the false-swearers to naught, returning their poisoned
shafts full upon their own breasts. Mr. Batfs would to°day
have been a free man but for the cowardly zeal of Mr ^m
CjarnhV°'-t.^if^"* ^^ ^^^'^^^ g^ ^" J*iJ» that that popit
Jay, Jacobs, might have at least one case for prosecution before
the grand jury. He thus urged, in the very face of sern facts
^nt B^^oJ^Z mJ?^°^' *",^ ^"^g« Tillman had to con!
^^lu}" u'^u'^^ ^n^" ^^'^"^y of Sodus can or will bf *m
E ^''^'^?'^ "^ '^"^. '''^'' *^« innocent and much-aburd
liates. After the next sitting of the Circuit Court he will
roam these forests and plains i free as the air we breathe S
So mote it be 1
for'S;? rotrrn^urr '^^ ^^'"^^^' ^^~ ^-^^^^^^^
rnHnf! i"^"" *?''?^'' '° "^^^^^y divergent in conception, exe-
cution and conclusions reached, starting from premises wS
of discussion m the town. Each journal numbered its narH
X'r:l"' Thf r^ 'f P^? of ihe report hKeifzeffi
aanerents. The result was, that feeline in the streets bn^pl«
and boarlipg-houses ran high, and not f few of theTnha'^^^^^^^^^^^
of the East Side and the West Side nearly came to b bws even
the ministers of the gospel felt compelled to refer to the'ul?
ject in their sermons, the ensuing day '
tonke's of^'th^?J.^.'t"5'^*^/'r""«°' *^« M*rth» Washing.
theSt Sid^h.Tr'^ ^'^^ r^ *\" ^^'h» Washingtonites of
t^e ±.afit S de had to ouarrel over the same matter. It engrossed
tt Rw'^f .^""^'fr ^^^S^'^'on and dock loaferl t
ftct Raceford had not been so thoroughly convulsed upon anv
Jingle issue, or topir since the almost unprecedenterrL of
ETECTIVES.
PKOFESSIONi.L THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 343
theoreticaUy divided. Old mem and young men waesed thPir
ongue, over the case ; old ladies and younfSs S the r
tea with both newspapers spread before themXussmesS
edly the pros and cons and the possibilities anSosdbmties
of the thing. More than one man and wife drea3 about it
Big BiU, the man who had suffered most in the trouble and
Root who was put to some discomfort through it ChkeDt
jaet. 3iU remarked, at the outset, that he " >?got eSoul of
L'cllr ' !^S;«V^ '^'' <^^^^-^ aryCreTntal
pt:rispa\fre^Tk'Uh^^^^^^ '^ '^-"^ -^^^ ^«
Tae exoitement passed over, "like a summer's cloud " dpo.
mZt" S^w""'/"^ »ousequences,«,dthe&uX
died out. Other incidents arose ; other matters of different
«m^ Wh«h. fcr their brief ^n. monopolLS pS
T" I'l
n,!l
CHAPTER VII
LONG PINE BRIDGE. '
l^T5^^^•^^^''^'®'l"®''* ^ ^^^ occurrence of the events
". S*ll°° ' """."' ' ^i"*''' *e matter now t"
~??4^rj:«VJ^.*!.!^_!!l!- «- '. J tob y„ tfc..p„
tukm
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
And Bill's words became almost uniutelligiW*., the^ were so
chewed and cut up by his chattering teeth, while jtiis entire
body quaked and quivered as though he suffered from palsy.
At last he continued :
^ " I've jus' made up m' mind there's no use a tryin' no longer!
I'm a gone coon 1 Ain't of no use for myself nor no one else!
Slayton's just discharged me, 'cans' h' foun' m' 'sleep under th'
shade of er pile 'of boards, yesserd'y I He said I wur settin' a
bad 'zample to th' other men ! An' now I'm outer work, outer
money, outer clothes, outer everythin' — 'cept agur — got more
'f that than's necessary ! Don' care a copper I Slayton's a ol'
hippercrit, anyhow, an' he'll git 'is pay some time 1 But I'm
gone up er spout ! Liquor*s got the better of me, an' I can't
help myse'f I I was jis going' up to yer house, ter load my
gun an' blow my cuss'd brains out, and everlastingly end my
wretched life ! Life's no use ter me I I'm no use ter nobody !"
" This is all stuff and nonsense ! " earnestly returned Root
" At your time in life, you should not think or talk like that.
Come I Cheer up, comrade I Take some more of the medicine
that I ordered 1 Go home and early to bed, sleep well to-night,
come out all correct to-morrow, and then have a trip with'^me
to Grass Lake I I'm not to be employed for some days, and
would like no better sport than to help you pull your canoe to
Long Pine Bridge. That'll bring you out of the dumps I That'll
make you content, 'spite of yourself 1 Jo Groom won't allow
you to be long without work, if he can prevent, and they say
that he's considerable influence with Slayton. He'll make the
old man give you a better job than you ever had ! "
« Yes, I know Jo's got some power ther', but I'm under the
belief that he'll havts his walkin* papers, too, one o' these days.
He's gettin' more fo. ard than he orter. He'll carry things
with a high hand fur a while, when Slayton'll pluck up courage
t' discharge 'im— then th' fat '11 be inter the fire, an' there'll
be a fuss in Slayton's fam'ly, an' some one '11 git hurt I "
" But what is the use dwellin' on the dark side » Look at
the other for a while I Come, let's see if these shakes can't be
cured I "
The companions adjourned to the nearest drug store Bill
staggering along like a drunken man— where a second mixture
wa» made and a dose of it taken. Then, with the guidanw
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 345
and aid of Root, Big Bill manased to get home all tT,nn«l,*o .9
sel -destruction having been baSished f^om hrwLSle^^^^^^^^
Before separating, it. was arranged that Jo's fowling T^^^^^^^^
be borrowed for Root, and that they would meftTan early
f»,«^«nnfT;if"if ^ ^ f^ "J^P"'® °f ^^« operative, promptly on
he spot at the hour selected, the guns and plenty of ammunition
lunches, etc., in fine order. The boat had been cWd from
fnToh"" «^;7',««^Big Bj" was himselFappearLg tore happ^
and cheerful than he had been for some weeka He thoS
^ZiT:,:L'' ^«-^-«^-y'« '«lief from his dreadedle!
Entering the yawl, Root assisted in propelling her up the
bTh'sidesTtheTiV^'"-"'''"' morning.^anS everything Tloug
both sides of the Lotus wore an appearance of Sunday auiet
and repose After passing to the northward four or fivJmUes
S 1?^ ^/i? ^'\'^'^ '^"^'^ *"*° « "^^'•^w, crooked etmm;
which bore the rather pretentious name of Goose River. Fd
lowing the channel-at times almost hidden in reeds 'bushel
and tall gras8_they pulled steadily at the oars for an hour or
more when they arrived at Long Pine Bridge. This strurtnr«
had been built fortheaccommodationoffar^rsiu^tpper^
n going to and from Raceford, and was just far enough K
he water to permit a man, by bending low to slide thrnnJ^
in a small boat. Bill and his companiof Wed before essa^f^
the passage, and after a brief breathing-speU under the^^^^^^^^
of a tree, partook oS their dinner, for thich vSt ,xeS
had given good appetites. A black bottle, which Root had
taker care to provide, was also appealed to on morelhan one
occaeion. It contained "good liqSor," as Big Bill remarked
and "should not be allowed to remaik idle." But nSer in!
ddged sufficiently to sensibly feel the effects of what they d?Lk.
Then reentering the skiff, they shot safely under the misiv*
t^^ll ^^,;*^"?»r^' -Pfl^ed themselves industr ousTv to
nLT ^^l^ ^'^ ^^"'' *"^ ^°""'^ themselves in one of thos^
Inte l"?rf.r- ""P^' ^^T^^S in that part of the sS
wJl?J'i'!,°^*^"**"P«^«*f?^^«°»^^««^ straight, bushy-toppai
„_ „ ^,^s,T Space » mue or more in circumference, whew
i| i (
346 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES >LND THE DETECTIVES.
^^Li
the water was deep and clear, and was bordered by high gratw
and green, waving flags.
This was Grass Lake, which, from general report and usual in.
dications, the hunters believed to be plentifully stocked with
wild-fowl. Pushing about the boat with a poIe» as noiselessly
as possible, so as not to frighten the game, the search began.
It was continued for several hours with good success, Big Bill
proving himself a very water-dog, upon occasion, and Root mak.
mg many excellent and telling shots. Early in the afternoon
they were ready to start upoa the return trip, loaded down
with game. Big Bill, by this time, was jubilant. He had for*
gotten his fevers and chUls, and overflowed with fiin and rough
humour. While they sat side by side, bending to the work of
rowing, guided, but by no means forced on by Koot, he whiled
away the moments l^y relating many instances in which the
company had been swindled, but without entering into details
as to the precise manner in which, or by wi om, the various
jobs had been done. He betrayed considerable bitterness to-
wards the directors of the Manufacturing Company, charging
some of them with having connived at his recent dischai^gn by
Slayton. He would not confess to his confidant, though given
every cautious and reasonable opportunity, that he had person-
ally enacted a part in any of the many irregularities occurring
in the vicinity. He evinced faith in Root, believed him to be
in every respecb as bad as himself, and the author of as many
criminal acts, yet at' first very shrewdly attempted to coyer his
own connection with anything criminal Before he was through
with it, however, he let out enough to c<^vince the detective,
as wen as the most sceptical attorney, that he was really con-
nected with those who had performed the deeds spoken of. He
left a very vivid impression that he and his friends had appro-
priated logs and other property, and would do so again when
oi^rtunity presented.
'* Is there nothing to be made in thu way, now 1 " queried
Root carelessly.
" Not a dollar," answered Big Bill, with one of his lro»d
est oaths. "The Company keeps too close watch of logs,
booms and mills. It was not so two years ago I Some of tbs
boys then made more than a hundred dollars a month aboTi
their regular pay."
BTECTIVES.
red by high gran
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 347
Root desired to ask how it haa been done, h»\t prudently
reframed, remaining silent, while Bill rambled on, in his un-
connected, jerky way, m he pulled at bis oar :
" { te" you. them wur the times 1 We had good profits and
less hard work than now ! " e f « «"u
" I suppose there was a chance for speculation t The boys
bought logs, above, on their own account, and, rafting them
down, sold out at a large advance, eh 1 "
"Do you think so ?" questioned Big Bill, giving a contemp-
you see that ar' skiff?
Koot turned his eyes in the direction indicated, and said he
did see a boat. ^
" Les' go to it, an' find if there's anything there worth the
navin.'
Soon they were alongside the other boat, which was chained
and padlocked to a small tree that grew near the. water's
edge. In it rested, covered by an old coat, a quantity of
log-chams, and iron dogs, hammers, and other raftsmen's im-
plements.
"Dogs," Bill explained, « are used ter fasten logs together, in
the raft, by means of ther chains. I'll jus' fasten ter these ere
things ; none of 'em is marked, so they're common property
an I takes 'em! I'll show yer, if you keep mum, within a
month, what I'll do with 'em I " r ,
Root could easily perceive that his free-and-easy companion
was in the act of committing a larceny, but he took no part in
the proceeding, merely passing a remark upon the danger of
discovery. "
"Danger 1 " said BUI, as they resumed their seatj* and " sped
swiftly down with the current; " there's no sort o' danger.
Ihem chams aren't marked with the company's big 'B' an'
none others hereabouts are marked at all A month hence no
man will be able to- identify them. Wait a bit."
In about half an hour the skiff, now heavily loaded, was
ron into shallow water on the west side of the river. Bie Bill
~: -■^^^;^ = =uivauic spu^ wiiere cnere were bub a few inches
of water above the muddy bottom, and there deposited th«
348 PROFESSIONAL THIE^^ES AND THE DETECTIVEb.
property he had Btolen, leaving only a wooden hAmmer-hAndk
which might easily be taken for a broken limb of a tree n
inaining above the surface. '1 his done, os> » more tLa prow of
the boat was pointed toward Kiu ,iford.
Aft«r a few minutes Root said :
" I suppose you'll get at least a dollar or tw a fo" those tiiinw
planted there in the water." ■
^ **AdolLH More n.r that, pardner. We'll not part w;
em for a cf v,:. le-is nor ten dollars, an' they're worth at the least
twenty m tho ;T:wii> h Fou':; get as much as five dollars for
your half."
"That won't m.k^ tiik m had a day's work, after all," said
Koot, knov?^mg t,:a It would not do, under the circii^astancen.
to express he^ut^m or unwillingness « If there were onS
chamses enough like this, life, even in the pinery, -.jight be
made quite endurable. And if more dhains were lost, wc might
realize a tolerable little pocket in the course of a year."
" Yes. I tell yer, before the Company got so -
sharp and commenced marking every Hnk of every new chain
and every dog, hammer and sledge, with a steel die, you can'
bet the boys made heaps of money by finding those yer things
*n sellin 'em. You've seen these tradin' barges tyine up ter
bank of the nver at odd times ? ^ They purtend to take in fish,
an seU whisky an bacon an' sugar an' merlasses to the lumber-
men and raftsmen ; but I knows as how they're up ter a diflTeT-
ent racket nor that, principerally buyin' up, secretin' an' then
sellin, m Trafton or Chicago or some other place, such things
as e&n he found, an' fur which they wUl pay a small price, an'
fur which they can git a big rate elsewhere. They makes
more money after midnight ^than durin' aU the rest of the
day.'
Throughout the remainder of the trip, stimulated by the
profitable voyage and the liquor he had consumed, Big Bill kept
his thick tongue running, explaining to his friend; amor ' r>ther
things, how, when the workmen were more than lis . ex-
cited against any particular mill-owner or boss, tb^ , u. Id
wreak their vengeanc- ^r real or fancied injuri . . n^ > ue rep-
aration for acts that f eavily upon them. It ,> ,ierally
through "loading?' Qhta logs oo that valuable m . mv wnnld
©e destroyed * * '
E DETECTIVEb
• twn. fo" those tliinff!
fBOFfiSSIONAL THIEVES AIJD THE DETECTIVES. S40
Thi6 psocess was performed in me following manner : selecu
tag some unusually dark night, the disaffected boys, to the
lumber of two or three,— never more than three— would enter
»he store boom of the miller to be punished, bring forward a
Df'dium-siied log and fill it with files, well driven in by a wood-
en maul, to avoid unnecessary noise. These files were then
8>-,Dk deeper m the wood, which closed over and concealed the
apertures. When finished, the " loaded " log was towed back
to the store boom, near the chute, whence it would, the next
day, at the latest, find its way within the mill. For upright
«aws th8 files were driven into the sides of the log. For cir-
cular saws, It was easier to use smaller files, or the broken iron
dog^ well driven in at either butt. When such a log was once
on the way, or carriage, and securely fastened to the bed, it
produced dire confusion. The saws, run with great speed in
gangs, would penetrate rapidly, finally strike the steel impedi-
ments, then would be heard a crash, a rending of the machi-
nery, and the result would be that a loss, in ruined saws alone,
would fall upon the mill, of from five hundred to eight hun-
dred dollars. Frequently sawyers were wounded, or killed by
this sort of treachSry. Suspension of work, delay in contracts
and replacing injured property, sometimes swelled the losses to
more than five thousand dollars. Meanwhile the miscreants
who had wrought the villainy stood by, secure from harm, and
exulting in the success of their plans. It could only be told
that sonaebody had held a grudge against that particular miU.
i'roffered rewards for the discovery of the perpetrators did no
good. Thus far, although there had been a number of such
occurrences, no man had ever been arrested for Che crime. The
old blacksmith, Leonard, who for years carried on a thrivin*'
trade in the town, repairing, re-cutting and setting old and
broken saws, and putting in new ones, was, at one time, sus-
pected of having some share in the mischievous business, but,
alter a careful investigation, it was generally conceded that he
was guiltless. The responsibility was not fastened upon any
person, and, finally, when animosities were once buried, and
strikes quieted down, the occurrences became more rare, and
then ceased altogether. Better than a year had elapsed <<iac«
f I
350 PROFESSONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
DarknPfiB w 1 T ' ^"^ *^^' ^^^ ^^^n Overlooked.
CHAPTER YIU,
JONES'S LITTLE SCHEME.
oreaktast and dinner, the ensuing day. for the oc
fond „/"?*/*; ^{ Mrs. Buxton's boardin|.hou^e. AH were
fond of wild fowl, not excepting the landlady n nerTon
While most of those at the table partook of the food wS
fvlfi? ^^* ^oot^as «a duck of a fellow," nearly choked
Sinl'Sr'* r'^°^°^ * ^>^«' with which he had b'«
rp§ n fw ^*^'P"f ' *PP^^''«- The grocer spluttered turned
rl^t^d unoiT ';^ «^«^«.rv«ral fierc? but inedible oahrdt
^^'C::^^^ one appar.
iar. But he swallowed his foo^d anriis 'J^S^\.l:\i:^
DETECTIVES.
MoriSSJONlL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 351
(Ime^ mjnaginK to conclude the meal without absolutely com-
mitting himself to anything more than ordinarily foolish. His
confusion was marked by his companions, however, and several
J.?1?J!"* *^* ^epretofits origin laughed heartily over it
du^ng the enjoyment of the after-dinner pipe on the shady
^!^f • T* '^f there pronouocod "soft" by the majoiiity
of his fhends, and his particular weakness was believed to be
Widow Buxton. 4ny man who paid her more than merely
Zf"wo! fT **^°t»o,«7'« sure to secure his mortal enmity.
Boot was therefore set down as his inveterate foe. Nor was
Jones satisfied m his own mind, that the opposition, in this
instance, had not the advantage of possession, which he
thought nme points of the law. Of one thing he was very
I^IiV^'fT 5^* ' '?^?*'J *?^®"' ^"^ Raceford, Mrs. BuxtoJ
had not heartily praised the butter, tea, and coffee from Jones's
stock more than three or four times, and on at least twenty
different occasions had she actually found fault with goods in
his line wnich the grocer had doled out to htir as the very best
to be purchased in any American market. This was evidence
to the mans jaundiced mmd that somebody stood between
Mrs. Buxton and Mr. Jones, and that identical somebody the
ET?? T^^P'^ojie to believe was the sailor who had
i^ WW ^S""?' i^^y Y^. *5*' ^*y ^««« consuming. No
wonder that the food stuck in "his throat and he four fit un.
pleasant to the taste.
,«5"^if°''^'* openly-exhibited jealousy and ill-tewper ooly
made the widow the more disgusted with him and caused her
to look with more favour upon her latest t ^deman lodger,
fri ir*? ^""^^ that, thus early, he was her favourite
among aU who made their home at her house. Be this as it
may, when, the next week, both the £ird and the £ugle made
Slt?"?''"'^^?''* *^*' *^^ ^^^ theatrical combination of
«C fe*T»^« ^""^ ^^''**^'' '''^^ » "^^^ drama entitled
reSdku, .?F ' /r^^"" ^^ a young lady of literary attainments
residing at Fond du Lac, and iEtr.»ducing the inimitable come-
oun, John Dillon, then just coir,- mcing his successful career
JLnn^ W' '^f *0 6\ve a stries of six entertainments at
Masonic HaU, and Root had invited the widow to attend at the
■r-^iag in uis company, everybody iknowing the fact thought
Uiw engagement «• good as tettH «id the sewitivt^eart of*
- ■>?
jl ' 1
N
S52 PROrESSIOiSAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
the pensive dealer in we* and dry groceries was completely
pulverized. He learned the fact, the stupendous fact, the. u
him soul han owing fact, when he e-'- / t Mrs. Buxton's
kitchen and offered himself toes*... that lady to Uie exhibi-
tion. 1 he reply of the kndlady. returned with a smile "I
hev promised to go wid Mr. Root," fell upon his senses like a
stroke cf lightning from a cloudless sky, and he felt that his
enemy r ^{ht have knocked him down with a feather.
Very well I " was his tart rejoinder. " I suppose you'll
becor-e a member of the Groom family next. Root and Bi.
^,^^^ttle Bill and Jo Groo» are as thick as forty peas in a
"It makes no whit uv differa««e to me, Mr. Jones," replied
the widow «im afther plazm' meself who I goes to the
theatre wid, an' perhaps even the Groms might be as accept.
able company as some that I know« of 1"
"I dare say I I dare say 1 WeU—well-good-morning I "
Thus ejajulut^ng, and hardly knowing what he said or did,
the discomfited grocer, with lips compressed, and a greenish
glitter in his eyes, withdrew from a portion of the house in
which his absence was certainly more desirable than his
presence, returned to his store and .ulked during the remainder
of the day. The poor lad, Tom Bosker. whose duty it was to
deliver packages from the esfcablishmei to the houses of its
patrons, was^made th. ctim f Jones' >entrup spleen. Upon
his devoted head he emptied the vials of his wrath, ending by
belabouring him with a broom-stick, untU the boy ran home
tor his life, saying he'd r v more enter the place.
That man Jones is perfectly awful," cxplain^^d Tom to hi?
mother. "I only wanted a quarter to go to the thej'.tre With"
-.-and he rubbed his head, bacl and shoul. .3, where the broom-
handle had fallen heaviest-" wbr he ra- at rae, like a mad
Wild-cat, swore at me, jerked the . ke' it of mv hana u.d
then cut me oyer the hea a with a st u I truly believe .hat
lies gone ravm crazy since Mrs. Waxton sent to Smith '>r
»ija f, dried peaches and tea t An* I thought I was doin' ium
Sr°"y° ^^^'^ *"'"» J"«' *^^e' Smith's boy told me of it 1 "
Mrs. Bosker, who was also a widow, and strong-armed ai
weU as strong-nainded, put brown paper, wet in vinegar, oa
iuas axons, wiuie hw iips worked spasmodicaUy, wd hep
E DETECTIVES.
Hi/' t Mrs. Buxton's
II
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 358
breath came nod went hurriedly. She was evidently very
jDgry. As soon as Tom felt a little better, his mother told
him to mind the bread in the oven, and see that it did not
burn, while she made a call upon a neighbour. When she re-
turned Mrs. Bosker carried a basket of things on her right
arm a hea 7 bundle under her left, and she walked with a
proud step. *
"I've seen Mr. Jones," said the woman to her son, when
iiey sat at supper, devouring that person's pr onder. "and
he has begged my pardon, an' says, says he, if you'll go back
an carry the parcels again he'll never so forget hissel aT to use
an uncivil word, aiuch less a blow, upon you I I think ue'U
keep his word. So, to-morrow, you can go back to the store 1"
This was conclusive. Tom Bosker resumed his position, and
Jones told him to take an apple from the barrel whenever he
felt like It. . le lad noticed that Mr. Jones wore a handker-
chiet over one . > and the side of his head, but asked no ques-
tions, and, like a. bedient sun of a mother capable of enforcing
her rig its, went ab -t his business as usual. Jones's sore eve
was severa days ir nrse of recovery, and when it was finally
uncovered the che. k under • had three neat httle indentation!
.raversing its surface, all - id hue, which were not made by
Dr. PiUsbury a cupping m«.. u«ents. Some of those at the
boarding house thought they might have been the result of
contact with sharp finger nails. But nobody said anything
Jon. himse^ dedared that he had not seen them nSZ
doctor scarified the skm before cupping to reduce the inflam-
mation about the affected eye. «'u«muam
This was only adding fuel to Jones's hatred of Root.
ine theatrical season opened and closed with equal bril
mncy The people of both sides of the river in EacefoJd, and
he two newspapers, were united in praising the plays the ac-
^esse. and actors, and the scenery. sV JoLs ha^no^^^
Mrs Buxton's companionship for even one night's enter3
ment a Masonic Hall More than this, he fearned thatch;
Mm«n *''?^' ""^'' ^'' ^"^^ ^'""^ '^ ^'^ opposition Stet
hshment on the same street. Tom did not give the inform^
Uon however as he had been sufficiently Ltmctld7yTe
blows received ^ver to know anvf.hmc mth^ e '
wewd With his department of the business.
■•1 1 jii)
Once he lud
854 PROFESSIONAi; THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
known too much. Mr«. Buxton might have had divors «n^
sundry live reasons for not preferring to cook Jone,'XTcc^^,i
Lt n^fTh,'?r^ ^"^4?*^ prunes^till, the irres'ed ^ro J
cou d not behold them. He never ate sucii preparations h!
could not understand why Smith's store got ^he? moray wh"n
•^&?^1 "Pf ^'i^,«^3^ «--"-* good? in that Hne.^ "
iJiat sailor, Koot, has set her up to it I'll h^t » Knn^i.. i
dollars," said Jones to himself. '« T] have to ston that^Iu ''
game or he'll soon have the widow's forneundeVhrsciL
Ihe theatre had gone—the circus had come held ,>« c^i
iTttZuirri ""r' ^^^^« Beverairnd'! o dS"
frnl .1 ? ^ ^"i^ "n ^°"«"' wonderful show-bills fluttered
from the fences and walls, already things of the forgotten S
Still Root remained n Raceford, and Jones fretted ^ndtiS
until he seemed absolul^ely growing consumptive. Mrs/BuxTon
had not entirely ceased trading with Jones, and he continued
to receive his daily sustenance at her tab e But the tru h
could no longer be concealed. Smith, the married man and
sole proprietor of the small store with the yeHow f3and
single shop window, received the greater proportion of tU
widow's money expended for ediblet Jones Jrel thin .
cadaverous, and hi? bristling hair changed to aS cdiur'in a
tew months-because he failed to renovate it rfgXHyr^hlle
h 8 peaked nose grew sharper, an^ his watery eyes oil J^ll
hue Root had not married Mrs. Buxton, bit it was evident
to the eye of jealousy, at least, that it was only nec^sary thai
he should pop the momentous question for thl lady toZcent
Jones looked about him and endeavoured to find some ?nS'
ment with which he might send Rpot eut of the 3 Who
he ighted upon the context will sufficiently explain ^'
Jones and Lawyer Little held a conference in the old tumble
down grocery store one night, after most honest fXw^re'
in theu- beds. As Root was passing the place he noted a S
shimng through a hole in thorough shutter JustWnrp h«
had seen Little descend the stairs from hLLgy office L^^^
off through a side street, and finally enter Jone?s buSdinHv
IL"!-"""^; /° ''^'l' *^^°^'"g *hat Litrmust have h«^^
rurunnn^b-'* ^?,^^<^h Jh\^-tch somebody had not ong before
put upon himself, m the shape of the qtmi revenu detent va
my operative for some weeks kept a'close S MdfD
DETECTIVES.
PROrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 355
th« unprincipled attorney. Until the date in quegtion his
m.l..8try met no subRtantial reward. Now, however, two of h L
enemies were in council. How should he hear what hly said 5
buch men as Jones and the lawyer, having natural yeVliUe
in common could hardly find it necessary lo conver e secretlv
the side of ^fh; K • n "'"'''"r "«'««l«ssly to the window at
the side ot the building, applied one ear to the crevice from
rltkf "^ '' ^'""'"^^'^'^ ^^^"«^' -^ P^-»y Ed Jone"
" Little Bill is just the fellow I "
«™U'' tsl°rLittr '""' *" *" ^"'^''^ '■* » ""p^
" We must, as you say, keep within the law : hut I still want
Mng oSr''''''' '"' "-P"Wicexpe,„re he'has mad"
" Be sure of y„ur policies," rejoined the attorney, in a hoarse
•TlT; e a 1 ZV^^^' *" ^'"'^ Bin and Zlttlelmer
1 11 see am the first thing to-morrow I "
•* Good night ! "
The last words were from the attorney, and Root had no time
to spare m leaping nimbly aside, and throwing himself flaUn
the gu ter at the edge of the building, thus securin- a c^mnloJ«
T" ^" '^r^u *^f ^"^^«' ^^^^^^^ *he"door opeTed' and Litt l
emerged. The heart of the detective beat fLt and loud des-
h m w.^h^'-'^'f '".^''P i f^^' "^ '^' ^^^y^'-' almost toudung
him with his foot, brushed past and soon disappeared. ^
1 think this is certainly the muddiest place I was ever in f "
sau Root to Mrs. Buxton, the next morning asTe visited hir
particular domain, the kitchen, to beg the loan yherwisn
broom with which to cleanse the soiled'coat thaThe heW ZZl
nanu. And the slippenness of some of the sidewalks is some-
hing perfectly wonderful ! I tripped and foil, lasc night wMle
coming home, and was nigh breaking my precious neck aT the
crossing from Jones's grocery I " ^ ^ ^ ^'''""^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^
ih.U]^^^' *""' ""* '^?^^'' '" ^^^ worruld, wid the whisky an'
he HI company ye kapes ! " And Mrs. Buxton looked rLllv
m earnest. " I've more'n half the mind to scold ve roundW f .r
yourgoings^on! But I can't. Here's the brush i T^f^^^^^^^^^
^u «, ine backyard, where you kin scrape off the mud widoifc
'I
I
356 PKOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
injury to my clane carpets and nately-oiled furniture ! Whafa
the raison now, ye will not follow my good advicfe, quit them
blatherin' Grooms-the gamblin', drinkin', thavin' /uflSans of
the town they are-sign the pledge, kape it, an' become a da-
center an' a happier man ? " .
" I'd do almost anythin' within reason for your sake, Mrs
liuxton, but I have sufficient reason for askin' to be excused
from that pledge at present. Still, as I'm not at all well I
may tell you the doctor has prescribed that I shall take but little
liquor hereafter, which may make a difference with me. Never
tear, Mrs. Buxton, I can mate with even worse than the Groom
Jamily and still retain my self-respect and honesty 1 Now vou
Know 1 have regard for you "
"Get out o' this, now !" interrupted the widow, her hair
redder than ever, and her cheeks even of a deeper crimson than
her hair. « Take yourself away, before I sinds me broom for-
must yer face 1 Bad luck to yn for a gay decaver of a man
Root made a hasty exit from the kitchen, laughing immoder-
erately to behold the fiustration evident in the features of his
andlady, and attended to the soiled garment. The reader will
know It was bedraggled while secreting himself from Little
and not Irom the occurrence of any mere accident *
The widow proved correct in one thing, if not in others.
Ihe young man really was forced, from close association with
the Grooms and the rough men by whom he was surrounded
to take into his system more liquor than was perfectly agree-
able or conducive to his physical health. Hence, the ruse he
had adopted of pretending to be ill, and forcing from the good
physician the recommendation that, until perfectly recovered
the whisky-bottle should no more visit his lips. It w«s a hard
prescription to implicitly follow and affect the compani nship of
the parties he was working upon, but the operative tried to put
1- m practice, and partially succeeded. He had no doubt, from
the words he had heard in Jones' store, that the grocery-keeper
and the lawyer were hatching some rascality of which he was
the intend* d victim, ai-d in which they would essay to hire Little
1 uT i?^^"f«t a leading role. His position required*
cool iiead. That h« was determined to have, as well as a keen
!>ROmSTONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES So?
•.ye upon the inovementa of the two conspirators who he felt
oonvinced were intending to work him some bod irharm
Justice Simmons, with whom Root was by this time inon
quite friendly terms, advised the new-comer fn Tceford that
something was go- ^, wrong with Little. ThelTyTsJart
ZZuy'ZV''ry. f ''^ --g-trate, and theYtte Tud
generally tell when the former was planning somethintr of more
than usual merest through the attorney's^ habit of nervo3v
marching back and forth upon his office floor whch was un
Kch ZZnT"" "''? ' '" ^^'"^^^'"^^ ^^^P^ "P for houTs pon
a stretch, when his mmd was more than usually preoccunied
During several days past, Simmons said he had heard those
SeCt'nf Yf 'P'' ^^'^^^"^"-^ '^' ^-^ ^hat someSody wi^M^
Lit lea knowledge was concocting some devil's broth or aboS
do some ugly act. Simmons naturally thought of Koof and
the supposed anger Little had shown upon The close of the
Zlr^'Ta "^ '^' "^"^ ^''''' ^'^•l ™«d the operate to
beware of the movements of the wilv villain Wifw;
t^'w?f iV'^. r ^°" ^^ ^^ interview b^tret'ioneya^Lt^^^^
to which he had so recently listened, Root promised Jheknd
wafas Sr ''"' '' "^"'' '^^P ^"^ ^^^«'P-' and wen't'ht
It was during the same afternoon that the detective while
Visiting the mii^ of Stephen Rogers, in the outskirts of tL!
town, was a participant in a tran'saction of a very ensational
character This saw-mill, singularly enough, ha7been leftTn
charge of one man, and a worthless, drunken fellow at that
who had several times fallen a victim to delirium tremens and
during a few weeks past more than once attempted suSeb;
As Root approached the side of the building his attention
was drawn in the direction of the door by the Ld screams of
the drunken sawyer's'little boy, who had. but a moment eaHier
been happily playing and kicking up hi; heels in The aS
The child was not more than six or seven years of ac^e but dis
iTt ' , ""Tf"'^^} development of lungs for one of his vea^
:i!!yV:'tA^«^ r '-IP " with remarkabfe vigour. ThinVin'^t
.^... .h« ooy iiad been Buake-bitten. or .5me other accident
f n
358 PROFESSIONAL THTEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
had happened to him, the active young man ran quickly to th«
place.
I' Look at dad ! look at dad ! " yelled the boy, turning and
pointing, in great fright, toward the interior of the mill.
Root did -look, and a scene was presented to his view, the
companion piece of which he hoped never to be so unfortunate
as to behold. The heavy gang of upright saws was running at
the full speed of the engine, and, lying across the body of the
pine saw-log then being cut into two-inch plank, and which
was at least four feet in diameter, was the body of the sawyer,
Ludwig by name, his head hanging down at one side and his
feet at the other, with arms composedly folded over the breast,
eyes closed, awaiting death, which was near at hand in its most
terrible form. The sharp tearing blades of steel, their teeth
glittering in the sunlight, were ascending and descending
withm a few inches of the man's chest. The thought flashed
through the brain of the startled spectator of the act that the
drunkard, urged on by the demons which, in his imagination,
were pursuing him everywhere armed with red-hot pincers,
and seeking to tear his already bleeding flesh, had made his
preparations for a novel but certainly eflPective suicide. The
operative shouted for Ludwig to save himself, while yet there
was time, but the stupid glance given by the maniac upon un-
closing his eyelids, without the utterance of a word, satisfied
Root of the man's intention, and that, if he did not desire to
witness a cruel and horrible tragedy, he mu^t do the saving in
person. Running quickly to the lever used for throwing the
revolving belt from the pulley carrying the crank to which the
upper part of the saw frame hung, he exerted all his strength
to turn it, but the madman's cunning had been before him
The bar was fastened to its place with a coil of tarred rope-
yarn, and his best efforts, he soon realized, would never suffice
to unloosen it. " My knife ! " was his first thought ; " where
is it 1 " the second. After a search of all his pockets it was not
to be found. Then he remembered leaving the implement in
his room.
^ Meanwhile precious time was being wasted. The savag'e,
ripping saws still ascended and descended, giving forth a pecu-
liar crunching, rasping sound, and tbrowins out a little fnun-
tain of yellow dust, as the log and its human burden wm
S DETECTIVES.
au ran quickly to th«
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 359
?n K 1 gibbering lunatic could not be thrown ffom hiTb.,?
/hat was the all-important question. His eve lighted at tM«
?.™„?f. ■ } ammu'e more his whole body would hara
whereTimf n'i*' T."'"' ^T"'"*? ■»»*='« '» Pl"™ a plank
B? Sr « iirr.hrwtt „'5i:h^''3
WntdTl 'r" *^''™"'' ""'^''l'' "" '-"l. "here tS were «ou
he" iluta tT" T'"'r^ ^"f'™"' -ho votaS
tueir assistanca Ihe steam of the engine was blown r>ff „ii '
made secure, and the,, the me,, bore the'radfel „w, s^eJeam,^
nome, where, through the exertion of fnr™_ be ws- r'— " --
"B nea m an easy position and conaned "wi'th 8tr,M''th»» m
«m»m ant,l the violence of hi. n»ni» should p2Twav
360 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
The gratitude of Mr« t ;i •
German woman, and oTher ch'ta Sr'^^b hard-working
Javishly expressed when the fLS i "^ "i" ^°""<^«' and wa?
stranger had saved the Hfe of A ^T"'/ ^^^ ^^e youn»
httle Ludwig, whose loud cries t/fi'^.'"^ ""^ ^^^^^r- Thf
tion was particularly in earnest in hf/ 'T'^ ^^«^'« ^"en!
of this new-found friend. It was" ; r'7^^''''?^^^^^'^ P^^^'^e
the sailor, some hours Jaf^r L . i . extreme difficultv that
• inan he had helped to a ffe'tSf ^ ^''^ '^^ children Xe
. Meanwhile Ludwig wa Lei'r 1^' '.' ^"^>"« *« P^^t with^
cian, and through thf rnfluenp" Af "°^«^/he care of a physt
into a peaceful slumber ffisdiseas'eS''^"! '^}'''' «°°" ^'»
crisis, passed the fatal point and thp^ ''''^'°*^^' ^^^^^^ed its
ability that, thenceforward, hrwouldh^^^^ ^ reasonable prob-
gradually recover. ' ^°"^^ **« "Pon the mend, and
-St<^Vr^^^^^^ found him.
tious tae concerning his ow^ adTe'nt,Lr T. A' '"^^'«^ ^ ^''ti.
J^, saying, among other t^nl tKr?, •^''*'^'''^°«"«^^^^•
he had succeeded, with the heln of', "i"^.'''^' '^°^ ««a«OD.
several cargoes of lumber along the MfJ'v^''^ f^' ^"^"^^W
he had realized the markerprfces in j^',^'«^" ^^^re. ^^' ^^ich
Why could not some such operation Lw^*' ^"^ Chicago,
pineries ? Jo admitted that s£ar ti if ^t '5 f'^^«^ ^^ th?se
performed in that locality in tl^ntf "1' J^*^ ^^^^ profitably
s^jndled, but they couhi be plavfd 'n ^ '^' """'P^^^^^ ^^^gly
watch was now kept, and any one atteCr'^T.' ^"° ^'^r^^^''
most sure of capture and promnt n1 n?T '°^ *^* g*°^« ^^^ al-
It was plain from ihTJ.^ punishment.
that he L?d conc""efaTkir/?orp" f ^'^ "°^^« ^^ «^oom,
haps resting upon niore disfntefestd ° ' T t^P«^' ^^^ P^^!
ahowing th. Bailor that he hil hi'? " T"« ■""> Particulars,
in the wholesale thievery of the "-"I-'"' P"""?""
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 361
He at first, gave merely the skeleton of the fact « nl^in
the surface, coming out in a shaded place, thei heading f^^
OM time two men were actually drowned, having been knocked
.r!™n I ■'^'"' "** »" '*°l»'«d instance, however and
^s. :terhr?a^{r„it^-^'-'™' '"-«" ^- '^-
illta'CllETl ""^ ^°f '■''""°^'' " K»o«f"<l. somewhat
less, which v?on1d h^ ■?.in2;.4^=
*^ o«l&«r thau workmg for day'» wages i lyioglb'hS
S62 rROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
(he time. TIiu8 flattered, Jo voluntarily gave the eailor
nformatiou concerning almost everything going on in th
vicimy The only difficulty with Groom was he\ad „o eh
capital, being impecunious to a degree. He had formerly Z
T 1°""^ fV"^^' ^^^*^^ ^« ^"^o'-e that the mill-owners o
whom he had been selling floating logs, had cheated hTm'o
ot. He was determined to be even with them. Sometimes
he loudly cursed his late partners and accused them of arrai
cowardice, terribly bad faith, and all manner of abuse and de^
ceit as practised by them upon himself. According to his owl
understanding of the matter Jo was an innocent, un on! s
ticated, Ill-used individual And Eoot was always ready w'
words of sympathy and commiseration. The words cost noin:
IKmpby^''"''''''^ ^''' friendship for and confidence in
Growing gradually more confidential, Jo related, on one
occasion, all the circumstances connected with a run of t-*n
tZflff ^^'/^ T '*^*' ^^''^ ^" ^""^ *^o others had ^,.
tracted to put into a convenient store-boom at a late hour of
one moonless night two years before. When they were ^^]
down the stream the wind, which had previously been assist
u^g them, suddenly died away, and their progress was so tar
that they could not hope to succeed in properly securing thei
and wa ting until the next night, they might get alliian
going to \\ aupun State prison for all the pine iSmber in Wis-
SZ- i.?J7^'v ^'%P'^'' r"^^^^ ^"'° ^^^ "^«^» ^nd swam
^nrS J"'^r''^'° * J"^ °''*'^^^ *'>^^^ Po't' ^t an hour before
ZS' f T 'r°"^ accomplice followed, and nothing re-
mained for Jo but to do the same thing. He was simplr
W- & T^ ^'^«, large gains were transformed into actSal
losses. Subsequently he took another partner, who got drunk
f. in r^ *"•*• ^"^ "-t^^^f "^g J"^ tolJ his wife what he expected
to do, the wife informed somebody else, and in a few hours tlie
«ni A n ^- ^"^^^ ^? *^^ ^**=^«- So that chance wa.
apoi led, and all his pam and trouble came to naught It was
not long before Jo began to call Root by his first Same, Dave,
and It seemed his constant wish to be alwavs with hirfri^nd.
Wiien uoi more profitably employed. Sometimes he f^veo
E DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTITES. 363
m£'S l\l ^"^l ^'^"'' *H?^"^ *°' i" ^^'l^^ that he might
ZLn • i^ """? ^^"^^^ . ^^" ^^^ ^^'^ ^«^« as sociable and
companionable as two of the sterner sex well could be. much
to the surprise of the agent, who. from Jo's long ret cenc^
was hardly prepared to return his suddenly-formed attach!
Among several other projects for plundering others and
easily earning naoney, Jo brought forward on? in which a
small stern-wheel steamer should play a conspicuous part, and
with which, he averred, lumber might easily be taken froi one
of the numerous docks, situated in out-of-the-way places, late
at night while owners and employees soundly slept in thei.
beds. Ke said that he controlled men forming a proper crew
or such a piratical craft, and they would, with proper caution
and a good leader, manage things successfully that very season,
He thought, by using his influence over Slayton, he could him-
fielf secure the captaincy of one of the Booming Company's
steam tugs, then play into the hands of his associates, almost
any night, bring their steamboat noiselessly to the landine-
hidin T 01 ^^'^^ ^"^"^"^ *"" ^^""^ "**" * '^^^^'^' '^"^ ^®' *® *
In a few nights, acting in this way, a full freight might be
secured and the steamer could then drop easily dowl the
stream, until m a safe locality, get up steam and go to a port
where the loot would meet ready sale for cash. Eoot saw
that, altliough it was a specious, yet it was, from the nature of
the surroundings, a perfectly impracticable plan : still he pro-
fessed his admiration of the scheme and his eagerness to enter
upon Its execution as soon as the steamer could be purchased
and opportunity offered. pun.uaaea
One day while out shooting squirrels with Jo, Root pointed
out, from the shore, the spot where Big Bill had secreted the
chains previously stolen from the skiff.
JJ!l^^t f ^ P^tM " ^"«^«^^d Jo. " We need not meddle
with the booty 1 Bill will take care of it when the time comes I
tie never forgets anything of that sort I"
From this it appeared to the agent that Bill and Jo were
atieast m partnership in the chain-stealing business, if in no
ij ■;F™^'""«-- ^i."u ueitnei or iue l warn placed any con- 1
fid«ttce in Little BUI. Their iecniU were not comnuttfd to'
364 PROrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
X'^ng, tr^grl't a'rLS'orToo h"""?^ *^« «-*" *oo
ship ? Time might soIva f h« J^ • ° ^°S^'' ^^^ ^^eir partneN
to wait? He thought noVS^ ^"^ could Koo^t afford
awyer Little and grocer J^npstl^."-"''"^ ^^« "«« 'o which
he sailor determiSrastTarth^'^^^ P"' I'ittle Bi I
in one of his communicative hlou'ToT""^'^' ""^ '^« ^^^
character of this personage with th J hjl ^^" ""^"^ ^'^ ^« '^e
portions. Bytheemolovmrn/ f ^'^ ^'"'^e and small pro-
atories, gentlj hintT&TnTenlTT'''^y T^^^^^ ^"^^"'^
'?L7ttV^^T-"« ^^« rei "as^fSlt:; :"' "" "^^ P^-Pte^
is aSFt^^^^^^^^^ said Jo, ««and
will stand up before most if^r^o^. § '^ ""^^ ^'^ » ^^t. He
ong as he can know wCL beftetim'Ti' ^^f. ^"'«"• ^«
let a secret foe approach aiH^i' A ' ,^® « *" "ght But
wants to run awry Tf hi ,? ^'^^ ^^« ^^^^ttish horse he
he;d stand as ^^3 thltl'fCl ''' ''''' ^' ^^« ^^^^
-al{:?d"^or~/Sllt^^^^^^^^ ^-ge or
he can find them. If one ernlt ^ Y^^"^^^^ a^'J wherever
he'll follow after, leav ng anTother^'w 'Th ^""^^ ^^^^'g^t
upon, however i;portanMnJhun^th7J^^^"??^ ^^eng,%d
Never, by any sort of chance dop.ll. T"^} ^°^° ^^ ^e can.
bar of the tribe. He even hites rlSh,-. u'^ '^' ^"^ °^ * °^««i-
cats, and, if he knows irwilltot eat tt fi''"?". '^^^^^^^ ^^^^
from the same reason, thoMn thl ul ^°'? ^""^^^'^ ^^ui^el,
semblance. To me imXS ■'' "^^^^ ^ can't see the re-
bit« 1 To Bin; The;'rti'ofX?h t ^^^^^^« -'-"
none of 'em ! I truly think ?f vou w '"'''' ^'^^ ^^^'" ^^^«
harmless kitten in Bill's face or n.J ^f T P"*'® ^^ ^hrow a
tn a place he couldn't getTutorL'H^ -^^^ '"'"' ^"^ ^« ^a«
cataleptic fit or somethfng of thetrt f m 'T^' "^ ^^^^ »
boy, I once playfully threw a c«^ »^ ' ? ^^ "^^^ * ™«™
cover from tLihocCorLverarnlnthr'^"^ -^^ ^^^ "^^ re-
aware of the real cause ofHttTe Bnp« . f '^ ^^'^ *^« *°^u are
It 18 from his dread of their comin^l^nrrv^"*.^"-'^*^ ^^^'' ««*«'
caU or an imitation of the ^winf nf T- ^^ °'^^*- ^ cat!
Little BUI sooner than tkl'soZT^F ^L^^^t'^^^^^^^ S
DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 365
cat with arched back and tail a wavin', comin' at him make*
him run like a frightened fawn ! » ' ^
« hLT*"^?^^-* very strange case," said the operativa
' His other failings follow this. One is the thirst for n>onev
which has always been his poison an' always will be I For S
part, I love a pretty girl above all the cash in the country
TXnA^""^f'' ^'^^t'' ^'^'y' ^"^ ^«'^1 "0 sooner lo7k
ThP . fiv"r ""'^ iffr T'fi ^«"'^ ^^'^"^ ^^ ^"^ ^"raged tom-cat.
The ' fiver will blind him to almost anything. Every princi
pie the fellow has seems submissive to' the power ot^aS
Many a scrape has his greed for lucre brought him into hTs
weakness m this regard is well understood, and of course 3
.« r rrr ^'^ "^^^^'^ ^'^ ^"^^^^^'g' ^he people know they
Lr nntp if"; ^2' -^ "' "^'^" ^^^"^^ ^^e lad that a ten-doT
dav^ P^; I '^r^^"-"^ "J ^''' d^ath-warrant one of these
days. But to such cautions he gives no heed, and goes on aa
betore What he does with his money, excepting ofcasionX
pander to his other appetite-that for gaibliSg-is more'J
I can tell, and is beyond the conjectures of any of ''his friends •
hAtTZ' f'>^r«""rc^ap| Thereto telUn'wha
k ItlLV^'^'^'u^^ character, at least, and as far as voice
opera or negro minstrel troupe 1 " x- y . f" «u
"Perhaps so," replied Jo. "But he'd never try to learn
Clikin/r'".! rl^}' ^^/ ^"^^ instrument I hasT
UD fe>, '^''"^1^^"' ^"^ '^'""'^ who have brought him
up--his father and mother are both dead-say that even thS
K Sh^r '''f '^" '?'' ^^^^ ''' ^-- '^' inntdTof the
a furn.sh strings for violins, and he is in favour of anything
that has a tendency to diminish the number of those hated anf
direrZ P I Bill s character to satisfy his desires in that
direction, Root pursued inquiry no further.
his reno"r■?^\'^^'^' f^^"°-^" ^' '°°°^' ^^^«^*^^« completic^of
2-H ' ^^^""K ruminated upon the circumstai;c«« by
which he was surrounded. What sort of nlof. w«ra T.i.X .^
-OD*. engaged in forming I What might'they not do to'^umlS
/All
fi '.1
ii'i
tr.l
m
t2?!S*
366 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES ANO THE DETECTIVES.
do he was sure woiild be done nnT... "Ja'^Ter they «,,»
»aDly. They doubtlesa deS To T^'l^ZZir', '
tion. If so the tr«in»l P n ^"^ ^®'"» ^one in that direr
with the ring eader in all that wl 'j^ ^'''"'^ "^ ' ^"'"^' '"P
constituting ^the Groom fimnt T ^^«^°"f«t, in the persons
their coadjLr; J:ire ^1^% fo^rrJi "^*^ ^^"
CHAPTER IX
CONSPIRACY DEVELOPED
fROM this time forward the detective Irenf ««
Little Bill, when he could whIS IL i ^ i •*'' T "P°°
meetings of Jone« «n5 T r/.^^'if/^'^ looking after the
meetings of JoneVand L t/le tk^''^ '^'^^^"^ ^^^^^ '^^^
on which my ifst chapter ends , ^sa J^L""''"'"^ °^ '^' ^'^
the direction of Little^Bill's home^^whTch was fh'en at''.f f ''
of his cousin, Big Bill. When iJt^rttu ™, ^* ^^® ^°"««
talked with he latter peLnaL t 1 *^!, ^*^V^" ""^^ ^^^
any direct questions that TnS I l^^T^.^ ^^t^«»*^ asking
as an assistrtt "lUif/n^ ""'"""^ ^^^.^^ ^i»y to act
in,, which sadly n^eTrfv^rLutg"^^^^^^^^^^^ ^%-,b""<^-
especially engaged to paint the fronrijart of^'h« ^r
beaten structure and also fn r^hi^l Jf^ °* 'he weather-
outer walls As the «1 f ""^/^r?^ the remainder of its
dinnerrL ile B 11 wastst drr^^*^-^.u*° ^''' ^^^'^^'^ for
DETECTIVES.
>n.
1
PB0FESS.ONAL THWVls AND THE DETECTIVES 367
^^.U> the m, asking him p,e.„„t,y how h, pr„g„„«, „
"Only I donTe,3 lit« ,k K '-"^ ''"™""'° «"" befo
employment, accorS- to mv » t ^f",K" T ' ^uch plea.anu
out for a house p ^iter. I'm too «hL t f ™' '''^""^ "■"
standin' eo high uo «bov„ t?l .V n *?"■"' ""^ Jizzy-Hke,
tte biggest hfap of t:::bo t t:-t pK" '""• f "'•
anywhere Cats I I'll tnt« «,,, i ^ ^® ^'^^^ ®^^^ I seen
of em under the old she 1 at Th^i/ . """'^ ''^'^'"'^ ^""'^^«'^-
all sorts, sizes, a^s colours and h^7 ""'''^*'i. ^^^^ «^« °^
don't se; how Jon'; s?ands\hpfr ^^*^'«^f ' . For my part. I
ing, and think he's seSe ."'/'•''"^^""^'P^ghtly caterwaul-
Buxton's whife I clean up ^^^^^^^^ "/ ^^ ^^^in' at Mrs.
it ? It's 80 infernal^ f^] t; " f « n't T. \^'i' ^'' u^^'^'^
goods coming out of it f» ^^ ' ^^^'^^i' stomach the
ing'^to grt^hTs dinner'' H ''"^ "^^"?'^^^' "^^^^^^ile prepar-
thL usL Root Ssed tha'tZ""'^, I' ^^i? ^^ *^»^ ^^^e
ure of confusion upon meetin. him f^ '^?'''^^^ ^««' * °^«a«-
his voice and a lonsr S of^,«i?^ t^he^^re, and was using
ever this may have been T i>H^ R ' n ' '''' ' ^"^ '"'''"' ^*'- "°^-
allowing theLent to Dut n . " f"'^""'^ ^^« ^^^J^' ^^^rdly
ready for theTar homeward whTn^h ''"''T "^^^il ^e wi
Baying: "Guess I'm g^fn^toVl^^^^^ ^T^^^^^ ^^
And Little Bill started Rnf Y / ?^ ^5 ^^'' ^^'^'i^'' ' "
stretched a large fat Snv TJ"'^ "" ^^^ pathway waa
Belf by the sTofa t TThe ZT\ Yl ?""in|him.
find if he was observed by an Jl^tholirh^ ^^^ ^''^"'^d' '«
up a heavy club and ran offTftl'I ^^^ ^? "^^^ "°^ Pic^ed
ened feline. Little BUI W ht H'" """"^ thoroughly fright-
quently said, while attending 7 ^'""^'' f ' ^'^ ^^^1 «"b8e.
Koot was leaving home afte? pn,' *" ""u-"*^ ^^'^ "^^^^^^ ^ut aa
«ame day, he saw trvounl fpll •'^''I^ ?'' "^^^^^^^ °^«a^ ti^«
between teeth a^dSDifnT 'i"'^'"? ^^' ^^^^^'> ^Jush
judging from ippearS "^vlrv wp.T^' T ^'^'''* ^"^^ ^^ ^^-^
the wooden rou^n^ds S kn Kitl^ n7^^^^^^^ t'''''^'^
elasticity and vii^our nf jjlu 'SJ?°" ^^ ¥« than his usual
^ oj^^xo. Auu operative, wiio had wit.
^..1
„.#
I *^
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
^^^>^i>^
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1^128
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125
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IL25 i 1.4
140
2.0
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Hiotographic
Sciences
Corporation
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79 WeST MAIN STRHT
WnSTIR.N.Y. 145«0
(716) •73-4503
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PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
i
nesMd the inception of the cat^hase. made sure ia hi. ow,
Trf h'^ST"' '*l*^"^y «"« ^««« rat-catcher in tS woridul
i Zr- T* ^/r f T^^","* **'^^«^' ^d that, without WW eateu
J,°°««J'^,^ Company, but had learned nothing^Xch wtnld
hira what the job upon him would be. ^ ''^'^
Ihe summer, meanwhile, had passed, and fall was annrnari,
that ftZ I^rr^'?""^.'^ ^'^^ ^*^«^« '"««. It walevS
bn«^Lo n^'^- "^"^ "^^ '^« particular confidant in this
PrnviZn ''•.r" *« P^«.lP««tive participator in the venture
Provided with a good rifle, and sufficient ammunition Root'
fdl on.T '?^«»»;«"*ionofgoing.a8 soon as the first sno J
fell, on a deer-huntmg expedition, expecting, before he ret rT
ed to pass a few weeks with his friends, the Soms 7n «
jection of the pinery where they were to find eMoymlt He
or IdTce'w'^ tsT^ "'J"> ''.'' ^^^^ ^is fXr rL"
or aavice, was first to repair to Trafton or Milwaukee ani
make sale of. or trade oflF, his mythical schooner 3 hi soiSe
araTe^anSrVh: ^T"^'' ^"^;^^'« forVaWgLTo
iniana waters and for the peculiar sort of traffic in which dnrin<.
the traU to the pine country, with his gun, going to theloj
PBomsiONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. SO
S'arth?rr'^^'f""^^'^'*"'^ ^«P-t as%Sy as consul!
T.A^f Chicago Agency. The operative had evervE^
ready for a start, when an accident occurred makint i^n.i^
he 80 desired. Some days elapsed before I learned tf«f„ I
ining aDout the place appeared to be prosneriiitr ^f,ii Vi
widow refrained from smiling upon the ErofH^^ *
secure her regard She coufd no't ?ike hfm and w u ITiT^
to. But the zealous and jealous dealer ii frrocS. .m] . ^
visions persevered. Assuming to have forSr M, " T*
against Root, Jones endeavoured, in various wavstnn^ ^ "i.-^"
370 PHOFEHSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
ttTL'try^r^^^^^^ ^^^ --1-U. neater aadeleaae,
and thus rid the wi^i^stLT/ht "''' "^ '"^4!'^ ^^^^^'-^
the operative had enjoyed C hours of unT't ^'"'*' ^" ■'''^>'
that man took up his abode in tZT / ""^^V^en repose since
adjoining his own Whl iett ^^^ '"• "^ ^" *''^ »»«"««. n«xt.
the moon appeared frol a is of^^^^^^ '?'^""''" ''''''
of a man just ahead or^im n 1^^"^'' f'^^''^ "'« ^^ure
The two paused upon the ^idewJlV';* '° ^« ^'•- Sla/to,,.
upon different topL" en sepa? L' .n f'^ ^'' ' "^"'"-^
crossed the street, entered Mrr^nvl » [ ^""^ immediately
in his bed. But he was not desh'.!!?. " '^T^' ^"^ ^^ «"<"•
Perhaps an hour aftir mTdni. , "^ h "^ V'^^'P undisturbed.
" fire I " Accustomed To fafse a arm« ^he startling cry of
occurred within a few weeks in liZ?\ 'Tl"^ °^ " ' ''^' '>a<i
heed to the sound and w-^ff .1 ^T ^"'''^' *^ ^'"^^ '»^^ ^ ^ttle
dition, when some one kno4' dln^V^^ '""t * ^"™"^'^"' ««^
shouting : ..Get up l"jotf ^Lt2 S e r ^^^^^ ^-^
This IS Litt e Bill's wort " iJ .1 . .
His half dormant e„l?Jer'e„,H,;k'l'«'''' ''"'.*'''' "»"""«■
dressing himself, the opimiv" r^sffi •^"ru"'- «""«'"/
time to behold Jones, wftl I Thil f ?! ""."'°"' J"" *"
down the stairway, shouti ,g "fi^' '«;«%"'''' '^ «■''"«
the others. Root followed to tl,» ?,„. t ' •, j°' ""'y "'^f- Wlh
toolat.. Whenthe?r„wdofha7cla3 wi^M ^^ «" >ve«
and women reached the front .f ,1; J "' ''^''^ '^"^d m,.,,
trembling all over like an len elf inThTl""'.'' ""1 ■'""''•
key and opened the door th. k?.„ i " "''• W'-ed 'li»
torching tL grocer's ti\l'd„tes'':r .''•"'' '""^
"^'ff 7S ra7,^r~?* ^^^-^^^^^ •"
funning to the middt o the stiver"."' ""t" ' " '=™'' '»"«*
E DKTKCTIVKS.
use neater imd cieauei
PltOPESSrONAL TIHEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 371
•Everything was safe-no fire W t.\^^ '*^''*-
-ywhere I I can't think how it .nnli "'^ «tore-no light
«)n,e one went in at a ?car wTndot v! have caught, excepting
fai^•d to fasten, and star ed fc Oh V^ ^ "7" ^^'"^""^^r '
i-very effort w;« raade to enter th'enT '"".'"^ ' '"'"^'^ '"
-acceed. Tiie entiro interbr wL I P'^'^^' '^"^ no one could
entrance w.a« opened. ^iTaZTiuT'^'I^r''^^'''' ^he
carca through thereof and sidLinro ^^^^^ ^"'^ ^'^ «°««
clus.ve!y that the torch had ffaonS; t''\ '.'^^^^"g ^«'»-
dencesof a conflagration wpr« 1-^^ ^ /°"^' '^^'^"'''^ ' 5»e evi-
floor went dovn wfth 1 Lrh '^u^'''""^*''''^^- «oon fci>o upper
Ijtle later, by thTroiftlnd 'sit wT' '\' T^^ ^«"o-^S »
the red flames leaped high "n the .^ ' •?" .^ ''^'™°^3^- Thea
he star-lit sky, burnt fiercdv for h;-' ^^^««"•""« of reaching
intense heat, then gradual vtbllanH^ Z ^T7^ ^'^'^ * ^^"^'ht,
men vvith two hand-eSs Jot ^t. '""^^^/««^'Vas the fire-'
•eetlung mass. Luckilf the £ %°^ ^^^*^' "P°« '^e
d-^ving the shower of brands and bits 7 ^'"- ''^^."^"h^ard,
an unoccupied space of S south n^K ^."'""'^ timber upoa
confined to Jones's bui^^in<. "nld ,-' ?^'^' ^''' ^^^ ^'^
vailing come from the south ut t '^'^ '^^'^'^^ '^^en pre-
certanly have been consumed R* f "^ '"'' ^^^"'"g «i»«fe
'forking one of the eiSTn „;> . i "^ 'volunteered to aid ia
to eave'the propSy ^a1, 'w^^Jf'^""'"" ^^^' ^^th the ro ^
Inhere had stood the warehrZ "*" ^'^^''• ^" » ^^"^ hour^
>"g rubbi3h. Not an artle oV ?? '^ ^ ^ ^'"^ ^^ «^°"'d«N
'pared. The iron safe, con till /f'' *|PP«^«ntIy, had beea
papers, and standing fn one S'' !"' ' ^"'''''^ *'°''^' ^"'^
had gone through the floor in ?oti^' ^ ^^'l ^^'^ ^^^ been.
>^«de, among over baked DotlM f^^^ ''^^'^ ^^ '^sted on
Jages. awaiting reLval arfd ei?' '^'P'' ?^"^'« ^'^d cal>
tl^Jf its conten?^ wereTn a ?air stat^ n?''""* ^' .^^« P^^^^We
Considerable excitement u L« ^ P^f ervation.
ways the case in smlrn^ranTt^^^^^^ ^^ '^' ^''> ^ " »1-
«;;tomed to deal with fur^htnl LitM '"1'??^''^'* "'^'^« ««>•
Je ground, completely dressed «f if ^ f^^'^^ «'a8 early oa
?« nevvsof the ocrnrrLl I'l^.^i/? ^»« ^a*^ not retired when
'i &
M
,11
372 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE'DEI'ECTIVES.
and then to another, pointing with hib hand toward the burn-
ing pile. Doubtless, he was rejoicing that 80 many cats were
either burnt up or deprived of their accustomed rendezvous.
Presently the young fellow disappeared. Subsequently, while
Root was standing in the doorway of his boarding-house, wip.
mg the water from his face and hands, and when the confusion
and turmoil seemed to have subsided with the flames, he wm
approached by the sheriff, who said :
** Mr. Root, I am sorry to say I hare a warrant for your ar-
rest I You must come with me 1 "
"Myarrestt*
"Yesl-
"And pray what am I accused of 1 Why ami taken at
this unseasonable hour t "
" You are charged with incendiarism, in setting fire to
Jones's store I Little Bill Groom is your accuser I "
Then the conspiracy of the three persons. Little Bill, Little
and Jones, was at last explained. Their game stood fully ex-
posed to the gaze of their victim. But there was no present
help.
" It's impossible they should accuse me of that thing I It
is abominalile I It's a malicious lie 1" But realizing that words
would do no good, and perceiving that they were surrounded
by a mob of unsympathizing people, excited to the belief in
his guilt, doubtless, by the tales of Little Bill, Jones and hit
legal adviser, he deemed it best to say no more, but quietly
submit to the sheriff's demands.
*' I think," said that oflScial, in a low voice, " from the pre-
vailing sentiment, I had better take you at once to the jail,
where you will be safe. I'll defend you to the last The
people have been tampered with by some one, and threaten
Lynch law. Still th^y have no evidence of your guilt."
Mrs. Buxton appeared the only one who dare proclaim •
belief in hia innoceuca After saying as much she remained
silent
It may truly be said that these impressive incidents, follow^
ing each other in such rapid succession, had partly dazed and
bewildered the detective. He knew that he was guiltless ; he
thought he could prove himself so. But the knowledge he had
of the men among whom he lived taui'hfc him that durin<r thi
I'DEI'ECTIVES.
warrant for your a^
^y ami taken at
m fhaf. Jiirinir (Jli
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 373
t^«»nt sway of popular excitement, it would be sheer folly to
attempt forcing a conviction in their minds of his innocence.
He thcyrefore made no resistance, but walked along, still pro-
testing, however, that he knew nothing whatever ot the oriirin
of the fire. *
" As God is my judge, gentlemen, I had no more to do in
itarting it than that chiid in its mother's arras."
"Faith, an' I belave ye," whispered Mrs. Buxton, as the
Bheriflf and his posse, among the latter being Jo and Big Bill
Groom, accompanied the prisoner to jail, where he was fated
to pass the remainder of that night at least The two Grooms
—I/O their credit be it said—behaved themselves discreetly, and
while they were determined to aid in protecting their friend
from violence at hazard of their lives, if need be, they ventured
few words, probably knowing that anything coming from their
lips, under tiio circumstances, would hardly havw any effect ia
removing the onus of the allegations against Root. They
therefore contented themselves with standing near, and by
their acts more than by any particular language used, exhibit-
ing their confidence in the young man's want of guilt. A few
more, among the foremost being Mr. Slayton and Justice Sim-
mons, accompanied the sheriff, with a constable and a few fire-
men, keeping back the crowd, with which was seen Little Bill,
seemingly hungry for the blood of the helpless man. The jail
was finally reached without the occurrence of any violent out-
break, fcnd the mob had to employ itself in hurling curses,
shouts of derision and scorn after the prisoner, as he disap-
peared within the haven of safety.
« I can't understand this," said Slayton, at the cell door,
after Root had been placed in charge of the turnkey. "U parted
from you, I remember, a little better than an hour before the
alarm was sounded, where we had been talking, and distinctly
saw you enter the boarding-housa I can't fathom the mystery.
But, my friend, I am as sure you did not do the deed as I am
that 1 live."
** Thank you I " said Root, deeply affected. " It will all be
explamed lome day. At present I'm as deeply mystified as
any one. What my suspicions may be perhaps I had best keep
to myself I you can rest assured 1 am not guilty, but the victim
w » dairaaable a plot as w«* «ivei- UaLched to iniure man io tV
i:
374 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES..
r.°?^ Vw!** "'°*'. ' To-morrow I trust I may be able to mi
Jlai"3lL%|'''"^""^"°°'"'^^^ ' '^^ dem'andmust tS
Leaving the prisoner to pass the hours as best he could, his
T^I^^Ta '^"'^•"^d on guard outside the prison, still fearing
sens, until the sun had risen for another day, and better coun-
sel having prevailed, the crowd had quietly dispersed Ever?-
thing was soon as quiet and peaceful as ever in Raceford. But
there were some m the place who did not find rest. This was
^nmh^^\^''\^A^''? ^'^^"""^ *°d ^"«^ ^^ttress as he
der Widow Buxton's hospitable roof. Exhausted by the men.
engine, attempting to extinguish the fire, it wa»an hour v^i
sunnse when ho awoke. «»»u uour pa«j
latedlm«7 information regarding the circumstances just r^
R^^f ZZ ^ ^^?,^Sency in the shape of a letter, wri ten by
Boot, while m jail, directed to his cousin at Trafton as he ex.
but having upon ite envelope the numl)er of a post-office bo"
the matter m which I controUed, unknown to dUxcept nVthl
know mo?e"' %f^\ ^^n"^^'^^- ' ^'^ naturallySredt
know more. Situated as I was, and as my Asent must, hp
however it would not do to make direct^tSes Tlette '
nor could Root safely write all I wanted to k^^^I thou S
thllnn^* '"T^ '°^"^'' ^' ^^^t' ^ substitute fir onerk
ZnLr^t: J^K'^T^ detective was especially instructed to
co-operate with Root, under cover of their supposed relation.
Siw ^-"^''^ "f^"'' '^ P^^«'^'«' in hunting up te
En «v!r • r"!f ? -^f P'.'^^'"^*'' ^o«*'ity- Gross was .
JKifni? ' 1^' u ^' »°^"«'"^«« °»an. and I knew he would
necessary in retaining reliable legal talent for his qmsi cousii'i
defence, before the magistrates. «««*»toumf
\J^l l^f L''P°'^' -'"^ ^T^ .^«'* *^*'i'«'* impatiently. At
ZitTi?'^" **7'^ .^V^ ''^"'"''^ I warinformed <rf
events succeeding the niffht of the dest.rii/>««n .t t^j..-.- .*„-
^..•'
HE DETECTIVES. .
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES, m
amoke and fire liAjran tn. ^^„^p ^., " "™® before the
had l.en one of ^t^^ o^^ Tr^^^^^^^^ I'^^f '^''''^^'
one of the accused man's suret^s th« h«ii f ^^V '®^^« *»
at ten thonaand dollars for hil ^nnf ^ ^^'^'I'S ^««" P'^ced
examination before Ju«V^«- i- *PP«^*"c« at the preliminary
quickly followed bj Dr pTl sbr^^^^^^^ TV'^'^r "« ^^
ter a well-known attornerand abon Ah '° ^^''^'' *^« ^«^
almost every respect. Se were th'«'l'. .?P''''' "^ ^^'^' i»
and most wealthy residents of R--^-' ^' """'^ respectable
holdem in or o£rs Ythe Boo^fnf n ' *"^ '^^^^ ^«^« «tock.
Slayton, and he wL m«r«lv o ^ Company, excepting Mr.
purposely kept in TglrTnShat'r"A"''"^'"u'' ?°d had been
at work in the luS? redon H« ^'"'^. ^^^ ^'^ ^P^^^^^^^^
detectives were ev'rL'suTed reg^ d^ tt rTh" '"^" 'i''
portion of the State Th« hnni „/ " robberies m that
factory, accepted/and Uoo^^Zi^^ J^r'''^'^' ^''^^''^ ^'-^tis-
event occurrerl the day s^^^ceedTnTth. ^ '1 *' ^^'"'y- ^his
of the prisoner's coS the town t^"' witnessing the arrival
to be done. After the two mpnTi uu '^*' "°^ ">»«h ^ork
fidential conversation t Boot's it^f^ ^"I T''''^^ «"^ ««»-
imparted the suspicion he he d of tirr i ^"""« ^'^^^^ ««°<^
incendiarism-it was withon/rlnnK. ^**^ Perpetrators of the
repeated the portioS^of a W^' *" intentional fire-and
befween JoneHnd Little it ^^17/"-^^^^ ^' ^'^ ^^'^^^^
upon the defensive unles; solth' ™"'^'* *^ "^°^*»» ™«'ely
the holding of theVepaTaZy tl'a^^L^^^ -ti^
mtended to be purmied hv T LLJu i^ u .1® °^ prosecution
wa3 believed thL L ut Bill wn^lH k"^!^" ¥^ developed. It
tify that he had seen ^oMnTv. ^ ^"^^^ht forward to tea-
«tore. In nHther wk^ couM ^Vh"^ ' u ^^ ^«'^^"S ^^^ to the
be sustained, inSirriL colnf ^ ^ '^''«" ^°' ^'^^ °^««»ent
crimes in which purelT^ircrl"^^^ ^"^ ^^ '^'^ «""ber of
little effect upon TTuryUr^nd ^ W P^"^"'^^^ *>"*
the aid of Bfg BUlS Jo Cm to W ff'^^^^ ^^'^"8^
."S.7he^trttVeaIt-K^^^
juwd witnesa fix un^n Z' .ILlli'^.^"*^'. Should the pe/.
^ ^ i^.^vioc ittumenc when he iw^ or<
,! i
Nil
.•i76 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
-tore'^anlnl^JT'" ^l ^"^ "'''' Root make his exit from th.
Jin IT.l ""^ '''""'^ ''«'■«« ^'th the one on which Slav
ton and the operative were actually enlaced in conylrB^ttln
near the doomed building, it would naturally fall to ZlCund
If placed at any particular moment later than that Roonouiri
rrove an o/eiahrough at least half-a-dozen lodge™ at Mr .Bu^
ton 8, who had been aware of his presence in the house and carl
fully noted the hour. One of the number had even s^n him enf't
Xwran^'/rV''-^'^^^^ ^''^^ imn. 7hrurd?hr;ot
wS; 1 if ,'•'''' "r^'"^ ^'^h Slayton- there was a hiatal
w ich only lioot himself could fill, and his lips would be sealed
ver LLrnf ^'''' l^- '''f P«"-l he was Jhadowlng hett
fhpn^ r ^""^"'^ him from his office to his residence Z
then wa king leisurely to the point where he encountered Sky
i^Hv/ •''"'>^ ^^^ beginning of this hour he had passed tlfe
L./ r/'T"« V^^ companionship of Little Bill' cousin a
fact regarding which Little Bill had probably no kioXd:re
excepting he obtained it after the coLissio^of thrcS
tleTare"^:? ^Lar: '^'' ^^^^ '^'^^^ -" -^-'7^
Two days thereafter, while, as Simmons said, Little was in
the midst of the work of preparing his testimony fo he S n
of the two magistrates, Gross shadowed Little Bill to the &
going on in the next room, and inquired if there was any
and SleTl/" ""ut'^' conversation between the Torn y'
and Little bill could be overhead. It was an uncommon thin^
to ask. they were aware, and an uncommon thinHHo 3
them but the crisis seemed to demand the use of any mel s
unusual or usual, m checkmating thi villainy they kSew to S
going on. Simmons at first shook his head, fflhoucrht ov«
the subject a moment, and finally answered : . '"^''°''' °'''
tice r Y^ "rii d^oTt I "'' " ^ ''' ^"^'^^^ ^' ^- -d i-
S DETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 377
The magistrate then explained that there was close at hand
a sort of closet, ,n which, for many years, he had s^re! awa?
old records, newBpapers. bundles of musty la>^ papers and Tcif
from IhH ^^''''^'•S? "^'^ '^' '''^«' "»^'«h y.LTn?y sep»raS
from L ttles inner office by a thin partition of hoai^s. covere
on the lawyer s side by common wall-paper. The lumber had
shrunk considerably, parted in places, and torn the ilcr and
je had recently discovered, he said, while a blu«h iverTpread
his honest face, that a dialogue, carried on in Little'srnctum
rv'sundin''"'-'r'^-l7 *""^ ^^ ^°'««' ««"'^ be distinctTy heaH
by standing nigh and listening at the wall in the little closet
But tor the great importance of the emergency. I would
never have imparted this information to any person.' It Tav
jtt"ice1»' *" '"*^'"'"*°<^ i" ^he accomplishment of the ends of
frn^T"""" 7*? considerably confused, and seemed to suffer
from the ordeal through which he was passing. He was
quickly assured by his visitors that they appreciated his fleT
ings, and no advantage would be taken of his secret, withou
his voluntary consent. Meanwhile, what they did had tobe
done quickly, or the conference between the co^spirato^ would
be concluded^ The way was then exhibited. The maSsTrate
saymy that Root could not be a witness in hi. own mf deter'
minJ to accompany Gross, and from that momentTe forgot
TnAhl^A "Tv. '«T"^^"^'y- The < ra doors were locked
and bolted, as they always war. at nigh, when the jud«e and a
select party whiled away the hours It a game of euchre and
the men took the further precaution of removing tWr heavy
the'TpplC "*^;?.SJ™°»o°«' standing before the narrow door of
button 'l.'^'J'^ °"1^ '".''"'"^ ^y » P"°»itive wooden
button, not a word must be said, not a noise made by us while
them^ Root, you can stay here and hold the door shut until
you hear us coming, then carefully open it for us. If I hear
what I expect to hear, we will know what to do toward endZ
and punishing the originators of one of the most diaboUcL 2
piracies ever hatched in the State. And I'll domjBh^Z
the consequences what they may I" ^ ^^ ^
* I am satisfied with the arnrngeinent,'' said p~>*
l
378 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
The arnall panel door wm qnietiv opened, without iriyina
forth a single creak of the hinges, which the detective saw had
recently been well oiled, and the justice and detective en-
tered. Then Root shut the door and put liis foot against ii
He was not quite certain that sufficient air could gain access to
the cupboard for the sustenance of life, but, reasoning that
possibly, Simmons, while greasing the hinges, would naturally
provide for the rest of the surroundings, he satin his chair
ready for the coming of the searchers after knowledge. He
had not long to wait. Soon he felt a soft pressnre against the
toe of his boot, he removed the obstacle and the men emerged
from their corner, presenting a sight which, had he not had hig
nsibles under excellent command, must have caused the opera-
tive to laugh long, loud and heartily. As it was, and near tiie
head^iuarters of the enemy as they were, he could not repress
a smile, and was internally convulsed, to the extent that his
handkerchief was employed to close up his mouth to prevent
chance of an explosion, of which there was imminent danger
Simmons's long, fiery red hair was plentifully sprinkled with
dust and soot, until changed to the colour of a singed cat^ and
his face bore a striking resemblance to that of a half-washed
Ethiopian serenader, while his hands, of whose whiteness he
was usually very proud, were smirched and begrimed like those
of a chimney-sweep. Gross, who was naturally a liyht-com-
plexioned, white-haired, Celtic-looking individual, was trans-
formed into a tolerable Othello, excepting the curling wig, his
poll being fantastically decked with odd strips of white paper,
cobwebs and lampblack, forming a head-gear more ridiculous'
if that were possible, than those usually affected by poor repre-
sentatives of King Lear, or those of the other sex in personating
the mad maiden lover of Hamlet, fair Ophelia, upon the mimic
stage. The. clothing of both gentlemen was fashioned, by
added spiders' nests, filaments of twine and lint, into a costume
of pepper ard salt, and their lungs were so choked with pow-
dered abominations of every sort, that some momenta neces-
sarily elapsed before they could raise their voices so as to b«
heard. Their peculiar personal appearance was explained, but
not until Simeons had donned his spectacles, and, with an air
of conscious satisfaction, seated himself in the chair of office
Theoontequent merriment became general though suppressed, w
•I- ;.M:i,i:
K DETECTIVES.
rROFESiSlONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 379
tittle Bill and the attorney had not had time to vacate the build,
in,?. It was continued for some minutes, lioot gazing upon his
two companions in utter amazement, and they looking at each
other with equal surprise, but finally Simmons stuttered •
" C-come, let us g-get out of this f-f-tix before some f-ffooJ
wanta to come in."
The Justice sounded his nasal trumpet sonorously, to clear
it from accumulated dust, and then proceeded to apply cold
water to his person and brushes to his habiliments, soon making
himself once more presentable. Gross followed his example
with a similar result In a few minutes a chance visitor would
not have recognised them as the same personages who had just
emerged from the magistrate's mysterious pantry.
It was well for all concerned that this cleansing process was
early attended to, as the outside doors of the little court-room
had not been many minutes unfastened when Jo Groom entered,
searching for Root, whose companionship he had sadly missed
since the fire and succeeding arrest. The Agent was not parti-
cularly well pleased with the untimely visit, but saw the neces-
sity for appearing so, put on a pleasant face, dissembled a little,
and gave Jo a cordial welcome. Gross had previously been
made acquainted with Jo, as the operative's cousin from Traf-
ton. He was also pleased to see Jo Groom, and, without hear-
ing the result of the excursion into Simmons's cupboard, Root
telt compelled to invite Jo and Gross and Simmons over to an
adjacent beer saloon. But the magistrate, being still a temper-
ance man, refused. Then the three others left the Justice alone
and went to the ale house by themselves. Of course, the ob-
servances that followed kept Root and Gross engaged the re-
mainder of the afternoon. By sunset they had reason for
leaving, it being their supper time.
At a late hour that night, however. Root and his cousin,
V^ross, might have been seen issuing from the building in which
was situated Simmons's office. They were walking fast, talking
cheerfully, and one of the number evidently lelt more happy
than usual. Root sat and smoked his pipe, and wrote on his
reports until past midnight. Still the labour done seemed a
labour of love, not a task or hardship.
The ensuing morning, two days before the date appointed
(or Roots examination unon thA nharcrA nf innAnfiioripm .«■
-*»« £97£U% yty
380
PBOFESSroNiL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
second charge of incendiarism on the narf of TitfiJ u- i • .
Jone, and the lawyer a, acceasorierbeCe IdTte the I'?
Thh nl ™ •'"J'P""'™ having been sent for. ^' " '
L^?er'L^l&l„rto?i„nH^^
examination arrived tLSTtiont^^^^^^ ^*7 ^^^ ^'^«
18 against my cousin consists in a lyin^ affidavit tT^^ ' '^
Little and sworn to by Little Bill 1 '' ^ ****avit, made out by
PaS^ Sler";i?tr:nr«L^;d tTa-nd'te '» T
>ETECTIVES.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THeT DETECTIVES. 381
fTOceryman Jones and lying Little Bill haa digged for «hem«
! fM
CHAPTER X.
TABLES TURNED.
HEN the three prisoners were brought from jail into
Simmons's little court-room, at precisely ten o'clock
in the forenoon of the day selected for their prelimi-
nary trial, they presented a curious picture— pitiable as well
as curious. None of the number appeared really to have en-
joyed their brief captivity. Upon the countenances of two had
settled an absolute look of restlessness. This was particulariv
noticeable m Little, the famous criminal lawyer, now himself
turned criminal, who was haggard,'perceptibly thinner of face
ajQd his dark eyes continually wandered from point to point as
though m search of some wished-for object. If it was his wife
that he expected to see, he was fated to disappointment. She
had improved the first opportunity presenting itself in several
years to glide from beneath Little's heavy and relentless hand.
His tyrannical grasp was at last relaxed by the force of inex-
orable law, and taking their three children with her, she was
even then en route for her father's comfortable homo in a far
eastern State. So the caged lawyer saw not the form of the
true woman, whose life he had for years made a daily misery,
looking love and encouragement upon him. Indeed, there were
very tew in the assemblage from whom he could expect ex-
pressions of sympathy. His whole aspect was that of a chained
tiger. His hands moved about nervously, and were deprived
of even the poor consolation of a knife and a piece of pine shin
gle, all sharp implements being kept out of their reach, as from
iiii iiisne aooearance and vnilHnt'. riharantor ^ir^n n,u..^ :^ v.-.
gentler moods it was feared by tho»e who waited upon him
382 PROFESSONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
« Jc g^-oceryman, Jones, was also pale and aeitated. T?,".
venHIaf A^ nhi^ w , • ^® ^'^^^^ his ancient and well-
thei/Cs for the fbhL H '"'"" ^'.^^"S ^'^^^"^ ^^^ ^«rm to"
ing,a8 hehad been instructed by the deputy-sheriff iS,
Bill's demeanour might have been founded Con that of 01 vr
Arttul Dodger, for whom he had formed great resnect in a
casual perusal of a cheap edition of J)i.].lF aJIT'1."':^
WM • fi«r imitation of that thieyiog fe"UowVapp;;,;nyuX
ETECTIVES.
)Bie other pewoa.
PROIfUSSlONAL TfilEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 383
wmewhat gimaar circumstances, though he did not threaten
hecourt, as his prototype is said to have done, nor ask
"Where were his pnvUeges 1" He was simply a bit of un-
wulterated impudence personified.
Deputy Sheriff Babb opened the court in his usual style.
which was far from ceremonial or orderly.
to bi^9be?8^l ^^^^^ ^**^ *^'*^®^ ^ ^^'* ^'® "^""^^ " *^"' *° set
l-u^iffj' ^*4^^!^***^y ^^'"^S vexatiously, said "hush I"
I *hu8h 1 " But It did not obey.
The tall official rapped sharply three times with his calloused
knuckles on the plastered wall, them abruptly sank into a seat
on the end of a convenient bench. The buzz of conversation
ceased, and the assemblage gave earnest attention to the pro-
eeedmgs which followed. ^
Such a densely^acked crowd of men, women, and boys had
I not convened m Raceford to witness a trial since the date of
he examination of Bates, for robbery, some months before, in
he same apartment Bates was serving out a three years' sen-
tence at Waupun, and the man who defended him before the
I court and before the jury, was now a prisoner, with a prospect
. of soon keeping his former client company. There was the
! greatest demand for seats, and the supply did not keep pace
mth the requirements of the people. The ladies had prefer-
enceu Ihe boys were compelled to stand, as well as most of
lllir'i'^u T.T^i-.P^**'® ^®^"S uncomfortably crowded.
I Skoob, of the East Side Bugle of Liberty, was present, spec-
nr„r/*°'!'i?*"?^ '^^y sharpened, and note-book in hand,
ey^ed to take advantage of whatever might be said or done -
I ,„^r/ ft ^^^ ^'^^ ■^^'^ ^-^ Freedom, entered rather late,
and had not been fortunate enough to find a seat to fall asleep
«. therefore stood, with his two hands stuck in his deep
pockets, ga«ng Vacantly at the defendants, while he braced
rnfI.^rrKJ» rf K*^^ agamst the wall to make his position more
iiJ? V^^*"^ proposed taking notes of the trial,, he dis-
he mf2t Tu'k Tu**^^'*' """^ ^*« ^ °^"«J» interested as
i he might have felt^ had the proceeding before him been a dog-
tght or a trial for the pettiest of petty larceny. But JobaoQ?-
jucmoiy stui iioiding good, it was" easier t > nefrain from writ:
"«, and he wm proverbial for preferring t l.at which cost him
384 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES>ND THE DETECTIVES,
the least muscular or mental exertion. A joker waited unti)
Jobson WM almost asleep, and swaying backward and forward
as he stood, when he approached, shouted " copy," in a satauic
voice, m his ear, and the editor roused up, opened his eyeii
looked around, appreciated the joke, smiled, and relapsed into
.omnolency. Forty winks, taken as he waited for a proof laL
at night, was as good to the brain- weary scribbler as an hour
to another man reclining comfortably in bed.
Big Bill and Jo Groom were naturally interested in the trial
but, not knowing anything of the testimony upon which Billy
had been implicated they supposed that there was little prob/
bihty that he would suflFer, and had made no effort toward
secunng immunity. It was not their fight. Both had the
greatest confidence in their kinsman's ability, young and inei-
perienced in th. intricacies of the law as he was, to take hU
own part and manage affairs for himself. When asked what
they thought about the arrest, they expressed the belief that it
was a superlatively silly farce, or an nttempt to frighten Jones
L J Si u S^ »'^«»i''ance companies, which would not sue-
ceed. The brothers greeted Root and Gross warmly, as thev
inH llT^"" K f*^,.^f°^«^«d from their corner. Both talked
and laughed, but still were concerned for Little Bill—and be-
came more 80 as the trial proceeded. Neither had taken the
trouble to inquu-e as to the contents of Gross's affidavit, and
Jo informed fioot that if Little Bill had been foolish enoug
to have set fire to the store, which he did not believe, he v4
too smart to be caught, and would surely come out all right.
Li tie knew something of the trouble before him ; so did JoL
Little Bill neither knew nor cared. It looked as if his cousins
were of a similar way of thinking.
, ^i!}°'*?.^J®T S ^"sK^'^as*^' smothering it in his big pocket-
handkerchief followed by a note by Simmons; Skoob turned
over a new leaf of his note book; Jobson opened his eyes
again ; Babb rapped with his knuckles on the bench, crying;
in a dolpful voice "Order in this 'ere court !" and the twc
■wpstrates walked to their table and occupied seats behind it,
Tillman announcing, in his hoarse voice, that the examination
toto the matter of the State versus Phineas Little, Nehemjah
Jones and William Byrd Groom alias " Little Bill Omo^-
cnargaa, apoii affidavit of Wiiiis Gross, with conspiracy to de.
E DETECTlVfiS.
W10FB8SI0NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 383
«th.«Ued linen SLut^etohiZelftS- 'T
■> ti li «™. u«„ iii. sii ™ sSTiKB;
386 PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
ton lawyer talked in a shambling, pettifogging, blustering way
for half an hour, apparently placing great reliance upon the al-
leged immaculate character of his party defendant, and the
openness of the villainous fraud which he said had been hatch-
ed in the fertile brain of the prosecuting attorney, to ruin men
who, unlike that official, were and always had been above re-
proach. And he gave out more of the same sort of trash, then
vigorously wiped his face again, and sat ^own. The people
wondered why he ever got up, as he had done Little no credit,
and covered or contravened not a single point in the other
lawyer's speech. It was then apparent, if Little was saved the
State prison, which, if guilty, he richly deserved, it would not
be through the exertions of Mr. Ashmead.
Without attempting to furnish a true copy of the proceed-
ings of the court, as reported to me by my agents, I shall con-
dense those portions having the strongest bearing upon the in-
cendiary case.
How that persevering woman got back again was among the
mysteries unexplainable. But there she stood, as large as life,
and the infant yelling and kicking in her arms like a young
panther in a trap. Simmons looked aghast, blushed a de^
scuilet, and said :-^
" M-mistress P-p^**irsham, it is t-the w-wish of the m major-
ity t-that t-that ch-child b-be r-removed f-from c-c-court 1 " '
Babb knocked a loud knock. The mother and child were
objects of interest. And the youngster screamed, as though
in protest, while poor Mrs. Petersham had to take her depw-
ture agaia Silence once more reigned in court.
The testimony of Willis Gross, after detailing the laughable
adventure in getting into and out of the magistrate's dusty
closet, was to the effect that he and Simmons had seen the de-
fendant, Little Bill Groom, in company with Little,' the latter
sitting at his writing table and taking notes of the answen
Billy was making to his questions. When roundly abused by
the lawyer for his cowardice during the night of the fire. Little
Bill answered that he had been promised a reward of one hun-
dred dollars, ly Jones, half down and the remainder when his
work was doi ^, to set fire to the store and then make oath be-
fore a notary public that he had been an accidental witness
while Root petformed this incendiary act ; in truth, he was to
KTECT1VE3.
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVKS. 38;
ferocious cat, .„d h« fi„a ly su i:d en It ."""'f""' ■""»
leaping out of the wiudoAyThTcht ." ha^tjfred""" ""^
the heavy blind aud'th.v ll .1 "= """''"r'"! out, banged shut
Bu.ton^,'koSy a r^'a C/ "'\te H™'?. II'"""* ^f"-
Biliy at Jaat oons^ented th™f'4 he td ^^S'tl l"?"'"?.'-
loost particular portion „f hii co> trac and ', tI^ "^ ">e
."US for the abatement, he should ody'have ^y doHarThi:
Kr^T;i„tLSrn;iri--^^^
U..Jness.L"?5.1r,l;|?,^,^
•"" """o """^ *"• (""I over to the Uttle Tillam bf ttoS:
i
1 1
388 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETigTIVES.
torney. After thif , Little proceeded to instruct the perjored
boy ooncerniDg the respoDses to be made by him upon the oz<
amination. The hour when he was supposed to hav^ seen Koot
come out of the rear window of the store, which Jones " re.
membered he had left unfastened," was shrewdly fixed upon
as about half-past eleven, or after Boot had separated from Big
Bill and Jo Groom, and previous to his meeting with Mr^
Slayton.
When Gross left the witness chair, the faces of the defendants
were observed to be remarkably changed. Little had warning
of what was coming, so had Jones ; but Little Bill was taken
completely unawre. Yet the lawyer turned almost black in
the face, and then white again, and Jones was covered with a
cold, clammy perspiration, the colour of his skin seeming to
shift to a greenish yellow, while the countenance uf the unpre-
pared boy expressed only contempt, of the most positive char*
acter, for the childish weaknesses of his partners in guilt
Jones's head fell forward on his chest, and he did not again
look up until the case was closed, and the handcuffs were upon
his wrists.
Little Bill, while he did not show it, was considerably ex-
cited by the unexpected turn affairs.had taken. Still his mind
soon recovered its balance, and, while Ashmead was attempting
to argue the inadmissible nature of some of Gross's most telling
testimony, he turned to Jo Groom, and beckoned him forward
to a seat by his side. Little Bill was fully equal to the ooca*
sion. Jo spoke with his cousin, was seen nodding assent to some
proposition Billy made, and then resumed his former place.
Little Bill, paying no attention to the laboured effort of Little's
attorney, made known by a simple gesture, that he wanted to
confer with the district attorney. That gentleman moved his
chair along to the lad's side. Little looked daggers at Billy,
but he heeded him not, and went on with his talk to Jacobs.
Little's hands trembled. Had they clutched any sort of deadly
weapon, it was believed he would have attempted the taking of
the boy's life.
Billy was once more as serene as a veteran -attorney. He
quickly saw what an absurd mess had been made of the whole
matter by his accomplices, and was ready to grasp the first
^KOPESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES 389
Jaoobe called Littla BUI Groom as a witness for the proseco-
tion. That young scamp's testimony need not be repeated.
He not only fully corroborated all that Gross had previously
given, but unblushingly related time, place and circumstance
of the whole wnspiracy, from beginning to end, saying that
Jones had hired h.m to paint his buildin| merely u a blind.
♦Ka lli''*Jf ?"". *1*^ immovable upon the stand as though
the hero of forty tnals, and all that Ashmead could do, when
It came to cross-examination, was to ridicule the witness for
his cowardice m the presence of the feline apparition, and
throw » shadow of doubt upon his veracity by showing that if
he could be bribed to he in one instance, he probably would
voluntarily falsify in another. In this the Trafton attorney
was unsuccessful, as Billy returned siich cutting responses that,
after a few trials, the matter was ended. Ashmead was forced
to accept the inevitable. The case did not rest with Billy
alone. He was fully corroborated.
When BUly Groom was through, Justioe Simmons stated,
from his seat, that, as concerned the scene in the closet, hi
knew Gross and Little BUI swore to the truth, as he personally
saw and heard aU that Gross had seen and heard. It had beeS
truthfully represented- m the testimony. This definitely fixed
tne tate of the prisoners in that court
There was a sensation in the assemblage, in the afternoon,
at the conclusion of the speeches of counsel; the magistrates
blew their trumpets in nasal accord, and entered upon a whis-
pered consu tation, which lasted only a few minuted Tillman
said but little, Simmons having most of the biirden of talk to
Bustam. They arnved at the only conclusion possible to reach
under the circumstances. ThU was that the evidence com-
jjUed them to commit the three defendants untU baU for ten
thousand dollars each could be found for their appearance at
the next term of the Circuit Court. . «"»-«»«
Mrs. Petersham and her pet to(mld enter to hear the con-
iT'^'rr^}^^ remained, and the child forgot to scream while
Justice Tillman spoka
No more evidence was needed. The agents of the insurance
•ompanies were not examined, but returned tn th«ir Hnm-
i^MaA UuU a projected innti vr^n their res^vjctive institution;
390 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
had forcibly recoiled upon its inventors. Jonts had aet fire to
hi8 store, hoping to have the crime irrevocably fuHtened upon
his enemy, Root, and in order to secure the full amount of the
insurance, which was at le;iat tw».ntyfive p«'r cent above the
total value of his buil.linf?s and its entire contents. In the
end he not only had to bear alone the loss of property, failing
to receive the money from the insurance companies, but the
tablf 8 were turned upon him, and he saw, in perspective, a lone
term ot imprisonment in the penitentiary, and recognised the
galling fact that his supposed rival for the hand of the Widow
Buxton was safe, and fully at liberty to woo the lady and win
her if he might His chances of success, judging from appear-
ances were remarkably good. The popular verdict was "Poor
J ones 1
None of the prisoners succeeded in finding acceptable bonds
men in sufficient amounts, and all were therefore transferred
for safe keeping, to the county jail, the lock-up at Eacefoid
not being strong enough for the detention of such shrewu
rogues. They were removed the day succeeding their final
committal.
To close up this part of the relation while freshly recaHed
to memorj', 1 may say that, at tha next spring's term of the
Urcuit Court, Jones and Little were duly indicted upon the
two charges of conspiracy and incendiarism, fairly tried, con-
victed and sentenced to serve the State at Waupun ten years
each. Little Bill, in consideration of his youth and the value
of his evidence m confirming the greater scoundrels' crime,
was let off easy his sentence being only two years, which he
laithtully worked out and . was discharged. He now lives in
the western country, a reformed and better man than he was
boy and youth. Jones died in prison, from nervous prostra-
tion, four years later. Little, after working faithfully at the
shoemaker's bench for five years, and securing the confidence
ot the officials, scaled a high wall, one night, in the dark,
jumped to the soft ground beyond, made his escape, and has
never been seen or heard of since. His fatherless children
and husbandless wife still reside in one of the New England
btates, perhaps all the happier for his prolonged absence.
Root a examination never came off. It was made evident
to the most prejudiced citizen that bn woa o^i^^iroitr ;»«
)ETECnVES.
mes had set fire to
h]y fastened upon
full amount of the
•er cent abovo tlie
contents. In the
< property, failinj^
ompanies, but tl.o
perspective, a long
id recosnised the
md of the Widow
the lady and win
t^iti? from appear-
'erdict was " Poor
acceptable bonds
'efore transferred,
ck-up at Raceford
of such shrewu
eding their final
le freshly recalied
ing's term of the
indicted upon the
fairly tried, con-
Vaupun ten years
ith and the value
icoundrels' crime,
) years, which he
He now lives in
man than he was
nervous prostra-
faithfully at the
ig the confidence
It, in the dark,
3 escape, and has
iherless children
be New England
ed absence,
as made evident
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 391
Remaining in the place long enough to settle up his aOalrs,
the operative made preparations to leave, in nccordance with
orders, Gross having started the second day after the endine
of the trial. , *»
Root was still in high favour with Jo and Big Bill Groom,-
tndmade sure, before leaving for Trafton, that he would be
entirely welcome at the camps as a companion. After taking
leave of the boys and of Mrs. Buxton, he departed, ostensibly
to dispose of his schooner, preparatory to the next spring's
business, but really to report a tho Agency, in obedience to
orders received previous to the fire, his arrest and incidents
immediately following.
Mrs. Buxton waved a many-coloured bandana handkerchief
and her red head very vigorously, as the sleigh disappeared in
CHAPTER XL
BUBSTINO A 8AF&
«,. ORE Oian a month elapsed before I thought necessary
|1. for Root once more to seek the piny wood region. He
1 4. ."*""i*^e overland passage more unpleasant thf.n the
aet one from Raceford. Navigation of the lake and river was
Jtill closed with an icy barrier, which would only be removed
by the opening of spring. But the journey was made Mrs.
iJuxton smiled all over her broad countenance when the sailor's
comely shadow fell upon her threshold. After greeting the
^^u^A > u *^*^°^ ^i^^ ™«ch warmth, she said :
An why not stop here now, an' settle in Raceford, in some
flacent an respictable business, give over your wanderin's and
■crapes, lavin those Grooms to take care of themselves ? Sure,
an Its meeelf that's thinkin* ye are too good a man to be
•avortm about wid the likes of them scapegraces I •*
itoot could not then explain why, bat he had to refoM ibs
B^jjiinij; proposition.
if '
m PUOFESSK.^AL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
you'li regret ie Udn'tZC ZZllZ"^ " T' ' , So»« ^^V
In a few davs ha fnnn!? u- ?!".'>^«8ome advice " '
Jo Groom, wri.'L'^e^l':,'^^^^^^^^^ '^« hogging camp, ^th
a smarter rogue than was befor« kT*^ T^*- ^"* ^o '^m
n^oststrenuoS^exertionrbf theTe^^^^^^^^^^ ^^'P'^ the
from him regaiTling any recent \nafJv' """'^'"^ ^'^ «''«t«d
left, after rejortinc to hJnZ ^°?-'^a^n« operations. Rooi
he would b; abK idl CTk'"' P"''"«^ '»>«' ^e believ^'
steamer suited to their pirpl'^R^r' •*'^^ ^"^ exactly the
ru 'ntentir^^^^^^^^ - sooner commenced
more inaugurated, and thrCna^e^ nf ..'"^^ ^."«« ""^ «°c«
were dee.rouo that I should^Jesume «L ' ^°"*'?« ^^^^^P^ny
^ehalf. I consented, and ear?v J^fif "'^ operations in their
•ive Root was dispatched t Rat ord'-r"'J "^ ^^^^ d«*«c"
intimacy with the Groom bro^C and V'"^'" *? '«°«^ ^is
companions. Another capabrront 1^ T-n'^'^^^-^^^-'e^dy
•equently started for the same ?Sn ""^"^^t^py^r, was sub-
rTbet^^;;^^^ ^ - '^^ ort»„£l a^«Sm%^
^^*^5!g^^^ later, found that it
plied the necessary fixture! and st^ko? r'*^"""' ^°^ ^ «"?*
for the purpose. This man na^H bvM ^"°"' /^ "'^ *^^
The Idea was, that a small roSmT f^^ ^ "2^"* ^^ ^^t»'.^-^'^tt
80 constructed that anv^nnV-fl *^® ''^*' °^ '^e 1 - , .j ^^
between represent of the Z'"' ^^^SP^'^ink
by the impromptu b^rnLXhi^^^^^
I^t memory, and anything of Lport^l* f ^t? ^ "^^ «<«1'
redu.... to writing and forlardX m" ^' "^ ""'^^^ ^
^-^o:,?tt«u,!!:!::ii!»-^
►ETECTIVES.
^OfMBSIOSAL TfilEVte AND THE DET.mviS.
S03
me m-iudtxt^ af both sides of the river eoudlv well ThU nTl '^
papers .hf . litors of which had heen^TiS^^nJt 5
t.cn" of ,„„dry steaming pitchers of Lourj «Wubi Tom
. j^er^r, a.,d that class of beverages. >rereLanim^s^ d^^^^
iheuloon commendatory notices^ Westcotfs acc^dbgly pro£
P«red.. In the rear apartment much time. afteTiWal wJrEin!^
hours, was devoted to the game of poker in whicHn f K. J!a *
Jd^° Th^«^M .T" * P^° 7^'^ ^ ""^ »°«»i»e might sue-
n Z ^'''' V* «'J% ^"^»* '^^«''' -redit £ due. firet camt
to me from remarks of Jo Groom, This eentle .nir ^ ^•♦?I!-
fX te'^* brother. Big Bill, had r^trjVeeTdl^Sai^^
fl^Ji 5 ^"P'*")^ « ^o'-k"* for Bufficient ciuse-Bil for iSS^
SUv^.f ^vf* *** ''^ too frequently seen in company of m"
Slaytonat the superintendent's residence. Root wm him«i?"
j:en'Sd'^^Y"*'*"^'^%p^^^*^ Drgh^:i:rce'iriS
sjn Th^gh^^ Sst^ JC'^^ir hSta r?
Bc^ooDer with his Lent, received^ l^ey duri^g'ht^
r^^r> absence without his consent, and ran off to CanX'
lurrying every dollar of the proceeds, leav'ng Hm hold^ 1^
ih^irS ^ i^"' ^?"^«°' '^' Bhil^handJe^r and ^ilt^ker
hif in^'lSj^ ^'P^ %'"' ^'*i^"' ^d, for safety. agaShide
hmselfinthepinenes. Jo was disconsolate. Big BUI was blue
go very drunk, kept in that stat* had the deli^um trimer!!
ug w cut his own throat, his life only beine saved -hv nJT
- _^ _«^,^^^,j. _j„ „„„ swait uu67 wiiiiimwd for mr^
I
S94
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
the winter'a labourers "nd bv^S T\ PJT"°« ^ P^^ «»
stowed away in the bi^ frnn Z k ^i'^^^ "^^^ ^°"W have
-omesevenre4tt^^^^^^^^^
1 11 not take a hand," answered Root « Yon h,^A k^f*
let your mind run on other matters » '' ^""^ ^'"'' '
" I tell you, Dave, there's already a heap of cash in if i Tn
y.» jom «e, «,d f^tlZ a Wg hf^l r ""^ ' "^"^ "
« ir T ^' *'**'® '°^^^® ** Waupun 1 "
W.Cr^t™TX*a-,^/''- 'He agent left .d
<'mir2Le'^^^!'2l1r,^ "* *" "^'" '»'' °f *»»'"'
. .ombS™^S''' ";* cast-iron hinges double door., and
« Well I°H K" r'^ow would you go to. wprk, Jo ) "
E DETECTIVES.
Dquired Groom.
ih of osbeabloto
;ht sort of tools I
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIYES. 395
hous^buiCf^ood'"?^^^^^^^^^ ^•"'^" ^'' r gh*- Jn 80 small a
come, just let it alone " ^ safe-blower. Now
to heVme' "Ym ^Z fcht ' ^ /'^ J?^' ^^ ^^'^ got
bills in that safe, if^heVe'sTVed t„^^ ^"-« ^^
things are done. You're no frienrlnf «,• "•J'"'''^ ^^^ «»cb
your assistance." "*°^ °^ °»'"e> ^^ you refuse me
^.^;' rn have to consider the thing, if you put it in that serious
l^Tf^^^}^"" T"" separated again. .
dock im:A':, anrtt?tt"r 'r^ -^*'"^ - ^^^
the shade of a huge pSe of Ll tTa""" * °''"'''^'' "°^^'
robbery. ^ *^ °' '^*^^^' ^^^^ Groom again urged the
d^^&^-^^laT^-^^^^^^
miad^^uit'e'dXen?^^^^^^^ ' t.I ^ ^*^« "^^^ "P ^^
two m'onths are gTnTso iilfl^'S ''*'^* '''' ^^'^^' '''^-
Agam the detective did all he onnU f^ j-
dertaking. But it was entirely useless ^n wf T?^' ^^' "°-
burst the safe ; so. with a sho™- «f /<> was determined to
sented to aid him.' A trip toLn/r* reluctance, Root con-
order that the de ailfof th« nrnn^ fu^ ^"^^e was taken, in
plained and rehelrsed TherCd t'T' ''"i^ ^' ^^ ^^-
8mall skiff, having their guns alonrlJ .^^V^en'lezvous in a
to cover the real object of the ^^ ^ ""- ^"^ * ^^^ *^"'^«'
branches of the sal spreading o^4 It- Tl'V^' Protecting
Bill and the detect^e more thfn ^^''^ \^^ '^^^^^^^^ ^ii
upon an earnest dt^'^sbrofteirVar ''''^"' ''^^ ^"*^^«^
as youtppt^dl tiilts'S :h^* ^'^ «^^« « -"^ - 1^%.
if they are once fa X SL i th^r^r ^^^'^^'i-on. and
the big doors will Cble dow^and^^^^^^ T' "* ^T^
easy." uown, ana the entiance will be
Jout the hrAfl1rin<v r^r^i.- 1.; ... "^ ■:
' I t»i!
^ >il
' I
ftj
7 jiff!
396 PROyESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
J^A I^ *^"* 8^ '^^'^^ wobden-head iron maUs— cast ironJ
wooden filling-afl so md deadened. Don't you see r
"lea. But how about a light 1 "
*' Have a lantern with a slide— bull's-eye— light it— shrt if
open the lantera-can see as well as m the day-time We'll
have half the night to work in. If we can't bumXse L
in m four hours, we deserve to be hanged "
' Gjess the thing'U hang fire, anyhow, and possiWv we'll be
Interrupted by some fool or other ! "
vnil* J ^T "'** ' ?"U^ "^^ are-you've got a shooter haven't
yont I have one I We can fight I" -^^ "-vcuj
It was finally settled that Root should go to Trafton in
which place, he could give out before he left L would be L^
during several days. He was to procure the Zk Wn^
return to JRaceford by a certain. night, meet Jo on the S
pointed spot, exactly at eleven o'clocMnd the two men Z
iZd' T'^ "' °f f ?;^*^^ ^ '"^^^ ^^^ *"»«k upon th
iron safe. If successful, Hoot could go back to TraftoS. with
J^.fijS'/^ ^l' ^i?-"'^' ^' ^'^" ^^''^ f"^ '^ *«^ days, andri^
^^"^k""'^^. ^'' 'rPP^''*"'^^ ^" ^ceford. 'Thus would
*U the necessary implements for the task, and secrete them i™
a fence-comer, near the office, where either person coulHnd
them, m a thick clump of bushes and weeds. WhenThev first
met Koot was to inquire, in a low voice : « Is that yxm, Elv ? "
G^r„ri^°'*' r."^ll«^* «ay- "To Long Pine Bridge!"
J^.«T/ r^P^"** *^'*'' '•^^ognition, and they could at once
meet at Methodist church corner, a well-known, and, late at
S'tn IjTJ"^/^'-^?" ^^ '^^*°^°• The conspirators rowed
?nZl L f '^^ P' "'^* ^*y' *^"« *o his promise, Root
K / r*^ T^^ the report that he was about to depart for
llJiu ?'.: Y^''^ ^^ ^ould visit some relatives, and then seek a
Crxtu :vi uie Bca^pn on some iumber-carrvinff craft. Hesav
DETECTIVES.
PROrESSIGNAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 397
lod confeted with Slayton, before leaving, and it was decided
that immediately upon his return the detective should, with-
out being seen by any one else, go direct to his Slayton's resi-
dence, a light m a certain casement being the signal that the
coast, was clean Then the detective boa/ded the eveninff
Heame/ iuid started on his journey.
M
ot a shooter haven't
CHAPTER XII.
TROUBLE ENDED.
;HE detective arrived safely in Trafton, having enjoyed a
dehghtful trip down the crooked stream, over iis Some-
times turgid waters, to the city of his destination. He had
no object m view, excepting to pass away the hours untU the
Thureday appointed for the job with Jo Groom, and to procure
the lantern> therefore remained a greater portion of the time
the guest of his old friend. Captain Perkins, of the Onmt,
which steamer ;<rould start for Kaceford just in time to deposit
him where he wanted to stop. The captain entertained him
most kindly and gave him the best berth in the cabin, next to
his own. After purchasing the needed articles, which he took
aboard the ste^er, carefully'concealed in his satchel. Root
kept closely to the^craft, and was jubUant when the lines were
castoif, and she put out from the dock for the return voyage. A
Urge town he found to be the worst place in the world in which
to be Idle. If he had nothing to do, he much preferred beinis
elsewhere. Captain Perkins suggested, in this connection, « iS
Mra Buxton s hotel, lor instance;" and the young man made
no reply, which was indicative of his having none to make.
Ihat 18, the captam had unwittingly spoken the truth, which
m, ^*® "°* "^"*^^ ^ confess and would not deny.
rhe return cruise, over the old course, was as pleasant as it'
well coald be m the sweetest season of the whole year on shia
OT on shore, and it was still early in the evenine of the ^vy^uS
ei June that the Orimt landed the aj;eut at a small place a few
im
If
398 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
over night. In comcJianceTir ill ""'"f"" """W remaii,
. promised not to ^^llZ7£th^T,T,Tr'i''''\ ^'"^'<"
raaaenger on hi, boat, the d^t^cSve t^utl fuUv JT"? ''^" '
a contrary conrse wou d be in iurious t h 1 k^ ?»plaimDg thai
The captain was too true a frS to 1 nl '•»""^»\P'o»PMta
lated to interfere with th« nlS . j ^ ""^ anything calcu-
his pasaeng:*: Zh^Xt"!""''", T'""'' ^^ f "-'^
rectly, he, through his steamer Sn.'ut '""H "h'^h, i„di.
profit in the line of XSf ll annually realued a handsome
transportadon ^^ P*^'"^ '" »"•■» percentage f„,
plemntr '"'"^"'"S '» «"• Buxton, .ither,»said Perkin,
CsrhTnTe'r^Sr^t-'i^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
steamer was oteXri;!^:'^;"* """'^ '^"'^'' "* "»
rie^LVe'gt^BT?^^^^^^^^^^
Several times, in the cours^ of rf*^ ^^ '^^"'« *^^^«"^^«
he forced to steo aside inf.t^ ^''"'' ^^^'^ ^*^^'"J^'' ^^^
preaching foot-Zen^r; and J^^n """"t^'^T'}"' ^^ ^^•^^'^ «P-
ttr;int b^SSF?^'^'^^
Slayton and ™r'dau»W 1??^ '"'\"'° "»■" ""? »Pe». Mr..
resiLnce sftttg u:°fmrtiS.^^r!! Z' Si"*-'"? ^"V »'.''•
E DETECTIVES.
either," said Perkins,
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 399
momenU the voyager was gladly greeted by the wUline suoer
mtendent, and conducted to the back sitting-rorr A Tb
later he was seate^ at th« dining-table,' enjoying a p^a ab e
Bupper which Slayton had prepared for him with hfs own hands
no servants having remained about the premises '
fhi inT ^? ° u'H-^^®" ^^^ detectiveconcluded his meal, and
the instructions he had to give Mr. Slayton concerning the pn>
posed operation. They decided that the superintend^ent wfth
.nlir'l^t '^*S '^' ^""^^ P"^y then having empbyed
shoXl^lV"^? 1?'""°' enabling him to leave ofcasionaUy,
should meet at half past ten, in a certain place, proceed to
the vicinity of the office, and there secrete them efves whi^
Jo and Root were employed upon the safe. The Agent wa^ '
no o enter the office, but would remain outside! to warn J^
should persons approach the scene of their labouii. The two
operatives, with Slayton, were to move from their concealme^?
as soon as they heard heavy blows upon the safr SMon
started forward at the hour fixed for him to do so, met his mei^
and all hid themselves in a convenient outhousa ^
Thus far all things worked well Root, punctual to the mo-
ment, ensconced himself in the dark shade of the church wait
He was, m fact, a few minutes earlier than necessary The
heavens portended ram, and he had been but a little while in
his position when it really began to pour down and final v
camein torrents upon him." So?n he Z drenched to the skb
But he did not think of deserting his post. Waiting there w^
a very tedious ordeal, yet he had. passed through worse Tnli^
hfetime and kept as still as a mouse until he w^ sure tha? the
time had come and gone by which Jo should have put in an
appearance. A number of belated citizens went past the hid
ing-place without noticing him in the least, but no^e bore the
shape of the man he expected. Turning the slide of hisXhted
dark- antern to the building, and partly opening it Looted
not coml ^ ^" "'''^^- ^' "^« ^-'^^y ^^-^^^' aid Jo "ad
tJ ^\ Tr^"^ ^® *^** ^^y *^°"S^t <^^e detective, « if he should
T A-h' "^^"^^^^'Y^ter taking so much trouble to meet hhS^^
Jo did dwappomt him-did not reach the rendezvous After
remaining untal one o'clock, all dripping wet. the ..2 «f.!!?f
unpauentiy a^ay and visited the spSt appointed forlh7d"epih
400
PBOrasSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DITECTIVBI.
Of th« implements, where, after scaling tha inolosure and irrop.
ing about with his hands, he found an axe, au iron bar and some
t^^Li'^T^- "^^^"^ These proved that Jo had certainly
intended beeping his word. What could have happened to
prevent the arrival of that important personage 1 There was
no time for speculation, no alternative. He must proceed to
the office and inform his associates of the mischance He did
so, when Slayton and Root returned, wet, despondent, disap-
pointed, to the superintendent's house, where they procured a
jupnly of dry clothing, and, after putting it on, sat in the
kitchen, smoking, until three o'clock, watching for the return
u .^'^i*"* who had been dispatched to the town to find out
what had stopped Jo Groom. One tired aud sleepy man was
not so greatly surprised when informed by the equally worn-
out saloon-keeper that Jo was reported to have i«mincd at his
drinking place, in the little back room, pkying cards, but too
drunk to walk straight, untU somethmg past nudnightl Then
Big BUI entered, m about as beastly a condition, and together
they started for their respective homes. It was extremely pro.
voking Jo, inst^ of keeping sober, as requested, had worked
himself into an advanced stage of intoxication aud probably
forgotten the appointment and everything connected with the
safe-breaking arrangement
There w«s yet one practicable pathway out of the difficulty.
Boot had fortunately instructed Jo that, should anything occur
to prevent his reaching Raceford in season to go into the pro-
posed job, on the night he was expected, he would give him a
Mgnal which MToud signify, "On hand sure to-morrow night
at the same hour, and to consist in chalk-marks formin? a
diamond and a cross t, and to be made on the outside
^wer wmdow-framo of the piilirit casement of the church, near
which their meeting had been ordered to occur. This could be
toed. Perhaps Jo would see it. take the hint, and be on hand.
Westcott, whde en roiUe for his boarding-house, made the hie^
oglyphics m the propei place. As soon as it was sunrise Glover
was put on the watch of the window, to see if Jo remaiked and
understood what the signs meant^
When the hour for business came, Glover, his outer clothinff
having been nearly dried by exposure to the night air. searched
fw a good cover. A smaU drug store stood fwing the portion
oiTicnvis.
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 401
Of the church edifice having the window described and the on.
eratxve entered it held a long talk with its ieed'y proprieto?^
and finally broached the subject of purchasing the stock fix!
ures and good-will s tting meanwhile in a porfion of the room
con^manding a good view of the church. The proposed trad^
progressed swimmingly and Glover was osteusibV hiSg
and figuring how he could divide the deferred paym/nts on thf
property when he saw Jo Groom saunter past die church hav!
ing paused to carefully examine the mysterious figures and
f X'i'-re briskly down the street towards WesC ^s. Jn
i ni lu '^' *°f^ i"^*^''""^ ^'^ ^y ^hi« time very enthu-
iiastic apo hccary, that he could not make the calculation ex-
jctly to suit himself, but would take pencil and 'aper at t£
hotel, fix It as it should be, and possibly call on hiS a^Jain in a
few days. Expressing his satisfaction, and the hope that the
barter might soon be satisfactorily completed, the polite stran-
ger suddenly departed from the drug store/leavin' hedrul
g«t in doubt whether he ought to belhankful that he had ca ffi
L f ^ i^'^" • ^°'? *^' important information to Root, who
was found keeping close to his apartment at Slayton's pidn^
away the time as best ha could. ^i^y^-on s, passing
" Then we may make sure ho will keep sober to-day and
and be on hand promptly to-night," «aid*^ Root. " Yoi had
better see the sheriflf and be equally early at your hidine-Dhca 1
I will hold myself responsible that Slay con is^wilh you^'' ^
Glover agreed to the proposition and retired to his board-
mg-place to get nd of his still damp clothes and obtain a Ixtlle
icing the portion
RlllY^Ho ^'f ^^ ^^y' ''^^^'^ '^^^'^^"^^ i° his own pocket
all that day, and only returned to the house to cook and eat
his meals, until night, and the operative, carefully lowering
th outnhrf"^''' '"''T f ^'l "P^^^"^^"*' Wed to si ep
books as the superintendent treasured in his library. Thev
w!ll-Tl^.u^-* ^'^ *"^ uninteresting character, and he soon
weaned of their contents. At night, the dwelling seemed to
be deserted, but it was not, its owner and the detective beii^
w^hrn, enjoying themselves over games of euchre and oth m
..^uar pasumes until nigh the hour for both to be off and
•way attending to more aerious mattera ■
f \
402 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
On this occasion the weather was more favourable. While
the night was dark enough for the purposes of the operation
the air was warm and comfortable, and no clouds above proni'
wed tempestuous weather.
Slayton departed, bound for his rendezvous near the Com-
pany's oflSce, and Root almost immediately followed. At pre-
cisely at eleven o'clock the latter fouild himself a<- the side of
the church ; and he had not been more than five minutes
standing in his old position when rapid footsteps were heard,
and in a few seconds a man, in outline greatly resembling Jo
Groom, came around the corner.
"Is that you, Ely?" inquired the Agent, moving out upon
wu ' ^®®^*°S ^®^^ satisfied that he had made no mistake
"Where are you going 1" answered a voice which Root
knew to belong to Jo.
"To Long Pine Bridge!"
The two men heartily joined hands, apparently very glad to
meet again, and repaired to the hiding-place of their safe-burst-
ing mstruments. When fairly in a good locality, where they
were unlikely to be overheard, Jo was the first to break silence
regarding the pi*evious night's discomfiture.
"The truth is," said the woodsman, " I took too much
liquor aboard and could not do as I had agreed 1 I forgot
everything I But I remembered it this mommg, when I ^w
the marks at the church window, and here I am as sober as a
judge, and we'll soon be handling the Company's cash from the
safe! Forgive me I I'U do my part now 1 Have you got the
lantern lighted?" **
Boot put as good a face on the matter as he could, said acci-
dents would happen, and continued :
" Yes I the lantern is all right 1 "
He slightly turned the shade, allowing a smallligitto
illuimnate the darkness, to prove his good faith, then closed it
again.
Jo clambered over the low board fence, and handed out the
iron bar, some ropes, and an old and much-battered axe.
" Where's the mall V whispered Root.
^*?''^^?^}^f* ®?®' ^"®<^ ^* s«v«'al times' Too cIoMlf
wjtched ! So I^Btok the axe from the blacksmith'i wood-pile I
)ETECTIVES.
e could, said acci-
«'RorE«,o>fAl THIIVKS AKB THE DETICTIVES. m
« I'll UM it, .nyhoTr • ^""Sling affair I » '
can. for a link noiS^, Pv" I P-?i^« ?<'<'» ' What do I
.bourtoa^ndf^teVfl ".'^- e«'»S «»/«■•. you are -0.
promise . If .ny oneTome^^ ^tt^^SV^Ztr, "^
running away 1 HavA von . .*,« • ^ ' 7°** ^**" *^ "»a >ne
«Yf _BJtwi^l°^™:skr?""'"»''=°"'""^ y-'-
The m!„ ^^'i !$'""'•''? «T «" ™'™°« to the room »
.buttered wiadow; and nn 5l„T.?/f ^ .•"^ »' *" "sMy-
livmg oreati«ru,rvidnit;"""' '»'»kened tie present of ^a
" I w V :Lt.» t';r "'"'■" ""^^'^ "" ">"««-
JotaJd:*^"" waa heard . gratiag noi«, then another, Ind
"Now all's right I"
puU once tl/w^y, and^oTZgo to workS l"-' '"'"' ''"
he ^aTthro' '; tt'wf ^ -<^n? atefew second.
viou.ly put ».:?„' Zd' tXtit^^P^^t "T.^ P"=-
It
1
(^
404 PKOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
corner of a loo«e shutter, told that the inside of the building
was illuminated. It seemed to the detective that .To was again
about to back water, as there was no immediate ei'idence of
his being engaged. Presently a mufiled, crunching sound fell
upon his ear, then followed an interim of silenco, followed by
several quick-falling, loud-sounding and heavy blows. "He's
at it with the axe ! " was the idea in the listener's mind, when
Glover, Deputy SheriflF Babb (the latter person had takon
Westcott's place), and Slay ton issued from their cover, rao
softly to the doors and windows, nervously turned the &hezdy
inserted key in the well-oiled lock, rnd in a moment stood
before the astounded burglar, while he still hammered harm-
lessly away upon the massive hinges of the safe. In another
second his hands were pinioned.
" You're my prisoner ! " said Babb.
"Yes," added Glover, "you are caught in the act! Stats
prison opens for you ! That's the ticket I "
" I can hardly believe this of you, Jo Gi ' om," exclaimed
Mr. Slayton, holding the bull's-eye before the prisoner's scowl-
ing face, while the rest were searching his person and securing
him with his own ropes. The cayenne pepper and billy which
they found were utterly useleas. He had no time in which to
use either. He had paused in the more important work tc'
bredk open the daily cash drawer, in the office-desk, in which
about fifty dollars of change and small bills had been carelesly
left over night, and the money »ras deposited in his pockets
The short iron jimmy, employed in breaking the lock, was rest.
ing on the floor. How Jo silently cursed himself that he had
Bot acted more cautiously.
"« We've got your accomplice. Root, outside," continued Slay-
ton, " and he's on his way to jail 1 He was nabbed before he
had a chance to say a word ! "
Jo broke the linen telegraph line from his waist impatiently,
glared fiercely upon the men about him, for a moment, and
without uttering a syllable, allowed himself to be led away to
prison.
But Root had not been captured, nor was it intended that
he should be. On the contrary, making his escape to Mr. Slay-
ton's house, he secured his satchel, containing a few clothes,
Wftiked to the settlement he Lad left the preceding night, waa
4-
DETECTIVES.
lide of the building
^e that Jo was again
mediate evidence of
runching sound fell
Bilenco, followed, by
javy blows. " He's
jtener's mind, when
person had takon
m their cover, ran
turned the aliccdy
n a moment stood
11 hammered harm-
a safd. In another
in the actt Stat«
Gi' ora," exclaimed
he prisoner's scowl-
person and securing
per and billy which
10 time in which to
important work tO'
>ffice-desk, in which
1 had been carelesly
ited in his pocket
5 the lock, was rest-
bimself that he had
le," continued Slay-
a nabbed before he
I waist impatiently,
'or a moment, and
' to be led away to
18 it intended that
escape to Mr. Slay-
ling a few clotheg,
seeding night, wai
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 403
lrJ« ? f°' ^^* ^J^**^' "^^'^^ """'"y ^^^''^^'^ there, and three
hours later was far down the river, bound for Trafton, along
with his good friend. Captain Perkins. ^
"I guess you got through that little business all right I «
queried the Captain. °
" Yes I Everything came out as I expected," returned the
operative. But it was not thought necessary to further en-
used his companion as to the precise meaning of the words
«' I saw Mrs. Buxton, while at Raceford, this trip, and she
made particular inquiries about you ! Wanted to know if I
had seen you m Trafton ; how you was gottin' along ; if you
r.! Z } r^ ^^*P? °i °'^'' questions. I said truly I had seen
you and that you had never looked better in your life I "
Ihe operative's face changed colour slightlv. He said that
he was very thankful for his landlady's good opinion, hoped she
was well, and then proposed a game of euchre, which he knew
from experience would please his tormentor and close his lips,
for a time at least. *^^
Awisted by Roberts Jo fairly and completely broke down
when interrogated in jail, the following day, before the hour
fixed for his examination on the charge of burglary, with the
certainty that, m any event, a cell in the State penitentiary was
to be his fate, and voluntrrily tried to make his case easier by
giving up the names of all the men who, for a series of year!
had been engaged with him in depredations upon the Manufae!
uring Company. ^ Some of the most respectable mill-owners in
the locality were inculpated with the Grooms and their nigh ac-
complices in transactions involving tens of thousands of dollars
annually All were arrested, and the testimony of Jo Groom.
Glover Westcott, Mr. Slayton, and others having knowledge of
the subject, was sufficient, under the existing statutes, to send
81X persons to the State prison at Waupun, to keep the com-
pany of Bates Little, Jones, and Little Bill. Big Bill was made
! Pf^ty defendant, but proffered State's evidence and saved him-
Jelt; whUe Jo escaped with a sentence to the penitentiary for
W ^T ? "^f subsequently reduced to six months, as he
Oaa SUuered nonfinnmonf r,r^rTi^,,^ * i. r , j«
i« *k^ i. " • '"i — ;;,",""', i"^ '^^""= tw Bcijurauu, lor nair a year
IB Ou KODtj jaU. The burglaiy <a» wa. mw tried, having
;H'
I . :!
406 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
received a nolle proteqm by the district attorney. It had served
its purpose, and was therefore dropped by the prosecution.
The system of log-stealing, thus broken up, was complete in
itself, and the thieves, as long as they worked in concert, could
hardly have incurred danger of discovery. Perhaps the busi-
ness never would have been ended and its perpetrators punished,
as they were punished, had not Jo Groom, unluckily for him-
self and his confederates, conceived the desire to burst open
the Company's safe. Jo was a very bad man. But he met his
fate only a short year succeeding his release from the State
institution. Ketut ling to his old haunts in Raceford, after
some months' honest work in the pinery, he went to Slayton's
residence, proposed an elopement, and the mistress of the house
was in the act of departing with him, when her husband re-
turned from a business visit and put a sudden stop to the pro-
ceeding. Jo showed fight, drew a revolver and aimed it at
Slayton's head. It failed to discharge, from a defective cart-
ridge, apd before Groom had time to try another, Slayton seized
his rifle and shot his opponent dead in his tracks. The just
verdict of the coroner's jury was that the deceased had lost his
life by Slayton's hand, but that the superintendent was acting
purely in self-defence. What subsequently became of the
woman I never learned. Her husband, a white-haired pre-
maturely-old man, lives in Raceford, making his home with
his only daughter, who is happily married to an honourable and
wealthy merchant of the place.
Westoott's saloon is known no more in the town, the oper-
ative having returned to the Agencj after disposing of his
stock.
Skoob and Jobson still live and fight each other fiercely with
their pens as of old. Their newspaptrs are well patronized
and the proprietors fatten upon the fe id that one side of the
river yet has against the other.
Simmons having been buried with his fathers, Tillman, his
Vrother magistrate, has withdrawn from the bench, and, in a
little academy, "teaches the young idea how to shooi"
The success accomplished. Root returned to the Agency, and,
after a few months' active service in the South, sent in^hig
resignation, which was reluctantly »A3epted. I saw him but
puce afterward, and thai wia at twi ioual'isiou of 4^ royase oil
ETECnVES.
PROrESSIONi.L THIEVES AKD THE DETECTIVES. 407
tbe lake, when he handed me the photograph of a not unhand-
some, broad-faced, genial-appearing lady, who, he said, waa
Mrs. Jasper Root, formerly Mrs. Buxton, of Raceford. And if
he is not in that town at the present time, it may be because
he is still a sailor, devoted to his calling, and loves a roving
life, with 'a dash of danger in it, on shipboard, better than
always sitting around his comfortable hearth-stone.
IP
m
'■ .'1
ORDSmSTAL
REMINISCENCES
i'
' ii
oM
CHAPTER I
TBAPPINO A DETECmVE,
[HE ** smart boy " of the period is sometimes very smart
indeed. There seems to be a period in the life of every
boy when he naturally becomes this " smart boy of the
period," and takes to tricks of a brilliant character as naturally
as a young miss takes to beaux. Philadelphia had one of these
smart boys recently, and he showed, under the pressing neces-
sity of the occasion, an ingenuity and shrevudness which would
have much more become the Philadelphia city detective whom
he outwitted.
A Brook street grocer lost fifty dollars from his till, and a
lad named Falvey was suspected of the theft His father very
commendably took him to the police-station, and put him ia
charge of an officer pending an investigation of the matter. Af-
ter young Falvey^ was^ placed in a cell, Detective Swan, of tli«.
KvT sCrc€. nam or-ueTcu to uutcf jiad " break him down," which
[
t •
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
Ib the detective parlance for securing a confession from a sup
posed criminal.
^ The boy did finally confess to the theft, with loud protesta.
tions of grief and repentance, and finally told the officer a regu-
lar " Tom Sawyer" story of having hidden it in a certain coal-
yard along the docks, and promised to go with the detective
and .how him where he had secreted the bills.
The two sallied forth in quest of the treasure, the detective
triumphant in his reflections of his ability to get at such things
speedily, and the boy humble and demure as the picture of tlie
typical good boy in the Sunday-school books. At last they
reached the docks, and the particular coal-yard where the stolen
money had been hidden.
Now these docks or yards are all provided with great num-
bers of elevated " shutes " used in discharging coal. To one of
these the guileful youth led the satisfied detective, where they
found a hole just large enough for one person to crawl into.
He said the money was hidden in this hole ; and the officer,
not suspecting the youth was playing any game upon him lo
escape, directed him to ** go along in."
The boy did go in ; but that same boy came out at the large
instead of the small end of the horn— and that end, it is cer-
tain, was not in the immediate vicinity of the detective.
^ The detective soon began to think that it required a long
time for the boy to get out of so small a place. He accordingly
put his head into the dark orifice and shouted lustily.
There was no response .but the sepulchral echo of his own
voice, and, besides, it seemed to him that he had drawn a
bucketful of cinders into his lungs, while his entire features
were eclipsed with the richest possible quality of coal-smuti
Again he hallooed, and threatened to shoot into the hole
should the boy not make his appearance immediately at the
expiratioji of one minute. The detective held his watch and
cursed his luck ; but this threat was of no avail. Finally he
did shoot into the dark hole, and trembled a little at the risk
he was taking ; but it brought no boy and no sound to indicate
his whereabouts.
While standing there cogitating what should be the next
move, he suddenly heard the sound of some heavy object
dropping bciow Ke directly inferred that the keen youngster
ETECTIVES.
ession from a sup
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND tHE DETECTIVES. 409
flad ouiwitted him and had jumped into the bins below • and
he accordingly made all ha^te to follow, making quite a u'arin^
swinging leap over the side of the "'shute^lSg in th!
bottom of a huge bin, and where he would rather have giveh
a ten-doJlar bUl than to have been. ^
y..fl ^""l"^ ^ his chagrin that he and the deceitful youth
had gone to .>ery different places. The detective w^ in the
bottom of a coal-bin, and nobody within hearing to h^ip him .
In this miserable position the detective remained several
hours, with the sun blazing down upon him. He wou d veU
for assistance for a time, and then he would vary tWs amJse
ment by cursing, and it is thought that some of thecCest
swearing ever done in the Quaker City was executed on this
momentous occasion. oieoutea on tnis
At last some labourers came that wav. and nullpd nn *\.^
unfortunate officer with a rope, setting him at liberty but Se
oT ^^;"y;'^"^«-g-«-ble, a'ndreturnfd to head^at^^rs with!
out his boy or money, to receive the derisive shouts of his
CHAPTER IL
THB GHOST OF THE OLD CATHOLIC CEMETEBT.
^^^f''^ll^mvn^'P"'^*?u^^«"""'^^ P"^^^° ^^ the records
il^i^^u^u 'f ^^ be thrown open for inspection, so
that It might be observed what a wide ranae has been
Se ^r^'^f'^r "^^^^ ^^^^« ^«- calledTpon t'r
SL ■^^^"^^"ot be supposed that the services of my Af^en-
cies are wholly devoted to criminal mattera Some of the most
mportant legal contests of the times have beeHedded iHl
••«.„ / "; "x,.o«uiuic array oi eviaence which a small
«my of my men have quietly, keenly, aad patiently «iS,
if.
I f
.#
ki I"
mmii
^Xi,
410 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
while the operation of i&imense business inteeests, like banking,
insurance, and railway matters, has often been interrupted by
seemingly iueztricable confusion and complexity, which threat,
cned great loss, until my services were asked; and by my
thorough and complete system, through which almost general
and instant communication and information can be secured, I
have been enabled to bring order out of chaos, and prevent
what might have otherwise resulted in commercial ruin to my
patrona As the individual detective's notice must be brought
to everything great and small upon any investigation he may
be conducting, so is it true that the principal of a large system
of detective agencies must be so situated that he may consider
and receive every possible variety of business — always except-
ing that which is disreputable — and then have means at his
command to carry each case, may it be great or insignificant, to
ft successful issue.
In the pursuit of these cases there is frequently both tragedy
and pathos ; they are always full of deep and fascinating in-
terest to myself and my operatives, and quite frequently they
bring to the surface all phases of ridiculous humour, which I
frequently enjoy to the greatest possible degree.
In the summer of 1857, there was located, along the shore
of Lake Michigan, within the limits of the city of Chicago, a
high, narrow, sandy strip of land, then ocoupied as a cemetery,
known as the ** Old Catholic Burying-Ground," or the '*OId
French Cemetery," from the fact that within it reposed the
remains of hundreds who had died in the Catholic faith, as
well as large numbers of the early French settlers and their
half-breed progeny.
Quaint inscriptions and devices were there seen, and every-
where, upon the great cenotaph or monument, or upon the
most modest of graves, the cross, in every manner of design,
sombre with black paint, or bright with &nciful colours, or still
white in chiseled marble, could be found.
The old cemetery has since been removed ; md whei« once
stood, in silence and mournfulness, the city of the dead, now
are seen splendid mansions of the rich, with miigiujBceat
gardens and conservatories, or, in thiU; portioa which has bees
absorbed by^ Chicago's beautiful Lincoln Park, hiwidsomii
drives, me foimtaiu^ ejcquisite lawn or oopse ; aod over ail
ETECTIVES.
PBOFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTITES. 411
the old-time sombrenes* has come an air of opulence beautv
and healthful diversion. Scarcely could a greatrchan^e anv
where be noted than from the former solemS and de"^^^^^^^^
to the present elegance and artistic winsomeness °
rh/n « T °^.^hic^ I write Chicago was much younger
than now. Twenty years have made the then little citrfhe
present great metropolis. All the great enterprises whch
now distinguish the city were then in their infanT PaTticu
iarly were all institutions of learning having a hard strusrie ^
creep along; and the medical schods, theffust started 1^
put to every possible shift for the funds necesCVto an ^^^^^^^^
" uWecte "''fr i>.-°g.o^^«'; no legal provisio/for securkg
subjects for dissection, the few students pursuing their
ourseof stndy were compelled to secure these^ss^tLl aids
an Ji^ S f^'^'^'i ^^P^**^ ^eing situated less than a mile
the dead, some malicious persons had entered the cemetery and
wantonly desecrated graves from which subjects had no7Ca
Some held that this had been caused through religious
DudeCnH ""'^ r'""' ^' ^ri ^««° ^'oncerned in other im
pudent and graceless grave-robberies ; but the result of it all
was that so much public wrangling and excitement occurred
he citv XT n f ^°»^"«"<^ gentlemen, including some of
the city officials, called upon me, and desired me to take such
measures as wouW cause a cessation of the outrages, and bring
^punishment whoever might be found to have been the pS
petrators of the same. ^
WhUe such was the result of the operation, it is only m^
. vzccixoi/iicu, auu one wnicn, while it illustrates th«
ndicOlpus length of absurdity tQ wMch an inherent aup^stition
t ^ ■•i
'I,
iM
412 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
»nd a hearty fear will lead their possessor, I can never recafl
ffithout almost uncontrollable laughter.
My plan of operations was as follows :
I detailed eight men from my force, under the charge of
Timothy Webster, one of the most faithful men ever in mv
service— who. It will be remembered, * was executed at Eich-
mond as a Federal spy during the late civil war. These were
so stationed that every entrance to the cemetery should be
guarded, as well as all thenew-made graves thoroughly watched
As no word could be spoken lest it might frighten away anv
culprit before he could be captured, I found it absolutely neces-
sary to devise some simple, though silent and effective means
of communication To effect this I decided upon using several
sets of heavy chalk-lines, such as are generally used by carpen-
ters in^/aying outwork. The ends of each line were attached
to small stakes driven in the ground about three feet apart.
Ihe operatives station was between these stakes : and, in order
that every man should be forced to not only remain at his post
but remain continually awake and vigilant, I required the line
to be gently pulled three times, beginning with a certain post
and extending rapidly, according to a pre-arranged plan, and
the same signal repeated after a lapse of about one minute in
reverse order. This was the general signal that everything
was as it should be, and nothing new had transpired Tiiis
was repeated every fifteen minutes, so that by no possibility
oould any dereliction of duty pass undetected.
Aside from this, the system of signals comprised means of
communicating the presence of any outside party, at whatever
point the intruder should make his appearance, and such other
necessary mformation as would lead to a silent, swift and ce^
tarn capture of any person who might, for any cause whatever,
enter the cemetery.
1 had detailed men for this work whom I felt I could rely
upon, bimple as it may seem to one who has never had sucii
an experience, remaining all night in a grave-yardj with evenr
nerve and faculty on the constant qui vive of expectation is not
such, pleasant work as it may be supposed ; and though the
novelty of the affair, coupled with all manner of outlandish
w !."??" 11! ^^^"f ^""' ^^V\ up au interest which lasted a
.ew nig.)t^^ * began to aotice signs among a few oi my men in*
1»K0FESSI0NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 413
dicating that the solemnity and dread of the situation were
. taking the place of its original romance.
Coupled with this, there was among these eight as there al-
ways are among any like body of men the wodd over, a few,
Tn Jill ntn^'T.K' ^'^''" '° notice these indications of weakness
on the part of the more susceptible among them. These braver
fellows immediately commenced, with solemn tones and long
faces to relate hobgoblin tales of ghosts and materialized
spirits which came from their silent resting-places for unearthly
strolls among them. Although I put a stop to this as much as
possible, what had already been'done hSd had it^ Tstred
effect, and a few of the watchers showed well-defined evidences
ot genuine fear, and to such an extent that I was finally com-
pelled to relieve some men, and fill their places with othera
(Vr?T^ cemetery detail was one young fellow, named
O Grady, a genuine son of the Emerald Isle, who had come to
me almost direct from Ireland, and who, though he had been
m my service but a few months, had shewn native traits such
as gave promise ,;• improvement and advancement. He was
the very ife and soul of the detective room., and the wonder
ful tales he related of himself, his ready wit, his true bravery
malplaces wherever he had been previously used, and his
quick generosity towards his fellows, had given him an exalted
place among them. c^ii«u
I saw that O'Grady was weakening;
He tried hard not to show it. He endeavoured to look bright
•nd spirited, but it was all up-hill work. He began to get thin
on thia graveyard duty. It was very reflective work. From
eight to ten hours utterly alone, and surrounded by everythinjr
which could fill one's mind with fear and dread, had its effecf
His natural superstition suddenly developed into an abnormal
and unnatural dread which to the ignorant fellow seemed to
become almost overwhelming. Had he not been such a hero in
his own eyes, I am certain that I could not but have relented;
but under the circumstances, I confess that I heartUy enioved
his forlorn appearance as he dejectedly left the Agencv to take
up his all-night's vigil, which undoubtedly soon /,eSa genu!
ine terror to him. °
Having carried the mattpr an fai. fl^. <,«:™* «<?; x - ?
«hiet «ad practical joking, which has always been strong within
s V'\
414 PROFESSONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
lue, as many ot my personal Inends long aso di*ouvereA
prompted me still further. ^
I determined to play ghost for one night, show O'Grady a
genume goblin, and put hie often-told tales of personal bravery
to a practical test ^
Accordingly, giving out at the Agency, that I should be ab-
Bent at ft neighbouring town for the night, before sundown I
secured a pnvate conveyance, which took me to a point along
the lake shore, about a mile beyond the old Catholic Cemetery
and then, before the time for the detail to go on duty came'
msguised all that was necessary to prevent recognition by any
chance stroller, I hastily returned to the cemetery through the
heavy copse of scrub-oak and willow that then lined the shore
at that point, and entering the place unobserved just as the
twUight began to gather heavily, secreted myself within a heavy
clump ot arbor vitce ornamenting a family lot, not over twenty
feet from the point where I had previously learned that O'Grady
was stationed each night.
I had no time to spare, for I had thus hardly become one
of the cenaetery watchers before, one by one, and all in stealth
the men began coming in from every direction, but so secre '
and carefully that they might have been mistaken, by one not
informed of their purpose, for ghosts or grave-robbers them-
selves, while Timothy Webster noiselessly sped from point to
point, stretching the line which held the men silently to their
I could have touched the fellow as he passed me. In fact an
almost irresistible desire seized me to play Puck, as he sped by
and trip him among the damp, dark weeds.
Pretty soon O'Grady came to his station, groaning and
muttering. °
■^^ soon as the dark came down upon the old cemetery I left
"»y |"ding place and got in line with the tell-tale string.
O Grady was busy saying his prayers ; and, of course, did not
near me rustling about in the long grass.
My first impulse was to grab a cross from some old-thne
grave, and toss it, over the stoups, in upon him ; but by great
effort I suppressed this, and soon found myself sitting in a hol«
lo^ between two mounds, with my hand upon the liueu
DECTIVES. '
ago di«ouvered,
groaning and
PROrMSlOlfjLL THIEVES AND THE BETKCTIVIS. 415
"One, two, tteeel"-jerk, jerk, jerk went the line: Oie
Urat signal was beinc given.
My hand touched the line as lightly and yet as knowingly
as the telegraph operator's fing*>-s touch his well-known instea-
ment ; but I made no sign of my presence. *
O'Grady answered the signal loyally; but scarcely was his
duty done m this respect before he began a sort of a low.
crooning wail, half like a mother's luUaby, half like a " keen "
at a wake.
"Why did I lave ye, ye old green sod t Why did I bve
IH\ ^^ *;^**T^*^ !v V^ ^^ ^ ^*^« y«' y« Wue^yed swate-
heart f Feule I am that I came to the divil's ould boy, Phink-
ertonl Feule I am that I sit here by the blissed crosses av
vS u *^'.r"Y f^l^^"" «^°'^* '^ ^^ ' 0«^» murther 1 happy
1 11 be if the whole blissed place is luk away 1 "
vi^^*'^^' three !"-.jerk, jerk, jerk, came the signal again,
while Grady answered it, as I could feel, with an impatient
req)onse. ^
-After this, for « time, the brave Irish guardsman waved
Daciand forth upon the grave where he was sitting: when
suddenly, to iny horror, he lighted his pipe and began smok-
wgi
I knew the man had become desperate in his loneliness, and
had amyed at aiwint of feeling where he was utterly regard-
less of the success of the operation; and if I had felt sure of
this when he recklessly lighted his dudeen, I could not but
reahro It to my sorrow whe-i, in the glow of his roaring pipe.
I could see that he followed his solace of tobacco by amoS
Bubstantial quieter of superstition and fear from a black bottle
which the bold CGivdy had conveniently set, after each pas-
sage to^Ms lips, upon the -base of the monument above the
grave where he was sitting.
I was indignant, atd yet interested. I felt Kke dragging
the brave O'Grady from his comfortable quarters, to givehim
a good drubbmg for his utter <sarele8sne8s of the interests of
the operation, and I am certain that, in my then state of mind.
1 would hav« done bo if my desire to nearly scare the life oirl
of him had not been uppermost.
Outside of the fussing and wailing of the O^radv. tliAre
Were no other but unpleasant surroondinfli in the Old OathoUf
! ,>i f
■^mi
m
I ff'i
4'
416 PROFESSIONAL TH lEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Cemetery. Now and then the ghostly hoot of the owl sounded
weirdly from the surrounding tree-tops. From the low copsea
beyond came the mournful cry of the whip-poor-will. And
down along the silvery beach of the shore, which gleamed and
darkened as the tiew moon appeared or wm obscured for a time
behind the darkening clouds, floated up and over the dreary
place the sad and ghostly beating of the waves upon the beach.
It f.ras a lonesome place, and it began to occur to me that I
would not care to pass many nights in such a manner myself •
but, under the circumstances, I saw that Mr. O'Grady had
fixed himself about as comfortably as it well could be dona
Every time the signal was given, Mr. O'Grady would reipond
when he would immediately recollect that his good bottle stood
idle beside him. After a Kttle hi. seemed to become so lone.
some and dejected that h6 began u sort of conversation, in a
low tone, with himself, in which he compelled the bottle by
proxy, to join, all after the following fashion : '
"An' it's a big feule ye are, O'Grady. If it were not for
meself that's takin' pity on yez, ye'd be dead enthirely."
"Ah, faith I" Mr. O'Grady would reply, with a sigh,
" thrue for ye, thrue for ye I If I ever get out of this divil's
own schrape, ould Phinkerton 'U n'^ver get me in the loikes
again ! "
"So ye say ! so ye say, O'Grady ; but yer always and foriver
resolvin', and ye come to nothin' in the ind I "
" Don't be worryin' and accusin' me, me dear boy. This
Bchrape wid the graves will be me last By the rock of Cashel !
phat's that ? "
This last exclamation from Mr. O'Grady, which was in a tone
of great alarm, was caused by my displacing a small footstone,
which fell from the elevation of the graded mound with a sharp
crash upon the gravelled walk below.
I had got my sheet well adjusted, and had intended movin<'
upon the scared Irishman at one rush ; but his terribly fright
ened manner and the unfortunate falling of the footstone caused
me to change my plan and decide to bring on the climax in a
gradual accumulation of horrors. So I gave a well-defined moan,
and watched for the results.
Mr. O'Grady listened for a moment, as if hoping that he had
bees deceived ; but I could see in the faint light, to which my
DETECTIVES.
ways and foriver
PE0FESS20NAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 417
^e« iiaa become iccuatomed, that he was trembling violently
Another prolonged and blood-curdling moan came from thi»
cluster of arW ./to. This caused Mr. O'Grady to TdusTrfousi;
begin crossing himself, and at the same time mXr some
prayers as rapidly as his half-drunken lips couW dole them
I saw that this should not be too far prolonged, for the noor
coward might give the danger signal, which would at once bS
a half-dozen stalwart fellows upon us , and so, whUe in h2
titnZ-^' T 5^^^"« ^''^ ^" '^''^^^'^ in the calendar
for protection, I suddenly rose ia my ghpstly attire, and in a
moment was upon him, waving my arms and gesticu aSnt very
« Holy mother of Moses ! » yelled O'Grady, springing wildly
mto the air. and turning a complete back somersault fvlrthj
Titf ?u""frP''^'i«^^^""^«nt, while I sprang after him.
.r.^ K "^5- ' ' S'^P J further 1 " howled O'Grady, recovering
*nd bounding like a deer over four graves at a leap : while I
could see, as I flew after him, that my operatives we/e W
mg to the rescue. "««»wu
I could not help but know that grave consequences might
oHov my unusual action ; but a wild, boyish, and uncontrol-
Lfir/'M'' P"''"' ^^' flying O'Grady suddenly posse sed
me, and for the time overcame all other motives
And so away we went together I
Mounds, headstones, clumps of evergreens, newly-dug graves
wheelbarrows and grave-diggers littefs wer; cleared a? Kgh "
we wo were fox-hounds at a chase. Some sort of instinct for
rr^nd.rr?^.^ ^''''' ^^^ ^^^*^ ^'^^^^^ ^^^^^'^^ the western
tmtl *^«.««°»«t«ry; and away he went, howling and
yelhng at every jump, but increasing his speed at each tefrified
glimpse of the relentless ghost behind him.
Over the fence he went with a bound, cursing and praying
at every gasp. I was younger then a sco're of yef rs, ha?d7an5 •
agile, and I now saw a two-fold reason for keeping pretty well
r.*.^^^.«ll^[.^•^.-?.^^. My operatives w'ere^'n iL'S pi^'
— ., _.^ ^„,„^ „„,^^ j^jj^j^ J ^^ ^g^j ^^ every gide j and lo
f^ ..
.pli
418 PROFESSIOIs^AL THCEVES AND THE DtlTECTlVES. '
making a running jump of it, although my ghostly toggery
impeded me soraqwhat, I managed to get over the fence with
quite as much grace and agility as the wild Irishman in ad-
vance. It was well that I did so, for at that moment I could
see the flash of several pistols lighting the sky behind, and in.
etantly after heard the whispering of several bullets within
dangerous proximity to my person. Over the fence scrambled
my men in hot pursuit, but swift on the wings of terror and
fear sped the horrified O'Grady ; and, never for an instant re-
linquishing what were certainly unusual exertions on my owd
part, I sped on wildly after him.
We soon outdistanced my operatives so much that I could
see, as I ran, that they were compelled to give up the chase
and return defeated ; but the witless O'Grady and his venge-
ful ghost still swept on and on. That part of the city, then
containing but a few scattering residences, ^r-^s soon passed, and
O'Grady and the ghost continued the trial of speed out across
the open prairie, still to the north-west. This was traversed in
the most remarkable time ever made, O'Grady still yelling
and cursing and praying, but the ^host, ever silent and relent-
less, not far behind j when suddenly we came to the north
branch of the Chicago River, then hardly more than a creek,
into which, with a wild cry of despair, the Irishman plunged,
swimming and scrambling to the other side just as I had
reached the shore, where I gave another spurt to his speed by
an unearthly yell which seemed to send the man on still laster,
if it could be possible ; and the last I heard of O'Grady he waa
tearing and bounding through the hazel brush like a mad bull,
beyond.
80 far as I know, O'Grady is still running.
He has never been heard of by me or any of my many em-
ployees. Though I advertised for him repeatedly, no answer
ever came ; and if any one of my readers, whose eyes may
chance to lall upon this sketch, can prove that he is the veri-
table O'Grady, .he can have the small amount of salary still
standing to his credit on my books, which has so far been
wholly unclaimed.
After a hearty laugh on the shore of the North Branch, I
cast my ghostly attire upon the prairie, and, utterly tired and
- _i„J,i — 1 1 — I- i.1 ,,~u i.u_ j-_i X- Ai._ -:i-
1 i- J
cjkilauabcu,
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 419
^^hl^'nH^'"^' 1' ? out-of-the-way hotel for the balance of the
Sing ^ ^ ^'' ^'"'^"^^ ^ "^"^ *«^ «»y «ffi«« in the
,.5Tf r"*®*^®""® ^®^*^" "^<*'« perplexed men than those who
CemefeJy "^^'"''^ '^ '^' "^«^' P^^^^°"« '' '^^ Old Catholic
J,.7?'''''^{ **? gone-that was certain. His cries for help
had been heard. His w;ild flight, pursued by a veritable ghost
canlr"^"^ ^Vr/^'l^"^ ^y ^^««« ^ho had attemptfd S
capture, was related. There, at the raound of the uncompleted
monument, were found a nearly empty whisky-bottle and a sUIl
Z^tmLf"^'' -n^i 'i'' "^ '" '^■'' ^- kno^n by the
fhTAr TV'^"?" ^® ^°°^"' ""<^'l this sketch is given to
the public, of the Ghost of the Old Catholic Cemeteiy.
I M
CHAPTER WL
BURGLARS' TRICKS l;PON BURGLARS.
W^I^I^^^^ """^ *'''^? *'® very ingenious in their schemes
^ Jf -J M ^T^.^^ P"^^^'«' ^"<> they frequently show
in well iZ'^Zf" '^'l^ ""l^ * f ^'^^" g^'*^^^ ^^ ^^^«t humour
lol *. -P^ u- ^^?"'* ^^^^ °*^her. An instance of the kind
happene^ in this wise : In 187.5. Scott and Dunlap-the f^
neZ" mmL"'; n'''^' ^ Northampton Natioua'Tiank of
nearly a mill on dollars, and who are now behind the bars of
des ^TlT^'V- 'Y ^'^''' '^'°"g^ '^' «ff-ts of my Agen.
city"bank! ^^""^ ^ '^^ * '^''^^^^ "P-*°^^ Ne\r York
George Miles. aUas Bliss, alias White, the notorious Max
i raZ'? ^^^?'''- "''' ?°^ ^''-^^''y were concocting a like
opeiation for relieving a down-town bank of its capital
to b« rnilr/^ 7S^ ^^ '^' ^'^'' P^^ty ^'^''^^ both banks were
L » wM I '" ^-^.^ ""f""'' ^y *^*t "^^t^^'d of " bank-burst.
»ng wnicn consists of rpntmnp « ,.«««. „i iu.i. ? , ,
1. '"i
'ir
420 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Mie bank oltices, ana breaking uto the yaults in the regular
manner.
Miles saw that, if the Scott-Dunlap ^ang should happen to
first complete their job, the publicity given the method em-
ployed would set every bank oificer in New York investigating
the possibility of a like misfortune, and thus defeat his own
purpose. He accordingly took two of his men, who were
wholly unknown to the other party, provided them with com-
plete police uniforms and clubs, and, at a suitable time after
nightfall, stationed them in hiding behind the up-town bank,
and when the members of the Scott-Dunlap party, approached
the building " to pipe it off," or to take observations, they were
of course recognised by Miles's policemen who drove them away
The Scott-Dunlap party were now in utter consternation.
They felt certain that their scheme had been discovered, or at
least that the officers of the bank had had their suspicions in
some manner awakened, and certainly to that extent which
would make their project impossible. To put the matter to
further test, on the succeeding night other of their men were
instructed to " pipe off " the place still more cautiously. But
these too were discovered by Miles's vigilant but bogus police,
given chase to, and unmercifully clubbed.
This delayed matters with Scott and Dunlap until Miles and
his party, the chief of whom were George Miles, " Pete "
Curly, and "Sam" Perris, alias "Wooster Sam," got everything
ready for their attack on the down-town bank, which was
within one block of the First District police-station and the
same distance from my New York office, at No. 66 Exchange
Place.
In the meantime, it is thought, the Scott-Dunlap party had
learned of the down-town scheme, and caused information to
be given, and before the Miles party had got fairly at work
they were pounced upon by the police. A lively fight ensued,
and, although considerable shouting was done, the entire party
of burglars escaped, so that two great bank burglaries, where
very probably hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash aad
bonds would have been secureii, were prevented through nothing
more nor loss than what was hoped to be a very excellent trick
by one notorious set of rogues upon another.
PROrESSlONAL; THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES
421
i
CHAPTER ir.
REMARKABLE PRISON ESCAFE8L
AM certain that my readers will be interested in the recital
of a few instances within my recollection where criminals,
either convicts or prisoners awaiting trial for general of-
fences, have escaped their prison confines in a most ingenious
and dramatic manner.
On July 8, 1878, the city of Columbus, Ohio, was startled
by a report that some forty prisoners, confined at tTie State
penitentiary there, had escaped, and were " making a lively
trial for tall timber " in all directions. A visit to the peniten-
tiary proved that the reports were greatly magnified. Only
three prisoners had escaped, but these had shown an amount of
enterprise in getting outside of the walls that was truly remark-
able.
It was found, too, that even the three did not make their es-
^pe together, but that one had got .t the previous night.
He had^been recaptured, and ^ once more a prisoner, al-
though the other two were still at liberty. The one that had
been recaptured had occupied a cell in one of the tiers of cell-
houses on which the State was then placing a new roof He
managed, in some way, to dig out of his cell and gain access to
the roof. A large dernok for elevating stone, used in the
walls, during the day stood against the prison, but at i.itrhfc
was pulled back quite a distance from it. The prisoner stood on
the top of the wall, und calculating the distance in the darkness
made a leap, the like of which has never been attempted by
any acrobat on earth, and, after descending at least thirty feet
through the air, caught the derrick rope and slid down the re-
maining distance, making his escape unobserved.
What nerve and actual bravery were required for this ' The
convict risked his life more surely than if taking his chances in
battle. The slightest miscalculation, the merest mischance,
the least failure in estimating his power for leaping, would
have caused him to have fallen a nmnaM /.^rr.--^ "V^or ♦Ha
(•tones below * jr
n
11
422 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
But all this daring brought no reward to the poor fellow, Tot
he was captured on the Pan-Handle Road, near Summit Station,
not ten hours subsequent to his marvellous escape.
The other men did not show as much daring in their escape,
but even more bhrewdness and ingenuity. Tliey were engaged
cutting stone just north of the penitentiary. Through the aid
of friends they supplied themselves with citizens' clothing, v^hich
they secreted in a closet near where they were working, and
leaped from this into a sewer leading into the Scioto River.
As soon as they reached the bank, they stripped off their
prison garb, and, donning their citizens'
clothing,
strolled
leisurely away. For all that is known, they are still leisurely
strolling, as they have never been recaptured.
One of the most desperate prison escapes ever known was
made from Sing Sing prison on the morning of May 14, 1875,
a,nd would have ended disastrously to more than a score of
lives had it not been for the presence of mind of Dennis Cassin,
a Hudson River Railroad engineer.
. Just north of Sing Sing prison, between the extreme north-
ern guard-house and the arched railway bridge, as you go south,
is located the prison quarry, on the east side of the railroad
track. From it, over the railroad track, on the west side, ex-
tends a bridge, over which stone from the quarry is trundled
in wheelbarrows by the convicts.
At about eight o'clock on the morning mentioned, an extra
freight train, bound south, slowly approached the prison bridge.
The train was drawn by « No. 89," Dennis Cassin, engineer.
They were slowly following the regular passenger train from
Sing Sing to New York, which had left a few moments before.
As the engine reached the trestle, or prison bridge, five con-
victs suddenly dropped upon it, from the bridge above ; they
were led by the notorious " Steve " Boyle and Charles Wood*
Four of them ran into the engineer's cab, while the other
hastened to the coupling which attached the train to the engine.
The convicts on the cab, with drawn revolvers, ordered the
engineer and fireman to jump off, which they did, when the
convicts put on steam, and the engine started down the road at
lighiining speed.
Their escape was detectei almost immediately, and several
shots were tired after the» by the prison-guard^ but without
m
ETECTIVES.
PROFESSEONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 423
rSl^'ad'^.? ^.f^A^^ Pi^^*- . '^" Buperintendent of the
railroad was notified quickly, when a tele^raoh alarm w««
Tthe' T^i^? P^"*^ so'ith o/ Shig Sing. A ^tch " "
thatlHnr7 Ti? ^P^'^^^' .^^^ecting him to turn the s^ ,1 at
that station on the river side, so as to let the en-rine v a the
convicts on board, jump the bank and plung S tL ^Ivh
Danger signals were also^ordered to be set on the down trnd
and prompt measures of every kind were taken to rreve:
a«,wger from collision with the stolen loc«motive. The .rarlr.
men in the vicinity of Scarborough saw the engine cominf in-;
r« frJ^ff. 1^ a\? ^^^^^."^"g roar, and gazed with terror at
the frightful speed the engine had attained. At Tarrvtown
crowds of people were gathered expecting to see the eS
f^LT. ^'^^ ''*^^""' ^^^ °^ ^^« switch into the river ;C
It did not arrive. '
"After vvaiting a short time, the Tarrvtown agent sent an
anf "nT'^q"'^ "P ''rT\'' ^r^ ''' '•- stoirpropertv^
h^Ln ?i, ^ 7^' ^"u"^ found, .With both cylinder-heads
Th« hnll '' °i''ff ".""^^ '"'^ ^PP"^^'« ^he " Aspinwall Place."
h^A^lftl T ^^^f '"^''' ""^^ '^^ «^«^™ ^'^^»- The convicts
had left the disabled engine a half mile further north, and had
fnr.Ml- '''' V^«d'"^^^ Aspinwall woods, having fi'rst stolen
a^l the clothing which could be found in the engineer's and fire-
man s boxes in the tender.
r.rfj'^'^T ?'^''") wonderful presence of mind undoubtedly
prevented a large destruction of property and human life. He
r.To:ZY^V^'u''''''T''' ^«^'^« ^""g conscious o?
It, and could feel the cold muzzles of their revolvers against his
^''f.n J^Sff^^lj^aft^'J'^ ''""^''"^ ^'J^^t i^a^ occurred.^
».t ff a[F^ ""^L ,^he desperate men shouted. They did
get off, and that right lively ; but Cassin did not turn from his
fuZdf ^\^'^ rr^'f f'"'''''- ^'''' ^«f'»r« the c«Avic 3
n7h.d k\ ■ ^'.f ' ^' ^^^ ^^r' gauges of water in the boiler,
and had shut off the pumps ; but, as he turned to go when orl
&^ shoved the pumps full on, the convicts not noticing
he movement. The desperadoes, undoubtedly pulled the throU
itr;l'!J4!.T!^,:^hf." they started, and for a little time the
5s^.«w »«va.acu a uernuc speed; bub iinaUy the cyiinders (jot
f I"}
m
k '1*1
till
'li't
w
424 PROFESSIONAL. THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
tV,fl?^ f ^i*"® daring fellows were immediately Recaptured, but
the eventual return of the leader of the escapade wreffected
through my office ; and how it all came abSut necessitates a
shpr sketch of « Steve » Boyle, the leading an^most de S
spirit m the escape just narrated. uesperace
pJ^JI-'/^^^u'^ " houseworker," or house-burgkr. and gen-
eralthief. and has nearly always been brilliant Ind successful
in whatever he has undertaken: His work wa« prinlalirdone
wam'Str'" !l''''"'^" '''''^''' of thec^/tr^bSeZ
liam -~ '■ -- *'^^"^''^'d' «^^«« "BisFitz." anrl Wil.
Taylor "Tom" f it'zgel-ald, a/ias" " Big Fitz " and Wil-
-, alias " Black Bill," h^ removed to Chicago
Thpir fi^cf — -- -"Mi, lie removea to DUicago.
Bovle Thel ZTT T- '^f "^y ^^« ^«ry unfortunate for
ff^ % i 7 ^^® , vrorking" a residence in the West Divis-
on and Boyle was " doing" the rooms and passing thrplunder
aUack oTthTifh''''\'' "'^"^ ^^^"^ very 'weak iom a severe
attack of the asthma, he made a misstep, stumbled dronned hia
hand and?CrA'' "'"" ^^"^ "^'^ » «««^«d revolver^hL
A t ®"^^*^^ ^'3 capture easily.
As he was then comparatively unknown in the W«6t ««
Si?hrsS "Id ^f '' '"' -^'^^"^^ respecrbVpartts^a^hh^
ISTe^ttV^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ -^-- ^^ ^"' o- year.
BecurnTardon%nrT.''^P^"^^^ '^'^ '^''^ ^° t^«i^ Po^^r to
rrDose.'v^^lthfrf r^ '\r"^^^^^^^ «"^« of money for this
purpose , but this failing, they eventually found a way of con-
veying „oney to him within the penitentiary. wKer or
Eis tlZT:{: P'"'f ^ ''"" "^'^^^^^ inst7uments to effec
HIS escape Boyle may Jiave secured,! cannot sav • but «f *ll
eventi, a plan of escape was determined on, whc^ proved su"
cessful ; and on a certain night, Boyle, at the hL of eleven
other convicts, made their way from 'the cells up into one of
terX'lf '' rf r '^' ^^"^^^ ' ^°*i tl>««««' fn some m/s!
teiious manner, which has never since been fully exnlained not
only made good their escape, but carried away affie miZ
quite a nr.mber-which weJe stored in the Z7J '"""^
, and that ne
PB0FJB8SI0NAL THIIVES AND THE DETKOTIVES. 425
^f?h^v1 ^^ *"*^ *®*.'^ *^°"* ^^I'^al to hia good fortuiMi
and ability to conquer difficultiea
M^^nptTi** dayafW escaping from the Illinois penitentiary,
-he needed money himself and another of the escaped pri^
Z^u7 T!l^o'5 ^^^^S** ^^i^« i'^ ^^'^ ^^ of "topping"
in fo? th«*nT°Kf. ^'t ^^'^^^^^ grocery. They were locked
^ for the night together at one of the North Side stations,
^yle 8 companion was possessed of a terrible fear that he wonld
be recognised and returned to Joliet.
he'sSVwoffc ^n^*^**'*'" f^ Boyle, janntUy, and forthwith.
n,«n?ia^/« • "* gaye his ex-convict comrade such a pum-
melhng--didfiga„og his face and blacking his eyes-that his
own mother would not have recognised hiS. ^
Ihenext morning they were put in charge of separate police-
thXatrsJ^T'^T^'^ '^.'^ P"«°««'« ^^'^^« pohcecoS^
fwZn If • ^ ^'' '^^'^"'.^'^ «^*^« of BoylTwas a huge
WhTn tCtln" -/.^^-ol^'^ndr^d and tweity-five poundl
n«Rr t»,i !,- u 1 f "J®^ ** * P^^^* on North Wells Street,
nZJ^i, ''^^' ^^^i^ I ^"*" ^y^ discovered a house of disre!
putable character, which he had formerly frequented. Anegresr
a servant at the establishment, was scrubbing the sttpsTthe
Tn^rTl^'^'''' the inmates had arisen, fnd the basement
fZ^ uf ""^^ °P'^- ^ *1"^*'^ «« **»ought, Boyle planted a
ternfic blow squarely in the big Dutch^ policeman's belly*
f tran fn^T^^^ '^''^^' harlequin going backward through
tS; f 'J^^Pi"^.''''®'*"^ ''^yond the horrified black
bolSth«r'i^r^'i5*''^J,"*^ '^^ house, and shut and
menft^ tJ.« rf , f '^K ^'^' ^^V" *^" '^'^ ^»^^°"gh <>he base-
wJn 1, I K T "*/ •*".* ^*'"^® *"^ «»«aped. His companion,
who havl been herded in the " bull-pen" along with theVegulaJ
thi LT— T of petty offenders, Vas finalfy brou^'tbS
i^hbSf'iJ"'^rj/''^/\".«'°*'«'y"*" ^^o'se till°had been
robbed failing to identify him, he was fined five dollars, as a
simple case of "drunk, ' on general principles. The fine was
^1^ !??K "'i^'' ^"""'^^ '^^^ ^^ l«»rned of his predict
ment, and thus he too escaped.
About this time the other portion of Boyle's gancr had
pi
's'l
'ill
>'n
426 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
ilvii|^h-riding party, out on a lark, came dashing up to • point
nea' :hi bank, shouting and hallooing iu a boisterous and
roysteriiig fashion. The thieves, thinking they had been dis.
covered, fled f'^m the place, leaving their tools and their nearly
secured booty >)hind them.
From here 4 ey went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and securing
new tools frot ^ Chicago, made an attempt to <rob a bank there,
but were all arrested, and, being recognised as the parties en-
gaged in the unsuccessful Schoolcraft job, were held without bail.
Through a friend in Kalamazoo, who was then closely allied
with rogues of this class, but who is now a respected citisen of
that city, word of their misfoitune was conveyed to Boyie in
Chicago, who, with a New York thief named Harry Darrali,
returned the cheering intelligence that they would be over to
Kalamazoo on a certain night, and give them "a break," that
is, liberate them.
On the night in. question, true to their word, Boyle and
Darrah got so far toward the liberation of their friends as to havn
passed pistols and small steel saws in to them in the jail, when
Colonel Orcutt, the sheriff, whose apartments were in the jail
building, discoyered the efforts being made, and coming upon
the scene en deshabUle, with cocked revolver in hand, endear-
voured to arrest the jail breakers.
The men instantly fled, Colonel Orcutt pursuing. He ordered
theuL. to halt, but they did not comply ; and he began firing
upon them, succeeding in shooting Darrah's hat from his head.
This only had the eflect to increase his eflbrts to escape. Bo}'le,
whose chronic asthma made it impossible for him to run any
distance, suddenly dodged behind a tree, unperceived by the
sheritf, and, wheft the latter passed him in hot pursuit of Dar-
rah, the cowardly ruffian Boyle fired upon him, shooting him
through the spine, and effecting a wound from which Coionel
Orcutt died twelve hours after. Darrah sculked about the
place for a few days and finally disappeared j while Boyle, on
the same night, secreted himself upon an eastern bound freight-
train, went to Detroit, and from thence into Canada, where,
after remaining under cover for a few weeks, he proceeded to
New York, being soon after joined by Darrah, who was subse-
'^uentW arrested for DOGket-i^iGkincr. and. bAin? iiiAtitiifiA/L
'si
(ETECTIVES.
ling up to « polut
a boisterous and
hey had been dis*
Is and their nearly
igan, and securing
I job a bank there,
as the parties en-
9 held without bail,
then closely allied
■espected citi«en ol
Lveyed to Boyje in
ed Harry Darrah,
' would be over to
m " a break," that
word, Boyle and
r friends as to have
1 in the jail, when
ts were in the jail
and coming upon
r in hand, endea-
suing. He ordered
d he began firing
hat from his head.
J to escape. Boyle,
or him to run any
nperceived by the
ot pursuit of Dar-
[lim, shooting him
3m which Coionel
iculked about the
; "while Boyle, on
em bound freight-
;o Canada, where,
s, he proceeded to
h, who was subse*
na iAani.iRaii. w»a
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTITES. 427
• Sli^W ^ {^^*°"f °°' ^h«'« he made a full cunfossion, in^
phcating Boyle m the murder of Colonel Orcutt.
fortunSlowTh- ' ^T'""'"' *""' ""'^'^y » y«*'' ^l»e«' his bad
emuMnf in T\^- T' '^P^'^'^"^ '"^ ^ew York while at-
wsnaptmg to do what is known as the " butcher-cart " iob
This IS effected in. the following manner •-. ^
At a time of the year when street doors of lewellerv shnna
are usually closed throughout the day as well as the ev7ninl^a *
s'SfHtf ' " '^"^"^ "^P' '' anyrortbut alwty:
selected for its easy-running qualities, and to which is alwava
h^ alZvs a fin!^'^ 1 "" ^^''t'^y ^'''^ fi^^-i "P°°' *°d which
fn^o.T kP ?°® "^''P'^y '" *he window. This iaggon will
Te driv^ ^"Jtain o„e. and sometimes two persons, as^lefr^'
tne driver. In the meantime a confederate of this "butcher-
f'^^.^^PS f'l'.'^P^othedoov of the shop in questionVand
tween Zrln^tT^?/'^- ""'• \'^^' ^^^^^^^ ?he dooi, b^
tween that and the sill, driving it home with his heel or in any
other manner possible. Tlie moment this is done another of
twoffi Ik"' ^.^^^ 'T^'' ^° ^^« «"^ir« window and the
two then grab whatever they can lay their hands upoi alwava
of course, selecting that which is the most valuable and 3
to the covered waggon m waiting, when, with their booty, Jhey
are dnven rapidly away, nine times out of ten getting whollv
abfe'to irr' ^'''V^' ''''''^^'^ *^d shut.i^ shopman are
able to get their own door open.
thli iT' .while Boyle was conducting an operation of this kind
ofn« wf^captured, and rather than be conveyed to Michigan
^nfkvTn' V "t'^' f '"";^^^' ^' "^^•^^ °° defence, but pleaded
tenced to twenty years' imprisonment at Sing Sing,
h JV^' .the boast of himself and his friends that no prison
had been built s rong enough to bold him, and a special S
was for a time pi iced over him. i* ^-^i guara
Illustrative of the man'ff cunning is the fact that, one day.
Trol S'"^ '''''^'^' he slipped his jacket and hat upon^a
broom standing near, and then, noiselessly placing it whew he
had sat stole away from his guard entirely. ^ It wis some W
f»«n t^u^La — "'"J;;^ ^"* &"axu uiscovered the tnck which had
been played upon him, and Boyle had mada so good a use^
^\H
'1 4
m\
428 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
his time that eight hours had elapsed before he was found.
He had secreted himself in the prison, with the hop«^ of escap.
mg the same night. *^
The next instance in Boyle's career worthy of note was the
planning and execution of the desperate escape from Sine Sine
upon the engine " No. 89," as has been related.
_ Jd company with Charles Woods, one of the convicts escap.
ing with him on that t jcasion, Boyle then secured a kit" of
burglars tools, and the two proceeded to St Louis, where they
began operating upon small safes in real-estate and brokers' of
hce& They deposited their tools in what they believed to be a
deserted carpenter's shop. The 'proprietors, returning unex-
pectedly, discovered the tools, and, informing the police, a detail
ot otticers was at once made to lie in wait for the owners of the
suspicious goods, who returned, and, before being given time to
cu& ^""^^ ^^* "^^""^ unmercifully clubbed and taken into
The men, being utter strangers to the St Louis authorities,
were only given six months in the wornhouse. "'heir pictures
were taken, however, and, a set coming into my office, that of
Boyle was recognised, when, on his being fully identified by
my son William A. Pinkerton, he was returned to Sins Sing,
where, fortunately for society in genera!, he is now serving his
unexpired term of twenty years' imprisonment.
In 1870, George White, alias Geo-ffe Miles, alias George
Bhss, made one of the most remarkable .rilliant prison escapes
on record. He had, in company with one Joe Howard, another
burglar, robbed the bank of an interior New York town and
securmg a noted race-horse of tlie locality in escaping from the
P'*,*:f'.f^'^,,<^^e animal nearly thirty miles at ics fullest speed,
until It tell to the earth from sheer exhaustion. The man then
brutally cut the throat of the horse, leaving it dying. The men
were subsequently captured, convicted, and in«^rcerated in
bing Sing. While here, White made the acquaintance and
tnendship of a noted character, named Cramer, famUiarly
called Doctor Dyonissius Cramer, or "the Long Doctor,'.' now
a reformed thief, but in his day one of the cleverest known
stalls of the " bank-sneak gangs." This " Long Doctor "
bad a pecuharly inventive genius, and I am happy to say that
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. -429
now, as he has become an honest man, it is securing for him
considerable wealth. ^
His familiarity with White resulted in his inventing— more
as a curious experiment than anything else— a hollow rubber
apparatus, which, when completed, had the eJtact appearance o(
a very large decoy duck. This was also provided with rub-
ber tubes for breathing through; and one morning, when a
party ot convicts were working along the docks by the side of
the river. White, whohad secreted the contrivance in his cloth-
ing, at an opportune moment adjusted it, and, slipping into the
water, calmly floated down the Hudsdn, passing within twenty
feet of the guards, thus making his escape
His recapture Would have been certain, but Colonel Whitley
then Chief of the Secret Service, made such strong representa-
tions to the Government authorities that his use by the Gov-
ernment in ferreting out sever.^i important counterfeiting cases
would be valuable, that he eventually secured for him from the
Governor of New York a free pardon. The value of his sub-
sequent services may be inferred when it is stated that Colonel
Whitley used him as one of the chief actors in the infamous
shana robbery of the safe of the district attorney's office in
Washington, when it was sought to ruin the Hon. Columbus
Alexander, who was nobly fighting the Washington ring and its
corruptions. o o
t
CHAPTER V.
SHERIDAN, THE FORGER.
J HERE was born, near Sandusky, Ohio, in the year 1838,
an adventurous lad named Walter Eastman Sheridan.
His people were plain but intelligent farmers, and, while
not possessed of an over-snpply of means, had considerable
pride in the boy, gave him a liberal education, and destined
him as fond parents usually do, for some very bright career
in life. °
He remained at home until about fourteen years of age, when
Its restraints became too irksome, and full of an adventuroui
¥
t 4
I .
1 W
430 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. '
spirit, and feeling able to take care of himself in the world, li«
did what thousands of boys did before him with various results
—he " ran away" fi-om home to seek his fortunes in the then
brilliant and fascinating city of St. Louis.
Here he secured employment ; but, being without a home and
its healthful influences, soon fell into bad company. Ha was a
bright pleasant-faced fellow ; but he was " too independent" to
return to his friends or accept their advice, little tricks were
soon resorted to, and the boy readiW saw that it was an easy
matter to win the confidence of those with whom he came in
contact, and before he had become eighteen years of age he was
an adept in the art of living genteelly from forced public con-
tributions of a varied character.
His first crime, or rather the first crime for which he was
tried, was for horse stealing at St. Loujs, in 1858. He was
convicted, and, while awaiting sentence, broke jail and escaped
to Chicago.
Being a dashing, rosy-cheeked lellow of elegant address,
after he had been in that city for a time, he became the pupil
• of Joe Moran, a noted confidence man and hotel thief, the
couple doing a neat and thrifty business from the beginning.
Sheridan proved so pat about everything he did, and exhibi-
ted such aptness and delicate judgment in everything he under-
took, that the pair continued in partnership nearly three years,
working the hotels in Chicago and neighbouring cities, but in
the early part of 1861, were arrested in the act of robbing the
guests' rooms at the old Adams' House in that city. They were
both convicted, and given three years each at the Illinois Peni-
tentiary, then located at Alton.
The two men, fter serving this terra, returned to Chicago
together, Mo'an soon dying of some disease brought on by pri-
son exposure, while Sheridan resumed the same class of opera-
tion with th^ then notorious men of the same ilk Emmett
Lytle, Matt UuflFy, and John Supple.
But Sheridan, being a young man of good mind, somewhat
cultivated tastes, and large ambition, notwithstanding his re-
prehensible calling, soon tired of the low associations necessary
to this standard of villainy, broke with his old companions, and
took a step higher in the profession, becoming the " brains "
and ieatler of " bank-sneaks," consisting of the iiotorious Jo«
' PBOrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 431
Butte Tom Parrell, <aia» « Pretty Tom," and others, and for
some time the party did a very successful business, tho elegant
and refined Sheridan acting as «« stall" » a •
As many of my readers may not be very familiar with cri-
minals ^ and their modes of procedure, I r-ill explain what a
stall ism connection with the neat work of "bank sneak
gangs.
To begin with, the "gang" is the party, generally consist-
mg ot about three to five persons working together. As a rule,
these persons are gentlemen of elegant leisure, secure large
pJunder and have plenty of time to devote to becoming ao-
quainted with the workings of a bank, familiar with the faces
and habits of its officers, as also of many of the heavier deposi-
tors ; and when ready for work have quite as much knowledge
ot the interior arrangements of the bank as many of its em-
ployees. 1 hough there are numberless modes of accomplishing
the same thing, the following instances will serve as illustr^
live of them all.
A gentleman, who has business stamped in every line of his
face and article of his clothing, steps into a bank about noon
when the officers and several of the clerks are generally at
lunch, and either presents a forged letter of introduction or in
some other manner compels the respectful attention of the
cashier, or teller, as the case may be.
He will very probably produce a figuring-block or tablet up-
on which are various memoranda figures, and, while asking
questions very rapidly and interrupting them quite as abruptly
conveys to the teller, who has already become somewhat disi
tracted, the information that he, as the trustee for something
or somebody, has, we will say, twenty thousand dollars in fivcS
twenty bonds to invest in different securities, and desires five
thousand dollars m gold, five thousand dollars in seven forties
fave thousand dollars in ten-twenties, and five thousand doUari
tA some railroad stock or other.
This affords the cashier, or teller, a series of delicate, if not
difficult, calculations, and all this time the business-like
'trustee '—who is none other than the "stall" is annoying
hnn with questions, suggestions, and probably other orders u
to thn character of the invaatmflnfc dAsirArl an. fhot ^^n i.ii— >-
nil
^
s;
i\.
m
432 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVM. '
whole attentiou is absolutely required to follow the cu8tom6i''i
whims and his own. calculations.
This is exactly what has been striven for by the ** stim,"
and his eminence in his profession is in just the proportion to
his ability to accomplish this, whatever be the means h3 may
employ in doing it
But before this "stall*" begins playing the "trustee" or
other game, three of his oompauions, or pals, called " pipers,"
are on the look-out for the approach of any of the bank ofScers
or employees, and are ready to sound a signal at the approach
of the slightest cause for alarm ; and sometfmes other " stalls "
are stationed in the bank »therever necessary; while, at a
given signal the "sneak," who is generally a ni able little
fellow, slips behind the partition through some opjn door, or
sometimes through open windows, and thence iut j Ihc bank-
vault, where he secures his plunder, which is usuail;) large,
because the thieves have taken time to make the operation a
success.
After the " sneak *' is well away, the " stalls " draw off,
so as to not excite suspicion, and the " trustee," after thank-
fully receiving the teller's calculations and agreeing to return
with the bonds to effect the desired exchange before the close
of banking hours, takes his departure. The entire job is done
in ten or fifteen minutes, and frequently the loss is not dis-
covered for day&
Another game of the *' bank sneak gang," but one which
requires far more nerve, assurance, and personal bravery, though
fur less tact and skill, is to become cognizant of parties making
heavy deposits at a late hour, wlien everything is rushing abou^
the bank, and the check iesks are crowded.
In this instance the uneak, with a bogus bank-book in his
hand, and with a business-like air about him, taps some gentle-
man with a flush deposit in his hand lightly on the shoulder,
and politely calls attention to the fact that he has dropped some
money. Looking upon the floor, the latter sees a genuine ten-
dollar bill (which the sneak has dexterously dropped there, of
conrse), and bends over to pick it up, leaving his book and
deposit upon the check-desk.
In an instant the polite gentleman has the money left upon
the desk and is upon the street, while the robbed and astounded
>•
PROrESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES. 453
depositor recovers liimseir, and gives chase ; he is annar^rtl^
accidental y but very effectually impeded bV other S^
al pais ot the sneak), who run into him and beg hfs p^^^^^^^^^
in the most natural manner possible civin^ th^ nTrH? ,,.?
had invested merely a ten-dolla'r bill an§ a f^tle poCsT^^^^
totc'pf ' "'"^' ''''''' ^^^"^^^'i dollarraipir'tfme
I could fill pages with instances of this kind bnf will nnl,r
mention a few of the heavier robberies oMateyeaTsU^^^^
were all committed in this manner, all of which aCDUablv
still fresh in the public mind. They are • Probably
Ihe noted Lord bond robbery, where a million and a half
nv r'^\T'-n-'''"i'f^^ Royal insurance Company robbery
New YollT r ^'^/f ^ ^T^ ''^'^'^ > Camberling & P ne!
^ew York I okcrs, robbed of two hundred thousand dollars
sand r r '"^; ^?f Cambridge, Mass.. seventy Ive thou^
by 1; '^i?t?:"Ho^t'"^H' "^'"'^^ "• ^^""- «f New York,
2Ld the rill pf ^T" P.f *^' °^ fi^« ^"nJred thoul
Sana, the Canal Bank, of New Orleans, in 1872 sixtv-fiva
thousand ; paymaster's office of the Grand Trunk ItXal
Council Bkffr^r'^' 'f" ''""f"^' ^^''' ^^'^--^^ Ba^nk of
Council Bluffs, Iowa, twenty thousand; and so on, ad in/in-
Sheridan and his party worked this line of business-rob
bing banks at Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville S roS7and
other large, cities-until 1SG5, when he separated f7om these
bv a?;'' w",^-'""'" high-toned companions, and was tScen on
by George Williams, alias "English George," a widely known
thief and bank robber. Williams had hid his eye upon the
young criminal for some time, and admiring hisThrewdness
kdacity and tact, took him into his eastern operations where
he did «uch good work that in 1867 he was known to be worTh
fully seventy-five thousand dollars. ^
A little later he participated in the robbing of the Maryland
Fire Insurance Company of Baltimore, acting^s " stall " whea
his party crowded the office and secured upward of seventXd
thousand dollars in money and negotiable bonds. ^
Ihe robbers"capt^ei ' "" ''''''''^' ""' ^*" ""^ ^
iiii
■'1
m
4-34 PROFESSIOlfAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTlVaS.
One of the neatest robberies Sheridan ever engaged in
that of United Staten Judge Blatchford, at an apple-stand in
5Jiew York city.
Th«) Judge was sauntering along the street, and feeling like
partaking of some fruit lie stopped at a little apple stand, at the
corner of Nassau and Liberty Streets, and in a fatherly man-
ner purchased a few apples of the old apple-womaa there. Sher-
idan accosted him, and so interested him for a moment that*
when he turned to take up the wallet, which he had carelessly
laid upon the stand, he fbund that it was gone. A suspicion
flashed across his mind that the handsome stranger had had
something to do with its disappeariince ; but he to< was gone.
The wallet contained seventy-five thousand dollars worth of
bonds, and but a small portion of the plunder was recovered.
Oue of his first exploits, after becoming a professional, was at
Springfield, Illinois, where he was not so fortunate. After the
Baltimore rob^jery, he had come West with Charles Hicks, a
Baltimore sneak-thief, and Philip Pierson, alias " Baltimore
Philly," and their initiatory move was upon the First National
Bank at Springfield.
Sheridan called at the bank, and, as usual, proposed some
complicated business, lucrative to the bank, which completely
engaged the cashier's attention; while Hicks "piped," and
Pierson sneaked into the bank, securing packages containing
thirty-two thousand dollars, passing the money over to Hicks.
As Ilicks was leisurely leaving the bank the president enter-
ed, and observing the huge package peeping out from under his
summer overcoat, which was not large enough to cover them^
grabbed him, and demanded where he had got so much money.
He replied that he had just drawn it out But the president
suggested that they had better step into his apartment until be
could see about it. The cashier at once saw what had been
nearly accomplished, and on so^pe pretext handed a card into
the president's apartment without exciting Sheridan's notice,
instructing the president to send two men to the front of the
bank to detain the person conversing with him, which was done,
and which resulted in Sheridan's capture, though Pierson eih
capecL
Sheridan and Hicks, of course, claimed that they had neyer
i€€u SaCu otucf ucfoiu, uut tucy wcro pat in di^erect cells and
uv cejisana
and subsequently forfeiLdThen uV^'^^ 'T ^« '^^'P^^itea
«um aside towards securi,tT,i« "n''' v^^'^r^"^ ^"o'ney «et thl«
employed me to meaU^^mlTltnT'''''' ^^'^J^^^^edfately
recapture. "^®*°" *^ ^^ command to effect hij
HicK^^iS^^Xet^- -. .mmunicating with
with unusual frequency and iT^! .^^''oth. - who visitfd him
liam A. Pinkerton, wi7h an assis^^t '7 1 '^'^ "^^ ««» Wil.
Bee what it was worth '^'''^^'' '" *«"•>' out this clue and
tr^'^^^SX^^Z^ «^?«. ->• - one ■
having arrived there on thrsamf tt b with m'^r* ^^^^^'*°'
JtltlrhVTllfarr -"epS-in the ci^,
aurprise that SMan oVeSXe'L^ ^T I" ^^^^"^"^ *<> ^
ducted by his brotherrTat t also a fi^^nJ t Tr ^^'"^ °°"-
vicinity of St. Joe, and We tr«^f« ? • °® fruit-farm in the
scattered throughout the State ' °^ P"^' ^'^'^ ^^^"^^"8 ^^nds
Hicks directed the hotel clerir fn /.nil i,-
next morning, and mfson ^cllT ,^^^ at seven o'clock the
call-book for Sx. ^ accordingly was put down on the
histfnts^^trZ^^'tZV'^' e-rcised, lest Sheridkn or
William could make oDl^parin^'ln^'-"^ '' t''^^ ^^"°^H
ceed in learning enough ?o Si^T"' \^"^ ^« ^»d sue!
then at Hudson and on «t f °^r"^«t ^im that he was not
morning, he decide!' Z maktrf n^"f^ ^ "^'^ '^ '^^
^n^Mng which might be St:|r:ri^L:^^
no.fiS:?e^^oftm"t:S^^^^^^^^ - acriminal,
nUes. The public toay not be awa^e tf'h '"^' °V^^ ""^^^^
good picture of a criminal is tnthlT. .• """^ ?"^^ service a
duty in a hundred Xef ft nnf/^^'^7^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ good
ascertained the LSr.f.u"r,A'^f- .Accordingly. Wifiam
While the occupanta were ai il^k^^'riiSVS: L^
i
m
m
m
If I
ill
436 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
onder the circumstancep, quite excusable, burglary, resulting in
securing a capital photograph of Sheridan, which has for several
years adorned the rogues' galleries at my different. Agencies.
This picture undoubtedly effected the eventual recent capture
of this great criminal, as it was the only picture extant, and
was placed in the hands of my almost numberless correspond-
ents both in this country and in Europe.
Ofl this particular occasion spoken of, however, it was of
no great importaace save to familiarize its possessor with the
handsome features of Sheridan, who returned to Hudson the
tome day.
. William wisely concluded that it would be foolish to attempt
his arrest in the midst of so many friends, who, if they could
not effect his forcible escape, would undoubtedly use every pos-
sible effort to secure his legal rescue upon some trivial techni-
cality ; and consequently followed him for several" days, finally
capturing him at Sandusky, Ohio.
As it was, my son had a diflScult time in getting the criminal
to Chicago, as the splendidly-appearing fellow strongly pro-
tested to the passengers that he was being kidnapped, and ap-
pealed for aid and rescue in the most impassioned manner pos-
sible. Finding this of no avail, although it came pretty nearly
being successful, he' then shrewdly pretended complete acquies-
cence and when for a moment left alone with the operative who
had immediate charge of him, offered that person ten thousand
dollars*in cash merely for the opportunity of being permitted
to jump though the window of the car saloon, although well
ironed, so that both men were necessarily watched every mil«
of the remaining distance.
Even after he had been brought to my Chicago Agency,
preparatory to being forwarded to Springfield, a little instance
occurred illustrative of the daring character of the man.
For convenience he had been given a seat temporarily in my
private office — he being perfectly secure there, and it being
necessary for my son to step outside the door for a moment.
Scarcely had he done so, when Sheridan espied my snufi-box,
and, instantly grasping it, placed himself in a position to fling
is contents into "William's eyes as he re-entered, with the in-
• tention of bou. ling by him in the confusion which would fol-
low and attempting to escape— which, however, would have
PBOFESSIONAL THIETES AND THE DETECli7ES. 437
b«en Utterly impoasible, owing to constant safeguards in use at
.my office to cover similar cases.
But his intention was just as determined, notwithstanding all
T?/f ' ^^ course, was not aware.
My son re-entered the room slowly -feeling that there might
1 *?-5®^i,*°?. ^"owing his man— with the grim muzzle of a
splendid English "Trauter" revolver in front of him • and
bhendan, seeing that his captor was as wary as he was, daring
and inventive, resumed his seat with the manner of a French
courtier took a pinch of snuff, as he replaced the box, and with
airy politeness remarked :
"Billy that snuff of your father's is a d— d fine ar "cle 1"
« For the eyes 1 " asked William quietly.
"Eyes or nose," he retorted. « But I'm very sorry to say that
the nose has It this time!" °«»j' tu^t
I succeeded in having the man safely conveyed to Springfield :
but bheridan made his money count in another way than upon
my detectives. He had the case fought on every legal techni-
cality which cou d be brought forward, secured a postponement
of trial for nearly a year, and finally a change of venue to the
city of Decatur, where, aft6r retaining the very best lawyers in
the btate of Illinois, and-whatwas quite as useful— a portion
ot the jury, he was eventually acquitted, expending alto-ether
for this manner of acquiring liberty the snuj; little s"um of
twenty thousand dollars, as he subsequently admitted
After this affair, Sheridan, who was inordinately ambitious
to become noted as one of the most successful thieves in Ame-
rica, went East, and organised a party of " bank-bursters."
or bank-robbers, consisting of Frank McCoy, alias "Big
1 rank, James Brady, James Hope, Ike Marsh, and others, the
crowd becommg a terror to the East, until so closely hunted
there that its members were compelled to disband : when he
assisted at a robbery of a Cleveland bank, where forty thou-
sand dollars were taken This was followed by a raid upon the
Mechanics' (Hawley's) Bank, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; where
Sheridan and "Little George " Corson appropriated thirty
thousand dollars' north of negotiable bondsi
His next exploit of note, and one which struck a very ten-
u^ .n,..., .^ .^^ xicaita VI auverai citizens ot iiouisvilie. Ken*
tucky, waa hia planning of and participation in.the Falls Citl
m
t - >
1:1
488 PSOFESSIONIL THIEVES AND THE DETECTIVES.
Tobaotio Bank robbery at tbat city in 1873, when npw^ds ot
three hundred thousand dollars were secured.
The robbers rented an oflSce immediately over the vault of
the bank, and carried on a legitimate business therein for some
months before the robbery occurred. My readers will remem-
ber the circumstances of the great Ocean Bank robbery, in
New York, where Max Shinburne's party robbed that bank by
renting an insurance ofl&ce immediately below the president's
apartments, and then sawed through the floor into the bank
and blew open the safe. The same kind of tactics were used
here, only the robbers went into the bank from above instead
of from beneath, and tumbled into the vault direct, instead of
blowing open the vault door.
The gang were divided into regular reliefs, and while one
party were digging away through the night, the other were
posted in a front room over the St. Charles restaurant imme-
diately opposite, from which point a fine but strong silk cord
was stretched to the robbers' windows. Attached to the end
of this cord, next the windows over the bank, was a pendent
bullet, so that the confederates located over the St. Charles res-
taurant — whose business it was to watch for any signs of ap-
proaching danger— could signal the same on their immediate
discovery. In this manner the thieves had an abundance of
time and leisure, and finally effected an entrance to the vault
early in the night, when they carried away almost everything
of value the vault contained. '
It was Sheridan's generalship and even bravery, if one has
the right to apply that term to a person of this character, ut-
terly devoid of fear, that caused the retireinent of this large
amount of capital from Louisville circulation ; and these in-
stances, showing his wonderful genius for schemes requiring
skill, patience, and pt onal courage, could be multiplied almost
beyond number ; but those I have already given will serve to
illustrate his marked ability, and also the almost exceptional
instance of a criminal beginning among the lowest of asso*
ciates, and by the tact, skill, and frugality which would hava
made him a millionaire in respectable life, gradually climbing
higher and higher in his grade of crimes with his companions
«i stepping-stonefc, until he arrives at the very pinnacle of his
orimiual calling, and has acquired in that profession everything
PKOFBSSIONAl, THIEVES AND THE DETEOTVES. 439
done by other parL; andTtfaSfetolaT tha? ,7°?. ""T^
lowing institutions and corporations : Net Sk C ntS '
Their excoution was almost absolutrfv fai-IH».= .„j
stance is given where some of therfo C bon J o?the b' f
At least half the amount issued was disposed of.
Sheridan now assumed a new characfpr Ra L« t> * *
Stan, nephew of the once ^r.I^l'lZ^'X' u^i ^''^^^ ^'
omitted suicide after his ^^ ai^^i^^'^^^Z:
440 PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AED THE DETECTIVES.
and plenty of money he became a member of the New York
Produce Exchauge, and at No. 60 Broadway carried on a suo-
cessfal business as agent for th« Belgian Stone Company, deal-
ing largely in all manner of fancy marbles.
On the eventual discovery of the forgeries, Sheridan quietly
gathered his assets together, and sped to Belgium— that fash-
ionable retreat for Americans having too little honesty and too
much brains.
It 18 not known just how large an amount Sheridan suc-
ceeded indisposing of, but it must have equalled all that of the
other large operators. " Steve" Raymond sold ninety thousand
dollars' worth, and Charles Williams, alias Perrin, one hundred
and ten thonsand ; while the American public was mulcted
fully two millions in excess of the amount secured from our
English cousins in the Bank of England forgeries.
When I sent my sop, William A. Pinkerton, to Europe, to
captii' .d return Eaymond, which he accomplished, he met
Sl'TiJau in Brussels, where he was then living like a prince,
wiih the atowed determination of never returning to America.
But he did return here ; and that mistake eventually led to my
capturing him. He could not live without the excitement of
scheming, speculating, criminal adventure, and what was to
him the genuine pleasure of transacting business on a large
scale.
. He slipped back to America, and, under the name of Walter
A. Stewart, suddenly appeared at Denver, where he established
probably ihe largest and most expensive hot-house in America,
did an immense business in supplying that market with vege-
tables and rare plants, was elected a director of the German
National Bank of that city, and soon established a bank of bis
own ut RiiMta, in the CoTonulo mining districts. Iiere hla
spirit of speculation took possession ot him again, and he began
the wildest kind of gambling in mining stocks, which resulted
in his losiuK every dollar he possessed on earth.
About this time 1 again got upotf Sheridan's trail, and, fol-
lowing him from point to point, learned that he conte mplated
a trip to the East, to discover his old companions nd i'^.augn-
rate some new and brilliant scheme of robbery. Encruoring
matters at New York to my son, Robert A. Pinkerton, Super-
ktendeut of my New York office, 1 gradually caubed th« lines
raOFESSIONAL THIETES AND THK DEITICTIVES. 441
»rt, was kndingk New York cTtt fr'„f T p"'"""', '•'™ «'»''■
boat, at the fo?t of Desblees it.? ° P^no'y'vMi" ferry-
hi, ,g„ througk that^SlK^i:^ ';„^^^^^^^^^^
Ho «, i / ^^^® * bench-warrant for your arrpsf »
coa^^rafoSr*'"""^ •"" ^'^^-^ 'o ^-o^p IKpe and
f.iiing)ealth!td%hoCh:":.te i2 KYlk' ^ 7^'
two indictments hanging over his head hitTri.'i j "«''.''•
ie«el»y ju.t2rskg Si^. " '^™'"" S»v. in the UtU.
tTJ
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