“

It w a s t he i mp i
r es s o n of a bl oo d -s t a i n e d han d on
”
t he d oo r .
—
( See page 49
 1 909 , BY

JO H N C W IN ST O N
.

1 908, BY
W . G C HA PMA N
.
 PREFAC E .

IT i s a trite s a ying tha t truth i s st range r than

”
fict io n . Li ke most proverbs thi s on e h as to be
,

taken with t h e proverbi al grain of sa lt It is a .

f act ne ve rthe l e ss tha t t h e raw tru th of t e n pos

, ,

se ss es gre ate r hu man i n te res t than t h e mo st

polished fiction C r ime i n itse lf is p ai nf ul a n d
.
, ,

some time s re pulsive but a stud y of th e me thod s of

,

crimi na l i n v e sti gation by whi c h di fficult pro ble ms

e ntert ai ni ng an d may be pr ofit able Wi th thi s .

thoug ht in mi nd th e rea d er i s invited t o a con si d

,

e r at i on of a f ew o f t h e f amo us ca s es t ha t ar e t o be

f oun d in t h e hi story of th e worl d s grea te st d ete c

’

Each story is comple te i n it self and outsi de of,

i t s own i nt ere st is i nt en d e d to ill u stra te t he pe

culi a r sy st em o f t h e o ffi ci a l a n d t h e n a tion th ere in

port raye d Vi doc q t h e grea t F rench d e tec ti ve

.
, ,

was undoubted ly a ra sca l an d mo unt eban k an d ,

t h e story o f hi s lif e is f a irly f ami li a r bu t it w a s

,

thought nece ssa ry to inclu d e o n e o f t h e e xploits of

Vidoc q i n thi s serie s beca u se h e enj oys t h e re p ut a
t ion of bei ng t he Fa th er o f D e tec tives ranki ng,

(3 )
4 PRE FAC E

as t h e first regul arly a uthoriz ed investiga tor of

c rime known to hi st ory Th e o ffici a ls of Scotl and
.

Yard in London who enjoy a world wid e re puta

, ,
-

tion in thei r pro fes sion figur e in three of t h e narra

,

ti ve s . They work in t h e mo st pro sai c manner

i ma gi na bl e but th ey som ehow ma nage to get
,

re sults an d tha t is what co un t s in th e poli ce

,

world Gen era l Tr epoff is pre sent ed as a typi ca l

.

e x ampl e of t h e Ru ssi a n poli ce m a n c ol d r e mo rse

—
,

l e ss an d as i n evit able as fat e Chi ef Wi lh e

,
.
,

o f t h e Unit e d St a t e s S e cr e t S e rvi ce i s given a s t h e

,

most conspi cu ou s e xample of t h e int e lli gent ,

re so urceful a n d a ggre ss ive Am eri can d e tective of

,

t h e pre s ent d ay .

Th e stori e s spe a k f or the mse lves M ost of t he .

narra tive s a re lit era lly tru e All ar e ba se d on.

e st ablish e d f a ct s b ut in a f ew in st ance s t h e rea l

,

names o f t h e cu lprits have be en su ppre sse d as a

matt er of cha rity to their d e scend ants wh o a re
still i n t h e lan d o f t h e living With t h e e xception
.

o f n e ce ssa ry li ber ti e s i n c onst ru ction a n d a f ew

p ardonable embe llishm ents the se stori es ma y be

,

ac ce pte d as a seri es o f r ea l hum an do cu m ent s .

G B . .
 C ONT ENTS .

CHIE F WIL xIE AN D TH E G O LD C E R I F I C AT E S T .

V ID OC " AN D T HE LO C E S M IT H
’
S DAU G H T E R .

I II .

CO LO NE L FRA SE R AND T HE RA I LW AY MY ST E RY .

IV .

GE N E RA L TRB PO F F AND T H E RU SS I AN ST UDE N T S .

V .

IN S PE CT OR BYRN E S AND THE H AN IE R MURD E R .

VI .

RO BE RT PIN KE RT O N AND T H E G R E A T S A FE ROBBE RY .

C H IE F KE LL Y AND T HE DE SE RT E D H OU SE .

V III .

C H IE F BROO K S AND THE MA N WI T H THE L AzY E Y E S .

IX .

INS PE C TOR SW EE NE Y AND T H E ST O LE N GE M S . 1 43

(5)
6 C ONTENT S

C AP T AI N L I N D EN AN D TH E MOU N T A I N MY ST E RY .

XI .

C AP AI N DO N A G
T HY AND T H E WH I T E C A S E .

S U PE R I N T E ND E N T FROE ST AND THE VE R S A I LE RO G U E

T 1 9 2

T HE H E AD"UAR T E R S MA N AN D THE BUR G L ARY TH AT

X IV .

C APTA I N O BR I EN AN D
’
TH E MY S T E RY O F THE HALLW A Y . 2 24

XV .

C H IE F KELL Y A N D TH E OP I U M SMU GG LE R S .
 CHIEF WILKIE AN D T HE G OLD
C ERT IFICAT ES .

U oh n E Wi lki e Chi e f of t h e S e cr e t S ervi ce Di vi si on of th e

.
,

U ni t ed S ta tes Go ve r n me n t h a s n o t o n l y uphe l d t h e hi g h ,

t ra d i ti o n s Of t h
a t ve r y r e s p o n si bl p e os t , bu t h a s won S p ci l
e a

la ur e l s b y hi s pe r so n a l ucc s e ss in s e ver a l bi g c a se s . He w as
bor n i n E lgi n I lli n oi s
, ,
f ty or —
s e ve n ye a r s a go , a n d bf e or e a c

cep ti n g the h
h i p f th S c
ea d s c m d o vi b l e e r e t Se r vi e a e an en a e

re p ut a ti on w ki ng j u li t Whi l c
as a or ct d wi t h o rn a s . e on n e e

t h C hi c g wp p h m d p ci lt y f c i mi l i
'

e a o ne s a er s , e a e a s e a o r na n

v t i g ti
es awhi ch p b b ly p tly cc u t f hi u u u l
on ro a ar a o n s or s n s a

s ucc e ssd t c ti v
as a D u i g t h Sp i h A m ri
e e e . W r n e an s ~
e ca n ar

h e or
g i da n zep ci l m g cy f c f m t ch ck m t
a s e a e er en or e o en o e a e

Sp i h pi
an s i s t hi esc u t ry A
n c qu
s c h u o n . S a o n se en e, e s c

cee d ed i ti g t h i b st p i
n a rr e s n d d i vi g m t f t h
e r e s es a n r n os o e

o th 03 t h
er s i l f t h U i t d St t
e so o Th l m f e n e a es . e r ea na e o

t h cul p i t i n t h
e r t i v t h t f ll w h
e n a rr a b ch i t b l y e a o o s as ee n ar a

c ce l d un d
on a e li " er an a as .

NE M ond a y mo rning n o t ma ny yea rs ,

ago a sma rtly dre sse d man stroll ed

,
—

d own lowe r Bro a dwa y a n d entere d

in th e h ear t distri ct of New York

of t h e fin a nc i a l .

He was wha t is known t o th e pa trons of t he tur f

as a bookm a ke r a n d h e h a d ca ll ed a t t h e ba n k
,

f or the pu rpose of sec uring a roll of ba nk note s -

t ha t h e lef t ther e o n t h e pre viou s S a tur da y night

(9 )
IO CH IE F WI L KI E AND

f or sa fe kee ping It w as promptly ha nd e d to

-
.

him a roll as bi g as b oth of hi s fists He co u nt e d

, .

it over ra pidly to s ee tha t t h e a mount w as correct

a n d when h e got n e a r t h e e n d o f t h e roll p a u s e d ,

long an d looked e a rn e stly at a on e hundre d dollar -

g old c e rti fi ca t e w hi c h la y th e r e c o n s pi cu o u sly

among t h e b ills o f sm a ll er d e n omi n a tions He .

”
c onti n u e d his st u d y of t h e ye llow back f or a
c onsid er abl e p e riod a n d fin ally thru stin g t h e
,

ba l an ce o f t h e bills i n his p ant a loon s poc ket

’

wa lke d over to t h e ca shi er a n d han d ed him t h e bill .

“
What s t h e m att er with this n ot e ? h e a sked
’
.

Th e bank o ffici a l look ed a t it ca su a lly a n d

han d e d it back with a smile .

“ ”
Nothing h e a nsw e re d
,
e x ce pt t ha t i t s a
,
’

c o unt e rf e it .

Th e bookm a ke r ga sp e d with a sto n i shm e n t .

He w en t over his roll a n d f o u n d thre e or f ou r more

note s of t h e s a me ki n d Tha t mornin g h e n ot i fie d
.

hi s f ellow bookm a k e rs a n d bef or e tw e n ty f o u r

,
—

hours h a d p a sse d thirty o r f orty of t h e co unt er

,

f e it n ot e s h a d be en lo cat e d in New York City .

S ample s w ere imm e di at ely secu re d by t h e a ut h ori

ti es an d f orw a rd e d to John E Wilki e th e C hi ef
.
,

o f t h e S ec ret S e rvi c e Division of t h e U n it e d

St ate s Trea s u ry D e p ar tmen t That n i ght urgent
.

p ubli c bu sin e s s comp elle d Chi ef Wi lki e to g o to

 THE GOLD CE RT IFI CAT E S I

Bufi alo . mo rni ng whi le h e was

Th e f ollowing ,

se a te d in t h e o ffi ce Of th e Unit e d St ate s Distri ct

Attorne y in that city a man f rom t h e Kn icker
,

bocke r rac e track e n t e re d t h e room a n d S howe d

t h e Distri ct Attorn e y a hu ndre d doll a r c o u n t e rf e it -

note tha t h a d be en give n him o n t h e tra ck t h e

previo u s d ay Wilki e be gan to do some hard
.

thinki ng Th e not e w a s a comp ani on o f tho se

.

that h a d be en loca t e d in New York C ity It .

loo ked ve ry mu ch a s i f there h a d b e en a con spira cy

to circu lat e the se hundre d dolla r n ot e s s i m ulta -

n e ous ly a t t h e ra c e track s in a ll of t h e l a rge c iti e s

o f t h e U ni t e d St a t e s .

The Chi e f dropp e d t h e bu sine s s in ha nd a n d

imm ed i at ely t u rne d hi s att en tion to t h e n ew
d evelopme nt s in th e hu ndre d dolla r cou nte rf eits -
.

Te legram s w e re s ent t o t h e a gen ts of t h e secret

servi ce instru cting the m t o visit t h e race tra cks
,

i n the ir vi ci ni ty a n d look o ut f or bo gu s b il ls .

The se instru ction s a ppli e d p a rticula rly to C i n

ci nn a t i
,
Louisville M emphis New Orlea ns a n d
, ,

St Loui s
. .

At St Lo u i s C a pta in John M urphy t h e s ecre t

.
, ,

se rvi ce a gent in c harge of tha t d i stri ct w ent t o ,

t h e D e la w a re race trac k an d post e d t h e b ook

kee pe rs to look o ut f o r an y on e-hundre d doll ar bills -

tha t mi ght be o ff e re d them Agents of t h e s e rvice

.
1 2 C HI E F WI L KI E AND

we re posted i n va rio us p ar ts Of t h e trac k and it ,

wa s a greed tha t i f a n y o f th e se c e rtifica tes were

offered by a n y o f t h e p atrons th e bookma ke rs
s ho u ld a t o n c e gi ve t h e sec re t se r vi ce agent s a

pr e a rrang ed si gn a l In le s s tha n two ho u rs on e

.

Of t h e a g en ts r ec e i ve d a Si gna l a n d hu rri e d to t he

b ooth occ u p i ed b y t h e b ookma k er He ma de a . .

ca ref u l e xa mi na tio n o f t he b ill tha t h a d bee n given

to t h e booki e a n d f o un d tha t it w as o n e of t h e
c o u nt e rf e i t s
. Th e a g ents w e re then poste d at spot s
whe re th ey co uld se e th e pa trons of t h e tra ck in
"
th e act o f ca shin g i n -
the ir winn i ngs Th e ma n .

who had put u p t h e on e hundre d dolla r bill ma d e

- -

hi s be t on t h e f a vorite an d h e ca me ou t a w inner
,
.

h e was imm edi at ely pla c ed un d er su rve i llance .

The re w as n othing abo u t t h e man to a ttract

pa rti cu la r a tt ention He was nea tly but pla inl y
.

dre sse d a n d bore a ll o f t he ou twa rd indi ca ti ons of

,

a pr ospe rou s bu s i ne s s man Af ter rece iving hi s

wi nni n gs h e walke d i nt o th e r ear of t h e gr an d
sta nd a n d ma king a roll o ut Of t h e mo n ey h e h a d
,

j ust rec e i ved pla ce d it in hi s trou sers poc ke t

,
’
.

Then h e t ook o ut of hi s ve st

secret se rvi ce m a n wh o was

,
at hi s ver y heels ,

ma d e a t wo—d o lla r be t on t he sa me h or se . The

 T HE GO L D CERT IFI C ATE S 1 3

as so w as ta ken into cu stod y

he d i d .

He w as ma rch ed to th e club hou se an d searc hed

- .

A whit e en ve lope was f ou nd in hi s po cket ,

dolla r co un terf e it bill s He sa id hi s n am e w as

.

Robe rt Brow n e t h e propri etor of an e xt ens ive

,

Rhod e Isl a n d He w a s pe rf ectly can did in hi s

.

ex pla n a tio n s He s a id tha t h e h ad be e n visi t i n g

.

th e F a i r a n d w as a gu e st a t t h e So u the rn Hotel ,

a n d tha t h e wo u ld be v e ry g la d to r ef e r t h e O ffi ce rs

to a n y bank in th e C ity of Provi d ence f or t h e pur

p os e Of e st a b lishing his mor a l a n d fin a n c i a l st a n d
i ng . Nothi n g a pp a ren tly cou ld be more stra i ght
, ,

f orwa rd He was pla c ed un d e r a rrest how eve r

.
, ,

na tion o f hi s room a t t h e Sou the rn Hot el . There

the y f o un d a suit ca s e co n tai ni ng
-
in

h ow h e ca m e t o be in po sse ssion of th e c ou n t e rf e i t
mo n ey . He sa id tha t on th e previou s a f te rn oon
h e had g on e to t h e Uni o n Sta tio n f o r t h e m
p p os
e

va lida te d As h e ca m e out Of t h e ticket ag en t s

.
’

Office t h e e l ectri c li ghts w e re su dd enly tu rn e d on

,

i n th e wai t i n g r oo m a n d he sa w in th e co rner on
,
I4 CH I E F WI L KI E AND

the floo r a long white envelope He pi cked it up

,
.

an d f ound tha t it c ont a ine d thre e thou san d

d ollars in on e hundred dolla r bills He i mm ed i
- -
.

a t e ly w ent to t h e o ffi c e o f o n e of t h e loca l n ew s

p a pe rs a n d insert ed an a dverti se ment t elling of

his di scovery a n d Off ering to re store t h e money to
,

it s l awful owner This p a rt Of hi s sto ry was

.

verifie d by t h e littl e id entifica tion check whi ch

”
is given to small a d p a trons by t h e bi g d aily
newsp a p ers In a d d ition to this the re was a
.

c lipping f rom t h e p a p e r cont ai ning a c opy o f t h e

ad ve rtis eme nt whi ch r e a d as f ollows

FOU ND : In th e U ni on S ta t i o n la te
, ye s te r d a y a ft
e r n o on ,

a su m of m o n ey b
i n a nk -n o t e s , i wh ch w
o n er m a y h a ve a ft er

pr o vi n g p p
ro er t y, b y a i
y g n pplto X -
4 3 , t i s o ffi h
e c .

Browne w as pe rf e ctly coo l an d s elf pos se ssed at -

eve ry st a ge Of t h e i n qu iry a n d p e rsist e d in hi s

story in a m ann er tha t convince d m an y of t he

Ofii ci als tha t h e w as t e lling t h e tru th An inquiry .

w a s imm e d i a t ely i n stit ut e d at Provid ence an d ,

this v e ri fied eve ry f e ature of hi s sto r y It was .

shown that h e h a d a hi gh st andin g the re in so ci al ,

bu si n e ss a n d re li g io u s circles a n d th ere was a

, ,

g r e a t d e a l o f hon e st r e s e ntm en t amo n g hi s f ri e n ds

“
an d a sso c i a t e s ove r wha t th e y t e rm e d t h e a wf u l
”
blu n d er o f t h e poli c e i n a tt e mpting to a sso ci a t e
Robe r t Brow n e with t h e cri me o f p a ssing co unte r
 THE GOLD CE RT IFI CAT E S 1 5

f ei t money To such an ext en t did this f eel ing

.

p r e v a i l tha t a nu mbe r of his f ri e n ds g o t to g e th er

an d se le ct e d a re pre se nt a tive c itiz e n wh o was

d e le ga t ed to go t o St Louis f or t h e pu rpose o f
.

ent e ri n g bai l e mploying c o u n se l a n d doing wha t

, ,

eve r e l se mi ght be d e e m e d n ec e s sa ry t o prot ect

t h e ri g hts o f M r Browne
-
. For t en lo n g d a ys t h e
.

s e cr e t s e rvi ce o ff i c i a l s a n d t h e a u thoriti e s of St .

Lo u is ma d e e ve ry po ssible a tt e mpt to disprove o r

e v en to sh a k e t he story tol d by Robe rt Browne but ,

without an y practi ca l re sult s Un d e r t h e c ircu m

.

st ance s i t re ally seemed that it wo uld be ne ce s sary

,

t o re lea se him f or w a nt of le ga l evid enc e .

Then John E Wilki e w h o h ad been d i recting

.
,

th e movem ents o f his subordi n a t e s by wire ,

d et e rmine d to ta ke hold of t h e ca se in p e rson .

He imm e d i at ely took a trai n f or St Lou is a n d.

a f t e r a n umbe r of int e r vi e w s with his a sso c i a t es

in tha t city began to c on sid er how to reach t h e

,

W ea k e st l i nk in t h e strong cha in of prob ability

with whi ch M r Brown e h a d su rroun d e d himself
. .

On e of t h e ea rli e st mov em en ts m a d e in t h e inves ti

g a t i on wa s to dis c ove r t h e e x a ct ho ur a t w hi c h t h e

e l e ctri c li ghts w e r e tu rne d on in t h e U ni on St ation .

Th e e nginee r of t h e e le ctri c pl an t wa s c onsulte d

an d hi s rec ords show e d th a t o n this p a rti cu l a r d a t e

th e Switch whi ch put t h e lig hts into ope ra tio n h a d

I 6 C HI E F WI L KI E AND

be en tu rne d a t Wi lki e n ext s en t to the '

”
newsp a per offi ce whi c h h ad printe d t h e f o un d ad
an d re qu e st e d a r e po rt u pon t h e e xa ct tim e a t

whi ch t h e a d ve rtise me nt w as a cce pt e d Th e .

cl e rk who h a d re ce ive d t h e n oti ce w as fina lly

lo ca te d a n d h e remembe re d distin ctly tha t h e h ad

,

stopped work on tha t af te rnoon a t five o cloc k ; ’

”
th e
“
ad whi ch h e h a d re ce ive d was t h e fif th or
Sixth a bo ve t h e la st o n e a n d ac cordin g to his own
,

c alc u l a tio n it mu st h ave be e n ha n d e d in a t ha lf

p a st f our O cloc k Thi s poin t ed to a d i scre p ancy

’
.

in Browne s sta t ement of on e hour an d t en

’

It w a s im porta nt It was t h e thin e nt e ring

.

w e dge whi ch mi g ht prod u ce g reat resu lts .

On e o f t h e si gn ifi ca nt disc ove ri e s among

Brow n e s eff ec ts w as a n umbe r of pro gram s O f race s
’

a t Gra ves en d a n d t wo o r thr ee o f t h e ea ste rn

t racks n ot to sp ea k o f o ne p a rti cu la r pro gram

,

which conta ine d t h e en tri e s o f t h e ra ce s where t h e

firs t bookma k e r h a d rece ive d t h e On e hundred -

d ollar bill whi ch h e d e posit ed with his roll in t h e

B ro adwa y Tru st C ompany Browne ca lmly ad .

mi tte d tha t h e h a d a tt en de d all o f the se ra ce s ;

tha t h e wa s a lo ver of horse flesh an d tha t h e occa
,

s i on a lly m a d e sma ll w a g e rs o n t h e r es ults but h e

,

d en i ed po s i tive ly ha ving pa s se d an y o f t h e othe r

 THE GOL D CERT IFI CAT E S 1 7

on e hund re d dolla r bills

- and sa id tha t he had
-
,

n e v er ha d th e m in his poss ession u n til h e f o und t h e

whi te enve lope at t h e Uni on Sta tion in St Lou is . .

Wilki e d i d some ve ry se vere thin king at th i s st age

‘

of t he g ame a n d o ut of it all ca m e t h e theory tha t

,

i f Brown e wa s gu ilty he mi ght ha ve u se d Simila r ,

easte rn tra ck s Th e Chi ef the r eu pon t elegra phed

.

Ne w Yor k a n d ord e re d tha t a ca re fu l sea r ch be

ma de of t h e file s of all t he New Yor k new sp a pe rs

It wa s li ke sea rc hing f or th e nee dle in t h e prover

bi al ha yst a ck bu t it b ore spee dy f ru it f or i n t h e
, ,

New York H e ra ld o f May a 4th t h e s ear che rs

“
,

di sco ver e d this a dve rti se me n t :

FO U ND : At th el St ti Gr a n d
l t y t d y C e n tr a a on , a e es er a

aft e r n o o n, um
a s f m y in b k t wh i ch wn er m y
o on e an -n o es o a

h v a e a ft er p vi g p p t y by pplyi n g to B 3 4 H a ld
ro n ro er ,
a -
,
er

Ofii c e .

It is hardly nece ssa ry to sa y tha t by this time

Mr Wilkie had severa l spe ci m ens of Browne s
.
’

“ ”
ha nd writing Aft er t h e a d wa s loca t ed in t h e
.

”
Hera l d t h e o ri ginal copy wa s f oun d in t h e rec
,

ord s Of t he Offi ce an d it was in t h e ha ndwriting

of Robe rt Browne .

Th e Gove rnm ent wa s now in pos se ss ion of

sum c i en t e vid en ce t o c on vi ct Bro wne bo th of ,
I 8 CH I E F WI L KI E AND
p as sing an d h avin g in h i s posse ssion c ount e rf e it
mo n ey but t h e a uthorit i e s d i d n ot kn ow whe re t h e
’

pl at e s w ere a n d how t h e mo n ey h a d been print ed

,
.

Th e grea t bi g probl em w a s to lo ca te t h e pla n t to ,

pull it u p by t h e roots a n d eff e ctu a lly stop t h e ,

c ir cu la tio n of the s e spu riou s n ote s Browne .

mi ght have conf e d e ra t e s a n d his tri a l a n d convi o

tion whil e impo r ta n t i n itself would be a ve ry
, ,

i n complet e sa tisf action f or t h e Gove rnment .

On e morni n g a ft e r t h e c a se h a d b ee n pen ding f or

m an y We eks a n d a ft er Wi lki e h a d a ll of t he f act s
,

in his posse ssion Brown e wa s brought to t he ,

Office of t h e S ecre t S ervi ce Division i n St Lo uis .

,

a n d M r Wilki e pla c ing his prisone r u n d er p a role

.
, ,

i n vit e d hi m to go out an d t ake a bite to eat with

him Th e pri soner h a d a lrea dy be gun to f ee l t h e
.

e ff e cts o f h i s c onfin em ent a n d h e w a s d e li g ht e d to

obta in eve n t empora ry li be rty a n d t h e sa t i sf a c ,

tion of a good me al a t a fir st cl ass hot el -

.

Th e tw o m en s a t dow n to gethe r a n d Browne ,

w as giv e n a b re a k f a st th a t wo u ld h a ve d e lig hte d

t h e p a l a t e a n d w a rm e d t h e h e a rt o f t h e most
, ,

c o n firm e d e p i cu r e It w a s topp ed o ff with a fin e

.

H av a n a c i ga r an d then thi s f orm a l i ty h aving

, ,

b ee n d i spos e d o f M r Wilki e pro c ee d e d to g iv e

,
.

“
Brow n e t h e thi rd d egree Bu t this third
”
d egree ,
s o ca ll e d di ff ere d a s wi d ely from t he
-
,
 THE GOLD CE RT IFI CAT E S I 9

“
Brown e ,
said Wi l ki e , y o u c
r i ct i on i s
on v as cer tai n
as t h at t he su n is s hi n i ng t hi s morn i ng .
”
20 CH I E F WI L KI E AND

popu la r con ceptio n of t h e op e ra tion as t h e d ay

d i ff ers f r om t h e ni g ht To begin with t h e tw o
.
,

pri n ci p a ls Sat down a s m an to m an a n d n ot in t h e ,

re la tion o f poli c em a n to priso n er Wilki e then .

,

as n ow was f a r r emove d f rom t h e typ e o f d e t e c

,

t i ve so of t en f ound u pon t h e st a ge a n d i n t h e pa ges

o f t h e rom a n ce r He d i d n ot th en a n d doe s n ot
.
—

now look like a d etec tive a ct like a d et e ctive

—
, ,

n or ta lk li k e a d e tec ti ve On t h e c ontra ry h e
.
,

pres en t e d t h e o utwa rd a spec t of a w ell bred c ollege -

ma n ; mod e st man ne red an d with a n int ellect f ar

-
,

a b o ve th e a v e ra ge He was qui e t an d se lf cen

.
-

t ai n e d a n d at no tim e d u rin g th e two h ours the y

,

re ma ined to gethe r w as hi s voice rai se d above a -

c onvers atio n a l to n e A c los e ob serve r tho ugh

.

mi ght have n oti c e d tha t t hi s gen tle man ly pe rson

h a d a positiv e n ot e i n his v oi ce a nd an un u su a l
a l e rt n e ss i n his m a nn er Browne o n his pa rt
.
, ,

look e d like a prosp e rou s bu si ne ss m a n engage d

i n t h e d i s cu ssio n o f som e c on t ra ct a ff ecti n g his
m erca ntil e i n t ere sts .

“
Browne sa id Wilki e yo u r co n vi ction is as
, ,

"
c e r t a i n as tha t t h e su n is shi ni ng t hi s morni n g .

”
Yo u s e em positive w as t h e rejoi n de r
, .

”
Wha t ha ve you got to ba s e you r opini on u po n ?
Th e Ch i ef o f t h e S ec re t Se rvi c e th en c lea rly a n d
ca ref u lly o u tli n e d t h e ca s e o f t h e Gov e rn ment ,
 THE GO LD C E RT IFI CAT E S 21

ma king it as st rong as h e f e lt j us t i fie d in do i ng

Browne yo ur on ly ho pe o f rece ivi ng the sli ght

,

es t c onsid era tion is t o a ssist t h e Go ve rnm e nt in

.

t hi s ca se r a the r tha n r e sist it .

Wi lki e f ollowe d thi s up by pla usibl e a rgume nt

eno ug h to per mit his wo r d s to sin k in to th e ma n s ’

t he Un ite d Sta tes Gove rnment knew by e xpe rienc e

tha t the re is no thi ng in thi s world more di fficu lt
fo r a man to d o tha n to a dmit to a no the r ma n tha t
h e ha s been gu ilty o f wrong doin g He Sa w the re .
,

f ore t h e n ecessity Of givi ng Browne a n opport uni ty

,

t io n, inuen do by a ppe a ling to t he ma n s ’

by ,

pri de by ple a ding with hi s pa triotic i ns tinc t an d

, ,

at la st by la y
, i ng sie ge t o hi s sen se o f j us tice He .

sa i d in sub st a n ce
Browne the se no te s are works of a r t a n d it i s
, ,

should ha ve in a momen t of wea kne s s permi tt e d

, ,

y o u rse lf to co m m i t s u c h a fla g r a nt w r o n g g a a in s t
th e publi c I a m sure f rom wha t I ha ve seen of
.
,

y o u ,th a t whil e y o u m a d e t h e c o un t er f e i t s y o u ,

di d n ot o ri gina lly intend t o d o SO I f ee l tha t i n .

,
22 CH I E F WI L KI E AND

vi ew Of your re co gni z ed ability a n d t h e f act that

,

u a r e a st u d e n t a n d e n thu s i a st in e ngr a ving

y o ,

u h a v e b e en s e iz e d with a d es ir e to prove how

y o

o ld r prod u ce t h e a lmost f a u ltl e ss work o f

y o u c u e

t h e B u rea u o f E n gra vin g an d P r intin g a c la ss —

of work tha t will a lwa y s e x cit e t h e e nvy a n d

ad mira tio n o f ski ll e d e ngr a v e rs tha t filled with

—

t his d e sire you b eg a n work in a n expe rim en ta l

,

W a y ; th at you put it u n d er t h e ca m era a n d re pro ,

d u ce d it to s ee i f yo u c o u ld b ri n g f orth a b i t o f
work that wo uld riva l t h e u nriva lle d prod u ction
Of t h e Gove rnm en t . Then when this c rea tion
,

beca m e a f a ct i n st e a d o f a visio n you w e re s e iz e d

,

with a n ove rwhelming d esire to s ee i f you co uld

a ct u a lly c ir cu l a t e it as g en u i n e mo n e y .

Brown e walked down t he m en ta l p athwa y

whi ch h a d been SO ca ref u lly provi d e d f or hi m by
C hi ef Wilki e as r esistl e ssly a s a chi ld an d h e ,

a dmi tt e d wi tho u t a n y r e se rva tio n s wha t e ve r tha t ,

h e h a d m an uf a ctu re d t h e n ot e s H avin g ma d e
.

this a dmission it was not d i fficu lt to in d u ce him

,

to ma ke a complet e dis closu re .

You ce rt ainly bro ught more tha n the se thi rty

notes to St Lo uis sa id t h e d et e ct ive
.
,
.

”
Oh ye s
, ,
re spo n d e d t h e co unte rf eite r .

”
Where a r e they now ?

At t h e Union Sta tion .

 THE GOLD CERTIFI CAT E S 23

'

In wh at part of t h e st ation ?
”
In t h e ba ggage room .

”
Where i s t h e check ?

I h av n t g ot it It s down st a irs in
’ ’
.
’
the po st
Office .

Wilki e looke d t h e a sto n ishmen t h e f e lt B ef ore .

h e h ad t i m e to put his tho ughts i n to word s

Bro wne sa id :
Aft er in s erting t h e a dve rt i s ement in t h e p a pe r ,

I put tw en ty six thou s a n d dolla rs in a ha nd bag

- -
,

tog ether with s eve ra l bottle s of che mi ca ls whi ch

I u se t o age t h e n ot e s a rti fic ia lly Then I pla ced .

t h e c he c k whi c h I re c e ive d f or t h e h a n d ba g in a n -
.

env e lop e a ddre ss e d to mys e lf u nd e r a n a ss u me d

,

nam e an d dire ct e d to t h e g eneral d elive ry o ff ice

,
i

o f t h e post o ffice -
.

It was evid en t tha t Browne h a d ca refull y

plann ed e ven t h e minute st d et a il of his g rea t
c o un t e rf e itin g s che m e By thi s m e thod o f con
.

ealing t h e c h e c k f o r t h e h a n d b a g h e l ef t t h e
p
-
,

co un t e rf e it n ot e s tot ally dis a sso c i a t e d with hi m

s elf i n an y way a n d still a t th e s am e time W ithi n ,

a m
,

omen t s rea ch A s e cre t se rvi ce a gen t wa s

’
.

s en t down to th e postma st e r obta in ed t h e l ett e r ,

c on t a ining t h e c he c k took tha t to th e Union

,

Sta tion an d rec e ive d t h e han d bag whi ch h e

,
-

brou ght t o C hi ef Wilki e Its con t en ts ve ri fie d .

24 CH IE F WI L KI E AND

th e st at emen t m a d e by i ts owne r Th e Chi ef

.

then took u p t h e qu estion Of t h e pla t e s .

“ ”
Wh ere a r e t h e plat e s ? h e inqu ir e d .

In a stora ge w a re hou se i n Provid en c e w as ,

t h e r e ply .

He then a dmi tte d tha t n o On e i n his bu sine ss

_

e st a bli shm e n t w as a wa re tha t h e kn e w a n thing

y
wha t eve r o f t h e me c ha ni cal p a rt o f t h e work but ,

t he m a n with a cunn i ng a lmos t be yo n d be li ef

, ,

ha d pe rf e c te d hi mse lf i n t h e a rt o f e tching Aft er .

tha t h e pu rc ha se d a pre ss i n New York C ity an d

ha d it d e liver e d in t h e mi ddl e o f t h e n i g ht to a

w orked an d xp e rim ent ed ni ght a f t er ni ght un ti l

e

h e w a s fin a lly able t o pr od u c e t h e pe rf ec ted one

hun dre d dollar bi ll co u nt e rf e its The n t h e pres s
—
.

w as d i sm a n tl e d a n d wi th t h e pla te s pla ced in a

, ,

w a rehou s e in Provi d ence It was stor ed un d er an

.

ass u me d na me .

“ ”
Whe re is t h e rec eipt ? a sked Wilki e .

It i s p a st e d bet ween two sheet s o f pa pe r tha t

ba cks u p a photogra ph on my d esk i n my O ffi ce in

imm ed ia tely ca lle d u p Provid ence by

Th e Chi ef
‘

te leg raph Th e loca l agen t was inst r ucted to go to

.

Brow ne s off ice an d fin d t h e rece ipt f or t h e press

’
.

He did so It w as be tw ee n t he two sh eet s of pa per

.
 THE GOLD C E RTIFICATE S 25

on the photogra ph o n hi s d e sk Imm ed iate .

a ct io n was ta k en an d a f t e r a n inc re di bl y shor t

,

sp ace of tim e t h e plat e s w ere i n St Loui s i n

,
.

posse ss ion o f C hief Wilki e On the follo wi ng

.

d ay Robe r t Browne was ta ke n into co u rt He.

money a n d p as si ng it on th e p ub li c He w as .

g i ve n fif t ee n yea rs o n ea c h of t h e two indic tme nts ,

t he sen t ence t o run c on cu rrently . Thi s w as s u b

s e quently red u ce d to e ig ht yea rs Thu s en d e d
.

one of t he mos t impo r tant c o un ter fei t m g sc h em e s

eve r d i sc ov er e d a n d thw a rte d by t h e m a rve lou sly

em c i en t ma chi nery of th e Secr e t Se rvi ce Divi s ion

 VI D OC " L O C KS M
AND T HE I T H S ’

DAUG HT ER .

[E ug Fr coi Vi d cq wh ha b
en e an s c ll d t h Fa ther
o ,
o s ee n a e e

o f D t cti ve e w br tA
es , J u ly 3 7 7 5 t h
as o n a f rr a s , 2 , 1 ,
e so n o a

b k a er H b c m in tu
. e e a c b t wi t h t v li g ci cu
e rn a n a r o a a ra e n r s,

a sold i i t h F ch my v g b d f g
er n e r en d ar ,
a a a on , a or er an a

c vi ct H w
on . t te th g ll y f
as i g ht y
se n b t o e a e s or e ea r s u

es ac pd e d j i d
an b d f hi ghw ym
o ne a H tu d an o a en . e rne

St t a e s e vi d
’
c m f hi c mp i
en e o n so d i 8 w
e o s o an o ns a n n 1 12 as

mad c hi f f t h c t p li c f P i x mpli fyi g t h

e e o e se r e o e o ar s, e e n e

ph r a se S t
“
t hi f t
e c t c h t hi f
a It i
e oly f i t y a a e . s on a r o sa

th t th a ugg t i c v y d b y t h p v b i u t
e s es on on f
e e e ro er s n r u e so ar

as p f i l d t c ti v g
r o e ss o na lly e ec c d Wh i l es e n er a ar e on er n e . e a

c t i d g
er a n f i t i m cy m u t
e r ee o c i l y xi t b tw
n a s ne e s sa r e s e een

c imi l d t h d t c t
r n a s an f c im it ie m tt
e e f i mp l
or s o r e, s a a er o s e

j u t i
s c t t t th t th m
e o s a e t th h d f th b u
a e u f en a e ea o e r ea s o

c ri m i l i v ti g t i i A m i c
na n es d i
a th
on c u ti b n er a an n o er o n r es ea r

a re p ut t i f p a on l i t g i t y wh i ch i
or e r so na f th i m t n e r s one o e r os

v l u bl
a a t
e a sseVi d q s chi f f t h P i i p l i c w
. oc , as e o e ar s a n o e , as

re m k b ly ucc ful b t fi lly l t h i p l c i 8 5 H

ar a s e ss u na os s a e n 1 2 . e

o p d p i v t d t ct i v g cy d l p ub li h d f u
en e a r a e e e e a en an a so s e o r

v l um
o f hi s m em i r
es o He d i ed i n p vert y i o 8
s . o n 1

HENRY t h e Pref ect o f t h e P a ris ,

Po li ce sa t a t his d e sk in hi s priva t e ,

o ffice his f a ce a pi ct u re o f p e rple xity ,

.

He pi ck e d u p a p a p er tha t la y be
f ore hi m a n d r e a d it c a r e fu lly f or t h e t hi rd tim e .

It wa s a n o ffi ci a l re po r t o f a d e sp e ra t e robbe ry
that h a d o ccu rre d i n t h e he a rt o f t h e Fre n c h
(2 6)
 THE L OC KS M ITH S DA UG HT ER ’
2 7

ca pi tal th e ni g ht bef ore M oreove r it was o n e o f .

ma n y simila r re ports The re h a d be en a n e pi .

d emi c of ro bbe ri e s an d t h e poli c e s ee me d pow e r

,

less t o stop them M H e nry summone d Mf Be r

\ . .

ta ux f am ed as a c ross e xa mi ne r o f cr imi na ls a n d
,
-
,

M P a risot t h e governor o f priso n s an d t h e three

.
, ,

m en t a lked lon g a n d e a rne stly but withou t c oming

t o a n y c on cl u si o n Pres en t ly a look of gr a t i fica
.

tion ove rspre a d t h e c ou n ten a n c e of M He nry

'

. .

He tu rn e d to his c ollea gu e s ,

”
Gen tle men I ha ve it ,
.

Wha t is it ? the y calle d i n chorus

)

“
Be s e at e d h e r e spo n d e d
,
a n d w a it ,
.

They d i d as they w ere bi d an d t h e Pref e ct

tou che d a button A me sse nge r re spo n d e d. .

“
Te ll Vidoc q to com e he re at once s ai d M ,
.

H enr y .

In a f ew mi n u te s t h e door op ene d an d a strong

w ell built m an with squ a re shou ld ers shamble d
-

into t h e room He h a d gra y hair a thi ck nose

.
, ,

blu e eye s a smooth f a ce a n d a p e rpe tu a l smi le

, .

He gl an c e d abo u t him i n a f u rti ve w a y an d

rea li z e d tha t h e wa s i n t h e pre se n ce o f t h e t ri um
virat e o f t al en t tha t rul e d t h e und e r world of -

P a ris He squ a re d hi ms e lf a s a m an wou ld wh o

.
'

was pr ep a ri n g to b e on t h e d e f en si ve B ut t h e .

first words of t h e Pr e f ec t re a ssu r e d hi m .

2 8 vm oco AND THE

Vido cq , we nee d yo ur a ssi sta nce .

Th e Pref ect ha n d e d hi m t h e re por t .

“
Ta k e tha t an d rea d i t ca ref ully It . is o ne of

wan t yo u to ca pt ure thi s gan g M y re gu la r poli c e .

ha ve f a i le d They b ri ng m e onl y e xcus e s ; I

.

”
wish yo u t o b ring m e th e p r ison e rs .

Vi do c q s mi l e d tha t e ve rla st ing smi le a n d bowe d

a gai n .

It sha ll be a s you wi sh M H enr y ,

. .

He le f t t h e room with three ba tt eri es of sha r p

e yes le v e l e d a t hi m .

M Be rt a ux shrug ged hi s should e rs

. .

“
A qu ac k do ctor se nt to ca ptu re burg la rs .

M P a risot spre a d o u t hi s ha n ds in di sgu st

. .

“
A show man s c lown a pe tty thief on t h e
’

d et ec ti ve f orce .

M Henry smile d bla n dly

. .

Ge n tl eme n you a re not alone in you r di sa p

,

pro va l Do yo u se e the se pa pe rs ?
. poin ting —

“
to a hi g h p i le o n th e si de o f hi s de sk thes e —

ar e a ll prote sts a n d complai n ts a gai nst t he

e mploym e n t o f Vid oc q Some a r e f rom ho nes t
.

me n ; some f rom thi eve s Bu t he shall ha ve hi s

.

c ha n ce His p a st i s behi nd hi m ; his f uture is

.
 L OC KS M ITH S DA UG HT ER
’
29

i n hi s o wn ha nds . I sha ll j u d ge hi m solely by

”
re us lts .

Vi doc q spen t a ll morni n g in g oin g ove r t h e

reports tha t h ad be en pla ce d in hi s hands Af t er .

tha t h e retu rn e d to hi s lo d gi ngs an d throw ing ,

hi mse lf on t h e bed la y a wa k e a ll ni g ht d evi sing a

—

w as c omple te ly bloc ke d out in hi s mi nd —

n ot a

Th e first st e p w as to disca rd hi s own pe rsona lity

a n d ta ke u p tha t of a n othe r It wou ld ha ve to be.

a t hi ef Th e ho n or o f be ing imper sona t ed f e ll to on e

.

“
Ger ma in a li a s t h e C a pt a in
,
He wa s a f ugiti ve .

—
w ell i n t h e d a ys be fo re h e beca m e a d et ec tive
,
.

Ge rma in la d da rk bro wn hair ; tha t of Vido c q was

li g ht ; h e was thin Vidoc q w as sto ut ; hi s co m
,

plexi on w as sa llow tha t of Vido c q w as clea r But

, .

t h e res ou rce fu l d ete ctive ove rca me all of the se

o bs ta c le s Da ys wer e employe d i n pe rf ect ing t he
.

likenes s First h e att a ine d a se ven d a ys gr o wth

.
’

of bea r d Th en h e dyed hi s ha ir an d bea rd bla ck

. .

By t h e generou s use of whi t e w a lnu t liqu or be

a t ta in e d a mos t unhealt hy comple xion The .

or i g in a l w as a snu ff fiend Vidoc q garni shed hm

'

.
39 VID OC Q AND THE

u pper lip with a mixt u re o f co ff ee gro unds a n d gum

a rabi c . He ma d e blist e rs on his f e et by rubb ing in
a c omposition with whi c h h e wa s f a mili a r He.

ma de t h e ma rks of t h e f ett ers o n his a nkle s an d

dres sin g himse lf in a suitable ga rb was rea dy for
h i s en t e rpris e
.

Af t e r tha t h e be ca m e a re gu la r f re qu en te r o f t h e
thi eve s d en s of P a ris He dra nk chea p g i n
’
.
,

toss e d o ff ab sin the curs e d t h e poli ce show e d t h e

, ,

ma rks of t h e iron s on his leg s a n d a lto gethe r ma d e

hi ms elf a g en era l f avorit e Ni ght a ft e r ni g ht h e
.

visi t e d a ch ea p conce rt ha ll in t h e F aubo u rg St .

Ge rm a in whe re h e met most o f t h e disrepu table

cha ra ct e rs o f t h e Fr e n ch m etropolis . He be ca m e
ve ry f ri en dly with most of the m a n d m ad e them
drink hi s hea lth in s un dry gla s se s o f ba d wine .

Th e re sort w a s a verit a bl e cl ea ring hou s e f o r t h e

-
‘

g ossip o f t h e u nd e r world
-
A .m a n or a wom a n
“ ”
who h a d n ot s e rve d time w as ou t of p la ce in
that as s e mbla ge Ta lk of burgla ri e s p a st an d
.

prosp ective was as f ree a s rema rks con ce rni n g t h e

st at e of w ea ther V i do c q told of his e xp e ri ence s
.

with g rea t vividn e ss a n d with a d eg ree of exa gger

a ti o n th a t wo u ld h a ve won a m ed a l f rom t h e

Ana ni as C lub .

Among so many little thi eve s th e re was o n e bi g

t hi ef
. Hi s nam e w as C ons t a n ti n e a f o rmer ,
 LOC KS M ITH S DA UG HTER ’

3 I

pa t i on ,
ha d rea che d th e clo sing stages of c rim e
n ow

in hi s i ll spent life His c omp ani on s looke d u pon

-
.

hi m as a m an of e n te rpri se bold in e xecu ti on an d —

on all oc ca sions posse ssing t h e most u nb lu shi n g

e ff ront e ry Th e a t te n tion of t h e poli ce h a d be e n

.

di re ct e d to hi m more tha n once but they h a d neve r

been a ble to se cure t h e l ea st sc in tilla o f e vid e n ce
ag ain st t h e m an .

Vidoc q knowi ng thi s move d ca utiou sly He

, ,
.

knew tha t a mi s st e p mi ght mea n hi s own li f e f or ,

h e w as in t h e m i d st of d e spe ra t e cha ra ct e rs who

thoug ht n othi ng of mu rd e r He put on a sa d .

f ace bemo a ned hi s own f a t e an d be w ai le d t h e f act

, ,

tha t h e ha d no mea ns of re cou pi ng hi s f alle n f or

t une s He be came f ri en dly with on e of th e i nti
.

mat e s of C on st a ntine an d tha t worthy be ing pli e d

, ,

with li qu or gav e t h e d et e ctive f u ll p a rti cu la rs of

,

t h e habits o f th e bi g thi ef Th ey p assed t h e ni ght

.

together an d be f ore mo rni ng Vi do cq knew all

ab o u t t h e ha u nts o f C onst a ntine .

On t h e f ollowi ng d ay h e agai n m et hi s voluble

i nf orm ant i n t h e d ance ha ll on t h e F a u bo urg St .

Would you lik e to mee C on sta ntin e ? he

‘

a sk ed Vidoc q .

M ost a ssu redly " re pli ed t h e d e tective

”
.
3 2 VI DOC Q AND THE

They r e ma ine d i n conve rsa tion f or some

Pre s ently t h e doo r op en ed a n d a sma rt looki n g -

f ellow ca m e i n Vi d o c q s c omp anion plucke d at

’
.

Now yo ur ti me i f you wi sh t o spea k to Con

is
st a n t i n e
—
h e is here .

Th e d ete cti ve looke d up a n d sa w a nea tly

dr e sse d m an of thi rty with good bro a d shou l de rs .

H e wa s a bo u t five f eet s i x i n ch e s hi g h e xtre mely

,

g ood looking fin
,
e b lac k ha i r a n d re gu la r te et h .

Vido c q wa it e d o nly lo ng e n o ugh f or t he n ewcome r

t o be s ea te d wh en h e w en t u p t o hi m ca re le s sl y

Wo uld you kindly obli ge m e with a little

”
toba cco f rom your box ?
Th e f amo us thi ef looked t h e d e tective ove r
f rom h ea d to f oot be f ore replyi ng After an .

tobacc o bo x to Vidoc q Then h e sa i d a br upt ly

.

“ ”
You ha ve been i n th e a rmy ?

T h e d e t ective c ould ha ve f a ll e n t o th e floo r .

H ad all o f h i s ca re f u lly c o n tri ve d disgui se co unt e d

-

f o r n othi ng ? Di d Co ns ta ntine know wh o h e was ?

In a n y e ven t it wo uld se rv e hi s i nte rest to ans wer

Why ,
e
y ,s how d i d yo u know it ?
 L OC K S M ITH S DAUG HTER ’

33

S imply be ca u se no m an
ncea l it Once ca n c o .

in t h e ar hny yo u car ry t h e badge of it wi t h you

through li fe in yo u r wa lk i n you r shoul der s i n
, , ,

you r t a lk i n you r ma n n ers

,
.

Vidoc q la ughe d u pro a rio u sly a s i f h e c onsid ere d

thi s a g oo d joke a n d i n t h e c onf usion invit e d hi s
,

new f ou nd f r i en d t o t a ke a dri nk
- He a cce pted .
,

a n d in t he c ou rse of their c o n ve rsa tion t h e d e t ec

tive wa s d eli g hte d to fin d tha t t h e other h a d n ot

pen e t ra t e d hi s di sgu i se .

“
I like you fin a lly cri e d C on sta n ti n e a n d I
, ,

Tha t ni g ht Vi d o c q d i n e d with a p a rty of c ha rm

x

m g cra c ks men every on e of th e m n o te d in hi s

,

profe ssion C onst a n tin e wa s t h e chi e f , Joube rt

.

low ers Th e win e flowed f ree ly an d t h e be st o f

.

f ee ling preva ile d On e of t h e co mpa ny s aid

.

f ace tiou sly tha t h e h a d j u st c ome i n to a f ort u n e

.

a n d wa s c e lebra t ing t he ev ent As a ma tt e r of .

“
f a ct h e h a d
, c ra c k e d a cri b t h e ni ght be f ore
an d was sp e n ding pa rt of hi s ill g ott en w ealth ; -

Co ns ta nti n e ; tu rni n g to Vidoc q sa id : ,

”
H ow s you r n erve ?
’

Fin e .

Are you in f or a n a d ventu re ?

34 VI D OC Q AND THE

S ur ely with whom ?

,

With t h e lo cksmith s d a ught er ’

.

Vidoc q m a d e a g r im a ce as i f mo c kin g an d sa id ,

“
I don t be li eve I e ver ha d t h e honor o f t h e
’

lady s a c qu a int a nce

’
.

All ha nds l aughe d lou dly at thi s sally C on .

st a n t i n e pu t his ha nds down into hi s poc ke t a n d

prod u ced a bi g bra ss key He ha n d e d it g rav . e ly

to t h e d ete ctive ,

P e rmit me to p rese nt you to t h e minx .

Vido cq kee ping up t h e spirit of t h e thing

, ,

bow e d g ra vely a cknowl edging t h e introd uct ion

,

a n d inquir e d whe n h e wo u ld ha v e t h e plea sur e of

g oi n g o u t with t h e l a dy .

“
It mi ght be to ni g ht h e sa id grumbli ng ly
-
, ,

i f it w er e n ot f or tha t inf e rnal Vi doc q .

Th e d e t e ctive pri cke d u p his e a rs at t h e m ention

of his o wn na m e He pre s erve d t h e g ra vity of his
.

c oun t en an ce how ev e r as h e rem a rke d ca re le ss ly :

, ,

“
Oh I don t mind hi m i f I ca n k ee p clea r of t h e
’

inf ormers They t ell me P a ri s swa rms with t h e

.

pa ra site s .

“
Tha t s true
’
sa id C onstantine but i f yo u
, ,

ca n k eep Vido c q f rom gu essing a t yo ur bu s ines s ,

y o u a r e s a f e e n o u g h with m e A s f or th es e i.n

f orm ers I do n t f ea r th em
,
’
I can sme ll tho se.

be gga rs a s e a sily as a c row s cen ts pow d e r .

 L OC KS M ITH S DA UG HT ER
’

35

Well sa id Vido c q
,
I ca nnot bo a st of s o
,

much pen etra tion yet I thi nk too tha t f rom t h e

, , ,

f re qu en t d e sc ription I ha ve hea rd o f this Vido c q ,

hi s f ea tu re s a r e s o w ell eng ra ve d in my rec oll ec tion

tha t I should pretty soon rec o gni ze hi m i f I ca m e ,

God bless you "c ri e d C on sta ntine

”
sy ,
it i s ea

to perce ive you ar e a strange r to t h e va gabon d ;

j u st imagin e now that h e is n eve r to be seen twi ce
,

in t h e same d re ss ; tha t h e i s in t h e morning

pe rha p s j ust s uch another looking p erson as you ;
w ell t h e n ext hour so alt ere d tha t his ow n brother
,

co u l d n ot rec o gni z e him a n d by t h e ev eni ng,

I ,

d ef y an y man to remem be r eve r ha ving see n h i m

bef ore Only ye st e rd a y I m et him disgu is e d i n a
.
,

manner tha t wou ld have d ec e ive d an y eye but

mine but h e mu st be a d ee p hand i f h e g ets over
,

m e ; I know the se sneaks at t h e first gl ance a n d i f ,

my f ri en ds w ere as knowing a s my se lf hi s bu sine ss ,

wou ld ha ve been don e long a go

“
Nonsense c ri ed Vido c q
, e v e rybod y s a y s,

t h e s am e thing of him an d yet you s ee th e re is no

,

”
g e ttin g rid o f him .

C on st a n tin e was on hi s f ee t at onc e with an ,

o ath He cri e d out

.

To prove th at I can a ct a s w ell as ta lk i f you

' ,

will len d m e a helpin g han d this very eveni ng we ,

3 6 VI DOC Q A N D THE

will way la y hi m at hi s door an d I ll warrant we ll

,
’ ’

s ettl e t h e j ob so a s to k e e p him f rom g iving an y

,

”
o f us f u rth e r un ea si n e ss .

Vidoc q imme d i ate ly a greed an d was pla w d i n ,

t h e u niqu e posi tion o f goin g out w ith a pa rty of

thi eve s to w aylay h i mse lf The y a ctu a lly went
.

to t h e home o f t h e d et e ct i ve but as ma y be i ma g
, ,

i ne d h e d i d n o t a ppea r an d a f te r three h our s of

, ,

w aiting th ey g ave u p t h e vi gil in disgu st .

Ma ny d ays ha d p a sse d a n d still Vidoc q was with

o ut t h e spe c i fic e v i d en c e whi c h would e nab le hi m

t o pu t hi s han d o n t h e should e r of C onsta ntin e

a n d sa y
“
Thou a rt t h e ma n " Of on e t hi n g he
,
”

w as morally c e rta i n ; it was tha t t h e e rstwhi le

f en c ing ma ste r w as a t t h e h ea d o f a ba n d of re
—

so urce f ul an d un sc ru p ulou s thi eves On e nig ht .

,

af te r a j o lli fica t i on a t t h e d an ce ha ll t h e cris i s ,

ca m e .

“
F ri end sa id C on sta ntin e with a lee r d o
, ,

y ou f ee l lik e an a d ve n t u r e to ni g ht ? -

“ ”
With whom ? a ske d Vid oc q ?
With my la dy love th e loc ksmi th s d a ug h
- —
’
~

ter .

I ll join you with a ll my hea rt " excla ime d

“ ’ ”

t h e d e te ct ive in un d i sgu i sed s ince rity .

Th e pl ot wa s rev e a l ed with g rea t a ttention to

“ ”
d e ta ils Th e cr ac ksm en h ad bee n
. spotting
 L OC KS M ITH S DAUG HTER
’

37

th e ma ns i on of awea lthy banke r on on e of the

bouleva rds o f P a ri s Th rou gh t h e treac hery of a
.

h o use ma id wh o ha d be e n smitten with t h e charms

of C on st an ti ne th e g ang h a d be en provid ed with

th e ke y w hi ch wo uld a dmit th em into t he g a rd en

was r l n o t t o sa y a nyt hi ng whi ch would ex

ca e fu

pose him t o t h e re pro ach of ha ving ca u sed them

t o commit crime .

Mi dni ght is t h e hou r sa id C ons tan t ine an d

, ,

I wa nt eve ry man to d o his du ty .

Ther e w e re six in t h e pa rty includi n g Vidoc q

—
.

Ea ch o f t he crac ksm en w a s a ssi gne d to hi s pa rt in

a nd Joube rt was chi ef of sta ff Vido cq was t o be

.

lifted in to a ground floor w indow but t h e d et ec,

tive d e mu rred to this p ar ticular a s si gnm ent on t he

p l ea th a t h e w a s as y e t o nly a n o v i ce .

“ ”
He h as a w ea k stoma c h , snee re d Jou be rt ,

he will ne ve r ma ke a g ood c ra ck sma n .

Co ns ta ntine hotly re p elle d t h e insinua tion He.

p u t hi s h a n d o n V id oc q s
’
sho u ld e r a ff e c tiona t e ly

Whe n thi s boy ha s h a d a little more exper i

en ce he wi ll bea t yo u all in th e busi n e ss
,
.

Vidoc q smi led i n a si ckly way a t this un ex

38 VI DOC Q AND THE

p e ct e d , d ubi ou s compliment It seemed a

if , .

s ham e to d e c e i ve s u c h a bi g h e a rt e d sc oun d r el- .

But then bu si n e ss is bu s i n e ss an d it wa s too la te

, ,

t o t u rn ba ck n ow It was fin ally a rra ng e d tha t

.

Vidoc q sho u ld rem a in on t h e o utsid e of t h e ga rd en

wa ll a n d give t h e a la rm i f t h e poli ce shou ld come
in sig ht It was n ow withi n a n ho ur of t h e time
.

when they sho uld s ally f orth on the ir unla wful

mission .

“
C ome b oys c ri e d C o n st a ntin e
, a dri n k a ll ,

a roun d an d the n w e ll ge t down to bu si n e ss

’
.

On t h e pl ea of s ea rchi ng f or hi s h at an d coat
Vido c q con trive d to se p ara t e hims elf f rom t he
others f or a f ew minut es He wrote a hurri ed .

mess age on t he back of an old envelope an d fin d ing

a ge nd a rm e in t h e vi cinity o f t h e r e st a ur a nt d i s

p at ched him with t h e not e to t h e n ea re st Pref ec

t ur e . It was to t h e point It told of t h e pla c e of
.

ren d ezvo us a n d a dd e d
H v h lf
a e a d a m oz en
o th en p ot F i ght n t h e
n e s . r e

c rac km n b u t m k
e a t u ti l th y h v b
e n o a rr e s n d i ve n t o
e a e e en r

a p l c f fug
a e o re e .

When Vido c q retu rne d to t h e t able hi s un su s ,

p e c t i n g co nf e d e r a t e s w e re pr e p a ring to l ea v e .

“
Th eir fina l to ast w as S ucce ss dru nk st anding ,

an d in sil e nc e U n d er t h e e xhil arating influence

.

o f th eir liqu or th e y h a d sca rcely noti ce d t he

 L OC KS M ITH S DAUG HT ER ’

39

momen t a ry absen ce of t h e d et e ctive Once on t he .

outs i d e they hu rri e d a lon g ra pidly c hoosin g t h e ,

na rrow a n d l e ss f re qu ent e d thoro ughf a re s In .

ab o u t tw e n ty mi n u t e s th ey r e a ch e d the ir d e st i na

tion C on sta ntin e halt e d a n d p utting his ha n d

.
,

in his hip po cket pu lle d out a glist ening revolve r

, ,

whi ch h e e xa mine d ca ref ully Vido cq wa s not a .

cow a r d ly m a n but t h e r e sol ut e m a nn e r in whi c h

,

t h e chi ef thi ef s cru tiniz e d his w e a pon s e nt a c old

shiver down his s pinal c olu mn C on st antin e then .

g a th e r e d his m e n a b o u t him a n d d i stri b u t e d a h a lf

d oz en bla ck ma sks whi ch they a dj u st e d with the

ea s e tha t c ome s f rom long pr a ct i c e Aft er th a t .

t h e c hi ef a dva nc e d to t h e ga t e with hi s bra ss key

t h e f a mo u s lo cksmith s d a u ght e r To his sur
’
.

pri se it wou ld n ot work He f umbl e d with it f or

.

nearly a minut e a n d then ga ve it u p a s a b ad j ob .

Bl a st t h e girl " h e mu tt e re d
”
She s per .
’

”
mi tt e d th em to bolt th e do or f rom t h e i n sid e .

“
P erhaps she s p e a che d ’
whisp e re d Vido cq
,

insin u a tingly .

“
Sh e wo u l dn t d a r e c ri e d C o n st a ntine show
’

, ,

i ng hi s t ee th Sh e know s m e an d sh e know s
.
,

”
that I wou ld kill an inf ormer .

Onc e a gai n tha t c old shi ve r r a n u p a n d down

Vi d oc q s spina l c olu mn But it wa s mer e ly a fleet
’
.

i ng e motion . He h a d ne rv e i n pl en ty a n d to sp are .
4 c VI DOC Q AND THE

Boys ca lle d t h e chi ef w e ve got to j ump

, ,
’

t h e wa ll a n d get down t o bu sine ss We ca n t .

’

”
f ool a rou nd all ni ght H ere you. to t h e d et ec —

tive g iv e u s a h a n d .

Vi d oc q plant e d hims elf a gai n st t h e w a ll o f t h e

g a rd e n a n d holdin g
, o u t hi s t w o ha n ds b oo s t e d ,

t h e cr a c ksm en ove r t h e w a ll o n e a t a t i me C on .

s t an t i n e w a s t h e l a st on e u p He he ld hi s ha nd .

down to Vid oc q a n d a ssiste d hi m to t h e top o f t he

sto n e copin g .

“
Now Ge rm a i n s a id C on sta n ti n e to t h e d e
,
.

t ec t i v e , yo u g e t i n t h e sh a dow n ea r t h e e ri d o f t h e

wa ll an d keep a sharp lookou t If you see t he .

poli ce gi ve a low whistle Be on t h e al ert beca u se

,
.
,

e v e rythi n g d e p e n ds o n y o u .

Vid oc q n odd e d hi s hea d .

“
Y es ,
h e r ep e a t e d si gni fica ntly e ve r ythi ng ,

d epends o n m e .

Two o f th e m en h a d d ark l ant erns Slowly .

,

ca u tio u sly they f elt th e ir wa y tow a rd t h e ho u se

, .

C o n st a n tine ca rri e d a c ompl et e burgl a r s kit

’
.

He got to work imm e di at e ly .

Vi do c q o n t h e w all wat che d t h e ope ration

int ently Wha t a uniqu e positio n " He f elt
.

like an um pire f or soc i e ty at tha t mome nt .

Th e thi eve s on on e s i d e o f t h e w all t h e o fficers ,

of t he la w o n t h e oth er And hi m e lf i n .
 LOCKS M ITH S DAUGHTER ’

41

Vi d oc q, c ll e d d et ect i ve i n ub dued
“
It i s I— a t he a s
42 VI DOC Q AND THE

the mi ddle . Truly e ve rything d e p en d e d on

him .

“
Ti ck ti ck ti ck ca me t h e low sha rp so un d of
, , , ,

t h e m e t a lli c i n stru m en t .

Fin a lly th e shutt e r was f orce d Aft e r tha t a .

p an e o f gla ss was cut a n d then nothi ng stood be

tw een t h e burgla rs a n d the ir booty Five min .

ut e s t en m i n ut e s the y work e d th e re i n d u strio u sly

, , .

Eve rything wa s done with bu sine ss e precision - .

Four stout bags stood with yawning mouths

r ea dy to re ce ive t h e swa g .

Vido cq looke d on t h e o utsid e of t h e wa l l The .

street s w e re d es e rt e d Not a soul w a s in sight

. .

Ha d his not e mis ca rri e d ? Wo u l d t h e poli ce f a il

him ? It looke d that wa y Wh a t a pre di ca ment .

f o r a sl euth " To be t h e c onf ed e ra t e of thi e ve s "

If o n e o f his m a ny e ne mi e s sho u ld ca t ch him in
su ch a positi on h e mi ght have a ha rd time ex
plaini n g to M H enry Pre sen tly a mea sure d
. .

trea d w a s hea rd on t h e ha rd sid ewa lk His hea r t .

b o un d e d . It w a s a squ a d of poli ce He l ean e d .

ove r a n d whisp e red ,

“
Hist " ”

A capt a i n o f poli c e a ppro a che d .

“
It is I Vi do cq
—
ca lle d t h e d et e ctive in
,

a s ubdu ed voi ce I will give t h e a l a rm but

I wish yo u to let them go the ir wa y Two of .
 L OC KS M ITH S DA UG HTER ’
43

t h em ar e a rmed . Pre sently c ome to my o ld

”
lodgin gs .

Th e pt a in s a lute d a n d with his m en sought

ca

she lt er At t h e s a me moment Vido c q gave a low

.

prolon ge d whistle Inst antly there was a com .

motion withi n B a gs w ere grabbe d up a n d a ll

.

sca mp ere d tow a rd t h e w all .

“ ”
It s t h e police
’
w hi sp e re d Vidoc q
,
com e ,

qu ickly and you m ay e sca pe .

They unbolt e d t h e ga te an d hurri ed out .

Vido cq joine d them .

Whe re a r e t h e police whi sp ere d C onstan tine

? .

Th ey ve gone t h e other w ay sai d Vi d o cq

’

, .

If w e re ca reful we c a n e lu d e them
’
.

They hurri e d a long f or a f ew bloc ks Th e .

d et ective tu rne d to th e c hi ef cra cksman

“
It s d a ngerou s to go through t h e street s with
’

t he s e ba gs H ere s my old lod gings Let s cre ep

.
’
.
’

in here f or she lt er ?
“ ”
C an yo u get in ? a sk e d C onst a n tine .

” “
Sure re pli ed Vi do c q
, I ha ve my key an d .

I know t h e room s va cant

’
.

S i len tly they crept in sid e on e at a time a n d

close d t he door b ehin d them C on st an tine .

sla pp e d Vi do cq on t h e ba ck .

“
You re a brick Germ ain I told you h e d
’

,
.
’

”
d ist ingu ish hi mse lf boys ,
.
44 VIDOC Q AND THE
”
What do you ca ll this pla ce ? a sked J oubert ,

looking aro und him .

I ca ll it th e mou se tra p sa i d Vidoc q w ith a

—
,

The r ksm en laughed lou dly at thi s sa lly

c ac .

Th e sw a g was po ured o ut on th e ta ble an d t he

e nt e rprising g e ntl e m e n w e re s oon e ng g
a e d in
di viding the ir ri c h ha ul C onst antine an d Jou .

be rt t h e o nly on e s who po sse sse d w ea pons lai d

, ,

the ir pistols on a c hai r Slily Vid oc q pic ked th em

.

u p a n d s e cr e t e d th e m und e r a ma ttress In th e .

mid st o f t h e e xult a tion a lou d knoc king was h eard

at t h e door .Th e thi eve s looked at on e an othe r
with p a l e f ace s Vido cq crawl ed und er th e bed
.
,

u no bse rve d No soone r w a s h e out of si ght t han

.

t h e door was bu rst ope n a n d a sw a rm of inspe ct or s

a n d poli cem e n en t e re d th e room In t he twin .

kling o f an eye five p a irs of han dcu ff s we re s hoved

o n t h e wrists o f t h e c rac ksm en a n d t hey w ere ,

be in g marche d to t h e neare st police sta tion .

II I .

It was New Yea r s Day at t he P ref ect ur e of

’

Poli ce M Henry f ollowi ng a long e stabli shed

. .
,
-

cu stom was hold i n g hi s annu a l re cept io n

,
The .

room w as crowd ed a nd all o f the ofii oers of the

poli ce hi gh
, an d low , w ere there to present thei r
 LOC KS MITH S DA UG HT ER ’

45

chi ef with omplimen t s of t h e s ea son

the c M . .

Be r ta ux th e c ross exa m i ne r of cri m ina ls an d M

,
-
, .

P arisot t h e g ove rn or of pri so n s w ere in t h e lin e

, ,

recei ving with M H enry D uring a lull in t h e . .

cr owd th e three m e n dri f t e d i n to a c onve rs a tion

By t h e by M Hen ry s a i d M Be rt au x
,
.
,
.
,

wha t h a s be come o f t he f ellow Vi do c q ?

“ ”
I re ally do not kn ow sa id t h e Pref ect ,

g ra v e ly .

“
Wh at " e xc lai me d t h e othe r not kn ow "
”
,

” “
No w a s t h e re sponse
,
I ha ve n ot s ee n .

hi m si n ce t h e d ay I ca ll ed him in in you r pre s en c e , ,

a n d d e l e g a t e d him t o b r ea k u p t h e bur g la ri e s tha t

ha ve disgra ce d t h e poli ce syst e m of t h e city .

“ ”
An d t h e burgla ri es c o ntinu e d th e othe r ,

“ ”
taun ti n gly they ha ve continued ?
,

M He nry nodd e d
. .

“
é
An d V id oc q h e h as di s a pp ea re d ?
”

Th e Pref e ct n odd e d a ga i n .

M Ber ta ux burst into an ironi cal la ug h

. .

“
M Hen ry you have bee n d ece ived ; ta ken in ;
.
,

h oodwink e d .

Th e Pref ect shook hi s hea d .

“
I am n ot rea dy to c onf e ss d e f ea t .

At that mome n t a gre a t c ommotion w as hea rd

on t h e o u ts i d e An a tt en d an t w as su mmon e d
. .
4 6 THE L OC KS M ITH S DA U G HT E R ’

Wha t i s t h e conf u sion ?

All o f t h e valuabl es stolen f rom t h e banker s ’

hou se in t h e C hamps Ely see s have bee n r e

”
c ov e r e d .

“
Good retorte d M H enr y but is tha t all?
,
.
,

No V i do cq is ou tsid e d eman ding a dmitta n ce ;

,

”
h e ha s no ca rd .

“
Admi t him " sn a pp e d t h e Prefect
”
.

A momen t l at e r five m en han d cuff ed ente red , ,

t h e room Bri n gin g up t h e rear w a s Vi d o cq

. .

Th e first prisone r was C onst a n ti n e t h e others ,

Joube rt a n d his companions Vido cq ma d e a .

prof oun d bow an d smilin g hi s p e rpe tu a l smile

, , ,

poin t e d to t h e cursing cu lprits :

“
M H enry I wish you t h e c omplim en ts of t he
.
,

s ea son an d as a New Yea r s gi f t pre sen t to you t he

,
’

redo ubt able C o n st antin e an d hi s f ellow cracks

m en
H
.
C O L ONE L F R AS E R AND T HE RAILWAY
M YS T ERY .

[ C l o onel J m F wa i ll b c
es ll d r a s er f t h b t e re a e as on e o e es

chi f f p li c w h v h d c h g f t h b bbi
e s o o e o e er i th a ar e o e
‘
o es n e

w ld g t t m t p li C l l F
or
’
s r ea es e ro v d wi t h
o s . o on e r a se r ser e

d i t i c ti
s n i t h B i t i h A my b f
on n e cc p ti g th i mp r
r s r e or e a e n e o

tan t m u i ci p l p n t d j y
a d p los d i d, c
an d b t h en o e a s en re or ,
o as a

so ld i er nd ci vi li
a Si r Ri ch d M y
a an th . th C hi f ar a ne, e en e

C mmi i
o f P li
ss o n er o id th t F r w
o th b t x
ce , sa u a r a se as e es e ec

ti v f hi t i m
e o Hi j u i sdi ct i n xt d d v t h
s e . s r c ll d o e en e o er e so- a e
“
Ci ty c mp i sed wi thi n
,
o r f li tt l m t h ean ar ea o a e or e an on

s qu are mi l th i ch t d t h m t d
e, e r ly p p ul t ed
es an e os e n se o a

se ct i on of t h ci vi li d w ld e ze or .

Th c di t f r t h
e re l ut i f t h m yst e i u m u d
o e so f th
on o e r o s r er o e

ra i lw y ca i g mu t a rr af c u b di vi d d m
e s , g th
o nk o r se , e e a on e ra

an d fil f th L d
e o p li c b ut i t l
e on fle c t i
on p ci lly
o e, a so r e s n a s e a

b i lli t m
r an upo t h d mi i t t i
a n n er f C ln l J mese a n s ra on o o on e a

HE t i me wa s a n evening in Ju ly so me ,

yea rs a go ; t h e pla ce t h e st a tion pla t

f orm o f t h e No r th Lo n don R ai lw a y
C omp a ny a t t h e me tropolit a n borough
o f H a c kn ey A n umbe r o f p a sseng e rs wer e there
.
,

aw a iting t h e s i x o clo c k lo ca l f rom London It ’

.

a rriv e d pre se n tly with bell rin ging cla morou sly ,

a n d e n g in e puffi ng u p g r ea t c l ou ds o f smok e a n d

sp arks Th e mom en t t h e tra in cam e to a fu ll

.

(4 7)
48 COLONEL FRASER AND

st op a man on t h e pla tf orm m a d e a ru sh f or t h e

,

nea rest ra ilwa y c a rri a ge He op en e d t h e door an d

.

en t e re d ,but su dd enly drew b a ck with a lo ok of

f e a r o n his f a c e a n d a c r y o f horror o n his lips .

Ge t a bo ard " Ge t ab o a rd " c ri ed a gu ard

“ ”

imp ati en tly .

“
W e c an t wa i t he re a ll ni ght
’ ”
.

Th e m a n w h o h a d o n e f oot on t h e sta tion pla t

f orm an d t h e oth e r on t h e ra ilwa y ca rria ge stood
th ere as thoug h h e h a d be e n pe tri fied Th e gua rd .
,

findin g tha t hi s shou ts w e re u s e less hur ri e d up to

,

a s c e rt a in t h e c a u s e o f t h e d e l a y . In a thri ce h e
was by t h e sid e of t h e h e s i ta t i ng p a s sen ger .

“ ”
Wha t s t h e m a tte r ? h e a sk ed
’
.

In an sw e r t h e m an po i nt e d t h e f orefinge r of
,

his ri ght han d tow ard t h e in t erior of t h e ca rri age ,

a n d u tt e re d t h e o n e word

Look " ”

Th e gu a rd look e d a n d wha t h e saw robbe d hi s

tongue of its g libn e ss Th e s ett i ng sun se nt a
.

g old e n str ea k into t h e c o a ch a n d t h e g la ri n l

g gi ht
revealed the re o n t h e blu e cu shi ons a pool of red
b loo d Th e gua rd a n d t h e h e s i ta ting p a ss eng e r
m
.

e nt ered to g e the r an d a d e a ca r ef u l e xa mina tion

o f t h e ca rri age Th e ma n s firs t sig ht h a d n o t

’
.

d e ceive d hi m There c ould be n o possible dou bt

.

a bo u t it . Th e cu shi ons of th e ca rriage we re soa ke d

with hu man blood I n side th e c oa c h was a
.
 THE RAI LWAY M YSTERY 49

ha t , a wa lking sti ck ,
an d a small b la c k l ea the r
bag .

Th e lw a y ca rri age was run on to it s d e stina

rai

tion an d a dispa tc h insta ntly fla she d t o C olon e l

J ame s Fra s e r t h e hea d of t h e Lond o n poli ce f orce
,
.

u pon myst ry
t he e of th e bloc d
s oa ke d cushions -
.

Th e gu a rd re membe re d in a ha zy s o r t of wa y tha t
t w o m e n h a d en t e re d t h e ca rri a g e j u st be f ore t h e
tra in l ef t F en chu rc h Stre e t i n Lon don His .

impre ssi on was tha t they w e re to gether but h e h a d

n o c e rta in re c oll ec tio n o f tha t As to th e ir a ppe a r
.

an ce h e w as tot ally a t s ea
,
He only kne w tha t
.

h e had a crowd e d tr a in tha t d a y a n d in t h e hurry ,

a n d bu stl e o f hi s work h a d p a id bu t sca nt a tt e n

,

ti on to individua ls .

Th ere w as on e cl ue how ever an d th a t was of a

, ,

c ha ra ct er tha t co u ld n o t be ov e rlook e d e ve n i n t h e

d en sity displa ye d by t he ra ilw a y o ffi ci a ls It w as .

t h e impres sion of a blood sta i n e d hand on t h e -

d oor of t h e ra ilw a y c arri a g e Th e first act of .

C o lon e l Fra se r wa s to ord e r t h e gu ilt y ca rria g e

o u t o f s e rvice He direct e d tha t speci a l p a ins
.

be ta k e n to pr e s e rve t h e i mpre ssion of t h e blood

sta ine d han d so tha t i t c ou ld be refe rre d to when
e v er t h e occa sion d e ma nd e d .
5 0 CO L O NE L FRASER AND

Tha t sa me ni ght word ca me to poli ce hea d

qu a rt ers tha t th e bo dy o f a w e ll dress e d man ha d -

ha d be en d i sc overe d at a spot whe re t h e No rth

Lon don Ra ilwa y p a sse s Vi ctori a P a rk Th e m an .

w as unc on s cio u s but still a live He was t aken

.

to a n e a r by hospita l an d all that m edica l sci ence

-

co u ld do w a s do n e to r e store hi m to co n s cio u sness

but in va in He di e d W ithin tw enty f ou r hou rs

.
-

without s aying a word It wa s evid ent f rom t h e

.

st a rt that h e ha d been murd ere d Unf ortun at e ly .

,

his hea d an d f ace h a d be e n beat en so crue lly tha t

h e wa s u nr eco gni z able Ju st a t a time when t h e
.

s olution o f his id en tity se eme d f a rthest away t h e ,

hospit al a uthoriti e s ca m e u pon a ca rd in h i s vest

“
po cket It rea d Thomas Bri ggs ; Roba rts
.

C o Lomba rd Stre e t Lo n don

.
, ,
.

An officer was a t once disp at ched to t h e o ffi ce

o f Roba rt s C omp a n y i n Lo mba rd Street Th e .

hea d o f tha t firm s a id tha t Mr Briggs w as the i r

.

chi e f c l e rk a n d on e of th e ir most v a l ue d e m
,

p ylo e es a n,
d th a t th e y w e r e a t a tot a l loss to
a c c o unt f or hi s u ne xpl a in e d ab s ence f rom hi s post .

He h a d been with t h e ba nki ng hou se f or n ea rly

half a cen tu ry an d du ring a ll of that time ha d
, ,

promptly report e d f or work a s t h e clock w a s

strikin g n in e He h a d f a i l ed to do so tha t m om
.

i n g a n d they h a d a ssum e d tha t h e wa s ill J us t .

 THE RAI LWAY MYSTERY 5 1

as th ey were pre pa rin g to s en d an inqu i ry t o his

home a me ssa ge w a s rece ive d sta ting tha t h e h a d
, ,

n ot retu rne d to his hou se i n H a c kn e y t h e ni ght

be f ore . A hu rri e d inve sti gat i on proved tha t

Mr Briggs h a d lef t his home at t h e u sua l hou r on
.

t h e previou s d a y . He ha d ca rri e d a g ol d h ea d e d -

ca n e a n d wor e gol d rimm e d eye gla sse s a n d h a d

- -
,

in hi s po sse s sion a g old w atch a n d cha in Af te r

"

con c lu d i ng hi s bu sine ss a t t h e bank h e l e f t a t t h e

u sua l ho u r in t h e a f t e rn oo n an d din e d with hi s

,

ma rri e d d aug ht e r a t P ec kha m He ret urne d to

.

t h e city in tim e to t a k e t h e re gu la r tra in a t Fen

chur ch Str ee t f or his hom e a t H a c kne y Tha t .

W as t h e la st tim e h e was eve r s een a live .

It d i d not t a ke m an y hour s to prove tha t t h e

un o flen d i n g cl erk of Rob ar ts C omp a ny a n d t h e
unknown i ndivid u a l whos e body h a d b e en f o u n d

near Vi ctori a P a rk w ere on e a n d t h e s am e p e rson ,

an d tha t t h e o ld g e n tl e m a n h a d b e e n b rut a lly

murdere d f or his mon ey Th e eye gla ss e s a n d t he

.
-

g ol d w a t c h a n d c ha in w e r e b oth missin g T h e .

b lood so a ke d cu shio n s t h e gen e ra l d i sord e r of t h e

-
,

ra ilw a y c a rri a ge a n d t h e impri nt o f t h e bloody

,

hand on t h e door of t h e vehi cl e prove d tha t a

te rrible struggle h a d t a k en pl a c e before t h e f oul
dee d was accompl i she d It m u st have been done
.

ve ry qu i ckly be cau se t h e dist an ce f rom F enchurch

,
5 2 CO L O NE L FRASER AN D

Stree t when ce t h e tra in s t a rt e d a n d H a ckney

, ,

w a s a ma tt e r o f o nly t hr e e m i l e s i n f act t he d ee d —
,

mu st ha ve be en c ommitt e d imm e d i a t ely af t er t h e

tra i n l eft t h e c i t y f or t h e body h a d bee n thr own
,

i n to t h e bu sh e s o f V ic tori a P a rk an d t h e murd erer ,

h a d e vid en tly j u m pe d f rom t h e tra in be f ore it

re a che d H a c kn e y St a t i o n
‘
.

T h e h at f o u n d in t h e c o a c h h a d a lin i n g whi c h
indi ca t e d tha t it h a d bee n ma n uf a ct u red by
Wa lker a f a shiona bl e ha tt e r in Crawf ord Street
, ,

i n Ma r leybon e C olon el Fras e r h a d a n i n te rvi ew

.

w ith t h e h at t e r a n d a s ce r ta in e d f rom hi m tha t t h e

h a t mu st ha ve be en p u rc ha s e d within two w ee ks
o f t h e d a y o f t he m u rd e r He sa id tha t it was
.

a lmost imposs i bl e to k e e p tr a c k o f his cu st om e rs ,

e s p eci a lly a s h e tr a n s a ct e d a c o n s i d er a bl e tra n

si en t tra d e He h a d how eve r a vague impres sion

.
, ,

tha t t h e h at i n que stion w as pu rc ha se d by a Short ,

sto u t r e d f a ce d m an w ea rin g a blu e c oa t with

,
-
,

b ra ss button s Th e m a n c a rri e d a whip an d f rom

.
,

his dre ss ma nn e r a n d c onve rsa ti on was evid en tly

, , ,

a ca bm a n F u rther in ve sti g ation among t he

.

o fli c i a ls o f t h e No r th Lo n do n R a ilw a y bro ug ht to

t h e f ro n t a gua rd f rom t h e F en c hu rc h Stree t st a

tion wh o rememb ered h aving see n two men en te r
t he f a ta l c a rri a ge on th at ev en ing in Ju ly Th e .

first ma n h e d e s c ri be d a s a n old a n d ra ther re spe ct

 T HE RAI LWAY MYSTERY 53 .

ab l looking pe rson The det ails corre spo n d ed

e - .

to a ni ce ty t o t he a ppea ra nc e Of M r Bri gg s , t h e .

murd e re d bank c lerk Th e se c on d man h e sa id

.
.
, ,

ha d e ntered hastily j u st as th e tra in w as abo u t t o

,

lea ve t he sta ti on and j umpe d i n to t h e c a rri a ge

.

af te r M r Bri ggs
. H e w . as r a th e r a ro ug h -looki n g
individual poorly d re sse d a n d evid en t ly laboring
,

unde r g rea t me n t a l e x cit e m e nt "

He was n o t .

an ill looki ng ma n
- as m e n g o, havi ng a s qu a re
,

Ge rman type of f a ce blue eye s whic h w e re ha lf

,

clos ed a n d very f a ir ha i r
,
He was S hort i n sta ture
.

an d his le gs see m ed ve ry li ght f or t h e u ppe r pa rt

of hi s b od y whi c h was squ a re ly built an d pow e rf ul

looking Thi s w a s an unu sually inte lli ge nt d e

.

scription an d th e po lice sco ure d Lond on in th e

,

hOpe of d ragging in s ome m ani o a nsw e r th e d e

But t he day s we nt by an d the re was no re sult .

Th e ne w s p a pe rs w e re fille d with t h e d e ta il s of t he

The o ld est citize ns o f th emetropo li s wrote sca th

i ng l e tters to t he Lond o n Time s in whi ch the y
“

i nquire d dr amat i c a lly w h ether it was po ss ible f o r

a man t o go o n a ra ilw a y j o urne y in t he he a rt o f

the British Empi re without incu rring t he ri s k of

being mu rd e red Th e poli ce ch af ed und er thi s
.
54 C OL ONEL FRASER AND

an y pro gre ss . C olo n e l

Fra s e r sa t i n his o ffi ce d a y
by d a y a n d tri e d to s olve t h e probl em He .

fin a lly resolve d tha t it wo u ld be n ece ss a ry t o

tra ce t h e gold wat ch a n d c ha in that h a d bee n
stolen f rom M r Briggs be fore it wo uld be possible
.

to get a clue to t h e man w h o ha d committ ed t he

mu rd er E ve rv p awn shop in a n d a round t h e
.
-

m etropolis w as vi sit e d but n on e of them pos ,

s e ss e d a n y j ewe lry tha t c orre spond e d to tha t whi ch

h a d b een stol en f rom t h e bank clerk i n t h e ra ilw a y
c a rri a ge .C olo n el Fra s e r w as n ot s a tisfied with
the se re ports a n d d et ermin e d p e rsona lly t o pro se
,

cu t e his in qu iri e s a n d re sea rche s in a n othe r ,

dire ction He s ele ct e d t h e j ew e le rs of Lo n don a n d

.

be ga n his work in t h e lo ca lity known as C hea ps i d e .

To his d eli ght h e ca m e u pon a signi fica nt c lue

within tw en ty f ou r ho urs M r Gr a ve s a j ewe ler
-
. .
,

in C h ea psi d e po s s e sse d a gold cha in w hi ch w as

,

id en ti ca l with t h e o n e tha t h a d be en own ed by

M r Briggs Th e j ew e le r sa id tha t h e ha d a cce pt e d
. .

t h e cha in in e xc ha n ge f or a noth er on e whi ch h e

h a d give n to a f ore i gn looking pe rson who h a d -

ca ll e d at his e st ablishm en t To a d d to th e .

import an ce of thi s discovery it w as l ea rned tha t ,

t h e e x cha nge of t h e j e w e lry h a d bee n m a d e on t he

d ay f ollowing t h e mu rd er of Thoma s Bri ggs .

Th e n ews of this fi rst link i n t h e c ha in o f evi

 THE RAILWAY M YSTERY 55

d ence wa s wid ely publishe d in t h e Lon don new s

p a pers On t h e d a y f ollowing while C olo n e l
.
,

Fra s e r wa s s e a t e d a t his d e sk i n t h e poli ce he a d

quart e rs t h e door op ene d a n d a stra nger en t e re d
,

t h e room He wa s a short stou t r e d f a ce d ma n

.
, ,
—
,

W e a rin g a blue c o a t with bra ss bu tto n s Th e m a n .

c a rri e d a whip a n d f rom h i s dr e ss a n d ma n ne r

,

wa s e vi d en tly a c abma n He s alut e d in an awk .

w a rd ma nner .

“
Is this C olo n l Fras er
e ?
”
It i s w a s t h e t ers e re spons e
,
.

”
An d m a y yo u be t h e Chi e f o f Poli ce ?
”
Tha t s wha t I m ca lle d sometime s was t he
’ ’
,

i nd ulge n t re spo n s e .

“
Well my n am e s Bobby Smith
,
’
.

Gl a d to se e you M r Smith ,
. .

“
I m a c abma n
’
.

An honorable vo cation re spo n d e d t h e C ol

,
,

oh el with a smile
,
.

I un d erst an d yo u re inve sti g ating t h e murd e r ’

”
o f Mr Bri ggs
. .

At this C olone l Fra se r w as a ll att en tion He

“

sca nn e d t h e man s f a c e ca ref u lly a n d re pli e d :

’

“
Ye s I a m , C a n you f u rnish me with a n y
.

”
inf orm a tion on t h e subj e ct ?
“
I don t know wa s t h e re spo n s e but I have
’

, ,

”
a littl e bo x h e re th a t m ay i n t e re st yo u .
5 6 COL O NE L F RA S ER AND

Whereu po n h e han d ed Colone l Fra ser a j ew eler s ’

l ittl e ca r d bo x be a rin g t h e n a me of M r Graves .

,

t h e C hea psid e j ew e le r . Th e o ffi ce r looke d it ove r

a n d sa id :

Where did you g et this ?

It belon g s to my li ttle girl was t h e re ply
,
.

”
Wh ere did sh e get it ?
It w a s g iven to h e r by a m an who lod ged w i th
us —
his n a me is Fra nz M u ll er He l ef t ve ry .

s u dd e n ly a f t e r t h e p a p ers h a d b e c om e f ull o f t h e
”
M yst ery o f t h e Ra ilw a y C a rria ge .

Thi s was n ews with a ven ge an ce Th e ca b .

~

man w a s t a ken in ha n d a n d su bj ect e d to a

ri gorou s cross e xa min a tio n He told a ll abou t
-
.

his Ge rma n lodge r a n d s a i d a mon g othe r thi n gs

, ,

tha t t h e m an h a d l e ft hi s photog ra ph o n t h e
bu rea u i n t h e s ec o n d story b a c k room where
-

h e h a d lodge d . Th e poli ce imm e di at e ly s e cu re d

t h e photo gr a ph a n d C olone l Fra se r ha st e ned
,

to C he a ps i d e a n d pr e sen t e d it to Graves t he ,

j ew e l er
.

”
Di d you e v er s ee tha t m an ? h e in qu ired .

I did wa s t h e reply He is t h e f ore igner who

, ,

c a m e h e re a n d e x change d t h e c ha in o n t h e d a
y
a f t e r t h e Bri gg s m u rd e r .

C olo n e l Fra se r r e t u rn e d to t h e ca b man s home

’

a n d h eld a n oth er lon g i nt e rvi ew with t h e re d

 THE RAI L WA Y M YSTERY 57

f aced pe rson who h a d SO provid en tia lly furni shed

hi m with a clu e .

Th e Ga bby prove d to b e a v erita ble mine of

inf orma tion He t e stifie d a mo n g othe r thi ngs
.
, ,

tha t h e ha d purcha se d t h e h at whi ch wa s f o un d

'

in t h e ra ilway ca rri a ge doin g so a t the re qu e st o f

,

Mulle r h i s German boa rde r It w a s lea rn ed tha t

,
.

Mulle r ha d tra nsf erred his re sid en ce to a c hea p

lod ging ho u s e i n t h e Whit e c ha pe l distri ct This “
.

was c a re f u lly gu a rd e d a nd C olone l Frase r h a v

,

i ng s upplie d himse lf with a w a rrant w e nt the re ,

o n e morn ing to a rre st t h e s u sp e ct TW O m e n w e re .

st ation e d i n t he f ro n t o f t h e hou se a n d two i n t he

rea r a n d C olone l Fra se r hi mse lf w en t up sta irs
, , ,
-

t o ma ke t h e a rre st He ha mme red a t t h e door

. .

The re was n o re spo n s e He burst it open a n d

.
,

f o und n othin g
—
Th e room w as e mpty
. The .

b ird h a d flown . Ano the r hu rri ed in v estig ation ,

in th e c o u rse o f w hi ch ha lf o f t h e poli ce Offi ce rs o f

,

t h e London f orce w e re employe d w a s m a d e a n d , , ,

as a re su lt of whi c h it wa s lea rn e d tha t M u lle r

,

h a d be en s e e n a t t h e o ffic e Of a n i n t e rna t i ona l

ste amshi p comp any withi n f orty e i g ht hou rs - .

He h a d pur ch a se d t i cke t s f or Am eri ca a n d only

i

that morning h a d le ft t h e Lo n don do cks i n a s ai l

i ng ve ss el w hi ch was bo und f o r New York by ,
58 CO L ONE L F RAS ER AND

P ubli c e x cit ement h a d now grown intense ,

a n d th e re w as g e n e ral i ndi gnation ov e r t h e f a i l ure

o f t h e a uthoriti e s to a rre st t h e cu lprit M any .

w ee ks h a d gon e by a n d a lthoug h t h e poli ce h a d

d is cove re d a n d f ollow ed s eve ral import an t clu es ,

t h e gu ilty m a n w as pra cti ca lly as f ar a w ay f rom

them as h e h a d be en in t he beg inning C olo n el .

Fra s er rea li ze d t h e import a nce of prompt an d

spe e d y action a n d h e a t once f orm ulat e d pl an s
,

by w hi c h t wo of t h e shr e wd est d e te cti ves i n t h e

m etropolis w ere d et a il ed to go to Am eri ca to
a rre st M r Fra nz M ull e r Bo bby Smith t h e ca b
‘
. .
,

m an an d M r Grav e s t h e j ew el er of C he a psi d e
,
.
, ,

w ere s ent with t h e o ffi cers f or t h e p u rpo s e Of

id en tifyin g Mull er This curio u sly a ssort e d qua r
.
:

t e tt e imm ed i a t el y w en t to Live rpool a n d took t h e

first st eam e r a cross t h e Atl an ti c It prove d t o
.

“ ”
be t h e C ity of M an che st e r ,
whi ch in its d a y
wa s on e o f t h e f a st o cea n liners but whi ch a t t h e
,

pres en t t i me wou ld be ran k e d among t h e slow

f reight e rs. How eve r t h e s a ilin g v e ss el in whi ch
,

Mu ll e r took p a ss age was ev en slow e r an d it was ,

“ ”
ca l cu l a t e d th a t t h e M anche ste r would reach
“ ”
New York som e d a ys bef ore t h e Vi ctoria .

It w as an a n xiou s voyage a n d t h e tim e was

,

c oun t e d with f e v e rish imp a ti en ce bu t t h e e xpe c

,

t at i on s of t h e p u rs u ers w ere r ea liz e d a n d t h e

 THE RAI LWAY MYSTERY 59

Manches t er re a che d New York more than f orty

“
e ight ho u rs a h e a d o f t h e Vi ctoria Th e f o u r .

men wa it e d on t h e do ck an d as soon a s t h e ve sse l

,

reache d t h e pi e r they w ent abo a rd Mulle r h a d .

bee n qu it e si c k on t h e w a y Ove r an d h e cam e o n

dec k looking p a l e an d ca re worn e Gra ve s a n d
- .
.
.

"
t he ca bma n re co gniz e d him a t on ce and s hou t e d
“

Tha t s ’
t h e m an "
Th e t wo d et ective s imm edia t ely pl ace d h i m
und e r a rre st a n d b ef ore l ea vin g t h e v e ss e l m ad e
"

a s e a rch of t h e p rison er s box Th e w a t ch

’
.

belo n g in g to t h e mu rd e re d m an w a s f oun d i n hi s
trunk wra pp e d u p i n a pi e ce of l ea th er M ost
,
.

au d a c io u s Of a ll M ull e r at t h e tim e o f his c apt u r e

, , ,

was w e a ring t h e h at whi ch h a d belong e d to t h e

mu rd e re d m an It h a d be en cut down a n d so me
.

wha t alt ere d bu t there w as n o d i fficu lty i n fin ding

tra ce s whi ch m a d e it corre spond to t h e a r ti cle o f
hea dg e a r w hi ch h a d be en i n t h e f amily o f t h e
v i c tim f or m a n y y e a rs .

Thro ugh t h e co op era tion of t h e Am e ri can

a u thoriti e s e xtra d i tion
,
p a p e rs w e re sp ee dily
pre p are d a n d t h e prison e r w en t bac k to Engl an d
in t h e cu stody of his f ou r ca ptors a rriving th e re ,

in t h e mid dl e of S ept embe r of t h e y ea r of t h e

m urd er Although t h e B er tillon syst em of i d en t i
.
60 C OL ONEL FRASER AND
fi ca t i on by m ea ns o f thumb -prints ha d n ot been
p e rf ec ted a t tha t tim e t he first st e p ta k en by the
"

au thorities was to se cure t he impre ssions of the

priso n e r s han ds Th e se w ere ca re fully c omp a red
’
.

with t h e blood print on t h e door of th e ra ilwa y

-

ca rri a ge a n d t h e m a rks o f t h e right h a n d we re

,

f oun d to c orre spo n d f a irly we ll with t h e blood

st a in e d impre s sion o f t h e door of t h e co a ch .

Th e tri a l o c cu rr e d a t t h e n e xt s e ssion o f t he
Gen e ra l C rimin a l C o u rt Sir Robe rt C ollye r t h e .
,

Soli c itor Gen e ra l h a d cha rge o f t h e prose cu tion

-
,

whi ch w a s ba sed en tire ly u po n c ircums tan t i a l

e vid e n c e It w as c ha rg e d tha t M ulle r h a d com
.

mi t t ed t h e mu rd e r und e r a s u dd en imp ulse ; tha t ,

st andin g at t h e sta tion h e h ad noti ce d Mr Brigg s s

, .
’

w a t ch a n d cha in a n d j ew elry a n d was fill ed with ,

an ov e rwh elmi ng d e sir e to ha v e the m ; th a t o n

t h e spur o f t h e mom ent h e h a d d e t e rmin ed t o

f ollow hi m into t h e ca rria g e Th e v i ctim re sist e d.

but hi s a ssa ila n t d et e rmin e d to posse ss t h e val u

ab l e s no m a tte r wha t i t c ost
,
H e h a d tri e d to .

chok e Mr Brigg s into ins en sibility an d n ot

.
,

su cc ee ding in tha t h ad s eiz e d hold of a lif e pr e

,

se rve r su ch as is c a rri ed in English ra ilw a y

,

m n i a ges an d h a d u s e d it to b a tt e r i n t h e h ea d of
,

h i s v en e rable v i ctim The re w as a d ee p wound

.

ov e r t h e ea r t h e sku ll was f ra ct ured

,
an d there ,
 THE RA ILWAY M YSTERY 61

were v era l othe r blows an d wounds on t h e head

se .

Following u p this pre sent a ti on of th e cri m e t h e ,

di stingu ishe d Soli c itor-Gen e ra l h a d pre s en t e d ,

pi e ce by pi e ce t h e bit s of ev id en ce whi c h i n hi s
, ,

min d c onvi c ted Franz Mulle r of t h e mu rd e r of

,

Thoma s Briggs Sir Robe rt Collye r sa id tha t it

.

was t h e stron ge st c i rcu mst anti a l ev id en c e whi ch

h a d eve r b een brought f orwa rd in an y mu rd e r
c as e i n his tim e M ull er on hi s p a rt se t u p an
.
, ,

a l ib i b u t it w a s not v e ry w ell s ubs t a nti a t e d an d

, ,

t h e j u ry witho ut th e slight e st h e sit a tion r et u rn e d

, ,

a v e rd i ct Of gu ilty .

Af t e r his c on vi ction Mu lle r i ns ist e d th a t h e h a d

,

bee n f oun d gu ilty u pon a f a ls e st a t em en t o f f a cts .

His ca s e w as t a ken u p by t h e So ci ety f or t h e Pro

t ect i on of G e rm an s in E n gl and an d t h e most ,

pow e rf ul influe n ce s w e re e x e rt e d the re an d ab ro a d

to obta in a re pri eve f or t h e con vi ct In t h e m ea n .

t i m e M u ll er w as u rge d to m a ke a co nf e ssion o f his

,

cri m e He eva d e d an y dire ct re spons e to this

.

a pp e a l u su a lly s a ying
, Why Should m an conf e ss
,

to m an ? Man ca nn ot f orgive m an ; only God

ca n do so Man is th e ref ore a cco unt abl e only to
.

Go d . He p ersist e d in m a i n ta inin g thi s a ttitud e

unt i l t h e v e ry l a st He w a s n ot a vi cio u s m an in
.

an y m an n e r or w a y an d it w as qu it e e v id en t tha t
,

his c rim e was n ot prem e dit a t ed an d thi s f a ct at

,
62 T HE RAILWAY MYSTERY

tim e s c a u s e d som e un e a sin e ss o f c on s ci en ce to bi s

'

c a ptors . Hi s ref u s al to a dmi t h i s g u i lt w as pe r

p le xi n g a n d d i squ i e ti
. n g
Fin a lly t h e d ay o f e x e cu tio n a rrive d His .

Ge rm an p a stor a tt en d e d h i m to t h e s c a ff old a n d
u rg e d him to m a k e his p ea c e with God . Th e
bl a ck ca p w a s pl a c e d o v e r h i s e y e s a n d t h e rope
,

wa s a dj u st e d a b o u t h i s n ec k . Th e e x e cu tion e r
prep ar e d to g ive t h e Si gn a l whi ch wo uld l aunch
him in to et e rn ity At tha t psycholog i ca l tim e
.

M ull e r l ean e d ove r a n d a ske d f or t h e privi lege

o f sp ea kin g to h i s p astor . He spoke e xc it edly
in Ge rm an Some a ss e rt th a t h e s a i d
.
,
I did it .

“
Othe rs in sist th a t h e s a id ,
I did n ot do it .

But throug h som e c onf u sion in t h e S i gnals t h e

d rop slipp e d a n d Fra nz Mu lle r w e n t to mee t h i s
,

C re ator l ea vin g his l a st words a m a tt e r o f doubt

,
.
 G EN ERAL T REPOFF AN D T HE RU SSIAN
ST U DENT S .

[Ge n er a l Trepo ff , one Peter s b ur g

ti m c hi fe e of the St .

p li ce nk wi t h t h m t f m us d e t ct i ves i t h e Rus s i an
o , ra s e os a o e n

E mpi He w i n c t l f t h
re . as c t vi c d pa t m nt
o n ro o e se re se r e e r e

o f t h p o li c
e f St P t s b u g d ur i g t h e la wl ss p r i od e x
e o . e er r n e e .

te n di g f m 8 7 5 t o 8 8
n ro H 1 ms t o ha v be e n uc ce ssf ul
1 0 . e see e s

i t hi di ffi cul t p i t i o n be c u
n s h w n t h w r m co mm
os da a se e o e a en

ti on of the C d t th m t i m t h h rt y d t t t i o
za r , a n a e sa e e, e ea e es a n

o f t h p pl e Hi i mm ed i t p ed ces sor w
eo e . s i t ed a e r e a s a ssa s s n a

an d hi wn li f ws o i d g e m t
asha n cc i an er on ore n one o a s on .

V Z so li a yo un g N i h i li t h t t hi m whi le h was
'

er a as c, s , s o a e

sea et d i hi s o ffi ce in t h
n ly p t f i 8 8 T p ff was
e ea r ar o
/
0 . re o

ser i u ly i j u ed b u t
o s n c v ed n d
r n ft t ha t w s h
re o er a so o a er a on

or ed by t h C a wh ma d e hi m a Co un ci lor of Sta t "

e z r o e

M ar ch 1 887 t h e
N th e ea rly p a rt of , ,

C z a r of all t he Ru ssi a s d e t ermin ed .

,

a s a ma rk o f co nfi d en c e in t h e loy a lt y

of hi s s ubj ec ts th a t h e sho u l d driv e ,

in sta t e in fu ll vi ew of t h e popul a ce f rom t h e

, ,

C athed ra l o f St Sophia t o t h e Wint e r Pa la ce at

‘
.

import
Th e a nc e o f thi s S impl e sta t e me nt m a y
i
be un d e rstood when t h e rea d e r is remind ed tha t
f or a p e riod of yea rs t h e Nihilists of th a t u nha ppy
c ou ntry h a d be en m a kin g d et e rmin ed e ff ort s t o

(6 3 )
64 GENERAL TREPOFF AND

t ake t h e li f e of t h e Empe ror On l y thr ee months .

bef ore it was announ ced tha t t h e C z a r whil e out ,

hunting m e t with an ac ci d en t i n which h e was

,

s eriou sly inj u red It is Si gn i fic an t tha t s evera l

.

“
pe rso n s who w e re nea r t h e sce n e o f t h e a cc id en t
were imm ed i at e ly a rre sted On e was hang e d an d
.

th e oth e rs transport ed t o Sib e ri a Aga i n th e re

.

h a d been a n a cc id ent a e xplosio n i n t h e Wint e r

‘

P a lace whi le th e C z a r wa s att en ding a st a te ‘

d i nne r Nothi ng e ver ca me o f this in cid en t

.

altho u g h it w a s pro v en l a t e r th a t Nihilists h a d

ent e red t h e pa la ce disgu is ed as pl umbe rs .

Now how eve r it w as beli eve d i n hi gh offici al

, ,

ci rcl e s th at t h e co untry wa s to e nt e r u pon an e ra

of int e rn a l pe a ce Th e Emp e ror iss u e d a ma n i

.

f e sto o f c on ci li a tio n Arre ars of t ax es w e re

.

remitt ed ; ce rta in c rimin a ls we re rel ea se d f rom

prison ; e xil es to Sibe ri a ha d their lif e senten ce s
co m mut e d to tw e n ty yea rs of pr i s on se rvitu d e .

Th e Nihi list s on hea ring thi s w e re p ass ive but

, ,

uns a ti s fie d They h a d cla mored f o r ce rta in con

.

s ti t ut i ona l ri ght s whi ch w er e d eni ed them .

Ne verth ele ss it was d ete rmine d by ofli ci ald om

,

that th e C z ar sh ould cel ebra te t he ret urn of t h e

er a o f good f ee ling by a pub li c a ppea ra nce in t h e
w pi tol o f t h e na tion Th e tim e agr ee d upon was
.

Sun d a y Ma rch th e 1 3 th 1 88 7
, ,
.
 THE RU SS IA N STU D EN TS 65

Five d ays be f ore tha t da t e a c a d e t i n on e o f th e

milita ry sc hool s a young m an wi th roya l blood
—

i n his ve in s an d a prince o f a re ig nin g ho u se o f

,

E uro pe kille d himse lf Th e tragic a ct w as

—
.

a ttribu t e d t o m e l an c holi a d u e to a h opel e ss lov e

a ff a ir .It would be su pp os ed t ha t a sm all

romanc e of thi s sort would be l ef t to t h e distri ct
poli ce .

Not so At this st age of t h e n arrative there

.

e nt e rs u pon t h e s c e n e M Tre po ff a g en e ral in t h e .

,

a rmy t h e C h i e f o f t h e S e cr et Poli ce of St P e t e rs
,
.

burg a n d on e o f t h e f av orit e s o f t h e C z a r
, He w as .

a bur ly ma n b ru s qu e i n m anner a n d not ov e r ni ce

,

in hi s me thod s H at e d by t h e p eop l e h e tre at e d

.
,

th ei r attitu d e wi t h s uprem e md ifi er en ce Wh at
i

ev e r his d i spo s ition h e p osse s se d t h e un e rring

,

instincts of t h e rea l d e t e ct i ve His i n ve stig ation

i
.

of t he little ca d et s s u i c id e w as c h a ra ct e risti ca lly

’

p r of u pt It d ev e
. lop e d a st a rtli n g f ac t It ca n .

be st at e d i n a singl e s ent en ce .

Th e Nihi list s o f St P e t e rsb urg h a d d et e rm i n e d.

to a s sa ssina te t h e C z a r on S un da y M a rch 1 3 t h , ,

1 88 7 .

On e of t h e f un ctio n a ri es tt a che d to t he p ala ce

a

hea rd rumors of the plot a n d ru she d to Gen eral

It is u nsa f e f or His M aj esty to ventu re out .

66 GENERAL TRE POFF AND

S ha ll We c o u n t e rm an d the ord er f or t h e proces

sion ?
Th e C hi ef S e cret S e rvi ce a nsw ered with
of the
a n e xpr e ssio n o f a n n oya n ce :

Th e prog ra m is to be ca rri e d out as a rran g ed

down to t h e sma ll e st d e ta il .

Bu t
Tr epoff in t e rru pt ed t h e sp ea ke r by ban g ing hi s
hea vy fist on t h e d e sk b ef ore him .

I t a ke a ll o f t h e responsibility If it is n eceS .

sa ry to ma ke an y c hang e I shall inf orm t h e C za r

in p e rson .

By S a tu rd a y th e 1 2 t h o f M a rch t h e Gen era l

, ,

ha d a reg im en t of m en a t work Th e mil dest .

mann ere d pe rso n s in St P et e rsburg were con si d

.

e re d fit s ubj e cts f or su spi cio n I nn ume rable .

a rres ts w e r e m a d e a n d som e o f th e s e w e r e u pon

such a fli msy b asis that e ven t h e rigor o f Ru ssia n

po li ce dom co uld n ot j u stify th e ir d etention .

Ho urly reports w ere han d ed in to Ge n era l Trepo fi .

He d evo u re d th e s e with ea g er in t e re st p u rs ing ,

u p hi s S h ag g y ey ebrows an d thinking
—
a ll t h e
‘
while Pre s en tly on e o f hi s o ffice rs b roug ht in a
.

print ed c ircu l a r a sort of pro cl ama tion an d

— —

this bi t o f p a p e r w as g iven more a tt ention tha n

a n y o f t h e re gul a r re ports Af t er tha t h e se nt
.
,

o ut oth e r squ a ds o f poli ce an d th ey in return , ,

 THE RU SS IA N S TU D EN TS 67

be o
c nf e sse d ,
n ot much po sitive eviden ce of th e

It was the S un d a y t h e
e ve o f , 1 3 th M a rch
of .

On e of th e pe rson al a ttend ant s of t he C z a r ca ll ed

Don t you thin k it would be wise t o pos tpo n e

’

t h e p ro ce ss ion to morrow ? -

Tr epo fi ra is ed tho se el oqu ent e ye b row s in su r

Wh at h e cri e d an d co nf e ss t o t h e worl d
, ,

t ha t th e Empe ror of Ru ss i a f ea rs to a ppea r in th e

st r e e ts o f his ca pit al ?

Yes prote st e d t h e other but t h e danger

, ,

”
The d ange r is f o r m e t o consid e r h e sa i d , ,

ea ch word ca re f ully m ea sur e d .

Th e m ess enge r bi t hi s lips i n perpl e xity Th e

'

C hi ef of th e S ec ret Se rvi ce loo ke d u p s u d d enly .

Doe s t h e C z a r know of th e plot ?

N0 ; n o t a word ; but h e is timi d .

Re a ssure hi m Te ll hi m tha t Trepo fi sa ys

.

t here is no d ang e r th a t h e will gua ra ntee t he

—

s af et y of His Ma j e sty .

“ ”
All ri ght re pli ed t h e att a ch e bowin g him
, ,

self from t h e room .

68 GENERAL TRE POFF AND

i n o en si ve looki ng
fi -
young woman w as arrested an d
lodged in j a il E arly on t h e morni ng of t h e hi s
.

t ori c d ay se ve ra l c ompos itors an d ed ito rs ap —

p a re n t ly i nn o ce n t o f a n y wron g w e r e ta k e
—
n into

c u sto d y Still those who su rroun d ed t h e C za r

.

w ere a pprehensive An ho ur be fo re t h e time the y

.

a ppeale d t o Tr epo ff He g a ve them a curt but

.

co mpre h en s ive a n sw e r
“
Le t t h e proc ession p rocee d .

Th e ro u te ove r whi ch t h e C z ar trave l ed was

lined with poli ce Th e y st ood alone in p airs an d
.
, ,

in squ a ds Th ey w e re conspi cu ous an d yet not

.
,

un d uly so f or hun d reds o f th em in p lai n clothe s

,

mingle d f ree ly with t h e p eopl e .

J u st be f ore t h e p a ra d e sta r ted Trepoff a rrested ,

f ou r stu d ents Th ey w ere young m en w a itin g

.

t o se e t h e royal Show Th e pe opl e p rote ste d

.

aga inst t h e a rre st as an o u t ra ge bu t t h e gr iz zl ed ,

h ea d of t h e St P et e rsbu rg po li ce g rinned an d
.
—

sa id n othi ng I n d e e d t h e ca lm d emea nor of t h e

.

prison e rs s eem ed to j u stif y t h e p rot est of th e

p eople On e o f t h e m en ca rri ed a b oo k und er hi s
.

a r m e v id en tly f rom t h e g ilt l e tteri ng on t h e out

,

sid e a d evotiona l volum e ; an othe r ha d a green

,

b ag co n t a ini ng l egal doc u m en ts ; t h e thi rd a p ,

p ar e n t ly with a d e sir e to g e t a g ood look a t t h e

C za r ca rri ed a p a ir o f ope ra gl a sses while th e

, ,
 THE RU SS IAN STU DEN TS 69

f ou rth h ad othing unusua l abo ut hi s pe rson

n ,

unle ss a roll o f mu si c b e so re g a rd e d Th ey w e re .

hu stl e d off to t h e n e a re st poli ce st ati on an d in a

minut e th e cu rio us mu ltitu d e a ccu stome d to
,

c on st ant poli c e int e rf e r en ce f orgot a ll a b ou t t h e

incid en t Simu lt an e ou sly SIX p e rson s w e re be ing

.

a rr est e d a t Pa ulvon i a on t h e Fin n ish ra ilro a d .

Ten s of thou sa n ds of t h e p eopl e stood on t he

sid ew a lks on that chill g ra y M a rch mornin g
, ,

aw a iting t h e gorg eo u s pro c e ssion It ca me pre s

.

e ntly with t h e C z a r i n a n op en b a ro u ch e sea t e d

, ,

with o n e of t h e M inist ers of St a t e Hi s M a j e sty

.

Was a ttire d in s emi mil ita ry dress a n d i f h e f elt

-
,

an y a ppr eh en sion did n ot b e tra y it

,
Th e o ffi ci a l
.

wh o a cc ompa ni e d him gl an ce d f u rtiv e ly abo ut as i f

c on st an tly e xp ec ting t h e u n exp e ct e d Th e Cz ar .

bow e d to t h e ri ght a n d t h e l ef t a n d re c e ive d in

,

retur n cold cu riou s st are s f rom t h e p e ople If

,
.

they f elt an y e nthu sia sm they d id n ot Show it .

Was the ir S ilence int en d ed as a ma rk of resp e c t f or

the ir Sovereign ? An on l ooker f rom a n othe r coun
t ry would n ot have so reg a rd ed it Th e pr oces .

sion mov e d qu i ckly an d sa f ely to t h e Winte r

P a lace It h a d bee n a c complishe d withou t a
.

sing le mi sha p of an y kin d Th e t e leg ra ph ca rri ed

.

t h e new s to all qu a rt e rs o f t h e world th e C z a r —

h ad a pp e a re d in p ubli c a n d re ce iv ed t h e homage
7 0 GENERAL TREPOFF AND

of p eo pl e Th e d ay of a ss a ssi n ation was past

hi s .
,

a n d t h e d e lu sion tha t h e now r eig n ed ov e r a con

t en t e d pe ople was hugg ed by t h e au toc rati c rule r .

But thing s w ere diff e ren t in t h e f a mou s Thi rd

“

S e ction as t h e s ec re t police are ca ll e d Gene ral

, .

T r epo ff was th e re a rrang ing in c o n s e cu tive f orm

t h e re s ult of five d a ys of h a rd work .

H ere is t h e story of what h a d be en going on

b ehin d t h e s c en e s t h e knowl ed ge o f whi ch ha d
,

bee n so ca ref u lly k ept f rom t h e C z a r .

Th e first clu e ca m e in a most ca s u a l m an n e r .

On e nig ht a c o u pl e of m en in a r e st a u ran t on t h e
N ev sky h a d a ttra ct e d a tt en tion by the ir ea rnest
whi spe re d c on ve rs ation D urin g p a rt of t h e talk
.

th e n a m e of t h e C z a r a n d t h e d at e t h e 1 3 th of
,

M a rch h a d been overh ea rd Tha t w as en oug h

,
. .

D e tec tive s pl ace d on their tra cks f ollow ed th e m

like blood houn ds -
.

On t h e e ve o f t h e f a t ef ul thi rteenth on e o f th e
.

m en m et a woman in t h e stre e ts of St P e te rsbur g .

an d h a d a hu rri e d c onve rsa tion with h e r Five .

minut es a ft er the y se p a rat e d th e woman was

pla ce d und e r a rrest A s ea rch of h er pe rson
.

r e veale d a l a rge qu a ntity o f Nihili st i c proc la ma

t ions a ll call i ng f or t h e d ea th o f t h e C z a r
,
Sh e .

w as lite ra lly lo a d ed down w ith t h e docum ents

whi ch w ere be i ng di st ribu ted to tho se in th e co n
 THE RU SS IA N ST U D EN TS 7 1

s pi racy . dmitte d that th e young c a d e t wh o

Sh e a

h ad c o m mitt e d s u i c id e h a d be e n s el ec t ed to
a ss a ss ina t e t h e Emp eror But when h e re a liz e d
.

t h e m ean ing of his a ss i gnm ent h e kille d hi ms e l f , .

Sh e stopp e d a t t hi s st a g e o f h e r c onf e s s io n .

N e ither persu a sion n or tortu re nor threa ts o f

, ,

d ea th would i n d uce h e r t o give t h e na me s o f t h e

others conce rne d i n t h e plot .

But Tr epofi h ad af o un d atio n on whi ch to b u ild

hi s ca se H ere w as a bi t o f p a p er It wo uld ha ve
. .

t o b e tra ce d t o its o rig in It wa s e vid ent tha t a n

.

illi cit prin ting pre s s h a d be en set u p s omewhe re i n

t h e c ity All this t i me t he t wo m en wh o h a d
.

ta lk e d in ca utiou sly in t he re st au rant w ere bein g

f ollow e d They w ere seen to e nt e r a ho use i n t h e
.

J ewish sec tion Th e re cords of t he poli ce show ed

.

t ha t t h e hou se w as o ccu pi e d by A a ron Zon d ele vi c ,

wh o a t on e tim e h a d been a p rint e r

, , .

Tha t wa s suffic i ent In l e ss than at ho ur a fte r

.

w a rds t h e hou se w a s ra i d e d An o ffi ce r with a .

squad of poli ce broke into t h e pla ce without

notice Wha t they f ound there did not s ee m ve ry
.

da ma ging Four p e rsons w ere at home a t t he

.

time two m en a n d t wo women M a d a me Kri

—
.

106 t h e he a d of t h e ho u se was a woman of ab ou t

, ,

f orty five an d o f unu su a l int elli g en ce

-
Th e other .

f emale was h er s e rvan t On e o f t h e m en w as

.
72 GENERAL TRE POFF AND

rather a rist ocra ti c in a pp ea ra n ce He sa i d he .

occu pie d a min or mi n ist e ri a l o ffi ce an d c olo r was

g iv en to his st a t e m e n t b y t h e port f olio whi c h h e

ha d in his h an d Th e oth e r m an na me d Lubki n

.
, ,

was a c on sumptive abou t tw enty three yea rs of

,
-

a ge .

“ ”
Wh ere is you r prin ting press ? d em and ed
t h e o ffic e r .

M a d am e shrugge d h er d e li ca t e should e rs an d
o utstret ch e d h er h an ds i n a mann e r whi ch sa id
pl a inly e nou gh tha t t h e poli ce w e re w elcome t o an y
p r inting pre ss e s they might fin d i n tha t pl a ce .

A p ri n tin g pre s s is a bulky thing It should not .

be h a rd to fin d But t h e o ffice rs sea rche d t h e

.

hou se f rom cell a r to ga rret witho ut resul t All .

t h e W hi l e t h e qu a rt ett e sa t in t h e la rg e dini ng
r oom prison ers On t h e retu rn of t h e po li ce
,
.
,

t h e two m en a n d t h e two wom en w e re put thro ugh

“ ”
t h e sw e atin g proc e ss but they r ev ea l ed n othi ng .

Th e a rist ocra ti c lookin g young m an l aid hi s port

-

f oli o a sid e f or a momen t On e o f t h e poli cem en

.

pi cked it u p an d op en ed it Astonishm en t ma d e
.

him sp e echless He sil en tly hand e d t h e po rtf olio

.

to hi s chi ef It was fill ed with m an u s cripts an d

.

proo f s of a prohibit ed Nihilist p a p e r ca ll e d La nd

”
an d Liberty Th e a risto cr a ti c looking p e rs on
.
-

with t h e po rt f olio merely smi l e d a t t h e conste rna

 THE RUSS IAN STUDENTS

“
Ad van ce w ur b ”
3 l
si ng e st e p an d I ll bl o
’
o ut o
y i
r a ns.
74 GE NE RA L T RE POFF AND

t ion of th eoffi ci als He rea liz ed t h e gra vi ty of hi s

.

offens e He kne w t he p ena lty But h e n eve r

. .

qu ail e d f or an i n st ant .

“ ”
C ome shout ed t h e chi ef you re con vi ct e d ’

, ,

alrea dy Yo u mi ght as w e ll c onf ess

. Where i s .

”
t h e pr e ss ?

Th e qua rt e tt e rem a in e d sil en t They W ere n ot .

off e nsive It wa s t h e S i l ence of s ub mission bu t

.
-
a

not of f ea r Su dd enly t h e chi ef g a ve a shou t of

.

su rprise an d point e d to t h e cupbo a rd Th e othe r .

poli ce men f ollow ed t h e cou rs e i n d i ca te d by his

a ccu s i ng finge r They saw nothing an d th e i r
.

bl ank c ount en a n ce s s a id a s much .

“ ”
Don t you s ee ? a lmost sh ri e ke d th e ofii ci al
’
.

N o re pli e d hi s chi e f li eut e nant

,
Wha t i s ,

A d a ub of ink on t h e door of tha t clos e t .

”
A d aub of i nk ? re pea t ed th e othe r pa rr ot ,

like an d with n o in di cation of int elli gen ce .

Yes " Ye s " h e re torte d

“ ”
a d a ub of print e r s
’

ink .

Slowly a c on s cio u sne ss of t h e meaning of his

words penetra te d the ir d u ll hea ds At t h e sam e .

momen t the y m a d e a simu ltaneo us d a sh f o r t h e

cu pbo a rd To the ir am a z ement they m et with
.

re sist an ce M a d a me Kri loff h e r s ervant t h e

.
, ,

a ristoc ra ti c m an o f t h e port f olio an d t h e con su m p ,

 THE RU SS IA N ST U D EN TS 75

t ive mpositor wer e li n e d up in f ront of th e cu p

co s

b oa rd All w ere a rm e d an d Ma d ame Kriloflf

.
, ,

p ointin g h e r pistol a t t h e h e a d o f t h e chi e f o f f i ce r ,

s a id W ith grea t d e libe ra tion :

“
- Advance a sing le ste p an d I ll b low out you r ’

b ra ins We re d e sp e ra t e Li f e mea ns little to us

’
. .

n ow . S a ve you rs .

H ere was a dilemm a Th e chi ef kn ew i f h e .

m a d e a move to rea c h f or hi s pistol this f renz i ed

woman would ca rry out h er thr ea t Only tw o .

o th e r poli cem en w e re in t h e room with hi m a n d

t he y w ere c ove re d by t h e a ri sto c rat an d t h e con

su mpt i ve c ompositor Th e rem a in d e r o f his m en
.

w er e i n other p a rts o f t h e ho u s e He b a cke d out .

by d egrees It was hum ili atin g but h e f elt tha t it

.
,

w as politi c He mu st ha ve t i me to think an d
.

p la n . His t wo c omp a n i o n s r e tr e a t e d with him .

As they rea ched t h e o ute r sill of t h e floor t h e co n

s um pt i ve c ompositor sl a mm e d t h e doo r v io l en t l y

a n d on e o f his as soc i a te s b olt e d it Th e rac ke t .

b rought t h e oth e r police men t o t h e a i d of the ir

'

chi ef The re on t h e l an ding they held a co un cil

.
, ,

o f wa r Th e b es ie ged Nihilists on the ir pa rt W ere

.

sp a rring f or tim e the y had something t o c on ceal

—

o r d es troy .

Th e hous e w as alrea d y st rong ly gu a rd ed on t h e

ou tside an d t h e S i e g e h e ld ou t f or l es s tha n a
76 GENERAL TRE P OFF AN D
minut e Th e doo r w as broken i n an d af te r a
. .

fie rce r e sist a n ce t h e f our Nihilists s urren d e red .

Th e a risto cra t f o ught lik e a d emon an d at t h e l as t

a sk e d qu a rt e r o nly f or t h e wom en Whi l e t he
.

poli ce w ere compl etin g th eir work t h e con s ump

tive c ompositor h a d a viol en t p a roxysm o f cough
i n g an d a ske d p ermission to li e on a cot in an

Th e cu pbo a rd prove d to be a v e rit abl e ma gi c

c los et. It c on t a in ed a compl et e printing out fit .

N ee dl e ss to s ay th e p a ra ph e rn ali a was ext rao r

d i n a rily s i mpl e a n d a d a pt e d p e cu li a rly to t h e
purpos es of t h e c onspirators Th ere was a l arge
.

cylind e r c ove re d with c loth whi ch a nsw e re d t h e

requi re ments of a pre ss ; a roll e r of a so r t of

g u mmy s ub st a n c e ; s e v e ra l f o n ts o f ty pe disp
,
l a y
an d othe rwis e ; a f e w j a rs of printing ink be nzine ,

b ru she s a n d spon ge s
,
. Thi s was all p a cke d to be
t ake n to police hea dqua rt e rs J u st a s t h e pri s
.

one rs w e re be ing round e d up a sha rp pistol shot was

hea rd f rom t h e a dj oini ng room Th e chi ef hu rri e d
.

in an d f o und Lubki n t h e con sum ptive compositor

, ,

in t h e d ea th agoni es He h a d shot hi m se l f
. .

In ha lf an hou r s time t h e re m aini ng priso n e rs

’

an d all o f t h e f a cts i n t h e ca se w e re in th e posse s

sion of Gen e ra l Trepo ff He rubbed hi s clumsy

.

hands with s a tisf a ction .

 T HE RU SS IA N S TU D EN TS 77

M ove t h e s e cond i n t h e gam e of li fe an d

”
d ea th h e mutte re d
,
”
We sha ll postpone o ur
.

third move un til morning Not be ca us e w e like

.

t o but be ca u s e we mu st
,
.

In t h e mo rning a s a lre a dy sta t e d t h e a rrest

, ,

of t h e f ou r st u d en ts o ccu rr e d The ir inno cen t

.

loo king po ss e ssions w ere t a ke n f rom them at t he

poli ce hea dqu a rt e rs Th e book t he gre en ba g
.
, ,

t h e op e ra gla s s a n d t h e roll o f mu si c e ach c on

, ,

t a i n ed bombs whi ch w e re to ha ve be e n thrown at

t h e Empe ror . Th e prison e rs w e re stripp e d On .

each st u d ent was f o und a s ma ll vi a l su spe nd ed

with a string f rom their ne cks an d resting aga in st

thei r brea sts These f ra il bottle s each conta ined
.

a most a ctiv e poison Th e pu rpo se was e vid ent

. .

F ailure or refu sa l to do the ir f ri ghtfu l work on t he

rt o f e ithe r of t h e st u d en ts wo uld have b rought
p a
f orth s e c ret a gent s of t h e N i hilist s whos e d uty it ,

w a s t o st rike t h e unsu c c e ss f u l o r d elinque nt c on

s pi r at or on t h e c h e st thu s sma shing t h e bottl e a n d
,

pe rmitting th e poison to ent e r t he wound s ca used

by th e broken gla ss . Little wonde r tha t th e un suc ~

c es sf ul st u d e n ts took the ir a rre st stoi ca lly The y .

w e re me re ly e xcha nging on e f a t e f or anothe r .

Gen e ra l Tr epoff h a d ma de othe r a rre sts o f tho se

wh o we re directly c onc e rne d i n t h e a tt empted
a ss a ssin a tion He count e d the m ove r
‘

.
7 8 T HE RU SS IAN STUDEN TS

N i ne fish i n t h e n et ; w e n ee d more .

His chi ef of st a ff a n d a squ a d of his tru sties t

m en h a d a lrea d y st a rt e d o ff f or Pa ulvoni a on th e
F in nish ra ilwa y . He wire d them to a ct i m m ed i
a te ly. Th ey f oun d what h e h ad suspe ct e d a —
.

b omb m anuf a ctory .It w a s the re tha t t h e d ea dly

missil e s o f t h e f o ur stu d en ts h ad been d evi se d .

Six more a rre st s w e re ma d e in connec tion with

this priva t e a rs en al .

On t h e d a y f ollowing t h e 1 3 t h o f M a rc h Gen era l ,

Tr e po ff h a d fif t e e n priso n e rs in a ll on his h a n ds .

E a ch on e repre s en t ed a sta ge i n t h e conspiracy ;

t h e c ompos i tors an d pre ssma n who p ub lish ed t h e

pro cl a m ation s ; t h e girl who distri bu te d them :

t h e st u d en ts wh o w e re to throw t h e bombs a n d t h e ,

m en who ma n uf a ctu re d t h e d ea dly mi ssile s .

Th e fif t een w e re c qn d emn ed to d ea th but o n t he,

r eco mm en d a tio n of t h e c ou rt ,e i ght e s ca pe d

h ang ing an d w ere s en t en ced to p en a l s e rvitu d e f or

lif e i n t h e hope l e ss prison s o f Sibe ri a .

Th e C z a r l ea rn e d a ll of the s e d e t a ils l a te r On .

t h e ev eni ng of t h e I 3 t h of M a r ch as h e ent er e d
,

t h e Wint e r P al a ce h e was cr e dit e d with sa yi ng :

,

Th e p eopl e w e re ve ry polit e a n d res pect ful .

Th e d e t a ils w e re ni cely pl ann e d a n d by t h e w ay

—
,

t ell Tr epoff I was pl ea se d with t he poli ce a rrang e

m en ts .
IN S P E CT O R BYR N ES AN D T HE HAN IER
MUR D ER .

B y n es f m uper in ten d en t of po li ce f New

r ,
or er s o

i w ld f m d
s or - A
a e I pe c t
. s By nsh m de or rn es e a

hi m t h c mp li m t f b i g
“
e o th en o e n e

g u d d t h m t p arli H
e e e ro o s . e

d q ui t c t i v an vi c nl y a e se r e o a

f m u d d li in a o s
“
ea ne
”

c k w p mi t t d no r oo as er e

n or he wi h s ed

o r i gi n a t e d th e
by whi ch u p c t d c i mi l w f ced
s s e e r na s e re or ,

c f d c
o n e ss a n vi ct t h m lv "
on e se es

NE sp D ece mbe r morning Lou 1 s

cri

Hani e r a Frenchma n t h e owne r o f

, ,

a littl e win e S hop on W e st T wenty

i n th e h a llwa y of hi s home Th e .

3 8 -
ca lib e r revolv er was d i s co ve re d in .
80 INSPE C TOR BYRNES AND

sion . An e xa mination of t h e pre mise s prove d that

t h e f ron t door h a d b e e n j i mrni ed Han i er h a d
.

be en murd e re d f or hi s mo n e y .

Th e probl e m wa s to fin d t h e m an wh o ha d c om
m i t t e d t h e crime to pi ck him out of t h e millions
—

o f p e opl e i n Ne w York C ity . Th e n e w sp a pe rs w er e

fill e d with t h e horribl e story Th e coron e r s i n
’
.

qu est a ttra ct e d t h e u su a l crowd of morbid mi n d e d -

p eopl e Th e min or poli ce offici als be cam e v e ry

.

bu sy a n d a c complishe d n othi ng
—
Afte r t h e
.

hyst eri cs w e re ove r t h e pu zzl e fina lly ma d e it s

way to t h e on e m an i n New York C ity wh o h a d t h e
g e n i u s a n d t h e p e rsist e n ce to solv e it .

And tha t m an w a s I n sp e ctor Byrn es Re po rt .

a ft e r r e port h a d b e en m a d e a n d t h e mu rd er e r o f

Lo uis Han i e r thre a t en ed to slip awa y ben ea th an

a v a l an ch e o f r e d t a p e. I n spe ctor Byrn e s ca ll ed
f or a ll t h e p a pe rs i n t h e ca s e a n d s ea t e d a t hi s
, ,

d e sk i n M ulberry street h e po n d e re d ove r t h e c ase

,

a s a S kill e d pl a y e r wo ul d st u dy a probl e m i n c h e ss .

He w as i n hi s prim e in those d ays men t ally an d

—

physi cally a n d a ch an ce visitor who could have

—

p e ep e d in to his s an ctu m wou ld have disc o vere d a

qu i etly dre sse d m an with sof t haz el ey es ben e ath a
-

p a ir of hea vy e yebrows runni n g his hands throug h

his ha ir an d g a zing fix e dly a t n othi ng Pre se n tly .

h e wo uld ha ve n oti ce d t h e so f t st a re f a d e a w a y an d
 THE HANIE R M URDER 81

g iv e pl a c e t o a h a rd st ee ly look a n d h e wo uld h a v e
, ,

“ ”
kn own tha t Tom Byrne s h a d men t ally f or
mulat ed h i s pla ns an d tha t t h e m an o f dre a ms h a d
g iv e n w a y to t h e m a n o f a c_
tion .

His con clu sion was tha t t h e c rime h a d be en

c ommitt ed by a p ro f e ssiona l burg la r Th e fir st
.

order w as that eve ry p a wn shop in t h e limits of

-

M anhattan Islan d should be visit e d to dis co ve r

W hethe r a 3 8 ca libe r revolve r h a d been pl e dge d
.
-

a t an y tim e within f orty e i ght ho urs af t e r t h e

-

mu rd e r Byrne s a rgu e d tha t whil e a n ovi ce mi g ht

.

con c eal t h e w ea po n a pro f e ssiona l wo u ld c old

,

blood e d ly a tt e mpt to rea lize some mone y out

of it .

He was ri ght .

A money l end e r w as f ound who h a d p ar te d with

-

seve ra l dolla rs in retu rn f or t h e murd e rou s wea po n .

Th e n e xt st e p was to b ring t h e p a wnbroke r to

hea dqu a r te rs an d ha ve hi m look over t h e tho u
sands of portra its in t h e rogu e s g all e ry f or t h e pu r
pose of disc ove ring t h e pi ctu re of hi s e rstw hile cus
tome r P a ge af te r p a ge w as turned ove r an d
.

photogra ph a ft er photo gra ph w as e xhi bit e d an d ,

it be gan to look as i f t h e que st w e re to be f ruitl ess .

Ju st at thi s poin t t h e p awn broke r sudd enly ex

Th ere s t h e
’
m an "
82 I NSPEC TOR BYRNES AND

pi ctu re h e point e d cu t was tha t of M i cha el

Th e
McGloi n a pe rsona g e w ell known to th e poli ce
,
.

Th e thi rd st e p in t h e pla n was t o l oca t e Mc

f o und i n th e ha un ts of crime an d f or ma ny wea ry

,

w eeks h e w a s sha dow ed Every move h e ma d e

.

w as re po r te d ; e v ery word h e utt e re d was re cord ed .

It re qu ired infi ni te p ati en ce but t h e e spi ona ge

,

resu lt ed i n t h e discove ry tha t on t h e ni ght of t h e

mu rd e r McGloi n h ad been out on a sp ree in t h e
c omp a n y of thre e o f hi s p a ls by na me Thomas
,

M ora n Fre d e ri ck Ban field a nd Robe rt M orrise y

,
.

Th e ca s e h a d now rea ched a sta g e where cau tion

w as of t h e u tmost im porta n ce A singl e f als e
.

mov e might ruin eve ryt hing It would be ea sy

.

e nou gh t o a rre st t h e m en on su spi cion but wou ld ,

su ch a ste p se rve t he cau s e of j usti ce ? Ins pe cto r

Byrnes e vid en tly thoug ht not f or h e postpone d ,

tha t act Prof essiona ls wh o did not stop a t

.
,

mu rd er w ere a d epts in t h e ma king of ali bi s a nd

, ,

t h e d e tect i v e did n ot propos e to be f ool ed by su ch

a d e vi ce .

w er e times when t h e murd e re r wore t h e clothes of

t h e Inspe ctor With Byr n e s t h e en d j u stifi ed the
.

m ea ns McGloi n d id not conf ess t o th e w oma n

.
 T H E HANIE R M UR D ER 33
, 0

he was not th e conf e ss ing ki nd But sh e lived .

with him f or over a month an d d uring tha t time

s e cu re d en o ug h f a cts w hi c h p a t c
, h e d tog e th er ,

c onv in ce d B yrne s th a t McGlo i n was th e per s on

wh o h a d murd e re d Hani er .

By th e time t h e p e opl e o f busy New York h ad

f org ott e n all a bou t t h e trage d y of West Tw enty
si x th st reet o r h a d c ons igne d it to t h e limbo of
un d is cove red mys t er i es
x
Byrnes on his p a rt
, , ,

d et e rmined tha t t h e hour h ad a rri ve d to strike a

d ec isive blow He S ent h i s m en o ut an d a rres ted
.

McGloi n M ora n Ban field an d Morri s eya Ea c h

, ,

on e w as a pp re hend ed on s ome trivial ch a rg e an d

.

they w ere brought t o he a dqua rters an d pla ced in

separ a te ce ll s The y p rote st e d vehem ent ly but
.
,

all t o no ava il In cid en t ally it might be r e

.
,

ma rked they w ere ta ken sing ly an d no on e of

, ,

th em knew of t he a rrest of t h e oth er Also eac h .

,

on e insisted tha t t h e a c tion of t h e S u p erint end ent

was an o ut rag e an d a vio la ti on of t h e constit ution

“

w hi ch guaran te e d to every m an t he rig ht to lif e ,

libe rty an d t h e pursuit of ha ppin e ss .

Byr ne s smiled grimly an d s a id nothing .

Day af te r d a y pa sse d an d th e f ou r m en re
ma i ned und er lo ck an d key So m . e of t h e sub
o rd i na te ofii ci als not be ing aware of th e plans of
,

t he Ins p ect o r wa nt ed t o know wha t was t o be d on e

,
84 I N S PE C TO R BYRNES A N D

with th e pri son ers It s eeme d childish to the m

.
, ,

to hold t h e m en in d efinit ely o n su ch trifling

cha rg es . He ma d e no e xpl a n a tion s o ff e re d n o ,

“ "
e x cu s es
—
s i mply sa i d wa it He ca red n othi ng
.

a bo u t M ora n Ban fi eld a n d M orris ey b u t h e ca re d

, ,

a g r ea t d e a l a bo u t McGlo i n He w ant e d to ma ke
.

hi m un comf ort abl e an d h e s u ccee d ed In t h e

'

—
.

me antim e h e was ca re f ully prep a ri ng th e sta ge

,

f or t h e l a st bi g a ct in his littl e dra m a He wo uld .

not be hu rri ed ; h e would n ot be ca j ol ed He .

bid ed hi s tim e .

It came finall y an d t h e sc ene was pull e d 03

,

in a wa y tha t m ad e t h e m elodra ma of t h e mod e rn

sta ge see m st al e an d unpro fit abl e in comp a ri so n .

On e morning t h e I n spe ctor a rrived a t his o ffi ce

a littl e ea rli e r tha n u su a l a n d f o r a tim e the re was
,

a g rea t bu stl e an d hu stl e in c id en t to t h e r ea rran ge

ment of t h e office f urnitu re Wh en it was con .

c lu d e d Byrne s l ea n e d b a c k in hi s r e volving cha ir

with a sigh of s a tisf a ctio n Then af te r a sw eep

.
,

i n g su rvey of t h e room h e be n t ove r a n d ta ppe d

,

a be ll o n hi s d e sk . A mes se nge r re spo n d e d Th e .

Inspe ctor looke d u p sha rply .

“
S en d down to t h e c ellro om a n d bring M ike
McGloi n to m e at o n ce ”
.

A g la ss ca s e at h ea dqu a rt e rs c ont a i n ed th e ropes

an d t h e b la c k ca ps whi ch h a d b ee n u se d in t h e
 T H E HANIE R M UR D E R 85

e xe cution o f f a mo u s mu rd e re rs Th e g ruesome .

re li cs w e re a ll pl a inly la be le d an d w ere horrible

en ou g h to a ff e ct t h e n e rv e o f t h e most ha rd en e d

c rimi n a l . Thi s ca s e w a s roll e d ou t into t h e c en

t er of t h e room s o th at it wou ld b e t h e fi rst obj e ct to

g r e e t t h e e y e o f a v is i tor I n sp e c
. tor Byrn e s w as

s ea t e d with hi s ba c k to a l a rg e window ove r

looking a cou rtya rd N e a r hi s d e sk wa s a va ca nt
.

chai r whi ch when o c cu pi e d g ave t h e p e rson

, ,

sitti n g the re a good vi ew of t h e c ourtya rd All .

ab o u t t h e room w e re mirrors whi c h e na bl e d

Byrne s to s e e all tha t tra n spire d witho ut moving
f rom his cha ir .

P res en tly t h e door op ene d an d McGloi n en te re d .

An offi ce r who was with him qu ie tly withd rew .

Th e prison e r look e d ab ou t hi m with a s urly

He tu rn e d to t h e I n sp e ctor .

Wha tta you w an t with m e ?

Oh I j u st w a nt ed to ha ve a little c ha t
,
sa i d ,

Byrne s a ff ab l y .

“
A cha t h e mu tte re d
,
Wha t abo ut ?
.

Abo ut t h e Ha n i er mu rd e r sa id Byrne s in a ,

low voi ce s en ding out t h e words S ha rp a n d short

, , ,

like pistol Shots .

McGloi n looke d a t hi m la ngui dly Th e shots .

h a d miss e d fir e Th e se as on e d crimina l was not

.

t o be sta mp ed e d .
86 INSPE C TOR BYRNES AND
”
Wha tt a I know ab ou t it ? h e sa id with the
u tmost un co n c e rn .

“
Oh s a i d t h e I n sp e ctor ma t chi ng indi ff er ence
, ,

“
with in di ff e rence I thoug ht you might have
,

h ea rd s om ethi ng abo ut it .

At tha t moment Mc Gloi n ca ught si ght of th e

c a s e fill ed with t h e b l a c k ca ps an d t h e mu rd e rou s

ropes By rn e s was instan tly a ll atten tion

. .

“
Q uite int e res ting the s e h e sa id an d the re
, , ,

u po n h e be g an to te ll t h e g h a stl y history c onn ec te d

with e ac h o f t h e bl oody so uven irs He dwelt .

u pon eac h story lovi n gly a s a c ollec tor wou ld d o

who h a d a f a d f or gathe ring qu ee r prize s .

Throug h it all McGloi n pre s e rve d a stoli d loo k .

He a pp e a re d to t a ke littl e in t ere st i n t h e r ecital ,

whi ch wha t eve r else it mi g ht s ee m w as eng ross

, ,

i n g ly int e re stin g Byrn e s realiz e d tha t h e h ad no

.

ordin a ry m an to d ea l with McGlo i n was d evoi d .

of s en timen t an d a pp a ren tly w as i gnorant of

e motion of an y ki n d Th e I n spe ctor mo ved
.

slowly an d ca utio usly He h ad hi s p a rt down

.

to pe rf ect i on He must n ot o ve rdo it He mu st

. .

n ot show si g n s o f imp a ti e nc e He sa t down at .

hi s d es k an d nodd e d pl e a san tly an d wave d hi s

han d in th e di rection of t he vaca nt cha i r Mc .

t he o
c ur tyard .
 T H E HANIE R M UR D ER 87

“
Now M r McGloi n s a i d t he I n spe ct or in hi s
,
.
, ,

“
most pu rrin g to n es you re a ma n a bo ut town ’
,

an d you l e a rn most o f t h e t hi ng s th a t ar e g oing on ,

I don t know ’
a nythi ng a bou t it ,
was t h e

Th e I n sp ec tor r h ed
a c hi s e yeb rows in su r

”
Don t know a nythi ng ab out it ?
’
he ec hoe d .

No .

”
You re a Ne w Yorke r ?
’

”
Ye s .

H ave you be en out of t h e city l at ely ?

Th e prison e r d a rt ed a qui c k look o f sus pi c ion at

I have n t bee n ou t of t h e city for ove r a

No ,
’

yea r I don t ha ve to g o out o f t h e c ity

.
’
.

”
Of cou rse n ot sa id t h e I n spe ctor s oothing ly
,
.

”
You rea d t h e p a pe rs don t you ? h e r esume d
’

Oh , g r un t e d McGlo i n , o s I rea d about

o f c ur e
88 INSP E C TOR BYRNES AND
Oh , tha t s b e tt e r now t ell m e wha t you
’
—

”
t ho ught a bo ut it .

“
Me ? Why I di dn t thi n k anyt hi ng a bo ut it ’
.

It was a b rut al mu rd er wa sn t it ? ,
’

”
How do I know ?
Of co urse you don t know but you thi nk it
’
—

was b r t l do t you ? ’
u a n ,

“
I don t think anyt hing about it
’
.

Th ere was a lon g sil en ce af te r thi s a sil en ce —

tha t be gan to m ak e M r McGloin f eel ve ry un com .

f or ta ble . It w as t h e ve ry thi ng tha t Inspecto r

Byrn es want e d Th e more uncomf o rtabl e Mr
. .

McGloi n be ca me t h e bett er it would be f or In s pec

tor Byrn e s littl e dr am a .

Th e two m en sa t f a cing ea ch other Byrnes ’

.

so ft eyes h a d a ss um ed their stee ly a s pec t a n d h e ,

looked stra ight at t h e c rimin a l as i f h e would rea d ’

t h e v e ry s ec re ts o f hi s sou l Mc Gloi n on hi s p a rt .
, ,

w as be coming more i ll a t ea s e eve ry mom ent .

He fing e re d hi s ha t a ve rt ed his g a z e an d fid g et ed
,

a ro un d lik e a h en o n a hot g riddl e .

Un expect e dly t h e door open ed an d a m an

en t er e d t h e roo m Byrne s remai n ed immova bl e
. .

H e did n ot spea k McG loin co uld n ot restra in

.

his cu riosity He stra in e d his n eck a n d be he ld

.

t h e p a wn broker with whom h e h ad pl ed g e d t h e

revolve r He gave a littl e gas p but be yond thi s
.
,
 TH E HANIE R M UR D ER 89

d i d not betra y hi mself Th e newc ome r walke d

.

over t o a tabl e in the room la i d an a rti cl e the re

,

an d noise l e ssly d e p a rt e d. McGloi n tu rn e d a round

d elibe ra tely to see wha t t h e p a wn broke r h a d l ef t .

It wa s t h e pistol with whi ch h e h ad kille d H a ine r .

Byrne s re ma in e d p e rf e ctly sil en t

.

This unn atura l qui e t wa s t oo much f or McGloi n .

He burst out v ehe m e ntly :

“
Wha t s th e m ean in g of a ll this ? Wh a t a re
’

y o u d ri v ing a t ? Wh a t do y o u w a n t ?
”
“
I want you t o t ell m e a ll you know abo ut t he
Han i er murd e r ,
wa s t h e pl a c id r e spo n s e
.

“
I ve a lrea dy to l d you I know n othin g
’
.

”
And I don t beli eve you wa s t h e re spon se
’
, ,

in qu i et c onve rs ati on a l ton e s .

I n sp ector Byrn e s a rose f rom his cha ir a t thi s

point in t h e int e rvi ew an d g oing ove r to t h e t able
,

picked up t h e pistol a n d bega n to f ondl e it lovingly .

He wa lk e d ove r t o Mc Gloi n a n d put th e w eapon in

his ha nd s.

A fin e revolve r eh ?
,

No res pons e .

“
J ust th e thin g to kill a m an with eh ? ,

McGloi n shudd e re d an d pu she d th e wea pon

bac k into t h e h a n ds o f t h e I n sp e ctor .

On c e more Byrn e s sat down i n hi s c ha i r f a cing

9 ° I N S PEC TOR BYRNES AN D

Presently t h e Inspecto r spoke a gai n

We ve got a m an who was a witnes s of t h e
’

”
m u rd e r on We st Tw enty -s ixth str ee t .

At that momen t by a pre a rra nged signal two

, ,

offi ce rs crosse d t h e co urtya rd gu a rding McGloi n s ’

p a l, Thom a s M or a n M c G .lo i n c o u ld see h i m d is

t i n ct ly a n d h e b e ca m e so e x cit ed tha t h e c ou ld

s ca rce ly s i t st i ll i n hi s c h a ir .

“ ”
That s n ot all c on tinu ed t h e chi ef
’

,
we
,

ha ve an other m an who wa s pre s en t on t h e ni ght

o f t h e mu rd e r .

And at that psycholo gi ca l momen t two othe r

g u a rds a pp e a r e d i n t h e c o u rty a rd with F r e d e ri c k
Ban field wa lki n g be tw ee n the m .

McGloin wa s out of hi s cha ir n ow gaz ing d own

i nto t h e y a rd with bulg ing eye s . Th e cold swea t
stood out in littl e be a ds on hi s f ore hea d
“ ”
In f a ct re su m ed t h e Ins pe ctor we rea ll y
, ,

have three m en who kn ow all abo ut t h e murd er

a n d who a r e pro ba bly pre p a re d to t e ll all th e y

know .

Th e gua rds a ppe a re d a g a in this tim e lea din g

,

Robert M orrise y .

McGloi n tu r ne d to his i n qu isitor Th e look in .

th os e steely eyes s e eme d to hold eve ry d e ta il of

his a wf ul s e cret He c o uld st a n d t h e st ra in n o
.
 T HE HANIE R M U RDER

“
I di d i t " I d i d i t " St op 1 For G od ’
s ke,
sa st o
p"
”
9 2 I NSPE CT OR BYRNE S AN D

long er He thr ew up hi s ha nds an d f e ll on the

.

floor in a hea p crying out : ,

“
I did it " I did it " Stop " For God s sa ke ’

stop "
Thu s en d e d t h e most dra ma ti c int e rvi ew e ver
h eld in a poli ce h ea dqua rte rs Wha t f ollowed .

was m e rely d et a il As soon as Mc Gloi n re cove re d

.

his s elf poss e ssion h e s a t down a n d conf e sse d in

-

d e ta il th e story of t h e mu rd e r of Lo u is Han i e r .

It a pp ea rs tha t th e f o ur rowd i es h a d be en
”
spottin g t h e shop of t h e Fren ch win e s e ll e r f or
ma ny d ays They be lieve d tha t h e would have a
.

l a rg e s um of mon ey in t h e hou s e a t t h e clos e o f t h e

hol i d a y tra d e an d they d elibe ra te ly c onceive d t h e
,

pla n of ro bbing t h e old m an Th ey kne w eno ug h .

a b o u t th e ir unla wf ul tra d e to g e t into t h e shop

witho ut difficu lty They h a d be en drinkin g At

. .

an y ra t e they m a d e s o mu ch noise they rouse d

,

Hani er f rom hi s Slu mbers He a ppea re d on t h e

.

l anding at t h e hea d of t h e sta i rwa y p a rtly dres sed .

Mc Gloi n who was a t h e f oot o f t h e st a irs i n st i n c

,
t
,

t i vely re a ch e d f or his r evol ver a n d pu lli ng t h e , ,

tri gg er fire d a t t h e d ef ens el e ss shopkee p er Th e

,
.

a i m was o nly t o o true Th e bull e t en t e re d t h e

.

he a rt of Lou is Ha ni e r a n d h e roll e d down t h e

st a irs a li f el e ss lump of clay .

This in sub sta n ce wa s t h e conf e ssion as it was

, ,
 THE HANIE R M U RDER 93

g l ea n e d f rom t h e lips o f t h e m u rd e r e r a n d hi s

c onf e d e ra t e s
. His on e cry to Insp ecto r Byrn e s
was :
S av e m e " S a v e m e " Do
“
not let the m han g
me "
But t h e gri m d et e ctive who h a d f orce d t h e
,

truth f rom un wi lling lips m a d e n o reply to thi s

,

hyst e ri cal a pp ea l a n d i n d ue cou rs e of tim e af te r

, ,

a t ri a l McG loi n w a s c onv i c t e d an d re c e i ve d t h e

,

f u ll p en a lty of t h e law a s it wa s then a dmi n ist e re d.

He wa s han ge d by t h e n e ck un til d ea d .
 P I NKER T O N AN D T HE GR EAT S AFE
R OBBERY .

[ Ro be r t A . Pi n k
born i n D un d ee I lli n oi s i n 1 84 8
e r to n wa s , , ,

an d d uc t d
e t N t
a eD m U i v i ty i I d i n
a o re Ha e n er s n n a a . e

w asth f A ll
e s on Pi k rt o t h f un d
o an f t h f mo u
n e n, e o er o e a s

d t ct i v
e e g cey B
a b P
eni k r t o . h
“
w f m oi l”
i l y n e n, as e as a ar

ca ll d h ad
e ,m ar v l u m m y f
a m d f c
e o s n d hi s
e or or n a es a n a e s, a

g ll
a y er f c i m i
o l ph tr g ph d
na b i g ph i w
o o ra
up s an o ra es as s

p d t b t h fi t i Am i c H m d b i g p u t a t i
ose o e e ne s n er a . e a e a re on

b y hi m th d f ha d li n g gre t c wd t t h
s e o o n ce t ra cks a ro s a e ra .

H w e m
as a f pl i g p
an o li t y d d i d m uch t w d
ea s n e r so n a an o ar

i tr d uci g p u ly b u i
n o n
y te m i to
re c c whi c h
s n e ss s s s n a on er n

is g red d
ar th
e m n t i c H d i d A u gu t
a s ra er ro a 9 7 . e e s 1 2, 1 0 ,

a bo d t h N t h G m Ll yd S tea m
ar e or B me whi le
er an o er re n
”

bo un d f E u pe " or ro

NE morni ngd a ylight t h e , bef ore ,

Uni te d St a t e s Expre ss C omp any was

robbe d of f orty thou s an d doll a rs ,

an d sad to sa y the re wa s n ot a
, ,

shr e d o f e vid en ce to t ell t h e story of how this

sm all f ortun e was p e rmitt e d to slip f rom t h e
g ra sp o f a c orpor a t i on th a t h a d t h e r ep u t a tion o f

b e in g on e o f t h e most ca re f u l a n d c on s e rva tiv e

in Ame ri ca Th e s cen e o f t h e robbe ry w as a t
.

S u squ eha nn a P ennsylva n i a a n d t h e loca l au

, ,

t h or i t i e s did e ve rything in the ir powe r to loca te

th e ca sh b u t a ll to n o a v a i l
,
.

( 9 4)
 T HE GREAT SAFE R O BBERY 95

F In thi s eme rg en cy th e compa ny enli ste d t he

se rvi c e s of Ro be rt A Pink e rton It i s probabl e
. .

that n o d et ective in th e world w as bett er e quippe d

“
t o g ra ppl e with a pro bl e m of thi s kind tha n Bob
Pink e rton He h a d t h e e xp e ri en ce o f a lif e
.

tim e i h f ollowing c rime of thi s pa rticula r chara ct e r ,

a n d al thoug h hi s a dv en t u re s w e re littl e known to

th e publi c a t l a rge h e en joyed t h e re put a tion o f

,

more su c c ess e s than an y othe r m an i n t h e a g en cy

He ca ll e d i n pe rso n a t S u squ e han n a t o l e a rn t h e
f ac t s in t h e ca s e He f o und eve ry on e in t h e l i ttl e
.

t own w rou ght u p to a n i n t ens e sta t e of n e rvou s

e x cit e m en t an d f o r a whi l e h ad d i ffi culty in
,

obtai ni ng a conne ct e d story of t h e myst e riou s

ca s e,
bu t hi s own c a lmn e ss co mm u ni ca t e d itse lf
t o t he local o ffi ce rs an d h e was so on poss ess e d of
'

all th ey kn e w re ga rdi n g t h e qu ee r d i s a ppea ra n ce

o f t h e mon ey .

On J un e 2 0 1 883 t h e M a rin e N a tiona l B a nk of

, ,

New York se nt to t h e First N a t i ona l B a nk of

S u squ ehann a a s ea l ed p a cka ge c onta ining f orty
thou sa nd doll a rs in cu rren cy a n d nat i ona l bank
n ot es . Th e mon ey w as to be u s ed in p a yment of
t h e wages of more tha n on e tho u s an d e mployee s o f
t h e E ri e R ailro ad C omp an y in t h e local shops Th e
, .

p a cka ge w as ca rri e d to t h e Uni t ed Sta t es Exp re ss

Co mp any s offi ce i n New York by a cl e rk o f t h e
’
9 6 R OBERT PINKERT ON A N D

M a rin e B an k who re ce ived a re ceipt f or it The .

mon ey cl erk o f t h e e xpre ss comp an y took cha rge

of t h e ca sh a n d in clos e d it in t h e re gu l a r ca nv as

po u ch s e al ed with t h e c omp an y s st amp an d

,
’

a tt a ch e d a t a g on w hi ch w a s t h e n a m e o f t h e co m

p ya n s a
’

g e n t a t S u squ e h ann a Th e po u c.h w as

d u ly d e live red to M ess en ge r Van Wagen en wh o

-

pl a ce d it i n t h e s af e with othe r va luabl es It w as .

midni g ht when h e re a che d S u squ e ha n na an d h e

t u rn e d t h e v a lu abl e p a cka ge ove r to Dwight
C ha mbe rl a in a n i ght cl e rk a n d w a t chma n wh o
, ,

wa s j oin tly employ e d by t h e e xpre s s comp any an d

th e Eri e R a ilro ad C omp any C ha mbe rl a in
.

promptly pl a ce d it in t h e sa fe in th e ti cket o ffi ce
a n d lo ck ed it with a key whi ch h e ca rri e d in hi s

po ck et He w as bu sily employed in his usual

.

d uti e s abo ut t he st ation f requ en tly be ing awa y

,

f rom t h e ti ck et o ffi ce until s e ve n o c loc k on t he

’

morni n g of t h e twe n ty fir s t -
.

Whil e ca stin g u p hi s a ccounts t he m ess eng e r

f rom t h e S u squ eh ann a ba nk a rri v e d a n d ca ll ed
f or t h e p a c ka ge Th e po u ch was t a ken f rom t h e
.

saf e but in stea d of th e f orty tho u san d dolla rs in

,

ca sh a n um be r o f sm a ll p a ck a g e s o f b rown ma ni lla
,

pa pe r cu t a bou t t h e siz e of b ank bills w e re f ound

, ,

in t h e re c ept a cl e .

M r Pinke rton f o und him se lf co nf ronte d by one

.
 THE GREAT SAFE ROBBERY
'

97
of t h e biggest jobs of hi s prof e ssional ca ree r He .
,

ma d e a ca ref ul p e rson al e xamin a tion of t h e pre m

i ses a n d c ross e xa min e d all t h e witness e s tha t co uld
-

be re a ch e d B e f ore h e h a d be en on t h e ground
.

m any min ute s h e m a d e t h e dis cove ry tha t t h e

,

po uch f ound i n t h e saf e was a dum my ma d e up t o

rese mbl e t he po uches u s e d by t h e company but ,

with a diff erent s ea l an d t ag Th e p urpos e was .

p la in ; t h e s ub stit u tion h a d be e n m a d e i n or d e r
t o g iv e t h e thi eve s a mpl e tim e t o g et aw a y with
their ri ch booty F urther inve stigation con
.

vi n ced Pink e rton tha t t h e right p o uch h a d b e en

d elivere d to t h e clerk at th e S usquehanna t i cket

offi ce This be ing t he ca se either Chamberla in
.
, ,

t h e night cl e rk or s om e of th e employee s or
, ,

some othe r p e rs on unknown w a s gu ilty C ha m

, , .

be rla i n w as subj ec t e d t o a rigid c ros s e xami na tion -

an d at its c on cl u sion Mr Pinke rton e xp re sse d

,
.

t h e beli e f th a t h e wa s en tire ly inn o cent of an y

c ompli c ity in t h e the ft A ca reful w a t ch kept
.

on all o f t h e e mploye e s o f t h e comp any b ro ug ht

n o d e ve lopm en ts .

At thi s stage of t h e game t h e d et ective b ro a d

en e d t h e lin e of his i n qu i ry so as t o in cl u d e e v ery

man woman an d child in t h e town of Sus qu e

, ,

han na Some instinctive f eelin g probably t he

.
—

resu lt of his lon g years of exp e ri en ce ma d e him —

98 R OBE RT PINKERTON AND

be l i eve th at th e crim e h a d orig ina t ed in th e li ttle

’

town in P ennsylv ania Af t e r lea rni ng as much

.

as po s si bl e abo ut t h e pe rson al hi story o f th e in bah

i tan ts h e be gan t h e proce ss of elimi na tion dr op

, ,

ping out nam es o f all thos e to whom h e was

mora ll y convin ced no s u spi cion could be a ttac he d .

Then h e a sce rt a ined t h e n am es o f all pe rsons who

h ad l ef t t h e town wi thin t h e p re cedi ng tw elve
months an d as a re s ult of this l ea rn ed tha t George
, , ,

H Proctor t h e f oreman of t h e bo ile r shops o f the

.
,

Eri e R ai lro ad C omp any ha d g one to B uff alo

,

abou t a month a f t e r t h e robbe ry Thi s was a .

ri ch l ea d an d t h e d et ective f ollow ed it up with

g rea t e a g e rn es s H e lo
. ca t e d Pro ct or in B q a lo

without an y di ffi cu l ty an d l ea rn e d tha t t h e man

w as en gag ed i n spe cu l ating in oil an d tha t h e h ad
,

m a d e consid erabl e pr ofit f rom th at occu p ation .

He was sha dow ed night an d d ay his h abits clo sely,

w at ched an d an a ccura te e xa mina tion ma d e into

,

hi s fin an ci al condition It was l ea rned that Since

.

hi s a rrival in B uff a lo h e h ad d e pos ite d e l even

thou s and do lla rs in thr ee of t h e ban ks of that city .

A retu rn to Sus queh anna d ev elope d t h e f act tha t

whil e P roctor live d in t h e town h e ha d no mon ey
bey on d hi s sala ry Fu rthe rmo re it was l ea rn ed
.

tha t on va riou s occa sion s h e ha d been in com

rmmi ca ti on with pe op l e in C ana d a whose re puta
 THE GREA T SAFE R O BBERY 99

tions we re wha t they sho uld ha ve been

n ot
'

Du ring all this ti me Proc tor o ff an d on visited

.

, ,

hi s h om e an d hi s p e opl e i n S u squ e ha nna

fi
.

Pinkerton no w fe lt th a t th e time h a d c ome for

s om e positiv e move i n t h e c a se Acco rdingly h e .

se ttle d down in S u squehanna an d pa ti en tly

a w ait e d Proctor s n e xt visit t o his f amily The
’ “

m an c a me in t h e c o urs e of a fe w w ee k s an d Pink ~

e rt on who h ad a s s um e d an a li a s c a sua lly f o un d

, ,

P roctor . He in vit e d him out f or a st roll and

to hi g o

hot el an d smoke a ciga r On ce there t he d etec .

,
"

tiv e tu rned t o P roc tor a nd s a id Sh arply .

It s no us e Pro ctor th e g am e is u p "

“ ’ ”
, ,

Wha t d o you me an ? ga spe d th e a stoni sh ed

”

an d t h at I h ave in th e sa f e robbe ry
a ll of t h e f a cts .

You ha v e e x c l a im ed t h e oth e r .

“
I ha ve was t he response an d th e Soon er
, ,

we c lose it o ut th e be tte r .

Af ter thi s Proctor threw off all res e rve an d “

adm i tted his gui lt He s a id f urther that h e h ad

.
. , ,

been t h e tool of two m en n am e d M a rtin an d C 01

li n s wh o we re now in C anad a They ha d given
,
.
“

hi m el e ven tho usand do ll ar s a s hi s sh are of the

roo R OBERT PI N K ERTON AND

b ooty whi ch h e h ad pl ac e d i n a gl a ss j a r an d
buri e d it in t h e y a rd of hi s ho u se l e a ving i t the re
,

until hi s re mo va l to B u ff alo Pink e rton beli e ved

.

this story an d a rrang ed to pe rmit Proc tor t o g o a t

l ibe rty d ete rmining t o hold him as witn e ss f or t h e
,

pr o sec ution an d also a s a d ec oy to bring C ollin s

an d M ar tin f rom C an ad a wh e r e th e y h a d g o n e t o

be be yon d t h e re ac h of t h e Am e ri ca n law Proc .

tor was a llowe d to rema in at his home i n Su s qu e

hanna pl edging hi mself to k ee p Pinke rton s
,
’

a g en cy c o n s ta ntly i nf o rm e d o f his mov em e n ts .

On e mo r ning howe ve r h e b roke h i s p a rol e with

, ,

out w a rni n g .

Mu ch cha grin e d a t th e mi sta ke h e h ad m a d e in

th e c ha ract e r of Pro ctor Pink e rt on se t ab o ut to
,

reca ptu re t h e three robbe rs Hi s first st ep was .

to put out a r urrmr tha t t h e trio were be ing soug ht

by t h e poli ce f or a burgl a ry commi tted i n C ana d a .

On h ea ring this M a rtin C ollins an d P roc tor

, ,

purch a s e d ti ckets to Portl and f rom whence they

h a d t ak e n p a s s a ge by t el eg ram on a st eam er
, ,

s ch e dul e d f or Lon don Pinke rton was inf orm ed

.

o f thi s throu g h t h e v a rio u s a g en c i e s a t hi s c o n t rol ,

an d st a tioned hims e lf a t Isl and Po n d a point in ,

Ve rmont where t h e Grand Trunk R a ilwa y crosse s

t h e line into t h e U n it e d Sta t es He boa rd ed t h e
.

t rain an d int e rvi ew ed t h e c on d u ctor who tol d

THE GREAT SAFE ROB BERY ror
1 02 R OBERT PINKERTON AND

hi m that M a rt i n a n d C ollins e vid en tly su specti ng ,

t ro ubl e h a d j u mp e d f rom t h e tra i n d u ring a

,

t empora ry slow down on t h e C a n a d i an sid e He

-
.

sa id however tha t t h e third m an was still in hi s

, ,

be rth .

“ ”
Wha t do e s h e look like ? a ske d Pink e rton .

I sho uld j udg e tha t h e is a bout thi rty five -

y e a rs old s a i d th e c on d u ctor is som ething like

, ,

fi ve f ee t ni n e i n che s in heig ht sp a re l y built with , ,

s ha rp f e a t u re s s a n d y ha ir a n d r e d s i d e whi ske rs
, ,
-

a n d mu st a c h e .

Th a t s m y m an was t h e qu i c k re spon s e
’
.
,

” “
B e sid e s t h at s aid t h e c on d u ctor h e t alks
, ,

like a hou se on fir e an d h e en t e rt a ine d t h e oth e r

,

p a s s e n g e rs d u rin g t h e j o u rn e y by hi s skill as a

mu si ci an .

“
Th a t is enough s a id Pinke rto n an d he
, ,

st a rte d f or th e be rth wh ere Pro ctor wa s Sl eeping .

P u shing hi s h an d i n h e Shook t h e m an roughl y

, .

“ ”
Wh a t s it wa s t h e sl e epy re spo n s e
i ?
”
Tim e to g et u p s a i d t h e d et e cti ve hurry
, , .

Pro ctor j ump e d o ut of be d a n d stood i n t h e

p a ss a g e w a-
y o f t h e ca r r u b b i ng
,
hi s e y e s wit h his
fis t
Wh a t do you want ? ”
he ri e d gruffiy Wha t
c ,

do yo u m ean by g etting a f e llow ou t of bed so

”
e a rly in t h e morn i n g ?
1 04 R OBERT PI NKERTON AND

towa rd s th e tool che st Proctor ea sily pi cke d out

.

t h e s a f e key a s h e w alk e d a lon g He h a d a sm all .

pi ece of Whit e p a p e r in his hand an d whi l e h e ,

c o n v e rs e d with t h e cl e rk h e rubbe d t h e key ti g htly

,

on t h e so f t p a p e r Th e impre ssion wa s p e rfect

. .

It was a ll Pro ctor n eed ed Tha t ni ght bef ore go .

,

i ng to bed h e h a d a key ex a ctly like t h e sa f e key

,

on t h e cl e rk s bu n c h
’
such is t h e e xpe rtne s s of
—

“ ”
fitt e rs in t h e bu rg l ar s world B ef ore morning
’
.

h e h a d t h e pl an of a ll t h e d et a ils of t h e robbe ry .

He did not d e em it s af e to att empt t h e ent e rp ri se

a lone so h e s e cu re d t h e a i d of t h e two Ca na d i ans
, ,

n a m e d C olli n s a n d M a rti n At t h e tim e they were

.

livin g n ea r t h e S usp ension Bri dge .

P ro ctor now f oun d that t h e po u ch conta ining

th e f o rty tho u s an d doll a rs wo uld l ea v e New Yo rk
a t s i x o clo c k in t h e e v ening on J un e 2 0t h The
’
.

tra in a rrive d in S u squeh anna a t three o clo ck in ’

t h e morning . In sixty min ut e s t h e po u ch ha d

been put in t h e s a f e by t h e a g en t an d t a k en o ut
by t h e conspira tors Th e b ogu s bag an d s ea l h a d
.

a l rea d y be en pre p a re d a n d as soon as t h e g enuin e

,

po uch wa s t a ken out t h e othe r was put in it s pl a ce .

Th e sub stit ution took pl ac e whil e t h e a g ent was

bu sily enga g e d i n t h e wa y b ill d e p a rtm en t of t h e
-

station at f ou r o clo ck in t h e morn ing Th e ag ent

’
.

was o ut of e a r shot a t t h e time M a rtin open ed

-
 THE GREAT SAFE ROB BERY 1 05

th e saf e with th e key tha t Pro ctor h ad m ad e an d

took t h e bag cont a i ning t h e money Th e s ub .

st i t u t e was put in its pl ace a n d t h e s af e loc ke d ,

an d in t en minut e s time C ollin s a n d M a rtin ca r ry

’
;
,

i n g a va lis e with t h e f orty tho u s an d doll a rs took a

,

tra in f or C orry P e nnsylv a ni a ; f rom th en ce the y

,

wen t to S chenect a dy an d then to S u sp ension

,

Br idge wh e re Pro ctor was waitin g f or them

, Th e.

obj e ct of this circu ito us j ourn ey was to throw any

o n e off t h e t ra il in c a s e th ey w e re f ollow e d At .

S u sp ension Bridge t h e three con spira tors m et

an d d i vid e d the ir loot Pro ctor rece iv e d th ir
.

t een tho us an d doll a rs as his sha re of t h e booty ,

an d ca lm l y return e d to S u sque hanna where, ,

putting on hi s ove ra lls an d working clothes he ,

resu me d hi s employm ent in t h e b oil e r Shop s .

Eve rybo d y in Su squ ehann a wa s t alking of the

robbe ry an d P ro ctor talke d as lo u dly an d as
,

e x citedl y as a n y of t h e c itiz en s In t h e m ea n
.

time hi s thirt een thou s an d doll ars wa s bu ri ed

,

i n a f ru it j a r in t h e littl e g a rd en b a c k of hi s
home With i nfinit e c are h e bu ri ed it with t he
.

mouth of t h e j ar down so that th e wat er coul d

not get into t h e re cepta cle an d spoil th e mone y .

N either hi s wif e n or hi s chi ldren knew of thi s

bu ri ed tre a sure It wa s when h e took up th e
.

mon ey an d wen t to B uffalo an d began specu

,
1 06 ROBERT PI NK ERTON AN D

lating in oil tha t h e d ug t h e pit whi ch was to be

Robe rt Pink e r ton was mu ch cha g rin ed to think

tha t Proctor h ad bee n abl e to hoodwink hi m in t h e
ea r ly p a rt o f t h e afi a i r . I n st ea d o f be ing an
inno cen t a cc ompli ce h e was a prof e ssio n al burg la r
,

with a che ckered c aree r Proc tor wh en h e began

.
,

th e s e riou s p art o f his li f e w as a firs t c l a ss me

,
-

cha ni c an d a t an e a rly a g e be ca m e t h e f or e m an o f

t h e Po r tl an d b oil e r works Th e p a ssion f or

.

g a m b li n g ca u s e d him to los e his positio n a n d m a,

f ew y ea rs h e h a d join e d a g rou p of ea st e rn bu r
“ ”
g lar s,
a ctin g f o r th e m as a fi tt e r i n op e n i ng
sa f es In t h e C en t enni al yea r a ft er h e wa s con
.
,

vi cte d o f a sa f e robbe ry i n Lowell h e w a s s en t to ,

t h e M a ssa chu s etts Sta te Prison a t Ch a rl e ston f or

f ou r y ea rs . He b e c a m e organi st o f t h e p rison an d
ha d un u sua l pri vil e g e s . As a re sult h e be ca m e
a c qu a int ed with C h a rl e s B ull a rd a f e llow c on vi ct , ,

wh o w as serving a tw enty yea rs t e rm f or brea king

’
-

into th e Boylston B an k Boston an d tog eth er the y

, ,

c on ceive d a pl a n o f es ca p e Proc tor mad e i m

.

pre ssion s o f t h e cell door keys an d m ad e keys out

o f old kniv es . From time to time h e g ather ed
en o u g h cloth e s to b e u s e d by hims e lf an d B ull a rd

wh en the ir pl a ns of e s c a p e h a d f u lly rip en ed .

Th e clothe s i n t h e m ea ntime we re d e ftly hid in

, ,
 THE GREAT SAFE R OB BERY '

10 7

t h e t op o f t h e o rgan On e e ventf ul ni ght Procto r

.
, ,

Bu l la rd an d se ven oth er lon g t e rm convi cts -

e sca ped ,
Pro ctor a n d B u ll a rd went t o C a na da by
wa y of Ne w York In Toron to they robbed t h e
.

ti cke t offi ce of t h e Grand Trunk Ra i lway C o m

pan y a t Broc kville of three thou s an d dol la rs
, ,
.

A f ew d ay s la t e r the y robbe d anothe r ti ck e t

,

office n ea r Q u ebec of f ou r tho u sand doll a rs

,
.

Af t e r tha t Proctor g ot work in t h e Toro nto S a f e

,

Works an d a f te r whil e w a s promot e d to a tra v el

i n g sale sm a nship . Wh en h e sold a s a f e h e ,

a rra ng e d t h e c omb in a tion a n d B u ll a rd wo uld

f ollow him a wli t t le l a t e r an d r ob t h e s a f e Th e .

su sp i cio n of t h e s af e c omp an y even tu ally ca u se d

his dismiss a l .

On anothe r oc c a sion Pro ctor a tt e mpt e d to

b rea k j a il but did not m e e t with his u su a l s u cce ss .

He p ri e d t h e ba rs o ff t h e ce ll door but wh e n h e
,

r ea ch e d t h e c orridor t h e sh e ri ff stopp e d him a t t h e

point o f th e pistol As a re s u lt of this h e was

.
,

s en t en ce d to e ight yea rs solita ry c onfin ement p a rt ,

o f this f or his o ri g in a l o ff e n ce an d two y ea rs f o r

a tt e m pting to b rea k j a il A wee k af t er this

.
,

pi ece s of pa p er were f oun d on t he floor of hi s cell

bea rin g t h e impression s o f t h e key o f h i s c e ll door ,

th e c orridor door a n d t h e door l e ading t o t h e

,

stree t It wa s af t er h e h ad s erved this se n tence

.
1 08 T HE GREAT SAFE ROBBERY

that h e went to S u squehann a an d lived as an

hon e st m an until t h e opportunity cam e f or hi m
to t a ke p a rt in t h e great saf e robbe ry .

“
Th e King o f B urg l a rs, as Pro ctor was ca ll ed
,

was g iven a lon g s en t en ce f or t h e S u squehanna

Express Robbe ry at ha rd l abor in th e E a st e rn
,

P enit en ti a ry at Phil a d e lphi a His a ccompli ces

,
.
,

so f a r a s known w e re n e ve r ca pt u red
,
.
 C HI E F KE LL Y AN D T HE D E SER T E D
HOUS E .

[ Fra n ci s R Ke ll y r e ga r d e d a s t h e m ost ce leb r a te d B a n k

.
,

De te c t i ve i n A me r i ca w o n hi s s p ur s i n q ui t e a n o t he r fie ld
”
,

of c i mi l
r na i n ve s t i ga ti o n It w a s w hi le i n t h e g o ve r n e n t
.
‘

m
se c
re t se r vi c e t h at u wh ch
he e n ga ge d i n t h e a d ve n t r e i i s re
l t d i t hi r t i cl P i t hi t uggl wi t h t h mo on
a e n s a e . r or o s s r e e
“

s hi n er s h was i n t h p oli c d p t m
”
e t f P hi l d lphi e e e ar en o a e a,

an d f m ti m
o r so v d e chi f f d t ct i v i t h "u ker
e se r e as e o e e es n e a

Ci ty Af t l vi n g t h e g v m t vi c h b c m t h
. er ea o er n en se r e e e a e e

B k D t c ti v f t h fin ci l d i t i ct of P hi l d lphi a
an e e e
”
or e an a s r a e

an d th h er eb see n ve y d y
e ca n in h i g u rd i n g
e e r a ,
ra or s ne , a

t h i n t i t ut i
e s whi ch s helt er a ts co n rva ti v ly v lued a t
on s sse se e a

Ove r

N t he 8th o f Apri l 1 874 F ranci s R , , .

K e lly was gra nt ed l ea ve o f absence

f rom t h e P hi l a d e lphi a poli ce f orce
a n d dire ct e d to re port to J am e s J .

B rooks a t th e time promi nen t as a d e t e ctive in t h e

,

Uni te d Sta t e s se cr et s e rvi ce Th e pu rpos e o f hi s .

assignm en t was ke pt a pro f ound s ec ret By .

a ppointm en t h e m et D e t ec tive Brooks a t t h e

,

P enn sylvani a R a ilro a d st ation i n P hi l a d elphi a ,

a n d wh en h e sta rt e d n o t e ven t h e m e mb e rs o f hi s

f am ily kn e w hi s de stin a t i on or t h e pu rpos e o f hi s

jou rney Wh en K elly m et Brooks at t h e ga te
.

( 1 0 9)
1 10 C HIEF KELLY AND

l ea ding to t h e trai n h e hand ed him a t i cke t to

,

Ne w Orl ea ns by wa y o f t h e g rea t J a ckson ro ut e .

A word of pref a ce m ay help t o e xpl a in how

K elly c am e to receive this a s signm en t whi ch was ,

t o prove on e o f t h e most d ang e ro u s a n d importa nt

in his whol e prof ession a l ca ree r Whi le h e was a .

poli ce o ffi cer in the Twen ty sec ond poli ce district

« -

o f P hi l a d e lp hi a h e was g oin g t o hi s hom e ea rly o n e

,

mo rni ng i n J anu a ry 1 8 74 a n d p assing a big

, ,

distill e ry on Twe n t i eth stree t above B erks h e was ,

a ccost ed by a voi ce whi ch whispe re d hu skily :

“ ”
Is tha t you Joe ?
,

It wa s s o d ark a n d f oggy tha t a pe rs on co ul d

ha rdly s ee his f a ce be f ore him ; but on t h e im p ulse
“
o f t h e mom en t K e lly r e pli e d Ye s a n d th e n
,

ha lt e d to a wa i t d evelopmen ts Pre sen tly a two .

hors e t ea m fill e d with illi cit l i quor which ha d b e en

,

d i still e d i n t h e f a c tory sta rt ed out of t he place

, .

K elly j ump e d into t h e wa gon a n d p ull ed a pistol

on t h e drive r a n d dire c t e d h i m t o g o to a c e rta in
.

poin t in t he c ity whi ch ha pp en ed to be t h e pol i ce

,

sta tion The re h e was pl aced un d e r a rrest The

. .

se i z ure of thi s distill ery an d t h e a rrest of th e

g ov e rn m e n t stor e k e e p e r a n d hi s c onvi ction whi c h
f ollow ed w as t h e m ea ns o f b ring ing Frank K e ll y
,

b e f ore t h e n ot i ce o f his su p e rior o ffice rs both in

Phila d elphi a an d Wa shington .
 THE DESERTED H OUSE 1 11

Th e sequ el wa s thi s myst e riou s a ssignm en t

whi ch be g an at t h e Bro a d Street st a tion i n Phila
d elphi a Af ter they h a d f a irly sta rted on their
.

j ou rne y M r Brooks j oined K elly in t h e c a r a n d

.

introd u ce d him to t he other two m en on e be ing ,

Alf red Brooks his s on a n d t h e othe r John M it chell

, , ,

a nothe r s e cr et s e rvi c e ope ra t i v e M r Brooks e x

. .

pla in e d t h e mission to t h e party in a f ew words .

A short time be f ore Pre si d en t Gra n t Simon

, ,

C a m eron a n d Al e x a n d e r P Tu tton who wa s the n

.
,

su pe rvi sor o f in t ern al reven u e f or P en n sylvan ia ,

h a d a c onf e ren c e a t t h e Whit e Hou s e c o n c e rn ing

t h e ope ra tion s o f t h e whisky rin g whi ch h a d ,

be come a n a t i on a l s c and a l a n d was s o po w e rf u l

that t he g ove rnm ent wa s be in g robbe d o f million s o f
doll a rs Gene ral Grant who wa s d ee ply int ere st e d
.

in probing t h e ma t t er to t h e bottom l ean e d ove r .

h i s d e sk a n d wi th t h e i n evit ab l e st u mp o f a ci ga r
betw ee n his s et t ee th a nn ou n c ed h i s pu rpos e of
,

transf e rrin g all su p e rvisors o f in t ern al reven u e in

e v e ry s e ct i on o f t h e c o u n t ry .

Mr Tutton a t this point e xpre ss e d a doubt con

.

c ern ing t h e wisdom o f su ch a c tion He s a id it

“

wou ld be th e me an s o f p un i shing m any g ood offi

c e rs a n d wo u ld n ot b e j u st .

General Gr an t took a f re sh g rip on hi s ciga r an d

1 1 2 C HIEF KELLY AND
”
Wh t a m I to do the n
a ,
?

M r Tutton repli e d
.

“
F i nd o ut t h e id en t i ty o f t h e crooke d distill ers
an d t h e g ov e rnm en t o ffice rs who a r e S hi el d ing
”
th em a n d p u nish both .

It wa s s uggest e d to t h e Pre si d en t tha t D et e ctive

J am e s J Brooks was a sa f e m an to in trust with
.

a n impo rt an t work o f t hi s ch a ra ct e r an d th a t h e

co u ld g et D et e ctive Fra nk K elly t o a ssist hi m .

Th e Pre sid en t repli ed imm e di a t ely

“
I will do as you a dvise we will t a k e Brooks—

an d K elly .

Th is e xpl a ins why D ete ctive K e lly D etective ,

Brooks his s on an d John M it chell w ere bound f or

, ,

New Orl eans on t h e 8th d ay o f April in 1 8 7 4 .

In h i s po cket M r K elly ca rri ed a l ette r f rom

.

S e cre ta ry o f Wa r B elkn a p to t h e c omma nd ant of

t h e ga rrison a t New Orl ea ns d i re cting him to ,

fu rn ish t h e be a re r Frank K e lly a t a mom ent s

’
— —

noti ce s u ch a n u mbe r o f sold i e rs a s h e should call

,

f or. This commun i ca tion was sign ifi cant It .

indi ca t e d ve ry cl e a rly tha t th ey we re to a ct alone

an d witho u t t h e a i d a ssist an c e or knowl ed g e o f
,

a n y o f t h e g ov e rnm e n t o ffici a ls c o nn ect e d with

t h e r even u e a t New Orl ea n s .

Th ey bega n work a lmost i mm edia t ely u pon

th eir a rriva l in t h e C res cen t C ity Th ey s e p a rat ed .
 THE DESERTED H OUSE 1 1 3

in ord er n ot to c rea t e an y su spi cion ; but eve ry

night they m et M r Brooks f o r re port an d in st ruo
.

tions All of t h e bi g d i sti ll e ri e s in t h e neighbo r

.

hoo d o f New Orl ean s were sha dowe d ; the ir pro

p r i et o rs clos e ly w a tc h e d
, a n d a n e v e r f a iling
-
t a b
kept u pon e ve ry on e of t h e g ove rnm ent offici a ls
c onn e c t e d with t h e re v e nu e .The re wa s fin e d e
t e ct i ve work t o be don e both d a y an d ni g ht It
‘

l a st ed for man y we e ks an d when t h e c lima x ca m e

a n d th e re su lts w e re a cc omplished i n a sing le

ni g ht t h e e ntire co untry wa s st a rtl e d by t h e

Th e e stablis hm ent on whi ch t h e g rea tes t

a mo unt of s uspi cion w as direct e d was a bi g dis

ti ll ery on th e other sid e o f th e river But while

.

t h e d et e ctive s w ere morally c er ta in that an illi cit

busine ss wa s be ing co n d u ct e d there they were .

without positive evid en ce u pon whi ch they co uld

pro ceed l eg ally For th e p u rpos e s of this a rti cle
.

“ ”
th e pla ce S hall be known as t h e Bi g Ben It .

was gu a rd e d d a y an d nig ht by a rm ed m en an d an y ,

pl ace d hi s lif e in j eopa rdy .

Th e probl em was t o ca t c h t h e p romot e rs of t h e

co n c e rn r e d ha n d e d
-
to fin d them i n t h e ve ry a ct
—

o f dist i l l ing an d S hipping i lli c it liqu or Th e firs t

.

move towa rd this en d was to smugg le seve ra l

1 1 4 C HIEF KEL LY AND

sec ret s e rvi ce m en into t h e insid e They secur ed

.

e mploym en t in t h e e st ab lishm en t a n d thu s k ep t

t ab on a ll o f t h e qu ee r h appe nin g s o f th e place .

Th a t w as o nly t h e begi n ni ng Th e next most

.

import an t ste p wa s to a rrang e a plan of si gnals by

whi ch t he Unit ed Sta tes officers cou ld be g ui d ed i n
m aki ng th ei r ra id Th ere was a d e se rte d ho use
.

o n t h e sid e o f t h e rive r whe re t h e d istille ry wa s

loca t e d an d it was d ec id e d t o ma k e use of thi s

as a signa l st a tion .On e o f t h e d e tective s was
su pplied with a la rg e l ante rn an d provid ed with a
key to t h e hou s e . On t h e first ni ght that the
co n dition s w e re f a vora bl e he w as t o go into t h e

third story f ron t room of t h e hou s e an d p lace th e

li ght e d la nt e rn in a position i n th e window where
it co u ld be s een on t h e other sid e o f th e rive r
’

Night a ft er ni g ht D et ecti ve K elly waite d on

th e New Orl eans side of t h e river f or th e sig nal
from t h e d ese rte d hou s e .An d ni ght a f te r ni g ht
he was c onf ronte d by gr ea t ba nks o f h ea vy

t i en ce h a d most cea s e d to be a vi rtue a bri ght

al ,

whi te spot a pp ea re d f rom out of th e g loom .

It was t h e lan t e rn in t h e d e ser t ed house .

K elly pull ed o ut a whistl e an d su mmoned hi s

men at on ce They res po nd ed with alacrity an d
.

in af ew m inu t e s we re i n a bi g fia t boa t t ha t had

-
 THE DESERTED H OUSE 1 5

been kept on hand f or th e p u rpos e Th ere h ad

‘

been heavy flood s in tha t s ection of t h e s outh an d ,

t h e M ississippi Riv e r was swoll en to a n a bn o rm al

siz e The sec re t s e rvice m en a rme d to t h e t ee th
.
, ,

ent e red t h e b oa t in a f e w s ec o n ds Th e c olore d .

men who we re to do the rowi ng showed some hes i

h

C ome on , o
y u ra scals sho ut ed Ke lly
, , g t
e

in tha t bo a t an d g e t to w or k .

It looks m ighty d ange rou s b oss mutt ered , ,

“
t he chie f oa rs man Tha t s why t h e boys ar e so
’
.

slo w .

It i s mi ght y d ange ro us reto rt ed K e lly

, .

That s why I want t h e boys t o be qui e

’

They sta rte d off with a wi ll th e turbul ent ,

wa te rs d a shing ove r t h e sid es of t h e bo a t a n d

spla shing th e f a ces o f p a s sen ge rs K elly fu lly .

rea l iz ed th e pe ril o f cros sing the rive r on such a bad

ni g ht but his f ea rs i f h e h ad an y we re ke pt
, ,

f oll owed immediat ely a f t er t he first In it was .

a d eta il of s oldi e rs und e r t h e co mma nd of a com

mi ss ioned ofii c er an d the s e were all subj ec t to t h e
«
.
1 1 6 C HI E F K ELLY AND
w as in th e first bo a t a n d h e encoura ged th e lusty
oa rsm en to d o th eir be st Th ey worked like
.

Troj ans At times it looke d as i f t h e ri ckety boa t

.

might ca psiz e a n d throw th em all to t he b ottom

o f t h e mu ddy str ea m All were a la rmed To
. .

a d d to t h e t e rro r of t h e w a t e rs it b ecam e so d ark

,

a t tim e s tha t t h e o a rs m en co u l d s ca rcely f o ll ow

thei r co urse K elly point ed to t he li ght in t he

.

window of t h e d e s ert ed ho us e .

Boys h e sa id keep yo ur eye on tha t li g ht

, , .

Th ey di d so p ulling a way aga inst grea t od ds

, .

On ce t h e bo a t sp rung a l ea k a n d there threa t ened

to be a pani c a mong t he frig ht en ed p as s engers .

K elly with a dmirable presen ce of min d quelled

thei r fea rs Bits o f sti cks we re whittled an d
.

plugg ed into t h e hol e s S evera l of th e s ecre t

.

s e rvi ce m en with sponges an d t i n ca ns preven t ed

t h e bo a t f rom ac cu m u la ting an y grea t qu antity
o f w at e r . With the s e exp e di en ts they managed
to progress f a irly w ell S u dd enly t h e c hi ef oa rs
.

m a n u tte re d a cry o f disma y

“ ”
Wh at s t h e m att er
’
? a sk e d K e lly .

Th e light s o ut "
’

S ure enough t h e l i ght i n t h e win dow of th e

d es e rt ed ho u s e h a d been extingu ish ed All so rts .

o f f oreb od i n g s fill ed th e ir m i n ds C o u ld it be tha t

.

the ir ca refully la id pl ans h ad go n e entirely as tray ?

 THE DESERTED H OUSE 1 1 7

S ca rcely " C o uld t h e ma n in th e ho us e have bee n

a tt k
ac e d ? Tha t w as possibl e At a n y ra t e they
.

c o n tin ue d th e ir j o u rn ey to t h e oth e r si d e It .

wo u l d n ot do to wea k en at thi s st ag e o f t h e g ame ,

no ma tte r what t h e con se quence s Th e b o a t .

ro cked dre a dfu lly at this poin t They were .

sca re d I n d eed it is n o e xagge ration to s ay tha t f or

.

many min ut e s they f ea re d d e a th b ut fina lly they

,

rea ched th e othe r sid e o f t h e stre a m Th e m es .

s eng e r f rom t h e d e se rte d hou se a wa it ed them on

t h e bank . To the ir d e li ght h e h a d n ot m et with
a n y di ffi cu lty be yond th a t whi ch cam e with t h e

storm an d t h e ra in A su dd en gu st of wind h a d
.

blown ou t t h e l a n t e rn a n d a s all o f hi s m a t che s

,

were wet h e wa s unabl e to re p a ir t h e mis f ortun e

,
.

K elly a n d his c omp a nion s prep a re d f or t h e st ill

more se riou s pa rt of their a dvent ure A fin e mist .

was n o w f alling ; it wa s d a rk a n d di s ag re ea bl e .

Th e wid e b a nks o f t h e gre a t rive r w e re ove rflow ed

a n d th ey h a d a f o u r mil e m a rch to t h e Bi g Ben
-

disti ll e ry thro ugh t h e low m a rsh country be ing

/ ,

compell e d a t i nt e rva ls to w a d e thro ugh mud a n d

wa t er u p to th e a rmpits .

K elly took t h e l ea d with hi s a ssist ants f ollowing

some distan ce behi nd He hea d e d st ra ight f or
.

t h e Bi g Ben distill e ry D et e ctive Brooks with

.
,

a noth e r d et a i l o f m en w a s a f t e r a n othe r e st ablish

,
1 1 8 C HI EF KELLY AND

m ent i n diff erent s e ction Thing s h a d been

a .

plann ed s o th a t t h e v a rio u s c hi e f s sho uld sim ul

t an e o u sly swoop down on t h e s ever a l law brea king -

c o n c e rn s. K e lly stumbl e d ahea d som etim e s f a ll ,

i n g into p u ddl e s o f wa t er a n d a t othe r tim e s be ing

,

c o nf ro n t e d with g rea t hill oc ks o f m u d u n til t h e ,

a ff a i r b e g an to lo se all o f t h e fl a vor o f ro ma n ce ,

But h e w as a cc ustom ed to ha rd eve ry d ay pro s a i c ,

-

work a n d h e plodd e d a lon g st ea d i ly e very mi n ut e

, ,

c oming n ea re r t o t h e g o a l .

From t h e in f orm ation they h a d re c eive d a ll of ,

t h e w a t chm en a t t h e distill e ry w e re e ith e r a sl e ep

or o ff g u a rd Th ey
. w e r e soo n u n d ece i v e d .

Pre s ently t h e walls of t h e bu ild i n g loom e d u p in

t h e dista n ce A g a t e l ea d i n g i n to t he premise s
.

w as l oc k e d It w as f orce d open As D et ective

. .

K elly st epp e d in sid e a figu re emer g ed o ut o f th e

,

da rkn e ss .

”
Who g o es there call ed a voi ce
? .

”
A f ri en d re spon d e d t h e d et ect i ve who h a d
,

b een g ive n t h e c ou n t e rsi gn .

Somethin g i n t h e ton e o f t h e reply mu st ha ve

r o u s e d t h e m a n s s u spi c io n s f o r h e hu rri e d f orth with
’

a pistol i n hi s ha n d He c onf ron t e d t h e d e tec tive

. .

”
Wh a t do you wan t h e re ? h e sa id men ac ing ly .

”
Tha t s my b u si n e ss was t h e j aunty reply
’

, .

”
You go b ac k to you r post .
 THE D ESERTED HOU SE 1 1 9

“
He g ave the p oi n t of t he p i st l
o a ki ck t h at sent i t

flyi n g a d oz e n ya r d s a w
a
y
.
1 20 C HIEF KELLY AND

My po st s h ere wa s t h e stubb orn re ply

’
,
.

Oh g et aw a y
,
cri e d t h e d et e ct ive g iving hi m
, ,

a p u sh .

Th e tri ck did not wo rk I n st ea d of disa rming

.

his su spi ci on s t h e move only c onfirme d them

,
.

Th e g u a rd l evel e d hi s pistol a t K e lly .

“
M ove on e st e p a n d yo u re a d ead m an ’
,

Th e d et ective h a d to move an d a ct qui ckly It .

wa s e ith er s u rr en d e r or fight He d et erm ine d to

.

fight . With a mov e men t a lmost as qu ic k as

thoug ht its elf h e ha ul e d ba ck hi s ri ght leg an d ,

ra ising it u p hi g h in th e ai r g ave th e point of t h e

,

pistol a ki ck th at s ent it flyin g a doz en ya rds away .

Th e blow stru ck t h e t rigg er an d i n mi d a i r t h e -

wea pon explod e d with a lou d re port In ki cking .

t h e pistol K elly stru c k t h e m an s ha nd an d

,
’

b ru is e d it in a way that bro ug ht a showe r of pro

f an i ty f rom t h e gu a rd He m a d e a m ad rush f or
.

K e lly Th e first impuls e of t h e d et e ctive w as to

.

pull his own pistol but o n s e con d thought he

,

refrain ed f rom doing so Th e gu a rd in hi s own

.

c ru d e way b e li ev e d h e was doing his d uty He .

wa s d efen ding t h e prope rty of hi s e mploye r

a ltho ug h tha t e mploy e r was a la w b rea k e r -
.

As h e ru shed on K e lly ca ught him by th e

,

sho uld ers an d t h e n e xt mom en t t h e two m en had

cli n ch e d a n d w e re strugg l i n g in t h e m u d A ha lf .
 1 21

l t d
Se e c e hi m to kee p intru d ers f rom th e plan t .

i ca
’
, an d h e wa s not to be wo rst ed by t h e un a rmed
watchm a n of an illi cit disti ll e ry
. In l e ss than a

reache d th e di still e ry prop e r they m et an a rm e d

a shot . Th e d istill e ry whi ch h ad ca u s ed s o much

tro uble wa s promptly seiz ed an d pl a ced in t h e

g r ea t distill e r y pla nt a t Alg i e rs w a s s e i z e d u ni,

f o rme d soldi e rs with fix ed ba yone ts wer e put on

1 22 C HI EF KELLY AND

ce nt C ity we re at their b rea kf a st tabl es Ham ,

mond s dist i lle ry an d H en d e rson s re ctif ying house

’ ’

o n t h e New Orl e ans sid e of th e rive r w e re pl a c ed

in g overn me n t cu stody It was a tre mendous

.

bi t o f e nt e rprise a nig ht s work tha t was n eve r

’
—

be f ore e qu a l e d in t h e his tory o f t h e s e rvi ce

.

Wh en t h e facts ca me out d uring t h e cou rse of

t h e f ollowi ng d a y t h e pe opl e we re thun d e rstruc k
‘

non e more th an t h e g ove rnm ent o fficia ls who we re

loca t e d in New Orlea ns Neithe r pe ople nor
.

o ffi ci als kne w tha t Brooks an d K e lly an d thei r

m en w e re in New Orl eans an d t h e ca ptu re proved
,

to be on e of t h e g rea t s en sa tions o f t h e tim e .

I n d i ctm en ts we re promptly f ound an d co n vie

tion s f ollow e d in eve ry ca s e Th e g ove rnm ent
.

c o nfi s ca t e d o ve r a h a lf million dolla rs i n prope rty

and c o n tra b an d whi sky . Th e t ri a ls we re not

o ffi ci a lly co n cl u d e d until almost two yea rs a f te r
t h e ca pt u re an d in t h e spring of 1 8 7 6 K e lly r e
,

t urn e d to New Orl ea ns in t h e ca pa city of witne ss ,

be ing gra n t e d a l ea ve o f ab sen ce f rom t h e position

h e then he ld th a t o f li e ut ena nt o f poli ce in Phila
—

d e lphi a .

Th e re is on e phas e o f thi s story to whi ch pa rti e

u l a r a tt ention is dire ct e d It was f reely sa id a t
.

tha t tim e tha t Pre sid en t Grant was a man who

t ook ca re of hi s f ri end s an d it was insinu a te d that
,
 THE DE SERTE D HO U S E 23

we re s ometim e s n ot t he kind of pe rsons

hi s f ri ends
ve d t he en co u ra g em en t of a hi g h mind e d
who d ese rfi -

Well Gen e ral Grant did ta ke ca re of his f riends

,
.

But hi s f ri e n ds a s t h e narr ato r h a ppens to

,

kn ow i n thi s inst ance we re t he f ri en ds o f goo d

,

g ov e rnm e nt ; th e y w e r e t h e m e n who und er hi s ,

ins pira ti on an d t h e s upe rvi si on of J am e s J Broo ks .

,

whi sky ring ; the y were t h e m en wh o s en t o ff end ers

t o t h e pe niten ti a r y an d the y w e re t h e m en who
,

he lpe d to res to re hun dreds of thou san ds of dolla rs

t o t h e trea sury o f t h e Un it e d St a t e s In other .

wo rds Gen e r al Grant wa s d e te rmine d tha t j u stice

,

sh ou ld be d on e n o m a tt e r wh e re t h e chi ps mi g ht
,

In 1 8 74 af te r t h e retu rn f rom New Orle ans G e n

, ,

e r a l Gra nt sent f o r M r Brooks He ca lle d at the

. .

White House an d f ound t he Presid en t in his offi ce

smoking a big black ci ga r He looke d up qui e tly .

as M r . B rooks en t ere d an d s ai d with cha rac te r

,

i st i c ter sene ss :
“
B r ooks yo u a n d K elly did g ood work at New
,
'

Orl e ans .

M r Brooks bowe d a t thi s an d mur mu re d hi s

.

tha nks a t receivi n g t h e comm end a tion of th e chi ef

mag istra t e o f t h e n ation .
1 24 THE DESERTED H OUSE

B rooks , continue d th e Pre sid ent I am ,

g o ing to a ppoint y o u c hi e f o f t h e g ov e rnm e nt

”
secret servi ce .

An d so h e d i d Within a f ew d ays this d es er v

. c

i ng int ellig en t an d c ompe te nt d e t ec tive was

,

pl aced a t t h e hea d of t h e most impor tant se rvi c e

in t h e world K elly was p romot ed to t he pos ition
.

o f li eu t en ant o f po l i ce in his hom e city an d o f ,

c o u rs e t h e f act tha t h e h a d figur e d i n t h e g ov e rn

ment e xploit was chi efly re sponsibl e f or hi s p romo

tion S upe rvi s or Tutton was a ppoint ed coll ector of
.

t h e port of Phil a d elphi a Alf re d Brooks was nam e d

.

as a spec i al reve n u e a g ent John M itchell h a d

.

hi s sa l a ry ra is e d a n d w as pl a ce d in a position o f
impo rt an ce in th e s e rvi ce Af t e r t h e tri al an d
.

co n vi ction o f t h e distill e rs in New Orl e ans m 1 8 7 6 ,

Presid en t Grant re a ppoint e d M r B eckwith Un ited .

Sta t e s atto rney for t h e distri ct o f New Orl ea ns ;

United Sta t e s M a rshal P acka rd who figured in t h e,

s e izu re an d a rre sts was a ppoint e d Uni t ed Sta te s

,

c o n s ul a t Live rpoo l J udge Woods who was t h e

.
,

dist ri ct j u rist bef ore whom t h e distill e rs we re

t ri ed was a ppoint e d to a s ea t on t he S u p rem e
,

Cou rt ben ch a t Wa shing ton .

C HI E F BR OO KS AN D T HE MAN WI T H
T HE LAZY EYES .

[J mes J B oo ks h a s t h br a v t m e n
be c ll d “
a . n
r n e f a e o e o e es

t ha t v r li v d w h h d t h p ri vi l g
”
e e nd ey , a an f hi
one o a e e e o s

ac q ua i n t a n ce wi ll i d t hi d es cr i p t i o
n A
o r se i t er n a l
s n . s an n

r v
e ue g t h w s i t um ta l i b ki g u p t h e i ni
en a en e a ns r en n r ea n a

mo u Whi sky Ri n g whi ch wi d l d t h G v n me t ut f

s s n e e o er n o o

mi lli s f d ll s In c g i t i n f hi g d w k G er l
on o o ar . re o n o o s oo or ,
en a

G ra n t pp i n ted B
a o k wh h a d lr d y chi v d d i t i n o
r oo s, o a ea a e e s

ti n u d
o nP i d ts Li n c ln d J h so C hi f of t h
er re s en o an o n n, e e

U ni t e d Sta te Se c e t Ser vi c s p t whi ch h e filled wi t h

r e, a os

d i t i n ct i n a n d whi c h h r ta i
s o d d ur i n g t h d mi n i t a t i
e e ne e a s r on

of P id
r es t H y en Afte l vi n g t h G v rn me n t se rvi ce
a es . r ea e o e ,

B r ks g n i ze d pr i v te d te ct i ve g n cy He d i ed i n
oo or a a a e a e .

Pi t t b u g f ur o five year g A m of th e d es c d n ts
s r o r s a o . s so e en a

o f th cu lp r i t m ti n d i t hi s t or y
e s en ti ll ali v a n d lea d
o e n s are s e

i ng pe cta b l li v i t ha s be d m d d c n t n d ch ri t ab le
re s e es en ee e e e a a

to p t t h i r g ui l t y n ce st or s un d er fi c t i t i us n a m s "
re se n e a o e

NE morni ng in t h e spr ing of 1 86 9 ,

General Gra nt s at a t hi s d esk in th e

Whi t e Hou s e p uffi ng a wa y at t h e
ev e r pre s en t c iga r an d g az ing bl ankl y -
,

into space wh en hi s mess enger ann oun ced S enator

C am e ron o f P enn sylva ni a
“
Show him in a t on ce s a id t h e Presid en t ,
.

A ft er t h e first g re etings ha d be en ex chang ed ,

Sen a tor C am e ron e x cl a i me d with d eep ea rn est

n e ss ,
1 26 C HIEF BROOKS AND THE

Well Gen e ral I ha ve

, ,
th e m an yo u re
’

Wh o is h e ?
J am es J Brooks
. .

Do you think he ll fill t h e bill ? ’

“
I m s ure o f i t h e f ea rs n eithe r m an n or th e
’
—

devil h e is as stra ig ht a s a string an d will be

, ,

ab sol u t e ly loya l to yo u .

It was i n thi s mann e r tha t J a mes J B rooks .

wh o h a d a lrea d y b ee n in t h e g ove rn m en t s e rvi ce

f or y ea rs c a m e to be s ele ct e d to d e stroy th e
Whi sky Ring a c omb i n a tio n whos e op e r a tions
-

we re bring ing s ca n d al u po n th e a d mi nistra tion of

Ge n e ra l Gra n t Brooks imme dia tely pro c e ed ed
.
.

t o New Orl ea n s wh e re with th e a id o f c ompe t ent

,

a ss ist a n ts h e d e t e c te d an d d e stroy e d t h e i lli cit

,

dist illeri e s a n d l an d e d th eir b a cke rs in t h e pe ni

t en t i ar y .

Af te r tha t t h e intre pid reve n ue a gent tra ns

f err e d t h e s cen e o f hi s op e ra tion s to Phil a d elphia .

Strolli n g t hr ough t h e thi nly pop ul a t ed s e ction of

Port Ri chmo n d t h e n orthe rn di stri ct o f t he
—

Qu ake r C ity h e not i c e d a thi n c lou d o f smo ke

—

a ri sin g f r om a b onfir e tha t h ad a p pa re n tly b ee n

lighted by some mi s chie vous bo ys o f t h e n e ig h

b o r h oo d .He ca re l e ssly s ca tte re d th e smou lder
i n g e mb ers with hi s f oot a n d proc ee d e d on his way .
 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES m
A cu riou s a ct on t h e p a rt o f a s e d at e m an " But
h e h a d hi s r ea sons . Tha t ni ght a c o rps o f Gove rn
men t d et e ctive s a pp ea re d on t h e s cen e a n d thre e
n otoriou s moo n shine rs a n d the ir a ss ist a n ts w e re
a rre st e d an d s e n t to j ai lf A f u lly e qu i pp ed still
-

was i n op e ra tion in a c ave i n t h e va ca n t lot an d t h e

boyish fir e h a d bee n li ght e d t o distra ct a tt en tion
f rom t h e smoke whi ch n e c es sa ri ly ar os e f rom t h e
i ll i c it di stille ry
.

C on st e rn a tio n pre va il e d a mon g t h e v iola t ers of

t h e F e d er a l law . Th e tho ug ht o f losing the i r
p rofit abl e bu sin e ss drove the m to d e sp e ra tion A .

c o u n c il o f wa r wa s h el d in a sa loo n o n Wa t er

stre e t a n d it wa s op en ly ann oun ce d tha t si x h un

,

dre d doll a rs h a d be en subscribed f or t h e p u rpos e

of
“
p utting Brooks out o f t h e way . Th e low
‘
browe d rufii a n s who w e re pre s ent kn e w th e
me aning o f that phra s e on ly t oo well But they .

a ll he ld hu m a n li f e c h e a p an d three o f t h e to u g h s
,

volun t ee re d f or t h e h a z a rdou s ent e rpris e Th e .

t rio whos e n am e s were to be c ome inf amou s i n

c l u d ed Bo Ah e rn who h a d a pp ea re d i n t h e
,

crim i nal d oc k a s o f t en as h e h a d fing e rs an d toe s ;

Nei l B arlow a h a ckman without s c ru pl e s an d

,

Hughey H a rrison a d e sp era do who was kn own a s

,

“ ”
t h e m an with t h e l a zy e y e s . Fif ty dolla rs Were
p a i d d own as a n e vid e n c e o f g oo d f a ith an
,
d a por
 1 28 C HIEF BROOKS AND THE

tion of thi s wa s imm edia tely sp en t by t h e con spi r

a t ors in c el eb ra ting t h e a n ti cip a te d s u cce ss o f

their unh oly mission .

In th e m ea n tim e Brooks con tin u ed ma king hi s

d aily roun ds u n con s ciou s o f t h e f a ct tha t a p ri ce
,

was u po n his h ea d He w as n o s e lf a d ve rtise r and

.
-
,

h e m a d e a rre st a f te r arre st in t h e most ma tt e r o f -

f a ct way an d withou t a n y bl a re of trumpe ts Some .

t i me s prison e rs were ca ptu re d with pe rf ect ea se ,

an d ag ain only a ft e r a strugg l e but a lwa ys it was

,

co unte d a p a rt o f a n ord i n a ry d a y s work

’
B rooks .

a t th a t tim e sp e n t mu ch of his tim e a t t h e Old

M e rchan ts Hotel a qua i nt stru ctu re on No rth

,

Fou rth stree t a su rvival o f Revolution a r y times

, .

Th e three con spira tors Ahern B a rlow an d

, , ,

H arri s on sha dowed him f rom mornin g until

,

nig ht wa iting f or a conveni en t time an d pl a ce to

,

accomplish their bloody p u rpose Th e utt e r .

nonc hal an c e o f Brooks d i s con ce r te d t h e f ootp a ds

—
s u ch is t h e eff ec t whi c h a re a lly b ra v e m an h as

u pon c ra v e n spirits On e n i ght th e y h a d hi m i n a

.

d a rk corne r but t h e work was ab an don ed be ca u se

Ahe rn compl a i n e d o f a sore h ee l whi ch h e p e evishly
sa id mi ght i n t e rf ere with his fli g ht On anothe r .

occa sion j u st a s they were re a dy to strike t h e

,

blow B rooks tu rn ed i n to Appl etre e alle y an d w as lost

,

to si g ht i n t h e t u rni n g s o f tha t na rrow thoro ug hf are .

 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 29

On S e ptembe r ot h 1 86 9 a ll th e co n diti on s we re
, ,

f av
“ ”
orable an d it wa s d et e rmin e d t o do t h e j ob
,
.

All tha t morni n g t h e thre e m en w ait e d aroun d t h e

c orn e r wh e re Brooks w a s e xp e ct e d to a pp e a r .

N e il B a rlow wa s on h and with his yellow whe el ed -

ca rri a g e to ca rry t h e a ssa ssin s to a pla c e o f s a f ety .

Ah e rn a n d H a rrison hid withi n t h e sh a dow o f a

bi g doorwa y . Pre s en tly Brooks a pp e a re d strid ,

i n g a lon g a t his u su a l f e a rl e ss g ait .On e o f thos e

s ub c ons cio us fl a sh e s o f t h e b ra in whi ch co m
-
es to

all but whi ch ca n be e xpl a i n e d by f e w imp re s se d

him with t h e beli e f tha t hi s li f e wa s in dang er

'

He kn ew tha t he h a d be en sha dowe d bu t h e h a d

not a lt ere d his da ily routin e in t he l ea st At noon.

h e stood i n t h e c o un ting room o f K een an

-
Son
t alking to young K e en an
At tha t in stan t Ahe rn ru she d f rom his place of
c on c e alm e n t with a c o ck e d re volve r in hi s h an d s .

He a ime d a t t h e he a d o f t h e un kn owm g d e te ctive .

His han d tre mble d a bi t a s h e pull e d th e t rigge r

a n d t h e b a ll inst e a d o f g oi n g i n to t h e bra i n p en e
, ,

t r a t e d t h e ba ck o f Brooks He f ell to t h e floor

. .

As h e did s o H a rrison j oin e d his con f e d era t e an d ,

pullin g out a bla ckj ack be gan to be at th e wo und e d

,

m a n ab out t h e h e a d . A mist spre ad over his

e y e s bu t by a pow e rf u l e ff ort h e op en e d th em a n d

g l a n c e d u p a t hi s a ss a il a nt.A m a sk th a t H a rri s on
1 3 9 C HIEF BROOKS AND THE

wore slippe d down to th e lower p a rt o f hi s f ac e an d

Brooks be held his e ye s a pa ir o f l a zy ey es which
— —

ev en th e e x cit e m e n t o f t h e mom ent f ai led to rob

o f th e ir h a b it u al i n dol en ce Th e n e xt insta nt the

.

m en h ad ru sh e d t o t h e c orner a n d l ea pe d into t h e
ca rri a g e Th e d ri v e r whipp ed u p hi s ho rse a n d
.

t h e v ehi cl e d a sh e d a wa y As it p a ss e d t h e p ros
.

tra te m an h e li f te d hi s e yeli ds f eebly f or a second

time an d n oti ced tha t t h e ca rria ge whe els we re
pai nted a b right yellow Th e next mom ent he
.

f ell ba c k u n c o n s cio u s but i n d e libly imprinte d

u po n hi s m e mory w a s t h e visio n o f a p a ir o f la z y
'

e y e s a n d tw o y ellow ca rr i ag e wh e els .

Brooks hove red betw ee n li f e a n d d eath f or m any

wee ks b ut a n atu rally rugg ed c on stitu tion sp a re d
,

him f or his c o u n try . When h e le f t hi s be d hi s

lu xu ria nt bl ack hai r was p erf e ctly whi te t h e —

la st in g m emen to o f an a wful e xpe rience The .

a uthoriti e s o ffer e d b i g re w a rds a n d t h e unknown

o ff en d e rs we re bitt erly d en o unce d Brooks sa id

.

nothing but at all tim es an d in all place s h e w as

,

ha unte d by th e memory of t h e laz y eye s an d t h e

y e llow w a g on wh ee ls H
. e g rimly re s olv e d th a t
befo re h e di ed h e wo u ld s ee tho se e yes s ta ring a t
hi m f rom be hind t h e g ra t ed cells o f th e penit en
t i ar y .

For wee ks af t e r hi s re cove ry Brooks ha unt ed t h e

 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 3 1

b u sin e s s se ction o f t h e city in sea rch o f th e ca r

r iag e with y ellow wh e e ls In th a t tim e h e dis
.

c ov e re d ma n y v e hi cl e s p a in t e d th a t c olor bu t n ot

on e th a t impre ss e d him as b ein g t h e p a rti c u l a r

wag on of whi ch h e wa s i n qu e st His su p e riors .

ur g e d him to t a k e a mu ch n ee d e d v a ca tio n
-
He .

a g r ee d to dr op h i s work with a men t al re se rva

—

tion An d that re se rvation w as hi s dogg e d d et er

.

mination n ot to rel a x i n hi s eff ort to dis cover hi s

a s sai l an ts He m a d e s eve ra l trips to t h e s ea shore
.
,

but af te r short st a ys a lwa ys re tu rn e d to t h e city t o

pic k up t h e scatt e re d thr e a ds o f h i s inve stig ation .

On e d ay to his d eli g ht h e dis cove re d a w a g on

, ,

tha t answere d t h e d e s cription s o vividly pi ctu re d

on t h e retina o f his m e mo ry It wa s an ord ina ry
.

t umbl e down pu bli c ha ck bu t t h e yellow spokes

-
,

g l ist en e d in t h e s u nli g ht a n d fil l e d t h e d e te ctiv e s ’

mind with vi sion s of t h e m a n h e ha d sought so

long At th e momen t h e sa w t h e hack t h e driver
.
, ,

a burly r e d f ac e d f e llow whipp e d u p h i s sp a vi n e d

-
"

, ,

n a g an d with unpri n t abl e words urg e d it to g rea te r

spee d A con veyan ce was st an d i ng by t h e cu rb

. .

Brooks j umpe d in shou ting to t h e cabby

, ,

“
K eep that ha ck in sig ht i f you want to ea rn a
”
doubl e f a re .

Th e i nstru ct ion s w ere c a rri e d out to t h e l e tt er .

Th e stre et w a s crowd ed with truc ks s urf ac e cars ,

1 3 2 C HIEF BR OO KS AND THE

a n d ex press wag on s bu t t h e hack with t h e y ellow

,

whee ls threa d e d its wa y thr oug h the m with un

beli evabl e e a s e a n d swi f tn ess Brooks ca b kept ’
.

t h e first t ea m i n sig ht a lwa ys On ce o r twi ce

.

th e re was a bloc ka d e a n d t h e f ea r o f losing hi s

g a m e a lmos t r e d u ce d t h e d e t e c ti v e to t h e v er g e o f
n e rvou s prostra tio n But ca bby in va ri ably ca ug ht
.

u p t h e tr a il a n d f ollow e d t h e h a ck with t h e

ce rt a inty an d swi f t n e ss o f t h e ho u n d th a t i s pu rsu

i n g t h e f ox . Th e r a ce fin a lly le d them t o t h e
ma in stre et o f t h e city a n d they wen t in a stra ig ht
lin e towa rd t h e rive r f ron t Within a hal f blo ck
.

o f t h e wh a rf t h e ca b be ca me i n e xtri ca bly ti ed u p

in a mass o f w hol es al e g ro ce ry tru cks Th e .

driver l e a pe d off hi s s ea t a n d op eni n g t h e door o f

,

t h e v e hi cl e s a id
,

“
I m a fra id we re st u ck si r bu t i f you make
’ ’

, ,

ha st e you can ove rta k e him .

B e fore t h e m an h a d finishe d sp ea ki n g Brooks

was o u t i n t h e stree t :
“ ”
Where is h e ?

Th e dri ver po i n t e d to a ha c k j u st on t h e e dg e
o f t h e wh a rf .

There h e is si r ,
.

Th e d et e ctive thr u st his f a re i n t he ca bm a n s

’

open p a lm He sa id more to hi msel f than t o t he

.
,
 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 33

I be li eve h e s g oi ng on t h e f e rr y boa t
’
.

“
Tha t h e is sir h e s boun d f or Ca md en
, ,
’
.

Brooks ma d e hi s wa y o ut o f t h e cru sh an d g a in
i n g t h e sid ewa lk ran ra pi dly towa rd t h e f er ry hou se .

Th e g at es l ea ding to t h e boa t wer e op en a n d h e

c ould s e e th e ha ck with t h e y e llow whe e ls g o i ng on

th e bo a t Th e fir st bell h a d s o u n d e d its wa rni ng

. .

Brooks ca lcu la t ed tha t h e would be in time with a

f ew s ec on ds to spa r e He re a ch e d th e ti cke t
.

office toss e d in his pe nni es an d rece ive d hi s h i t

,

of p a st eb oa rd As h e tu rned ar o un d a hea vy
.
,

hand f e ll on hi s sho uld er an d a hea rty vo i ce cried

Well o f all thi ng s in t h e world "Jim B rooks

, ,

as I m a livin g m an " Thi s i s a cu re f or so re eyes "

’ ”

He rec og ni z ed t h e man a t on ce It was John.

many a ha ppy d a y on t he P aci fic Slope He h a d .

n ot see n hi m in yea rs He pa us ed long e noug h

.

to ma ke some incoh e re n t rema rks e xpress ive of th e

j y
o h e f e lt in t h e m ee t i ng H e c on
. cl u d e d with
See you l a t e r .

Th e ne xt ins ta nt he was boun din g towa rd th e

b oa t Th e la st be ll h a d run g while h e was ta lk
.

ing . Th e gang plank h a d been pu lle d in and as

-

B roo ks reached t h e f oot o f the sli p th e iron g a te ,

d w ed with a h ang in his f a ce .

1 34 C HIEF BR OO KS AND THE
He was f u rio u s . He
st ood there in hi s impot ent
rag e wat ching t h e b o a t a s it chu rn ed i t s wa y
t ow a rd t h e J e rs e y sid e ca rr yi ng as t h e most v a lu
abl e p a rt o f its ca rg o on e cab with y e llow wh ee ls .

Hi s first imp u lse w a s to m u rd e r H a rki n s th e fi

i nno c en t ca u s e o f his cha g ri n but on se c on d

—

t houg ht h e c ompromis e d by m a ki n g a n e n g a ge
,

m ent to t ak e dinn e r with hi m Brooks cro s s e d

.

t h e riv e r on t h e ne xt f e rry b o a t bu t a ll i n v a in .

Th er e w as n o Sign o f t h e cab o n t h e othe r sid e o f

t h e rive r a n d h e re t u rn e d to P hi la d elphi a know
i ng tha t h e wo uld h a ve to be g in his s e a rc h a ll ove r
ag a in .

He n eve r mu rm u re d P a ti en ce a n d persist en ce
.

were his two stron g tra it s On e a f t e rn o o n h e was

.

r ew a rd e d by a s e c o n d si g ht o f t h e y e llow wh ee l e d
-

ca rri a g e Thi s time h e did not los e sig ht o f t h e

.

v ehi cl e . He f ollow e d it to its d e sti n a tion a n d in

f orty e i g ht hou rs h a d s e cu red a c ompl et e history
-

o f t h e t e a m an d its dri ve r Th e ca rria g e wa s

.

o wn e d by a l iv er ym an who h i re d i t o u t to N e il

B a rlow by t h e d a y On som e d ays by reas on o f

.
,

diss i p ation B a rlow did n ot call f or t h e vehicle a n d

,

on s u ch oc cas ion s it r e m a m e d i n t h e st abl e It .

wa s a si gn i fica n t f a ct t ha t t h e t ea m wa s ou t o n t h e
d ay th a t Brooks w a s a tt a ck e d a n d tha t it did n ot
retu rn to t h e st abl e un til l at e tha t ni ght M ore .
 M AN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 35

o ver N eil B a rlow h a d en j oye d t h e t eam a s u sua l

a n d h a d g iv e n t h e own e r fif ty c en ts mor e th a n t h e

reg u la r f ee Th e d et e ctive wa s d elight e d with

.

the se disc ove ri e s He wa s mora lly sa tisfied tha t

.

B a rlow was on e o f t h e m en who h a d tri e d to m u r

d e r him . From that momen t B a rlow w as S potte d .

At home an d a bro a d wa king a n d Sl eeping h e was

, ,

k ept u n d er c on st an t su rve illan ce .

Th e d e t e ctive n e xt t u rn e d to t h e t a sk o f finding
t h e m a n with t h e l a zy ey e s It s e e me d like a
.

ridi culo u s qu e st but h e thoug ht n ow tha t he h ad —

o n e o f t h e g an g tha t i t w a s n ot hop el e ss In
—
.

d ee d he f e lt some wh at hu mili a t e d at ha vi ng
,

pe rmitt ed t h e thug s to es ca p e at a ll Th ey h ad .

cl ea rly o u twitt e d him e ve n thou g h it w a s don e

,

with t h e a i d of a pistol a n d a bla ckj ack He a d .

mi tt ed tha t h e h a d be en be a t en That c o uld n ot

.

be h elped but to st a y b ea t en th a t wo uld b e a

,
—

disgrace He l ea rn e d a mon g othe r thi ng s tha t

.
, ,

B a rlow was a pre c in ct politic i an He h a d se rve d .

time f or stu ffi n g t h e b allot bo x an d w a s on e o f t h e

-

p a rasit e s who m a ke a livin g by han g in g on to t h e

c o a t t a ils o f thos e who a r e more f ortu na t e i n li f e .

Rea so n ing thu s it w as n ot d i ffi cu lt to a ss um e tha t

,

hi s unkn own a sso c i a t e s we re a lso en g ag e d in t h e

'

Co ns e qu en tly ,
e ecl tion ni g ht f oun d Brooks i n the
1 3 6 C HI EF BR OO K S AND THE
vi cini ty of morn in g n ewsp a pe r o ffices minglin g
the
with th e p atriots who we re s ca nning t h e el e ction
retu rns Aft e r a while t h e d et e ctive w en t u p t o
.

t h e e ditori a l rooms o f on e o f t h e n ewsp a p ers wher e

h e was in tim a t ely a c qu a in t e d From this point
.

of v a n t a g e h e not o nly l e a rn e d t h e la t e st n e ws b u t

a lso g a z e d o u t u po n t h e c rowd th a t thro n g e d t h e

stre et below It w a s a wond e rf ul S ig ht Fro m

. .

cu rb to cu rb t h e sp a c e i n f ro n t o f t h e bu ildin g was

d en se ly p a cke d with thou s a n ds o f e x c it e d chee r ,

i ng m en Th ei r f a ce s w e re a st u dy s om e h a nd
.
,

s ome som e s cowlin g some smiling but a ll fill ed

, , ,

w ith ab sorb e d i n t ere st a t t h e si g ht o f t h e r etu rn s

w hi ch w ere b e in g fl a sh e d ove r t h e wire s f rom e ve ry
se ction of t h e c ou n try Th e w e ll a rr a nge d
.
-

li g hts m a d e t h e s cen e as bri g ht a s mid d ay —

.

Brooks s ca nn e d that a rray o f u ptu rn e d f a c e s with

a pro f e ssion a l a i r with t h e stu di e d in t e re st o f on e
—

who is a s tu d en t o f h u m an t y .

S u dd enly his g a z e re st e d u pon on e p a rti cu la r

cou nt en a n ce tha t w a s di ff e r e n t f rom all t h e res t .

Wha t d i ff e ren ti a t e d thi s m an f rom all t h e othe rs ?

h e a sk ed himse lf Th e a n sw er fl a she d throu g h hi s
.

br a in inst a n tly It was i n t h e eyes " Those

.

mirrors o f t h e soul t ha t so o f ten a n d so eloqu en tly

portray a man s c ha ra ct e r Amid tha t sea o f
’
.

ea g er r e stl es s
,
e v e r mo v in g ey e s
,
-
this p a rti cular
,
 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 37

p a ir of optics re ma in e d moti onle ss Th e y we re .

more than that They we re absolut e ly l an gui d

. .

S u spi c ion turne d to convi ction Brooks co uld .

ha ve shout e d f or ve ry joy It was t h e m a n with .

t h e l az y ey es " Broo ks ha stily su mmon e d a

spe c i al policemen who w as in t h e n e ighborhood .

“
h e s a id y o u kn ow most o f t h e ,

crooks i n t hi s town don t you ?

’

“
I d o repli e d O Le a ry unbo a st f ully
,
’
.

Well g et you r g a z e on tha t m a n down in t h e

cr owd ther e Don t you s ee Abou t two rows
.
? ’

f rom th e ca r trac k He s sta n din g n ex t to a

’
.

l e tt er ca rrie r Do you see whom I m ea n ? The

-
.

”
m a n in t h e brown s u it .

“
I se e now sa i d t h e offi ce r af te r a pa use
,
.

”
Do you know hi m ?
”
I do re pli ed t h e spe ci al with confid en ce
,
.

”
Who i s he ?

Why tha t s Hug hey H a rri s on

,
’
.

”
Wha t s hi s li n e ?
’

Oh e ver ythi n g h e s wha t we ca ll a han d y

’
—
,

man .

“
Well I wa nt him
, .

Wha t i s i t f or pi cking pocke ts ? —

Br ooks smile d grimly .

I can t te ll yet ; it ma y be f or som ethi ng more

’
1 3 8 C HIEF BR OO KS AND THE
Well , sa id t h e sp ec i al , I ll try to g et him f or
’

you .

Th e two m en st a rt e d down st a irs a n d ma d e f or

t h e stree t Th e c rowd w as s o d e n s e t ha t their
.

prog re ss wa s slow Finally the y re a che d t h e spot

.

for whi c h the y w ere bo und but the ir m an h ad

qu i etly slipp e d a wa y Th ey s e a rche d f o r an hou r
.

a ft e r th a t b u t c o u ld fin d n o tra c e o f t h e f ellow .

Did h e know tha t h e h a d b e en d i sc ove re d ? Ha d

h e g uiltily fle d or m e re ly l e f t i n t h e n a tu ra l ord e r
o f th n g s
i ? The re was n o an swer to the se qu eri e s .

In a n y eve n t Brooks h a d his n a m e a n d hi s rec ord ,

an d tha t m e a nt mu ch .

Th e f ollowing d a y t h e d et ec tive loca te d t h e

lod g ing s o f Hug hey H a rriso n It was a d i s r e p .

n ta b l e s e ctio n o f t h e c ity a n d t h e l an dla dy with

t h e c ra f t o f h er ki n d d en i ed a ll kn owl ed g e o f t h e
m an Brooks we ll a rm e d ha u n t e d t h e ne ig hbor
.
,
-
,

hood He d et e rmine d to k eep wa t ch pe rson a lly

.

o n th a t p a rti cu l a r ho u s e He h a d a n o fli ce r d e
.

t a il e d to a ssist hi m i n ca s e o f a n e m erg en cy Win .

t e r w a s a ppro a ch i n g a n d t h e d a y s w e r e b itt e rly

c old On e ha zy a f t e rnoo n t h e door o f t h e lod g ing

.

open ed an d a m e d i u m b uilt ma n dre sse d in a storm

-

c o a t ca m e o u t Of t h e ho u se
,
Th e f e llow h a d t h e
.

bi g coll a r o f t h e g a rm en t p u ll e d u p abou t h i s f a ce ,

eff ectively di s gu ising hi s f ea tu re s Giving t h e tip .

 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 39

t o hi s a ss ist ant Brooks f ollowe d t h e m an The y

,
.

h a d n ot g on e m an y blo cks when t h e bi g co a te d on e -

rea l i z e d tha t h e w a s be in g f ollowe d He qu ick .

e n e d his p ac e a n d soon re a ch e d a na rrow stre e t

line d with se c ond h an d clothing store s Th e

-
.

sidewa lk was crowd e d a n d Brooks e xpe ri en ced

some diff i culty i n ke e ping his ma n in vie w At .

tim es h e w a s a lmost within a n a rm s le ngth of his ’

prey ; a ga in t h e pu rsu e d wou ld be ha lf a blo ck in

a dva n ce o f t h e p u rsu e r .

Pres en tly t h e m an dis a pp ea re d in t h e mo st

u n e xpe c t e d m a n n e r They we re i n t h e middl e o f
.

t h e b lo c k a n d the re w ere n o co u r ts or a ll ey s in
.

si ght But he wa s lost to vi ew a s comp l et ely as

.

i f t h e S id ewa lk h a d op en e d a n d swa llow e d him .

N ea r t h e spot wh ere h e h ad disa pp ea red were

three se co n d han d clot hi n g store s di ff e rin g in
-
,

a pp ea ra n c e o n ly by t h e n am e s on t h e cr e akin g

woo d en signs tha t were su sp en d e d f rom t h e S ec on d

sto ry wi n dows E a ch on e was a pe rf ect wild e r
.

ness o f old cloth e s D u mmi e s a rraye d i n all t h e

.

g lory o f c h e c k e d a n d strip e d s u its co n f ro n t e d o n e

a t e ve ry tu rn . C o a ts a n d tro u s e rs hung su spe nd e d

f rom hooks a n d m ad e a d en s e dra p e ry whi c h
a lmost en tir e ly c on c e a l e d t h e doors an d windows

f rom S ig ht . A ba rke r stood on ea ch Si d ewalk

i mploring t h e p a ss e rs by to come i n an d pu rcha s e
-
1 4° C HIEF BROOKS AND THE

ru pt sa l es se em like t h e heig ht o f e xtra vaga nce .

Brooks p a u s e d irreso lute f or a moment But .

hi s p u rpos e w as qui ckly f orm e d He l ooke d a t

.

t h e three store s a n d th e n da sh e d in to t h e doorwa y

o f t h e middl e o n e .

Th e m u sty sm ellin g S hop w as shro u d ed i n se mi

-

d a rkn ess an d it w a s some momen ts be f or e Brooks

c o uld g et hi s b e a ring s . He d i d so b y d e g ree s .

A lon g co un t er r an t h e l en gth o f t h e room At .

t h e f a r en d st andi ng i n a doo rwa y c omm un ica tin g

,

with a small livin g roo m was a m a n an d a woma n

, .

Both were el derl y an d t h e m a n wore a long gra y

b ea rd . So me thi ng in the ir a ttitu d e struck t h e d e
t ec t i ve as b e ing S ig ni fica nt . Both looke d st a rtl e d
a n d the y shrank f rom Brooks as i f h e we re in f ec te d

with some conta g iou s dis ea se He kn e w hi s .

peopl e well en ou g h to know tha t und e r n orma l

c o n d i tio n s th e y wo u ld g ive a prospe ctiv e cu s tom e r

t h e hea rti e st sort o f w el com e .

He w a s a bo u t to sp e ak whe n a third p e rson

e m e rg e d f rom t h e g loom be hind t h e c oun t er It .

w a s a yo ung m an a pp a ren tly a lthough h e w as

,

somewha t stoope d a n d wore gree n spe ct acles .

He a ppro ache d Brooks with an a ff abl e smi le an d ,

rubb ing hi s two hands tog ether sa id i n a su bdu ed

, ,
 MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES 1 4 1

Wh a t ca n we do f or you to d ay ? —

Th e d e t ective h a rdly kn ew how to b e g in t h e

con ve rs a tio n. He a nsw er e d a t ran dom ,

’
I d like to look a t a coa t .

Th e m an be hi n d t h e c o un t er p a u s e d irre sol ut e ly .

At t h e s a me time Brooks keen eye d et e ct e d a big

’

storm c o a t on t h e en d o f t h e c oun t e r He pu t hi s .

ha nd on t h e g a rm en t .

”
This j u st s u its m e ; wha t s t h e lowe st pri ce ?
’

Th e m a n st a rt e d u n c on s ciou sly .

“
Th a t s not f or
’
h e b e g an th en stopp e d ,

ab ruptly . He s mil e d i n a n a polo g e ti c sort o f wa y ,

a n d b e g a n a g a in
,

I m ean t to say that it would n ot fit you .

Th e v en erabl e co u pl e stood i n t h e doorwa y ,

th ei r u ns ophisti ca t e d f a ce s fill e d with wonde r .

Th e d et ec tive tu rne d to t h e s a l e sm an a n d sa id
ster nly
How do you know it w o n t fit m e ?
’

Th e m an smi l ed a g a in a n d be ga n to rub hi s
hands ha rde r than ever He spoke g en t ly :
.

”
I m erely j u dg e d by yo u r bu ild .

Brooks f elt i n his hip po cke t He w a s sa tisfie d

.

with wha t h e f ou nd there He l ea n e d over t h e

.

cou nt e r u n til his f a ce a lmost tou che d th a t o f t h e

s al e sm an He spoke slowly an d wi th d eliber a

.

t ion
1 4 2 THE MAN WITH THE LAZY EYES

C ome " Its t i me to en d this f a r ce "

’

”
What do you m e a n ? cri e d t h e othe r stra ight ,

en i ng u p .

Brooks sp e a k He a c t e d He rea ch e d
d id n ot . .

hi s a rm a cross t h e c o unt e r a n d grabb in g t h e ,

g r e e n o
g gg l e s p u ll e d th e m f rom t h e a st oni sh e d
f ace o f t h e s a l e sm an A shout o f disma y ra ng
.

thr oug h t h e room .

Th ere bef ore t h e d et ective stoo d t h e ma n with

t h e l a zy e y e s "
Those l an gu id orb s n eve r showe d t h e sli ght est
si gn s o f unea si n e ss Th e m an s f a ce twit che d
.
’

co n vu lsiv ely b ut his e y e s w e r e a lmost motionle ss .

Brooks dropp e d t h e g reen g la ss e s a n d c ove red t h e

f ellow with his pistol .

C om e Hu g he y H a rriso n " h e crie d

“ ”
th e ,

g a m e s’
u p "
You w in sa id t h e other sull enly I su rr en d er
, ,
.

He w a s promptly han d cu ff e d mu ch to t h e reli e f ,

o f t h e a g e d c o u pl e i n t h e doorwa y Tha t sam e .

af t e rnoon N e il B a rlow t h e driver o f t h e ye llow

, ,

whee l ed ca rri a ge w a s t ak en i nto cu stody Ha r

, .

“ ” “ ”
rison an d B arlow squ ea l ed on Bob Ahe rn ,

who w as with the m i n t h e co n spira cy to kill

\
Brooks a n d a f t er a h a sty t r i a l all thre e o f t h e
,

c rimin als w e re c o n vi c t e d a n d g iven t en yea rs

a pi e ce i n t h e Sta te s pri son

’
.
 I NS P E C TO R SWE E NEY AN D T HE
S T O L EN GE MS .

[J o hn Sween e y ,
f or m any yea r s a n ins p ct d
e or - e t e ct i v e at

S co t la nd Ya r d , l g g w
on a o on a re p ut t i a on on b th o si d e s o f t he
At la n t i c He . be c m c a e p li co nn e ct d wi th
e the E n g li s h o e

wh q ui t y u g d
en e o d nt f t th B u u f
an soo n ea r n e a ra n s er o e r ea o

C i mi l I v t i g t i whi ch i b tt k w t t h Am i c
r na n es a on s e er no n o e er an

p ub li c Sc t l
as
“
d Y d Th c
o an f th H t g m t ar . e a se o e ar e s , o

whi ch h w ei g d i gi v
a s a ss h wi t h m ne ,x mp l
s en er e or e a s a n e a e

o f t h m t h d p u u d b y E gli h d t ct i v
e e o s rs th
e p ci n s e e es an a s a s e

m en f I p ct
o Sw
ns
y e i d i vi d
oru l k i ll Th
ee n em f
’
s n a s . e na e o

th e bl m h b
no e d i gui d
an d
as m p mi i b l
e en s se an so e er ss e

li c t k
e n se wi t h t h c t ucti
a en f th to y b u t t h m i n
e on s r on o e s r ,
e a

f a c t s t h ug h p
, o t d i c mp i t f m r es en e t u dn o os e or , are r e, an

d m e t t t h t Sh l c k H lm
o n s ra e h
a hi p t ty p s i
er o eal o es as s ro o e n r

li fe am g th e p r fes i o a l p oli ce of G r a t B ri ta i n "

on o s n e

IR WILLIAM a n d La dy H art h a d th e
re put ation o f be ing t h e most h os
p i t a ble p a ir in a ll o f Gr ea t Brit a in
a n d t ha t i s s a yi n g a g rea t d ea l They .

h ad a be autif ul country s ea t j u st o u t s id e o f Lon

don where they ent e rt ain e d ou a spl endid s cale .

Hous e p a rtie s were of f requ ent o ccur rence an d t he ,

u sts on su c h occa s ion s in clu d e d t h e be st p e opl e

g e , ,

in Engl and Titl e s we re t h e rule s a n d coron ets

.

wer e ve ry mu ch i n e vid en ce Sir Willia m w as the .

(1 43 )
1 44 INSPE C T OR SWEENEY AND

i spirit an d hi s co n st ant d e sire was to ma ke

r ul ng

ev e ryo n e ha ppy D u ring t h e d ay o utdoo r spor ts

.

h a d prec e d en ce bu t in t h e evening there was mu si c

,

an d ca rds in t h e handsom e dra wing r oo m s with -

,

t h e nobl e host a cting as M a st e r o f t h e R e vels .

On t h e occa s ion to whi ch t h e prese nt sto ry re f ers

Sir Willia m an d L a dy H a rt g ave a p ar ti cu larly
e l abora t e a ff a ir. It was a s ev en d a y hou se p a rty
-

c on cl u ding with a b rilli a nt ball .There wer e some

f o rty gu es t s in all a n d f ou r o f the m a t l ea st we re
, ,

re la t ed to t h e royal f a mily Prob ably ei g ht or

.

t en o f t h e g entl e men we re a cc omp a ni e d by thei r

pe rs on a l va l et s an d n e a rly all o f t h e l a di es were
,

a tt en d e d by th e ir own ma i ds S uch we re th e
.

cha ra ct e rs a n d s uc h was t h e l a vi sh m ann er in

whi ch t h e e x c e ptiona l en t e rta inm en t w as p la nned .

Th e s ev en d a ys prog ra m w as ca rri e d o ut withou t

-

a hi t ch .On t h e fir st d ay the re was a polo g am e

i n whi c h t h e g u e sts who h ad broug ht the ir o wn
sma rt poni e s p ar ti cip at e d On ea ch su m ed ing
.

d ay the re was s om e di ff erent f orm o f e n te rt a in

On t h e vening of t h e fina l d ay i t m us t ha ve
e —

b ee n a Frid a y there was a gr ea t ad o ove r t h e

—

p re p a ra tions for t h e ba ll NO on e w as more ex

.

cit ed tha n L a dy H a rt h e rsel f And we ll mig ht

.

sh e be f or on tha t occa s ion sh e wa s t o w ea r f o r t he

,
 THE STOLEN GE M S 1 45

firs t time a magnificen t cre ation f rom P ari s .

B e sid e s s h e was to d e ck hers elf out in t h e H ar t

,

g e ms . Anyon e who h a s e v e r h a d t h e pl e as u r e of

see ing the se ra re old f a mily heirlooms n ee d not t o

be told tha t they a re b oth u n iqu e a n d c ostly My .

l a dy h a d been bu sily eng a ge d in h er bou doir wit h

h er m a id for over a n hou r .Sh e wa s all r ea dy f or
t h e b al l Eve rything w as i n pl ace e x ce pt t h e
‘

g e m s
—
th e y la y on t h e dre ssin g t abl e r ea d y to be

f as t en e d i n L a dy H a rt s c o rs a g e Th e clo c k on
’
.

t h e m a n t el p ea l e d out s ev en s ilve ry strok e s .

L ady H a rt looke d at h er ma id Sh e wa s a com .

p a s sio n a t e wom a n .S h e s a id :
“
My child you look thoroughly e xhau st e d I m
, .
’

t hrou g h with you f or t h e pre s en t I ca n a tt a ch

.

th e j ew els to my dre ss witho u t you r a i d Go to .

you r room a n d re st a n d re port to m e a ga in a t mi d

Th e g irl tha nk e d h e r mistre ss an d le f t t h e ro om .

L a dy H a rt g ave a fin al sur vey o f he rs el f i n t h e lon g

pie r mirror It w a s s atis f a cto ry But t h e f em
. .

in ine d esire to g et t h e j u dgmen t o f some on e e lse

took posse ssion o f h er min d Sh e pi cke d u p t h e
.

j ew els a n d wa s abou t to pu t the m on Th e l a rg e .

on e w a s ma gni fi c e ntly b ea u ti f u l It wa s a g re a t
.

ruby su rmoun te d with a g litt e rin g f ra mework o f

t h e pu re st d i a mon ds Two others i n t h e f orms
.
,
1 46 INSPE CTOR SWEENE Y AND

r s ts were pu re p e a rls Altog ethe r they

of c e cen ,
.

repre sen t e d a mod e st f ortune L a dy H a rt hesi .

t a t ed f or a momen t . Sh e wa n t ed to know wha t

a noth e r wom a n wo u ld think o f h e r P a risi a n g own

by its el f minu st h e pre sti g e whi ch would be g ive n

—

it by t h e f a mou s g e ms L a dy Suthe rla n d h e r

.
,

spec i a l f ri end was n e a rby i n a roo m on t h e othe r

,

sid e of t h e corridor Sh e l a id t h e j ew els on t h e

.

d re ssing t abl e a n d tripp e d out o f t h e roo m Sh e

- .

was g o n e l e ss th a n five mi n u t e s .

La dy S uthe rl an d wa s i n ra ptu re s ove r t h e n ew

g own . It wo u ld s u r e ly m a k e a s e n s a tion L a dy .

H a rt d elight e d ret u rne d to h e r room Sh e went

, ,
.

in a n d clos e d t h e door The n e xt mom en t eve ry

.

on e i h t h e vi c inity wa s st a rtl e d by a s e ri e s o f pi e re

i n g sc rea m s . S eve ra l l a di e s ru she d to t h e room

o f t h e host e ss . Sh e e xpl a in e d t h e ca u s e o f h er
ag it a tion in a f ew disjoint e d s e nt en ce s .

Th e H a rt g e ms we re g on e "
It wo uld b e di ffi cu lt to d e pi ct t h e e xcite m en t
o f t h e n e xt f e w min u t e s Sir Willi a m w as on e o f
.

t h e fir st to r e a c h his wi f e s room a n d with m a s cu

’

lin e d e cision h e soon re store d qui et Wh a t ever .

t h e f a t e o f t h e g ems it m u st n ot dist u rb t h e h a r
mon y of t h e o cca sion L a dy H a rt reco ve re d h er
.

s el f posse ssion qu i ckly an d h ea rt i ly reg rett e d

-
,

having ca u se d a n y a git ation among h e r g u ests .

 THE STOLEN GE M S 1 47

Th e ball wou l d ha ve to pro ce e d as thoug h nothin g

h ad ha pp en e d Th e mu si c st a rt e d t h e g ra n d
.
,

O p en ing wa ltz began a n d a f t e r that Sir Willi a m

qu i etly l e f t his gu e sts a n d g ot into t el e phoni c
commu ni c a tion with t h e Lo n do n poli c e a u thoriti e s .

AS t h e re su lt O f tha t John Sw een e y de t e ctive

, ,

insp e ctor o f S cotl a n d Ya rd a pp e a re d on t h e s cene

, .

Si r Willi a m j oin e d him in t h e lib ra ry a n d t h e

two w en t ove r a ll O f t h e f a ct s in t h e ca s e Th e .

first ord e r o f th e d e t e ctiv e w a s tha t n o on e shou ld

lea ve t h e hous e th a t ni g ht i t w a s then abo ut t en
—

O clo ck without t h e p e rmission of t h e host Sir

’
—
.

Willi a m wa s in clin e d to d emu r at this suggestion .

He s ee m e d to thin k th a t it mi ght re fl e ct u pon hi s

ho spit ality He wa s fin a lly p ersu a d e d tha t it
.

wa s n ec e ss a ry an d two s e rva n ts we r e disp a t ch e d

to g ive t h e g a t e ke e p ers t h e ord ers
-
.

D et e ctive Swe en ey then inqu ire d abo u t L a dy

Ha rt s m a id Sh e s e em ed a n a tu ra l Obj e ct Of su s
’
.

p i c i on
. B u t it soo n a pp e a r e d th a t t h e yo u n g
woman h a d a c ompl e t e a l i bi It wa s prove d tha t
.

s h e h a d g o n e to h er roo m imm e di a t ely a f t e r be in g

dism iss e d by h er mistre ss an d b e ing ve ry tire d

h a d thrown hers el f on h e r c ou ch a n d h a d sl e pt
soundly a mid all t h e ex c i t emen t over t h e stol en
j ewels Sir Wi lli a m w a s a sk e d to t ell t h e d et e c
.

tive all h e kn ew ab out t h e persona lity o f his gu e sts .

1 48 INSPE C TOR SWEENEY AN D
He did prote sting all t h e whil e Hi s bio
so , .

g ra p hi ca l sk e t ch e s f o r t h e most p a rt w
,
e re v e ry ,

fla tt e ring The re w as on e impe cuni ou s E a rl in t he

.

pa rty it is t ru e who was n otoriou sly pr e ss ed f or

, ,

mon ey It was e ven hin t ed th a t h e h a d on ce been

.

d et ec t e d i n un g entl em anly practi ces at ca rds .

But wh en t h e d et e ctive pre ss ed t h e clu e a littl e

too h a rd Sir Willi a m shut u p l i ke a clam sa ying
, ,

tha t o f a ll thin g s in t h e world there wa s nothi ng

'

f o r whi ch h e h a d g re at er r e spe ct tha n g ent ee l

Fin ally t h e s e rvan ts we re b roug ht in an d cross

qu e stion e d Th ey e xh i bi t e d all sorts of qu eer
.

m en t al tra its f rom g ross stu pidity to imbec ili c

ind i g n atio n Th e only te stimony tha t h ad t h e
.

slig hte st va lu e w as gi ven by a pe rt m a id who s a id

John M a rtin h a d bee n se en i n t h e corridor l ea ding
to L a dy H a rt s room ab ou t t h e t i m e o f t h e rob
’

b e ry .

”
O is John M a rt i n ? qu i ckly que ri ed t h e
d et ec tive .

“
He i s t h e v a l e t a n d a tt en d a n t o f Sir Ar chi bald
H un te r re pli ed t h e host
,
.

“
He mu st b e t h e m an .

Sir Willi a m smil e d s a rca sti ca lly .

The re s only on e flaw i n that theo ry

’
.

Wha t i s it ?
 THE STOLEN GE M S 1 49

Si r Archi ba ld a n d hi s a tte n d a n t l e ft ye st e rd a y .

I f org ot to m en tion tha t when w e w e re g o i ng ove r

”
th e list o f t h e gu e sts .

D et e ct ive Sween ey s f ace f ell But h e was ’

.

pug na ciou s .

How ca n we prove tha t ?

Sir Willi a m looke d u p with a su rprise d gl ance .

It doe sn t ha ve to be prove d It s a f a ct I
’
.
’
.

acc omp a ni e d Sir Ar chi ba ld t o hi s ca rri ag e an d “

sa w him driv e Off a n d hi s m a n w as with him .

“ ”
Tha t s to o ba d
’
.

Th e host sm l ed
i

“
I thi nk it s g ood for Si r Archi bald s
’
—
’

ma n .

Af t e r som e f u rthe r t alk Sir Willi am an d t he ,

d e te ctive took a wa lk abou t t h e pre mis e s a n d ma d e

a n e x a mi n a tion O f lo ck s a n d b olts They strolled .

into t h e g rou nds an d i nt e rvi ewe d t h e t wo g at e

kee pe rs Th e g ate kee pe r at t h e so u th en tra n ce
.
-

sa id on e of th e se rvants h a d brought h i m a mes

sag e tha t n o on e was to be p e rmitt ed to l ea ve t h e
hou se tha t ni ght Th e se rva nt whom h e did n ot
.
,

re co gni ze then volun te e re d to st ay on g ua rd until

,

h e t h e south ga t e k ee p e r s hould g o an d g ive

— —

simil ar instruct ion s to t h e ga te keep e r at th e no rth -

e n tr an ce . He wa s g one but a f ew minute s but

on hi s re tu rn t h e s e rv ant was nowh e re to be seen .
1 5 9 INSPE CT OR SWEENEY AND

D e t e ctive Sween e y let out an e xclam a tion of

imp a ti en ce .

”
Wha t s t h e ma tt er ? a ske d t h e host
’
.

This m an h a d n o right to l ea v e his post .

Don t you s e e th at a reg im en t Of thi eves c o u ld

’

”
es c a p e whi l e h e w a s a w a y ?

Bu t my d ea r Sir repli e d Sir Willi a m d on t ’

, , ,

y o u u n d e rst a n d th a t t h e s e rv a n t r em a i n ed h e re

whil e t h e m an w e n t to wa rn t h e othe r g at e
keeper ?
“
And w a s g on e wh en h e retu rn e d .

” “
Oh ,sa id t h e ba ron et e a sily I don t a tta ch ,
’

an y S igni fica n c e to th a t Simply t h e d e reli ction

.

o f a ca r el e ss s erva n t I doubt whether anyone

.

h as l e f t t h e pre mis e s to ni ght -

.

Then on e o f you r gu ests mu st b e gui lty re ,

t or t e d t h e d e t e ctive qu i ckly .

Stop stop at tha t

—
was t h e ang ry r eto r t
, ,

i f you fin d it n e ce ss a ry to su spe ct my gu ests ,

you r work sha ll stop at on ce .

Th e d e t e ctive smil e d g rimly He h a d m et with

.

s i mi l ar e xpe ri en ce s be f ore Aft er a mom ent s

.
’

sil en c e h e s a id :
,

“
I propos e tha t t h e cre d en ti als Of eve ryon e Of
yo ur s e rvan ts b e ca re f ully i n ve stig at ed an d tha t —

t h e a n t e c e d en ts of ev e ry s e rvant b elongi ng t o you r

”
g u e sts b e pro b e d .
 THE STOLEN GE M S 1 5 1

Th i s sugge stion m et with so mu ch opposi tion

tha t it wa s ab an don e d Th e d e t e ctive rem a in e d
.

in t h e libra ry until n ea rly midnight He s e em e d .

to have r un u p ag a inst a d ea d wa ll But h e h ad .

b een doing a lot o f thin king As h e st a rt e d to

.

l eave on e Of t h e s e rva n ts t a pp e d on t h e door

,
.

”
What is it ? cri e d Si r Willia m imp a ti en tly .

”
A t el e gram f or Lord M ortime r wa s t h e
,

Lord M ortim e r w a s t h e imp e cu n io u s E a rl The .

hos t was inst an tly a ll a tt e n tion He took t he

.

t el e gra m a n d e x cu s ed hims el f to t h e d et e ctiv e .

“
P a rdon m e a mom en t un til I give this t o
‘

M ortimer .

He l ef t t h e room an d was gon e some t en or

fift ee n minu t es He retu rne d with a p e rpl exe d
.

Wha t is it a sk e d t h e d et ective
? .

M ortimer s not i n his room a n d I ca n t lo ca te

’ ’

”
hi m a n ywhe re .

Th e re ply h a d e s ca p e d him a lmost un c ons ciou sly

Th e n e xt momen t h e bi t hi s li p 111 v e x at i on He .

w as sorry h e h a d spok en .

“ ”
Of co u rs e h e s a i d a lmost ru d e ly the re s no ’

, ,

si gni fica nce in hi s ab s en ce f rom hi s room He s .

’

ab o u t som ewh e r e .

“ ”
Of c ou rse ,
a ss en t e d Sw e en e y t a ct f ully
,
.
 1 5 2 I NSP EC TOR SWEENEY AND

Th e d e t e ctive re ma ine d a t t h e ho u se a ll ni ght .

When h e d e p a rt e d f or Sc otl an d Ya rd i n t h e morn ;

i ng h e c arri ed with him an ord i na ry drinking g l ass
a di rty g la ss th a t look e d as i f it mi g ht ha ve con
—

t ai n e d sta l e ale t h e ni g ht b e f ore . He h a d pi ck ed

i t up in on e Of t h e r ooms o f t h e ho u s e a n d t h e ca re
h e be stow e d u pon it a lm ost b ord e red on t h e
lu di cro u s . He s ee m e d p a rti cu l a rly a nxio u s n ot
to p ermit t h e g las s to r ub ag a inst a nything .

An hou r l at e r a ch ance vi sitor at S cotla nd Ya rd

mi ght hav e witn e ss ed a cu rio u s e xp e rim ent be ing
m a d e with an ordina ry d rinking gl a ss . Th e e x
i m n t w as a s u cces s T h e op e r a tiv e di sc o ve re d
p e r e .

on t h e g l a ss t h e imprints o f f o u r fing e rs a n d a

thumb Th e m arks we re p erf e ctly d istinct an d

.

t h e fing e r a n d thumb print s h a d b ee n re prod u ced

pe rf ectly on s en sit i z e d p a p er .

Tha t wa s t h e be g inning It wa s ne xt l e a rn e d
.

that only on e tra in ha d le ft t h e ra ilroa d st ation

n ea r Sir Willi a m H a rt s c o untry pl ac e b etw ee n t h e
’

hou rs o f six a n d t en o clo ck on t h e previou s ni ght

’
.

Th e th e f t h ad been committ e d b etwe e n tho se

hou r s A visit to t h e Office o f t h e ra ilroa d co m
.

p any re sult e d in finding t h e con d u cto r who h a d

c h a rg e o f tha t p a rti cu l a r tra in . He rem embe re d
tha t on e p a ss enger h ad boa rd ed t h e t ra in a t th e
station .
 THE S TOLEN GE M S 53
”
Did h e g o to London ? h e wa s a sked
on .

N O wa s th e re spon se h e a lig hte d a t t h e first

, ,

”
st a tion this s id e o f Lo n don .

Th e tra il w as b ecomi n g i nt e res ting It was .

followed un til it led to t h e sta tion thi s S id e o f

Lon don Th e on ly ca bma n a t tha t st a tio n was
.

awa k en e d f rom hi s s l umbe rs t o a nsw e r t h e qu es

'

“
tions Of th e d e tec tive He wa s a typi cal ni ght
.

hawk . Yes h e h a d an swe re d h e h a d on e cu s

, ,

tome r that nig ht C ould h e let t h e repre senta tive

.

f rom S c otl a nd Y a rd look a t hi s ca b ? M os t

as su re dly h e f elt c omplime nt e d at su ch a tt ention
,
.

Th e rams ha ckl e Ol d ve hicl e was f o und in t h e sta bl e

A ca ref ul e xa mina ti on was m
.

ad e Th e re sul t was .

There we re five d i stinct s pots on th e dir ty cab

d oor an d the y were t he imp rin t s o f f ou r finge rs an d
a thi ck thum b .

M ost sta r tl ing o f all t h e prints on th e cab d oo r

,

an d those on t h e u nwa s he d g l a ss we re id e nti cal .

Th e c on clu sion wa s Obvio u s Th e m an wh o .

h ad drank t h e gl a ss Of a le a t Sir Willi a m Har t s

’

that nig ht wa s t h e sa me m an who h ad tra vel e d

on t h e nine o c lo c k t ra in tha t ni ght an d h a d ta k en
’

t h e c ab at t h e s t a tion j u st o utsid e of London .

“ “
C abb y sa id t h e d etective you know where
, ,

”
y o u took yo u r c u s t o m e r la s t ni ght ?
1 54 INSPE CTOR SWEENEY AND

S u re "
Take m e the re at on ce .

Th e c abm an ha rn e ss e d u p hi s v ehi cl e an d drove

OH with t h e d e t e ctive a s hi s p a s s eng er In abou t .

ten mi nu t e s h e h alt e d b e f ore a m ea n l ookin g f ram e -

hou s e i n t h e subu rb s Swe en ey a light ed an d

.

ra pp ed at t h e doo r vigorou sly Af te r a l on g wai t .

,

a smooth sha v e n m a n in hi s shi rt sl e eve s re

-

spon d e d . Th e d et ectiv e was k eyed up t o hi s te

s ponsibility He di d n ot give t h e ma n tim e to
.

sp ea k but s a id sha rply :

“
Good morning M r M a rtin ,
. .

Th e m an drew ba ck .

How did you know h e bega n then cha ng ,

“
i n g hi s m ann e r to on e Of d efia nce h e cri e d My , ,

nam e s n ot M a rtin
’

“
Oh yes it is
,
w as t h e chee rf u l res po n se
, ,

”
yo u re John M a rt i n
’
.

“ ”
W ell w as t h e do gge d re spon s e wha t do
, ,

”
y ou w a n t ?
“
I want L a dy H a rt s gems sn a pp e d t h e’

Th e f ellow
’
s shen a n d h e st a rt ed
f ace b e ca m e a

to retrea t But it was t oo l at e In a thri ce t h e

. .

d et ec tive h a d slipp e d a p ai r of han d cu ff s u pon

hi s sl en d e r wrists .

That night John M a rtin was behi n d pri s on

 THE STOLEN GE M S 1 55

“
I w an t La dy Ha rt
’
s e
g m s, sn a pp e d t he d et e ct iv
e.
1 5 6 INSPE CTOR SWEENEY AND

b a rs an d L a dy H a rt s p re ciou s ms h ad been
’

g e re

stored to h e r .

The re wa s n o possibl e doubt abou t h i s guilt .

Th e ma id s e rva n t who h a d a lmost cri e d h er e ye s

-

o u t a t t h e m e re thou g ht th a t Sh e mi g ht be s u s

p e ct e d w as d e
,
li g ht e d with t h e r e t u rn O f t h e j e w e ls .

Lord M ortim e r n eve r even knew h e wa s a su spect .

Th e impe cunio u s nobl e ma n was n ot i n hi s room it ,

is t rue but h e w as loca ted l a t e r i n t h e ni g ht ca lmly

,

Sl ee pin g unde r t h e billi a rd t abl e a condition —

in d u ce d by a h ea vy m ea l a n d a n ov e r abunda nce -

o f c h a mp a gne .

John Ma rtin proved to be a p ro f e s siona l thi e f .

On num e ro u s o c ca sio n s h e h a d a ct e d as a n ext ra

s e rva n t at ho u s e p a rti e s f org e d re feren ces an d a
, ,

mo n th o f f a ithf ul s e rvi ce enabl e d him to get a

position with Si r Archibald Hunt er wh o was t h e
re sp e ct ed yo unge r son of an a risto crati c but n o t
p a rti cula rl y wealthy fa mily In d u e course of
.

time h e f o rm e d on e of t h e inh abit an ts o f Si r

,

Wi llia m H a r t s hou s e i n t h e na me an d ca pac ity o f

’

John M a rti n va l e t an d a tt end an t to hi s ma st e r

, ,

Sir Archiba ld M ar tin h a d impre ss e d hi s ma ste r

.

with hi s knowl edg e o f am at eur fir e b rig ad e work ,

a n d o n more tha n on e o cca sion g a v e a n e xhib ition

o f t hi s acc omplishm e nt by drill i n g t h e s e rvan t s in

va riou s pha s es o f fir e e xt i ng u ishi ng ope ra tions .

 THE STOLEN GE M S 1
57

On a rriva l at Sir Willi a ms ho u se Si r Archiba ld

’
,

i ntr od u c e d t h e subj e ct o f fir e in t h e g e n e ra l c on
ve rsa tion a t dinn e r a n d Sir Willi a m h ad t o a dmit
,

tha t f or so la rge a hou s e a s hi s h e f ea re d t h e fir e

preca utions we re f a r f rom pe rf ect It was t h e .

mos t nat u ra l thing i n t h e world f or Sir Archi ba ld

t o pl ac e M a r tin s se rvi ce s a t Sir Wil li a m s di sposa l
’ ’
.

Ma rtin mad e a gr e a t show o f instru cting t h e

“

se rvan ts but hi s sol e Obj ect wa s to b e come i n

,

t i m a t e ly a c qu a i nt e d with t h e ge o gra phy o f t h e

hou se Un d e r t h e gui s e of ca re fu lly e xa mining
.

possibl e e xit s in ca se Of fir e Of a rra nging wher e

,

hydran ts should be st ation e d inspe cting th e win ,

d ows doors an d st a irca s es an d t h e gen e ra l st ru e

, ,

t ure o f t h e hou se Ma rtin wa s n ot only abl e to g et

,

a n ac cu ra t e id e a o f whe r e t h e v a rio u s room s wer e

s itu a t e d b u t h e b e ca m e ac qua inte d a lso with

ma ny poi n t s o f d e ta il importa nt t o his c ontem
pl a t ed e nt e rpris e .He w as also a bl e to ta ke
impre ss ion s o f locks an d t ampe r with b olts d u rin g
t h e c ou rse o f his inve stig a tion .

He l ef t Sir Willi a m s ho u se with hi s ma st e r o n

’

t h e ni g ht be f or e t h e con cl u sion Of th e ho u se p a rty

so th a t hi s a lib i i n tha t c onn e c tio n w as s e cu r e

en oug h b ut h e m a d e it a poin t to r e t u rn on t h e
,

“
f ollowing night . B e ing well known to a ll of t h e
1 5 8 THE S TOLEN GE M S
f o un d his wayto t h e co rridor Of t h e s econd stor y
l ea di n g t o L a dy H a rt s room He h a d n ot thoug ht
’
.

o f robbe ry a t tha t p a rti cu l a r mom ent but t h e

si ght o f L a dy H a rt l e avin g h er room an d t h e

j ewels lying expos e d on t h e d res sing tabl e proved
-

t oo strong a t e mpt a tion f or his a va ri ciou s n ature .

He qu i ckl y Slipp e d in put t h e j ewels i n his poc ket

,

a n d th en ca lmly m i ng l e d with t h e oth er s e rv ants .

L at e r on h e w a s t h e m an who w ent out to t h e

g a t e k -
e e p e r a n d inst ru c t e d him not to p e rmit
anyo n e to l e a v e t h e ho u s e th a t ni g ht a n d a f t e r
,

s endin g t h e m an on a f ool s e rrand h e c oolly

’

m a rched ou t Of t h e g round s He took t h e first

.

tra in to t h e Lo n don suburb a n d hoped by t h e next

d ay to b e abl e to d i spo s e o f his loot . Hi s on ly mis
t a ke w as in p au si ng i n th e s erva nt s h all long’

e nou g h t o drink t h e ale o u t of a di rty gla ss Th e

“

impres s o f his fing ers on t h e g l a ss an d on t h e cab

door at t h e Subu rban st a tion prov e d to be hi s
u n doin g an d f u rnish e d f ood f or c ont e mpl a tion

in t h e lon g t e rm of pen al se rvitu d e to which h e was

 MYSTER Y .

of th e fam u o s Mo lly Ma g ui r es

from 1
.
8 7o 1 87 6 . In J un e, 1 87 5 ,
wi th on ly ei g ht e en m en
m ob o f se ve n hu n d r ed

th e Wes t S h en a n d o a h

S t uar t
’

. Af t er re li q ui hi n g t hi
n s s o ffi c e, he o pe n ed a p r i va t e

N th e ni ght o f Octobe r 1 9 1 8 79 Pa y , ,

mas te r McC lure an d hi s b od y gu a rd -

,

. C ha rl e s McFad d en , a ra ilro ad con

1 60 C APTAIN LINDEN AND

Ita li an l abore rs who we re worki n g on t h e ra ilr oa d

n ea r tha t pl ace Th ey h a d
. in a
lea the r s a t che l whi ch was f a s t e ned t o t h e bottom
o f t h e ca rri ag e with a c o u pl e o f s tra p s T he .

thoug ht o f pe rsona l d ang er never ente re d t h e

mi nds Of e ithe r of t h e m en They kn ew eve ry
.

f oot Of t h e g ro und a n d moreover were ac qu a int e d

, ,

with n ea rly e ve ry m an woman an d chi l d within

, ,

a r a di u s o f five m il e s.

Th e i r c omi ng t o M in er s M ill s was a l wa ys t h e

’

occa sion o f mu c h j oy a mong t h e It ali an l ab o rers

an d th ei r wive s a n d childr en In f a ct McC lu re and

.
,

Flana gha n w e re look e d on a s minia tu re edi tion s

o f S a nt a C la us ,
e x ce pt tha t inst ea d of c omi ng

on ce a yea r th ey ma d e thei r w el com e visits twice

,

a mo n th . They we re as p un ct u al as t h e cloc k
it self an d th e wo rkm en knew to t h e mi nute , ,

wh en to e xp ect t h e p a yma s t e r a n d hi s as si sta nt .

AS a conse qu en ce whe n they f a il e d to a ppea r at

t h e u su a l tim e on Oc tobe r 2 0 th t h e peo p l e we re
,

ve ry mu ch distu rbed A t el eg ram from Wilke s

.

B a rr e sta ted they h a d l eft tha t city twe l ve ho urs

be f ore.

A g en e ral a la rm was s en t out an d a d el egation

o f m en st a rte d f or t h e mou nt a ins So me of t h e .

most promin en t citi ze n s of Luz e rne C o unty

h ead e d t h e s ea rching p a rty They kne w tha t th e
.
 THE M OUNTAIN M YSTERY 1 61

pa ymaste r an d hi s as sista n t ca rri e d a l a rge su m

o f mon ey a n d the y w e r e also a wa r e th a t c e rt a in

pa r ts o f t h e mou nt a in we re a s l awless as t he most

u n c i viliz e d se ction o f t h e U n ite d St a te s . Littl e
won d er tha t the y we re fille d with gloo my f o re
b oding s The y had n ot g on e f a r be f or e the i r
.

worst f ea r s we re re a l i z e d Th e hors e b elon g in g

.

t o McC lu re a n d F la n a g h an la y d ea d in t h e ro a d .

Th e a nima l h ad b een wo u nd e d a n d e vid e ntly

suffered g re at a gon y be f ore i t die d f or it lay the re
we lt erin g i n its own blood Some ya rds f a rther
.

u p t h e ro a d th e y cam e to t h e b rok en sh a f ts of a

ca rri a g e spl i n t e r e d an d b lood sta in e d

,
-
.

Th ey c on tin u e d their s ea rc h n e rvi n g themse lves

,

f o r t h e sho c k tha t w a s still to c ome . It ca me onl y

t oo soo n Th e d ea d bo dy Of P a ym a ste r McC lu r e
.

w as f o un d d a n g ling f rom t h e b ar o f t he bu ggy

w h ere it h a d b een ca u g ht an d hun g su s pen de d f or
hours An e xa min a t i o n prove d tha t t h e d e a d
.

ma n h a d b ee n shot i n t h e b a c k i n f ou r distinc t
pla ces It wa s as if a v oll ey h a d bee n fire d f rom
.

a mbu sh Th e horror O f t h e a ff a i r w as incr ea se d

.

five minu t e s la t e r when Fla n a gh a n was f o u n d ,

f ace prostra t e in t h e roa d li f el e ss

, . He h a d
e vi d ently b e e n shot a n d h a d f a ll en f rom t h e w a on
g .

Th e b o di e s we r e hu rri e dly con vey e d t o M ine r s

’

M ills an d then an att e mpt was ma d e to l oca te t he

,
1 62 C APTAIN LINDEN AND

murd ere rs For hou rs t h e loc a l a uthoriti es

.

sea rche d t h e vi cin ity but w i th n o r es ult Th e

,
.

moun t a in s were c overe d with a h ea vy ca rp eting

o f d e a d l e a v e s a n d it w a s imposs i bl e to d et ec t or

f ollow f ootpri n ts und e r su ch c irc umst a n ce s Th e

.

th eo r y o f th e a ff ai r w a s tha t t h e robbe ry w a s n ot
committ e d u ntil a f t e r t h e two m en h a d b een

murd ere d a n d t h e hors e h a d c ome to a f ull stop .

Af te r tha t t h e a ss a ssi n s h a d s e cu re d t h e mon ey ,

fled i n to t h e woods a n d e s ca p e d by w a y o f t h e
ra ilro a d sha nti e s i n t h e vi cin i ty .

Th e in qu e st d e mo n stra t e d n othing o f val u e .

Th e fun e ra l o f t h e mu rd ere d m en whi c h took

p la ce f rom M in er s M ills wa s l a rg ely a tt end ed
’
,
.

All o f t h e It a li an s who work e d on t h e ra i l ro a d

were pre s ent On e o f the s e w a s M i cha el Rizzolo
. .

He s ee m e d to be ve ry mu ch a ff e ct e d a n d pullin g ,

ou t hi s ha n dk e r chi e f w e pt b itt e rly

,
He c ri e d o ut :
.

My g oodn e ss who c ould h ave do n e thi s aw ful

,

crim e ? I will have to help to run down t h e ;

mu rd erers a n d when w e g et th em w e will string

them u p witho ut mercy .

Within twen ty f o u r ho u rs Rizzolo wa s a rr e st e d

-
,

c ha rg e d with t h e mu rd e r Of Mc C lu r e an d Fl ana

g ha n .

But unf ortu n a t ely t h e a rr e st w a s ma d e sol ely

on s us pi c ion . Th ere w a s n ot a shred of evid ence
 THE M OUNTAI N M YSTERY 1 93

on hold t h e man
whi c h t o -
s it was t he f ac t
unle s

tha t h e live d in a shanty on t h e mo u n t a in s ide -

.

Th e e xpecte d ha ppe ne d . He was dis ch arg ed

In th e mea ntime C ha rl e s McFa d d en t h e em ,

ployer of t h e mu rd ered m en d ete rmin e d tha t t he

a ssas s ins shou ld n o t g o f ree i f a pl enti f u l e xpen d i
,

tu re o f mon ey an d t h e e mploymen t o f t h e bes t

d e te c tive skill in Ame rica could preven t it .

Acco rding ly h e sent f or C a pta in Robe rt J .

Lin d en This f amou s d etective h as be e n graph

.

ica lly d es cribe d by no l e ss an a uthority than

Allan Pinke rton wh o sa y s tha t Lind en was a m an
,

“
whose co urage j u d gm ent an d d i s cretion co u ld
,

be impli citly reli e d u po n A m a n e mine n tly .

qu alified to t a ke t h e l ea d i n a great an d ha z a rdou s

u nd e rt a kin g A m an o f g ood pe rsona l a ppea r
.

an ce ,
of ca ptiv a ting a ddr ess g re a t e n e rg y an d ,

pe rseve rance with more th an ordina ry powe rs

,

of con ce ption t all pow e rf ul an d c omm a n ding i n

, ,

f rame an d physique with j ust t h e ki nd o f blue eyes

,

t o w n t h e confi d e nce o f othe rs ; t h e p rop e r

i
qu a lities of hea d an d hea rt an d po ssesse d o f t h e
.
,

g rea t e st c onfi d e n ce a n d ca lmn e ss u nd e r t h e mo s t

”
t ryi ng c ircu ms t an ce s .

Lin d en re spo n d ed t o th e summ on s a t onc e .

M r McFad d en like Alla n Pinke rton wa s pl ea se d

.
, ,
1 64 C APTAIN LI NDEN AND

w ith t h e ppe a ra n ce o f t h e m an He sa id so i n as
a .

ma ny words He be ga n to d e scr ibe t h e t rag ic

.

d ea th of his two e mployees Linden in terru pte d .

I know all ab o u t it .

But how ?
It s my bu sin ess to ke e p thoroughly ver se d on
’

cr im e s a n d c rimin a ls S u ch an aff a ir as thi s wou ld

.

”
n a t u ra lly a pp ea l to my p r o f e ssiona l instin cts .

Then you ar e wi lling t o u nd e rta k e t h e task

o f b rin g in g t h e a ss a ssins to j u sti ce .

“
Nothi ng wo uld g ive m e g rea t e r pl ea su re .

”
Whe n ca n y o u b e gi n ?
”
At on ce .

Withi n twen ty f our ho ur s Lind en was in Wi lkes

-

Bar re . He h a d be en g iv en f ull pow e r an d un

limite d mon ey His first a ct wa s t o pu t Mi ke
.

Rizzolo u n d er su rv e ill an ce Af t er tha t h e ma de .

a n e xh a u stiv e in ves t i g a tion o f t h e s c en e o f the

mu rd e r At i t s con cl u sion h e w a s convin ce d o f

.

t h e gu ilt o f Ri z zolo But h e l a cke d th e proof tha t

.

wou ld s atis fy a j u ry i n f a ct was withou t a Sp eck

—
,

o f evid e n ce O f a n y ki n d A m a n can n ot be con

.

vi c t e d m ere ly beca u s e som e othe r m an be li e ve s

him gu ilty o f a c rime NO on e kn ew thi s be tt er .

t ha n Rob e rt J Lind en . .

His a ssi st ant C apta in E J Doug he rty s aid

, . .
,
 THE M O UN TAI N MYSTE RY 1 65

Shall we a rre st Rizzolo ?

N 0 ; we mu st g et e ithe r a c onf ess ion o r s uffi
”
ci ent e vid en ce f o r a c o n vi ctio n .

At this criti cal s tag e of t h e g ame t h e local

a utho ritie s who h a d h e a rd o f t h e move me nts o f

Lind en an d his a ss i st a nts r e a rre sted Rizzo lo

,
-
.

Lind en was n ot g iven to pro f ani ty but so meof t h e ,

thing s h e sa id on that occ a sion we re u nprint able .

He f ore s a w a tri a l an d a n a c qu itt a l a fia sco a —

,

mis carri age o f j u sti ce He wen t to Thomas

.

Quig ley of M ine r s M ills

,
’
.

S u rely .

Will you he lp m e ?
Of co urs e .

Then go ba il fo r M ike Ri zzolo .

Why ?
I want t o ha ve hi m re lea s ed a n d thu s lull hi s
su spi cion s.

Qui gl ey wen t Ri zz olo s ba il in t h e s um o f

’

an d t h e Itali an wa s relea se d f rom cu stody He .

w a s de lig hte d To hi s min d h e had been tri e d

.

a n d vi rt u a lly a c qui tt e d o f t h e c rim e He must .

ha ve h a d a smatt e ring of law i n f act po sse s sed

—
,

“ ” “ ”
tha t little lea rning whic h i s a d an gerous thi ng ,

beca u s e h e sai d mo re th an once to hi s c on fid ants

, ,
1 66 CAPTAIN LINDEN AND

A man ca n t be tri ed f or mur d er twi ce Onc e

’
.

ac qui tt e d h e s a f ree m a n
’
.
,

He f a il ed to rea liz e tha t hi s h ea ring bef ore a n

a ld er ma n w a s n ot a tria l a n d tha t hi s di sch a rge
,

w as f ar f rom a n ac qui ttal But f rom t h e mome nt

.

h e was r e l ea s e d hi s eve ry f ootst ep w as sha dowed ;

e ve ry hou se tha t h e en t e re d wa s m ark e d ; e ve ry

word tha t h e u tt e re d was ove rhea rd a n d eve ry ,

pen ny tha t h e spen t was n ot ed in a little red book

k e pt by on e o f Lind en s rubbe r shoe d Sl euths
’
- .

Riz z olo s ee med anyt hi n g but a d espe ra do .

He was abo u t twenty f ou r y ea rs old an d ra th er

-

agr eea bl e looking e x ce pt f or his n ose whi c h h a d a

-

disc olora tion whi ch won f or hi m f rom hi s coun try

Red Nos e M ike
“
m en t h e ni ckn am e o f He .

G am e t o Am e ri ca f rom C a la bri tto in t h e pro v ince

,

o f Ave lli no n ea r N a pl e s
,
In hi s own cou ntry h e
.

w as a ppre n ti c e d to a b arbe r Bu t h e w as rest l e ss

.

a n d diss a tis fie d with th is e mploym en t an d w a nted

t o com e to t h e Unit e d Sta t es wh e re h e h a d heard , ,

mon ey w as t o b e pi ck e d u p on t h e stree ts On hi s .

arr ival i n Am eri ca h e work e d f o r a whil e in N ewa rk ,

N ew J e rse y but e ventu a lly dri ft e d t o Wilk es Ba rre

,
-

w h e re be secu red e mploym en t with th e ra ilroa d

Two d ays a f t e r Riz z olo was di s cha rg e d f rom cus

tod y h e w en t t o Poug hkee psi e New York where
, , ,
 THE MOU NTAIN MYSTERY 1 57

he sta rt e d ommissa r y d e pa rtmen t f or t h e be ne

a c

fit o f hi s f ellow It a li a n s tha t w e r e employe d by

M r McFa d d en who ha d a railro a d con trac t in
.
,

tha t se ction o f New York M ik e st ill h a d a .

looke d g ood .

But a ll whi l e Lind en h ad two o f hi s em

the

p ylo e e s a t t h e e l b ow o f M i k e Rizzolo Both . o f

thes e f e llows w e re Ita l i ans On e pret en d e d t o
.

be ha lf witte d a n d m ana g ed to b e in t h e c omp a ny

-

o f M i k e all t h e whi le He n ot only worke d with

.

hi m bu t h e a t e a n d sl ept with hi m Riz zo lo on

.

his p a rt n o t only g ave t h e m a n his confid en ce b y

d ay but h e pou r e d hi s i n coher en t drea ms into
,

his willi ng ea r by ni g ht D et a il e d re ports were

.

se nt t o L i nd en with r e li g io u s r e g u l a r ity .

A f ew wee ks a ft e r t h e crim e Riz z olo s s i st e r ,

’

was ma rrie d an d h e ma d e h er a pres en t o f $ 600 .

A mont h la t e r h e prese nt e d hi s b rothe r i n la w - -

with t o s et hi m u p in t h e bak e r y bu si n es s .

Al so a t s un d ry tim es h e display ed g rea t rolls of

, ,

g r ee nb ac k s wh i c h w e r e ce rt a i nly not t h e pro fi ts

o f hi s bu sin e ss in P ou g hk e e psi e F i na lly abo u t
.
,

t h e 1 2 t h o f J an u a ry Rizzolo ma d e el abora te pl ans

,

f or a trip to It aly . He a rrang e d to sa il on t h e

2 0t h o f J a n ua r Lind e n r e solv e d th t t h e It a lia n
y . a

sho uld n eve r l ea ve Ame ri ca He had am p le .

r 68 C APTAI N LINDEN AND

ev id en ce He re solve d to a rrest him a t once

. .

8 0 h e l a id a tra p to en t i ce Mik e to Phil a d e lphi a ,

thu s b rin g ing him wi thin t h e j u risd i ction o f t h e

c ou rt .

Th e Ita li a n r espo n d e d As h e a lig hte d f rom

.

t h e tr a in Lind en ca m e f o rwa rd to m ee t him

,
.

Riz zolo was som ewha t ta ken ab a ck at t h e sig ht

o f t h e d e t e ctive b u t his n e rve d i d n ot d e se rt him .

Wh a t do yo u w a n t ? ”

I w ant you to help m e out on a littl e ca se I m ’

int ere st e d i n w as t h e signi fica nt respon se

, .

They drove down to t h e Phil a d e lphi a offi ce o f

the Pin k e rton a g en cy L i n d en imm e di at ely
.

e s cort e d his m an i n to hi s pri va te o ffice .

Wa it h ere h e s a id I ll be b ack in a minu te

, ,
’
.

M ike f elt un c omf orta ble That was Lind en s .

’

pu rpos e Th e It ali an looked abo u t hi m n ervou sly

. .

Hi s g l a re r e st e d u pon a l a rg e portra it o f Al la n
Pinke rton t h e f o un d e r o f t h e ag en cy Th e e yes
, .

o f t h e v e t e r an de t e ctive looke d down on t h e

mu rd e re r a ccu sing ly a t lea st h e thoug ht so
—
.

He tu rned a n d w as g reet e d with t h e motto o f t h e

a g en cy
“
We N eve r Sl ee p
, He was ve ry un ea s y
.

now Lind en re ent e re d t h e room ca rrying a l eg al

.
,

looking docum en t in his ha nd It was a wa rrant .

f or t h e a rre st o f th e It alian Lind en looked ver y .

solemn .
 THE MOU NTAI N MYST E RY 1 69

“
Hi s gl ar e r e st e d up on a l a rge p i
o rt r a t o f All an Pink
”
ert o n .
1 7° C APT AI N LI N DE N AND

M i ch a el Riz zolo st and up " ,

Th e su spe c t a rose curiou s a n d f ea rf u l

,
.

“ ”
Wha t is it ? h e cri ed .

Lind en put his bro a d han d on t h e ma n s shou l ’

d er .

“
I a rre st yo u for the mu rd e r of McC lure and

Flan a g ha n .

Riz zolo sa nk to t h e floor a sha p ele ss he ap o f ,

cru sh ed hu m a nity .

It wa s som e momen ts be f ore h e rec ove red hi s

n e r ve When h e did s o t h e d e tective sa id :
.
,

“
Yo u a re n ot c omp ell e d to t e ll m e anyt hi ng .

”
You can k e ep qu i et i f you wish .

“ ” “
Oh n o h e c ri e d I mu st conf e ss I ca n t ’

; , ,
.

kee p qui e t an y long e r .

And the re i n th a t littl e room i n p a ss io n at e

, ,

words h e po u re d f orth t h e story o f t h e a tro ciou s

,

do u ble m u rd e r on t h e L u z e rn e moun ta ins .

“ ” “
It was g reed f or g old s a id M i ke tha t was , ,

a t t h e b ottom o f it a ll Th e s che m e to wa y la y
.

an d mu rd er McC lur e a n d F lan aghan was first

con coc t e d o n S u n d a y S ept ember 2 d Giu se ppi
,
.

Beve ni n o an d V i n c en zo Vill e ll a a n d I thoug ht

wha t a g ood tim e we wo uld ha ve in I taly if we
could g et this mon ey We t a lked it over f or a
.

l ong tim e an d finally con cl ud ed to ca rry out th e

,

scheme We scoure d th e woods thoroughly to

.
 THE M OUNTAIN MYST E RY 1 7 1

fin d a g oo d spot to co n c e a l o u r fi r e a rms an d t h e

mone y in ca s e we s u cce e d e d Af t er looking abo ut .

f or more tha n two w e eks w e fina lly lo ca t e d a pl a ce

tha t su it ed ou r p urpose Then I b oug ht a rifle .

a t a st or e i n Wilk e s B a rre a n d w e we re re a dy -
.

On t h e morning o f Frid a y Octobe r r ot h I sa w , ,

McC lu re go a wa y f rom t h e works I f o llowe d .

him t o M i n e r s M ills
’
Vill ell a a n d Beveni n o did
.

n ot c om e to M i n e r s M i lls tha t morni n g but re

’

m a in e d i n t h e woods Aft e r l eavin g Mi ner s .

’

M ills I p a ssed McClur e on t h e roa d

,
.

Wha t did McClur e say to you ? ”

He s aid Hello M ike "

’

”
Wha t d id you say ?
I sa id Hello a n d n odd e d my hea d
, ,
’
.

”
Then Wha t f ollowe d ?
“
As soon a s McClu r e an d Flan ag han p a ss ed m e
in t h e ca rri a g e I qui cken e d my p a c e but they
, ,

na t ura lly p a id n o a tten tion to m e We were .

n ow c lo se to whe re t h e two othe r m en were in

”
a mbu sh a n d I be g an to g et a littl e n e rvo u s
,
.

“
Who fired t h e first shot ?
Beveni n o He d i d t h e princip a l Shooting
. .

He wa s a n e xp e rt shot He w a s on t h e rig ht sid e

.

”
o f t h e roa d g o i ng u p .

Wh o was shot first ? ”

McC lur e ”
.
1 7 2 C APTAI N LI N DE N AND

Who fire d t h e n e xt shot ?

Vill ella .

Wh ere a r e these m en n ow ?
They ar e both in Ita ly They lef t t hree .

wee ks af te r t h e murd e r .

How f ar u p t he roa d was Ville lla f rom Beve n

”
ino ?

Abo u t fif ty yar ds .

When d id you shoot ?

I shot f rom th e rea r I fire d f o ur shots .

altog e ther at t h e m en i n t h e ca rri ag e After .

McC lur e a n d Fla na g ha n ha d bee n S hot t h e horse ,

sta rt e d on a d ea d r un Villella g ot f rig htene d a n d

.

ran thro ug h t h e woo ds to t he shanty wh ere h e

look e d as i f th e hors e w as g oing to g e t a wa y an d

Be veni n o w as flee t -f oote d

howeve r an d he , ,

chas e d t h e hors e a t a b rea k n e ck spe e d He -

.

fina lly ca ug ht u p a n d g rabb e d hi m by t h e rein .

He then shot hi m i n t h e hea d Th en we cut t he .

stra p tha t held t h e sa tc h el f ast to t h e ca rri a g e ,

a n d h u rri e d to t h e woods to t h e hiding plac e

,
.

Th e mone y w as bu ri e d as we ll as th e wea pons ,

an d I a rri v e d a t m y sh an ty a littl e be f ore twelve

o cloc k Y ou know t h e rest how I w as 811 3

’
.
,

t d n d how I w as f ollow e d t o Po ughkee p si e

p e c e a,
.
 THE MOU N TAI N MYST E RY 1 73

Th e tro uble ca me when we qu a rrel e d ove r t h e

division o f t h e Spoils Th e othe r tw o m en we re s o
.

a nxio u s to g et b a c k to It a ly th a t w e took s eve ra l

trips t o t h e woo ds a n d d ug u p p a rt of t h e mon ey

u n t i l n ow n ot hi ng re ma i n s the re bu t t h e s i l ve r

mon e y an d t h e we a po n s tha t we re u s e d to co m
”
mit t h e mu rd e r .

Li n d en d e t e rmin e d to t e st Ri z z olo s sto ry a t ’

on ce Th e Ita li an told him pre cisely whe re t h e

.

mon e y a n d t h e rifle s we re bu ri e d Li n d en st a rt e d
.

f or Wi lke s B a rr e a t on c e a c c omp a n i e d by t h e s elf

-
,

co nf e ss e d m u rd e re r The y re a che d Wi lk e s B a rre at

.
-

eig ht o clo ck in t h e e ven in g It wa s too l a t e the n

’
.

to g et a tra in to L a u rel Hill whe re t h e mon ey

”
,

was hidd en . Th e ni g ht wa s d a rk a n d stormy but

t h e d et e ct i ve re sol ve d to p u rs u e his s e a rch in
spite o f a ll Obsta cl e s He ma d e up his mi n d to
.

walk to L a u rel Hill rathe r than risk be in g f ollowe d .

He wa s a cc omp a n i e d by on e o f his d et e ct i ve s a n d
t h e pri s on e r who w as not h a n d cu ff e d Wh en they .

rea che d t h e first hou s e on t h e Sid e o f t h e moun t a in ,

h e borrowe d a min e r s l a mp a n d then be ga n t h e

’

j ou rney over t h e mo unt a i n s S even mil es f rom

.

Wilkes B ar re a n d two mi l e s f rom t h e s cene Of t h e

-

m urd er a t Lau rel Run C ree k the y f oun d t h e

, ,

variou s a rti cl e s j u st whe re Mi ke s a id they h a d

been hi d d en He w a s the ir gu i d e f rom t h e be g in
.
1 74 CAPTAI N LINDEN AND

nin g to t h e en d He kn ew e ve ry in ch o f t he coun
.

t ry whi ch w as we ird b eyond t h e wild e st stre t che s

o f t h e ima g in atio n Th e rifle w a s f o und as w ell
.

as t h e silve r mon ey They were hidd en beneath

.

a h e a vy ro ck T h e mon e y was i n a l a rg e ba g a n d
.

wra pp e d i n t h e p a pe r p a ckag es j u st a s it ca m e
f rom t h e b a nk Th e sa t ch e l in whi ch t h e mon ey
.

wa s ca r ri e d by McC lu r e a n d Fla n a gh a n wa s f o und

in a n oth e r pla ce bu ri e d abo ut a f oot d ee p betwe en
,

two ro cks All o f t h ethin g s w e re bu ri e d in s uch

.

a wa y th a t th e y co uld b e r e a dily r ea c h ed by t h e

remova l Of a lot o f l e aves th at were strewn ove r

Lin d en d i rect e d th a t ea ch a rt i cl e Should be put

ba c k e xa ct l y wh ere it h a d b een f o u nd e x cept t h e
c oin whi ch h e pu t i n a s a t ch el a n d too k b a ck to

Wilke s B a rre with him

-
Iron y o f f a te Mike
.
—

Ri zzolo w a s t h e m e ss en g e r who ca rri e d t h e sa t ch el

c on ta ini n g t h e c o i n whi ch w a s to be u s e d a s evi

d en ce to s en d hi m t o t h e g allows It w a s ve ry .

hea vy There was

. i n dime s fi ve c en t ,
-

pi e ces an d p enni e s They walke d over t h e ra il

,
.
~

ro a d trac k ba ck to L au rel Run whi ch was r ea che d

shor tly a ft e r m id ni g ht Throug h t h e kindn e ss
.

o f a t e l e g ra ph O p e ra tor a t L a u re l Run the y w e re

,

fu rni shed with an en g in e whi ch took them ba c k

t o Wilk es B a rre
- .
 THE M OUNTAIN M YSTERY 1 75

Ri z zolo was tri ed con vi ct e d a n d e xecu te d

,
.

R equisition s we re issu e d f or hi s a cco mpli ces but

t hrou g h some fla w In in t e rna tion a l la w they c o uld
n ot b e honore d . L at er howeve r throug h t h e
, ,

a cti vity Of t h e It a l i a n g ove rnm e n t both r e ce ived

long te rm s i n a Roman pe nit enti a ry Those who

.

we re be st ac qu a i n t ed with C a pt a in Lind en s ’

a chi e v e m en ts in t h e grea t M oun t a in Myst er y

d ec la re that it was as keen an d a rtistic a sp ecim en
of d e t e c tive work a s has b een d e veloped in an y

country in mod e rn t i rn es .
 CAPTAIN D ONA G HY AN D T HE WHI T E
CASE .

[C p t i J m I Do ghy C hi f f t h D t c t i v Bu
a a n a es . na u , e o e e e e r ea

o f P hil d lphi a i fi
e t yp f t h l v l h d d i v tig t
a, s a ne e o e e e - ea e n es a or s

o f c imr f th p e o t d y eH h b i t h d p tm t
r e se n a . e as een n e e ar en

for thi t y y r ; h v w
ea rs d i gui f
e ne y k i d i hi
er or e a s se o an n n s

li f ; h k w v y ul f t h g m nd h ccup i d ve y
e e no s e er r e o e a e, a as o e e r

s p
e t p
ar a i ti e i th os vi c fon m t h t f ub p li c m n
n e se r e ro a o s - o e a

up t t h o p i b l p t whi ch h
e r es o ns w fi ll wi t h i g
e os l u e no s s na s c

c e ss H w
. th ec sp i cu u fig u i t h f m u Whi te
as e on o s re n e a o s

mu d c r er lt h ugh h m d t l y d i cl i m t h c d i t yi g
a se a o e o es s a s e re ,
sa n

t h t t h gl y b l
a e g tor t h t i p
e on li c f c f
s t h o"u k e en re o e or e o e a er

C i ty Th t y u t i d f i t w i t t i i mp t t
. e s or ,
o s e o s o n n e r es ,
s or an as

a f i i llu t t i
a r f th u
s ra m ti c d bu i
on o eli k m t hod
nr o an an s n es s- e e s

n w g
o lly u d i t h d t c t i
e n er a se f c i min l i th large e e e on o r na s n e

ci ti f t h U i te d St t s "
es o e n a e

g ht o f M a y o rNt h 1the
9 0 0 Pr of es ni , ,

s or Roy Wilso n Whi te a F e llow o f ,

t h e Law S chool o f t h e U ni ve rs ity Of

P enn sylva ni a a n d a l e ct u re r o n ,

Roma n Law a t t h e f amo u s s e at o f l ea rning was ,

myste rio u sly a n d b ru ta lly mu rd e re d .

Pro f e ssor Whi t e a lthoug h a m an o f l ess than ,

thi rty yea rs of ag e h a d a lre a dy w on an i n te rna ,

t i on al re p u t a tion i n hi s sp e ci a l b ra n c h o f st u d y .

He w a s qui e t a n d u n a ss u mi ng i n mann e r an d
( 1 7 6)
 THE WHITE C A SE 1
77

enj oye d t h e re pu ta tion of being th e most popul a r

In stru cto r a t t h e Univer sity So far as kn own
.

h e did n ot ha ve an e nemy in th e world a n d t h e ,

n ew s of hi s mu rd e r ca me as a t e rri bl e S hock not ,

only to hi s f amily an d f ri ends but als o to t h e

,

th o u sa n d s o f stu d en ts with whom h e h ad come

into pe rsona l c on ta ct d u ring t he pe ri od o f his

On th e d a y of mu rd e r all of hi s movem ents

t he
we re a ccou nte d f o r f rom t h e time he sa id g ood bye -

a t hi s home in t h e morn ing u ntil t h e mom ent h e

l eft t h e cl a ss roo m f or t h e ni ght Du ring t he

-
.

a f te rn oon h e h a d a lon g ta lk with on e o f his a sso

ci a te s c onc e rn ing a work in whi ch t h e t wo men

we re mutu a lly in t ere ste d He took dinn e r alon e

.

a t a sm a ll hote l n ea r t h e Uni ve rs i ty an d af te r
,

tha t l e cture d to t h e law cla ss un d e r hi s cha rg e .

He was c on fi d en t a n d enthu sia sti c an d n eve r

ap pea red to bette r a d vanta ge Ab ou t ten o cloc k ’
.

a t ni g ht h e l e f t f or hi s hom e in Ger ma ntown a ,

su bu rb o f Phila d elphi a He st art ed i n th e d i r ec

.

tion o f the Powelton Aven u e sta ti on o f t h e P enn

sylvan ia Ra ilro a d wi th t h e pu rpo se o f bo a rdi ng
t he trai n .

Le s s tha n an hou r la t e r a poli ce man wa lkin g ,

a lon g Thirty s ec o n d stree t a dj oinin g t h e ra ilr oad

-
,
1 7 s CAP TAI N D ONAGHY AND

was qui t e d a rk in tha t s e ction i n f a ct it was a ft er —

w a rd s d ecl a red to be t h e d arkest spo t in all of

Phi l a d elphi a Th e Offi cer fla shed hi s l ante rn on
.

t h e in e rt ma ss b ef ore hi m an d was shoc ke d t o fin d

a ma n ma ngle d an d bl eeding His hea d was
,
.

cru she d a n d h e was un cons cio u s Th e poc k ets .

o f t h e white v est w e re t u rned ins id e ou t a n d hi s ,

g old w a t c h w as missin g Th e littl e g r e e n b a

.
g
tha t h e alwa ys ca rri e d was by his sid e an d was
sp atte re d with hi s li f e blood It con ta in e d a mong .
,

”
othe r thing s a t ext book on Ple a ding
,
-
a b ook —

f rom whi ch P ro fe sso r Whit e h a d be en l e ct u ring

tha t eveni ng Some note s on shee ts of p a pe r
.

“ ”
whi ch h e h a d u t i li ze d in hi s Q uiz cla s s were ,

als o in t h e ba g A pocket book con ta ined a li f e

.
-

insu rance poli cy an invita tion to a cl a ss reunion

,

in another Sta te an d a s um o f money in gree n

,

ba cks A few ya rd s a way i mbed de d in t h e so f t

.
,

e a rth ,
was an iron bar quit e thi c k an d abo ut ,

e ig hte en in ch e s long It was su ch a thi ng as is

.

u se d on t h e pla t f o rms Of f re i g ht ca rs .

Th e d i s figu re d corps e was re move d to t h e U ni

ve rsity Hosp i t al an d t h e best me di cal an d su rg i ca l
,

a i d s u mmo n e d But it was t oo la te ; t h e vita l

.

sp ark h a d fled an d all tha t t h e pro f essors an d

st u d en ts h a d l e f t to the m was t h e memory o f Roy
Wil so n VVhi t e S g ra ciou s lif e
’
.
 THE WHITE CASE 1 79

Th e shocking na t ure of t h e crime s eems to ha ve

aro u se d t h e a u thoriti e s in to insta nt an d unive rsa l

a ctivity . Sup e rint enden t of Poli ce Q uirk an d

C hi e f of D e te ctives M i ll e r h eld a consulta tio n to
d e t e rmin e what shou ld be done While they were .

ta lking J ame s A Don ag hy a m embe r of th e

.
,

d ete ctive st aff p a ss e d t h e op en door of th e oute r

,
-

o ffice Qu irk e spi ed him :

.

He llo Jim h e cri e d

, ,

It h a d be en ra inin g ca ts a nd dog s all t h e

a f t e rnoo n Don aghy ent e re d t h e office wa te r
.

s o aked f rom hea d to f oot .

“ ”
Wha t s t h e m att e r with you ? a ske d Mill e r
’
.

You oug ht to know wa s t h e rej oind e r

, .

/
You s ent m e d own to M e d i a to g et a pi ck

”
Did you g et him ?
Sure was t h e rej om d e r
, ,
an d g o t sous e d in
n

We ll ,
s a id M ille r we ve got s omethin g
,
’

bigg e r than a pi ckpoc ke t to look a f te r n ow ;

Donaghy l isten e d An d t h e more h e hear d

.
,

th e more a b sor b e d h e be ca m e He f orgot all .

ab out hi s w e t clothe s He f org ot e ve rything

.

but a d esire to g et on t h e tra c k o f t h e m a n or

'

m en wh o h a d so f o u lly mu rde re d an ino ff ensive

1 80 C APTAIN DONAGHY AND

g e n tl em an While they t a lke d a n ew com er j o in ed

.

t he gr ou p It was Robe rt J Mc Ken t y anothe r

. .
,

m embe r o f t h e d e t e ct iv e st a ff a ft e rwa rds ma rked

,

o u t to be a me mb e r o f t h e M a yor s ca b in e t
’
.

Don a ghy as a re sult o f t h e c onf e ren ce i mm ed i

, ,

a t e ly st a rt e d f o r t h e sc e n e o f t h e mur d e r It h as .

“
sin ce be e n s a i d th a t t h e Whi t e traged y was hi s
” “
ca s e . He prot e sts a ga in st thi s distin ctio n It
” “
w as a ca s e o f t e a m work h e sa ys,
thi rty d etec ,

t i ves a n d ove r two tho u sa n d poli ce m en w e re

e ng a g e d o n t h e Whi te ca s e a n d th e y a ll m a d e
,

”
g ood At. a ny r a te Do n a,
h
g y m a d e g ood ,

be ca u s e l e ss th a n hou r h a d e l a ps e d be f ore h e was

i n c o n ve rs a tion with a you th n a m e d Ra lph H a rt
m an who t e stified tha t h e h ad s e en two c olored
m en n e a r t h e s c en e o f t h e m u rd e r sho r tly a f t er t e n
o clock an d h a d t alk e d to on e o f them Be st of
’

,
.

a ll young H a rtma n who h a d in t elli gen ce f a r

, ,

b ey o n d hi s y e a rs w a s a bl e to g ive a vi vid d e scr i p

,

tion o f t h e two m en H a rt m a n wa s e mploye d

.

a s a m e ss en g e r i n t h e Pow e lton Aven u e sta tion

o f t h e P e nn syl va ni a R a ilro a d a n d kn e w e v e ry
,

f oot of t h e g roun d i n tha t n ei g hb orhood Dona ghy .

f e lt instin ctiv ely th a t t h e knowl e dg e posse sse d

b y t hi s boy wo uld pro ve to be t h e f o unda tion on
whi ch the y wou ld bu i ld th e ir ca s e .

He ha ste n e d bac k to t h e C ity Ha ll The d oors .

 THE WHITE C ASE 1 8 1:

of t h e littl e p riva te Offi ce we re cl ose d a n d fo r a ,

long whi l e Donaghy McKe n t y an d Qu irk h a d the i r

,

hea d s t og ethe r As a re sul t of the ir d elibe ra

. .

tion s a most s ingul a r ord e r was te l e g ra phe d to

e ve ry po li ce sta tion in t h e C ity o f P hi l a d elphi a .

It w a s t o a rre st eve ry c ol ore d m a n f o un d in o r

nea r a n y ra ilro a d st ation f e rry hou s e o r f reig ht
, ,

ya rd withi n t h e city lim i ts It wa s t h e bigg est

. _

drag n et eve r s prea d by t h e d e p a rtm en t Don

-
.

ag hy in t h e m ea n tim e c on ti n u e d his inve sti ga

, ,

tion s nea r th e sc en e of t he murd e r .

S eve ra l concl u si on s were f o rc e d upon hi m .

On e was tha t t h e mu rd er w as c omm itt e d f or

money an d tha t t he mu rd e rers were sta rtl ed a n d
,

r an a w ay be f ore th ey secu red a ll o f th ei r b ooty .

Th e f ootprin t s i n t h e s o f t cla y l ar g e cl umsy —

, ,

he a vy looking f ootprints indi ca te d tha t mor e

- —

tha n on e man h a d fle d a cro ss t h e ro a d l eadi ng t o

th e ra ilro a d tra c ks Th e dre a df ul m ann e r in
.

whi ch they h ad mutil a te d t h e body prove d tha t

they were b rute s B e sid e s this Donaghy wa s
. .

c on vince d tha t the y we re m en tota lly d e void o f

e d u ca tion He d ed u ce d thi s f rom t h e f a ct tha t

.

they had evid ently n ot e ve n b e stowed so mu ch as

a pa ss ing gla nce on t h e b ooks in Pro f e s s or Whi t e s
’

g r e e n b a g It .is a known f ac t tha t a m a n o f

1 82 C APTAIN DONAGHY AND

by a book vol ume is lying on a t able even

. If a

in t h e hou se of a stran g e r h e ca n no more res i st,

pi ckin g it up an d g oing thr oug h t h e p ag es than a

moth can a void t h e fl a me Th e mu rd e re rs evi .

d en t ly ha d n ot t h e sli g hte st cu riosity t owa rd t he

littl e work in t h e g reen bag .

Th e d et ective s summ a ry the re f o re was tha t

’

, ,

t h e crim e h a d b e en c ommitt e d by two or three

m en ; tha t the y w ere n e g ro e s ; th a t they we re
b rut a l an d u n e d u ca t e d an d th a t t h e motive was
,

mon ey How n e a r h e was c orre ct shall pre se ntly

.

be s e e n .

Th e mu rd e r o c cu rre d on S a t u rd a y ni g ht .

B etween tha t time an d S un d a y morni ng the

thi rty d et e ctive s an d t h e two thousa n d poli ce
men an d Don a g hy h a d be en i n d u striou s
— —
As .

t h e ch urch b ells w e re ca lling t h e p e opl e to wors hi p

th e Office rs be g an to bri ng in c olore d m en f rom all
par ts of t h e city They ca me f rom north an d
.

so uth f rom ea st a n d west They ca me sing ly

,
.
,

they ca me in p airs the y ca me in squ a ds an d when

, ,

t h e Chi ef fin a lly co unt e d h i s prisoners h e f o un d

th a t h e h ad o n e h un dre d a n d thi rty five colo re d -

m en all su spe ct e d o f t h e mu rd e r o f P r o f esso r

—

White Wh at i f they were all minnows an d t he

.

bi g fish h ad slipp ed thro u gh t h e n et ?

R alph H a rtman t h e you th was on hand to
, ,
 THE WHITE CASE 1 83

a ssist in t he id enti fication He was in a sep a rate

.

room an d did n ot s e e th e prisone rs as they were

b roug ht in to t h e C ity H a ll Th e a uthoriti es w e re
.

keye d up to a hi g h pit ch Eve rything d e p en d e d

.

on t h e e xp e rim e n t the y w e re a bo ut to m a ke If .

it f a il ed they wou ld be a ll a t s e a a n d t h e e nds o f

,

j u sti ce d e f e a t ed.

When t h e l a st o f t h e prisoners h a d bee n bro ught

in t he work o f e limin a tion beg an Donag hy a n d
, .

McKen ty we re in trust e d with this d e li ca t e t as k .

Some o f t h e s u sp e cts were obviou sly out o f t h e

qu e stion For inst a nce mul attoe s were s et a sid e
.
, .

SO we re s eve ra l on e ey e d pe rs ons
-
So wa s a .

la me man And t h e work ke pt on un til t h e list

.

of possi biliti e s was r e d u c e d to s ixteen .

The se sixt e en we re li n e d up with the ir ha t s on

a n d yo ung H a rtm a n w as bro ug ht i n to t h e room .

It was a motle y g athe ring Probably S ixt een .

ug li e r looking m en h a d n e ve r b e f or e b e e n a ss e m
-

bl e d . Th ey looke d b rut a l a n d all o f the m s ee me d

ca p ab l e Of mu rd e r . C o u ld t h e boy t e ll on e f rom
t h e oth e r ? C ou ld h e id en tif y t h e m an who h a d
s poken to him t h e nig ht be f ore ? Wo uld h e be
conf u s d ?
e Wo uld h e rowd puzzle hi
t c m ?
“
Ra lph sa id Dona g hy point out t h e m an
, ,

who spoke to you on Thirty s e co n d street la st -

n i g ht ?
1 84 C APTAI N D ONAGHY AN D

Th e boy looke d ove r t h e row Of ne groe s f ea r

le ssly His gl ance lighted on on e an d then on
.

a nothe r Eve rybody i n t h e room f elt t h e stra in

. .

He w a s sil en t S il en t f or wha t s e e m e d to be m an y
—

min u t e s bu wh t
t a i n re ty w as only s e c on ds
a li
, , .

Pre s en tly h e went ove r an d to u che d a bu rly n e g ro

on t h e sho u ld e r .

“
Th a t s t h e m an
’
.

Th e f e llow i n d i c a t e d g a ve a shu d d e r a n d roll e d

hi s eye s All of t h e othe rs i n t h e li n e heave d a
.

sig h Of reli e f Th e m a rke d m an b eg an to prote st

. .

D e e d I a in t don e ’

”
Who s a id you d i d an ythi ng ? a ske d t h e
d ete ctive sha rply .

Th e m a n prove d to be H e nry Ivory He ha d .

been a rr est e d a t d aylig ht on t h e ra ilro a d n e a r

Ge rm a n town J un ction He w a s subj e ct e d to a
.

s eve re cross e x a min ation a n d fin a lly a d m itte d

-
,

b ei ng n e a r t h e Pow elton Ave n u e sta tio n t h e ni g ht

bef ore a n d ev en a c knowl ed g e d S p ea king to H a rt
,

m an but prot e st e d v e he mently tha t h e h a d n oth

,

in g to do with t h e mu rd e r o f Prof e ssor Whi t e .

I vory was short i n sta ture with skin a s bl a ck as ,

a nthra cit e coal an d v e ry re pulsive f e atu res .

C rimin olo g ists pron o un ce d hi m to be t h e lowe st

ty p e o f t h e une d u ca t e d n egr o Th e d et e ctive s .

r e sort e d to e v e ry d evi ce known to t h e pro f e ssion

 THE WHITE CASE 1 35

t o f orce a o
ssion f rom t h e m an Fina lly
c nf e .
,

a ft e r an ho u r of t h e swea tin g he blu r te d out :

,

Well I don e told yo u I w as the re but it w a sn t

, ,
’

m e tha t struck t h e blow .

.

He was pu t In a c ell a n d Do n ag hy a n d his

a sso c i a te s st a rt e d o u t f o r more e vid en c e The y
obt ain ed a d e s c ription o f t h e wa tc h th at h a d b e en
stol en f rom Pro f e ssor Whi t e Th e n u mb e r o f t h e
.
“

ca s e w a s an d tha t o f t h e movem en t
The se n u mb e rs we re t el eg ra phe d t o
e v e ry p a wn brok e r a n d e ve ry w a t c hm a k e r i n t h e

c i ty
.

Th e re spon s e ca me mu ch soo n er th a n was _

“ ”
a nti c ip a t e d A n e g ro n ame d B u ddy Brown
.

w as a rre st e d while try i n g to ple d g e t h e wa t c h

with a p awn broke r i n We st Phil a d elphi a Brown .

sa id t h e wa t ch w a s n ot h i s but b elon g e d t o a m an
who h a d a room i n his mothe r s h ou Se He h a d ’

”
lived the re only a f ew d ays a n d h a d g i ven B u ddy
t h e w at c h to p awn f o r him .

Th e stran g e n eg ro wa s promptly lo c a t e d a n d
a rre st e d . He pro ve d to be Wi ll i a m P e rry Of ,

Ge org ia P e rry wa s n ot ve ry commu n i ca tive at

.

fi rst b u t fin ally a dmi tt e d th a t h e w as i n t h e n e ig h

,

bo r h o o d of Thi rty se cond stree t on t h e ni g ht o f

-

t h e mu rd e r He sai d tha t a thi rd m an h a d b een in

.

hi s c omp any Th ese a dmis sions while important

.
, ,
1 86 C APTAI N D ONAGHY AND

were not con cl u si ve There were still l i nk s to be

.

fitt e d i n t h e ch a in
.

At thi s p e riod of t h e inve stig ation a n ew cha r

a ct e r ca me o n t h e s ce n e in t h e p e rson o f John

Lea ry a n e mployee of t h e C ity Wa t e r Works

,
.

He h a d be en rea ding a gr e a t d eal abo u t t h e m ur

d e r an d h e f elt imp e ll e d to st ep f orwa rd a n d g ive
hi s own e xp e ri en ce on t h e ni ght of t h e mu rd e r .

He h a d quit work a t mi d ni g ht a n d w as cross ing

t h e Gi ra rd Aven u e b ridg e when h e m et two colore d
m en . They stoppe d a n d on e o f the m a sked him
,

f or a m a tc h . On e of the se m en an swe re d t h e
d e s cription o f Ivory P e rry h e did not recog nize
. .

Wh il e t h e a uthoriti e s were browsing ove r th e

evid e n c e th e y h a d on h a n d th ey re ce ived word
,

that a n umbe r o f s u spi ciou s lookin g n eg roes wh o

-

h ad b e en pi c k e d u p o n t h e r a ilro a d n ea r Tre n ton,

were n ow in t h e M e rce r C o un ty Workho us e .

Don ag hy an d McK en t y d et e rmi n e d to g o to t h e

N ew J e rs e y ca pital a n d look a t t h e m en Th ey
.

took youn g H a rtm a n a n d L ea ry wi th them f or

pu rpose s o f id en ti fica tion Th e colore d m en w er e
.

lin e d u p i n t h e workho u s e j u st as the y h a d be en

i n t h e C ity H a ll a t Phil a d elphi a On e o f t h e
.

negr oe s w as a t all sha mbling f ellow He was

, ,
.

stoop sho uld e re d an d knoc k kn ee d a n d othe rwise

- -

l a cki ng in symmetri ca l be auty Both H a rtma n

.
 THE WHITE CA S E 1 87

an d Le ary i mm edia tely pi cked him out as on e of

t h e m en they h a d m et on t h e ni g ht o f t h e t rag edy .

He h ad g ive n t h e T renton a u thoriti e s t h e na me o f

Willia m Fields but a ft e rwa rds a dmi tted that his
,

Stirling was t ak en f rom t h e line an d b rought

into a priva te room H e re h e was st ri ppe d an d it
.

was f o un d tha t hi s u n d e rclothe s we re c ove re d with

huma n blood Wh en his a tt en tion was ca ll ed
.

t o thi s d a mag ing f a ct h e s a i d un con ce rned ly :

,

“
Oh tha t s n othing ; my n os e was bl eedi ng
’
.
,

Stirling was not in th e St ate where t h e cri me

was c ommitt ed H ence l egal f orma liti es w ere
.

nece s sa ry be f ore h e could b e t ak en to Phi lad el

phi a ; Dona g hy m a d e an a tt e mpt to brea k t h e
re cord i n t h e m att e r o f re quisitions He took .

a speci al tra in to H a rrisburg w ent to t h e E xe cu

,

tive Man s ion a n d rou s e d Governor Ston e f rom a

sou nd sl ee p in ord e r to g et hi s Sig nat u re on t h e
p a pe rs From H a rrisbu rg h e ha ste n e d bac k to
.

Tren ton only to fin d that some ove r willing la w

,
-

y e r h a d fil e d a n o bj e ctio n to t h e r e mo v al Of t h e

prison e r Althoug h trivi al it took s eve ral hou rs

.
,

to overcome But i n spit e o f all t h e Obsta cl es

.
,

ha d hi s pr ison e r in t h e Phila d elphi a C ity H all in

j u st thi rty two hou rs
-
.
1 88 C APTAI N DONAGHY AND

Three pri soners w ere n ow in cu s tody C ould .

they be proved g u ilty ? Two w ere sil en t St i rL .

i n g lou dly prot e st ed his inn oc en ce He sa i d th at .

i f h e w e re f ree h e c o uld prove an a lib i .

“ ” “
I m f ree rej oin e d Dona ghy and it you ll
’

, ,
’

g iv e m e t h e n a m e s o f yo u r witn e ss es I ll work it ,
’

If it s a n y g ood I ll be t h e fir st to
’ ’
o u t f o r yo u .
,

”
a dmit it .

Th e neg ro fin a lly s a id tha t a c ertain l a dy of

c olor ,
na m e d Dolly Gray who lived i n H a rris
,

burg c o uld prove th a t h e w as a t t h e St a te C a pit al

,

on t h e ni g ht o f t h e m u rd e r Dona ghy pa ti en tly

.

t ravel e d u p t h e St a t e in sea rch o f M iss Gray .

By a ce rt a in humoro u s an d yet g rote squ e coi n ci

d en ce th e han d org ans a t tha t time w ere grinding
,
-

“ ”
o ut Dolly Gray by t h e ream an d as Donag hy ,

ca m e to t h e little stree t wh e r e t h e Dolly Gra y Of

a n oth e r c olor li ve d two street pi an os on e ithe r

,
-
,

e n d o f t h e thoro ughf a re stru c k u p Good bye

,
-
,

Dolly Gra y I m g oing to l e a ve you

,
’
with a ,

ve he men ce tha t threa t en ed to turn an unu sua lly

a ff ecting tra g edy into a ro a ring f a r ce Dolly .
,

however who weig he d thre e hun dre d po unds

, ,

ca lmly w a sh e d h er ha nds o f Stirling an d d eclin ed

to a ss ist in pr ov m g hi s a libi .

On t h e v e ry d a y Of Ivo ry s a rre st Dona g hy h a d

’

ta k en hi m to t h e sc en e of t h e murd er Th e street .
 THE WHITE CASE 1 39

where th e bo d y was fo un d w as little tra vele d a -

thoroughf a re a n d t h e f ootprin ts whe re th e m en

,
'

ha d e sca p e d by l e a ping t h e li t t le iron f e n c e w e re

still visible i n t h e so f t e a rth Th e right sho e wa s .

re moved f rom Ivory s f oot a n d t he hee l an d t oe

’

fitt e d to a r et y i n to t h e f oo tprin ts i n t h e ra i l
'
“

ro a d ya rd Th e m a rks we re the re a s cl e a rly as

.

tho ugh they ha d been st en ci l e d .

In t h e m ea n time evid en ce w as pilin g u p in

oth e r dire ctions M rs M a r y Boyle who wa s
. .
,

e mploye d as a w a itress i n a re sta u ra n t n e a r

Thirty s eco n d an d M a rke t stree ts t e sti fied th at
—

s h e h a d se rv e d a ll thr e e Of t h e m en o n t h e d a y Of

t h e c rime This wa s import a n t as e st a blishi ng

.

th e f a ct tha t the y we re to ge the r But thi s was .

not a ll A g a rd en e r n a me d Lutz s a id tha t e a rli e r

.
, ,

i n t h e eveni ng a ll three o f t h e ne g ro e s h a d s u r
ro und e d him a t a poin t five or Si x bloc ks f rom ,

where t h e Whi t e c rime was c ommitte d The y did .

n o t u se viol e n c e towa rd him simply a s h e pu t i t , , ,

“ ”
a ct e d s u spic io u sly He m ana ge d to e l u d e
.

them howeve r an d tho ug ht no more of th e in ci

’

, ,

d en t un til h e rea d Of t h e a r rest of t h e n e g ro e s in

co nn ection With t h e mu rd e r o f Pro f e ssor Whi te .

Withi n three we eks a ft er t h e mu rd er Ivory

b ro ke down a n d conf e sse d e ver ything He sa id .

tha t P e rry Stirli n g an d hi m se lf h a d m et at t h e

, ,
1 9 0 C APTAI N D ONAGHY AND

B uff alo Bill Show that a ft e rnoon an d af te r com ‘

p ar ing notes h a d resolve d to g et mon ey at an y

,

c ost .They cross e d t h e Gira rd Avenu e b ridge and

went a long t h e rive r drive until they c a me to
’
l h i r ty s e c ond street
-
They h a d i n t en d e d ass ault
.

i n g Lu tz t h e g a rd en e r bu t when h e r an a wa y the y
, ,

we re too in dol en t to f ollow hi m They little dre am e d .

that th e m an h ad n e a rly a tho u s a n d doll a rs i n his

po ss e ssion or h e mig ht have been t h e vi ctim
,

inst ea d of t h e unf ort un at e pro f e ssor Fin ally .

Stirling pi cke d u p t h e iron b ar n e a r t h e Powelto n

Aven u e st ation Th ey re solve d tha t h e sho uld
.

a ssa u lt t h e first prosp e ro u s looking m an they m et -

.

S eve ra l p e rson s we re p e rmitt e d to p a ss unmol ested .

At l as t Pro f e ssor Whit e wa s s een coming along t h e

d ark stre et Stirlin g tu rne d to t h e othe rs
.

“
There s a g uy looks as i f h e h a d mo n ey
’
.

They a gre e d with him a n d t h e three bla ck ,

he art e d s co undrels f ollowe d t h e unsu spe cting

t e a che r At a f avora bl e opport un ity Stirling let
.

t h e iron bar c om e down wi th a c ra sh on t h e sku ll

o f Roy Wilson Whi t e Th e m a n s ank to t h e .

sid ewa lk with a g ro an Th e bi g bru te co n tin ue d .

u si ng t h e iron b ar until t h e f a ce o f t h e vi ctim wa s

unrec o g niz abl e Then they wen t thr ou g h hi s

.

cloth es a n d g ot a f e w doll a rs i n m on e y a ring a n d , ,

a g old w a t c h Th e a ssa ssin s we n t to a n ear by

.
e
 THE WHITE C ASE 1 91

lot an d divi d e d t he thi ng s . Th e wa tch was P e rry s ’

P e rry corrobo ra t ed th e conf e ss ion in ever y

d eta il Stirling d eni ed it until t h e l ast wea k
.
,
‘

e ni n g only whe n h e ca me within t h e sh a dow o f th e

scaffold All three we re tri e d convi cte d and

.
,

hang ed .

The ir a rre st an d c onvi ction w as a bi g a cco m

p li s h m e n t M ost
. p e opl e g a v e th e cr e d it t o J a m es

I Dona ghy He smiles sha kes hi s hea d an d says

. .
,

“
it was Simply good t ea m wor on t h e pa r t of th e
 SUP ER I NT END ENT PR O BS T AN D T HE
VER SAT I L E RO GUE .

[ Fr k Froes t S up ri n te d t f S co t l d Y d i
an ,
e m ann en o an ar , s a

wh t i r e d ul t li f h as be n s p
os e e n a t i n th b us i ess of cr i m
e e en e n

i n l i n v ti g ti n
a es H ha s i e f m t h
a o . k to t h hi g he s t
e r s n ro e r an s e

p i ti n t h t
os o b at ta i ca nd by E g li h d t e c t i v
e a ne An an n s e e .

e p i d i th
so e t
n
y t h t f ll w s w
e s or t h p l ud e t o
a l ti n g
o o as e re a as

f i n d hi p b tw n F n k F oes t d J ohn E Wi lki e

r e s e ee ra w r an .
,
no

th e Chi f f u G v m t Se cr e t S v i c At t h t ti me
e o o r o er n en er e . a

F oes t w
r as a
g t d t c t
se ri v i n Sc
ea nt l d Y- d e d W i
e lki e e o an ar ,
an

t h Lo d
e n cor r s p d t f Chi c g d i ly Th
on e on en m f o a a o a . e na e o

t h c hi f c ha
e e ct er i t hi t l h f b vi u
ra n so s b a e, a s, or o o s r ea n s, ee n

d i g ui
s d se For t h e
. k f c n c t d d compl te sa e o a o ne e an e n a rra

ti v i ci d
e , an t h s be n i n t od uc d whi c h wi ll p b b l y be
n en a e r e ro a

en ti r l y n w t
e S u pe i te d t F
e o t I m u
r n h wi lln en r oe s . a s re e

l k li ghtly upo n t hi
oo p mi i b l d vi t i n i n o th
s on e er ss e e a o an er

wi v ci us to ry from a ct ua l li fe "
se e ra o s

HI S is a f ra gment f rom t h e biog ra phy

o f a V e rsa til e Rog u e a m an who se —

a dv entu ro u s ca ree r l ea ps a t a b o un d

f rom C hi ca g o to C a p e Town an d ,

whose crimi na l histo ry is a p a rt o f t h e poli ce

a rchi ves o f New York Chi ca g o London P a ris , , , ,

Vi enna an d Be rlin B e g inn i ng as a protot ype

,
.

o f t h e Art f ul Dod g e r h e has g on e f rom poc k et ,

pi cking to bun co ste e ring a n d then ru n the enti re -

,

( 1 9 2)
 TH E VERS ATIL E ROGUE 1 93

ga mut of cri me stopping only provid enti a ll y

,
—
,

per haps a t mu rd e r
—
.

F rank M a cy t h e doubt f u l hero o f this qu ee r

,

l if e w as born a t Fre e po r t Illin ois There a r e lots

, ,
.

of O ld re si d ents in tha t pl ac e who still re ca ll hi m

as a prec oc iou s ba by a sma rt bo y an d a c l e v e r

, ,

yo uth Free port soon prove d t o be t oo sma ll to

.

hi s b irth pla ce h e ma d e littl e e xc u rsion s f rom t h e

-
,

pa ths of vi rtu e whi ch i n t h e boy a re s o o f te n

, ,

prophe ti c o f t h e ma n s ca ree r Wh en h e rea che d

’
.

man s e stat e h e was t all an d as straig ht as a n

’

I n di an He ha d c oa l bla ck ha ir an d a s a llow
.
-

c omp le xion whi ch li g ht e d u p b rig htly when e ver

h e was in a humor t o be a ff abl e with hi s f ellow

It wa s in C hi ca g o tha t Fra n k M a cy first dis

tinguished hi mse lf i n c ri me A little more tha a
n
.

doz en yea rs a go an a dve rtisemen t a pp e a re d i n

t h e Chi c a g o pa pe rs st a ting tha t a w ea lthy widow ,

abo u t to ta k e a lon g trip ab ro a d w a s willi n g to ,

” “
se ll h er f a vorit e horse Dobbin It w a s wi th .

e xtre m e reg r et of co u rs e th a t s h e took t hi s st e p

, ,
,

but n ece ssity kn o w s n o la w an d he n ce this m agni fi ,

ce nt ani m a l wa s to b e s ac ri fice d a t a pri v a t e s a l e .

Th e a nim a l was d e s crib ed as b eing so un d in eve ry

pa rti cu la r g en tle an d yet with a re cord f a st
, ,
1 94 S UPERINTEN DENT PROBST AND

enoug h to s a tis f y t h e most sportsm a n l ik e driv er -

.

Th ere wer e seve ral nibbl e s at this inviting bait .

On e g entl eman wh o h a d s u dd enly a c qu ire d ric hes ,

” “
was b ound to a c qui r e Dobbin at any p ri ce .

He e x a mine d Dobbin with a criti cal i f i n e x ,

p er i e n ce d ,e y e an d w as
, g iv e n t h e privil e g e o f d r i v

in g t h e ani mal along th e l ake f ro n t an d boul eva rd

.
.

As a resul t o f thi s h e pa rt e d with e ight hund re d

,

g o o d Am e ri ca n doll a rs a n d i n r e t u rn
, r e ce iv e d t h e
“
mu ch l oved Dobbin
- .

Af te r t h e money h ad bee n pa id an d withi n ,

twenty f our hours Dobbi n bega n to undergo a

-
,

mos t cu riou s transf orma tion Wha t h ad been a .

m agni ficent s p e c imen o f horse fle sh beg an t o S how

st ran ge signs of d ecrepitu d e He shri vell e d up .
,

as it w ere ; it s eem e d almo s t impo s sibl e prope rly

to d es cribe t hi s ma rvelou s transf orma tion in mere

word s It was n ecess a ry to be s een to be f u lly
.

a ppre ci at e d Any on e who h a s s ee n t h e t a ll e rect

.
,

f orm o f Dr Jekyl gra d u ally S inking in to t h e per

.

s ona li t y o f t h e sha p e l e ss an d mi s e rab l e M r Hyd e .

ca n g et som e f ai n t g li mm e ri n g id ea o f t h e c ha ng e
”
tha t o ccu rre d when th e nobl e Dobb in beca me
a sp avin e d kno ck knee d an d d e g en e ra t e n a g tha t
,
-
,

would ha ve mad e a n Old stre et ca r hors e blu sh -

f or ve ry S ha me Th e i n st an ce o f this Dobb in was

.

d upli ca t e d n ot on ce but a doz en times an d af ter

, , ,
 THE VERSATILE ROGU E 1 95

many of the wea lthi e st m en o f C hi ca g o h a d been

vi cti mi zed t h e poli ce beg an to in vestig a te They
, .

we re s ti rnu la t ed a n d a s s ist e d in the i r work by

J ohn E Wilki e wh o at tha t time was in ch a rge
.
, , ,

of t h e criminal d e p a rtm e nt Of on e o f t h e l e a d i n g

p a p e r s in C hi ca g o A f t e r a short tim e it wa s dis

.

”
co ve re d tha t t h e Gyp g am e a s it wa s ca lle d , ,

w as b e ing worke d by a g ang of co n fide nce m en

he a d e d by Frank Ma cy A wa rra nt f or hi s a rrest
.

wa s iss u e d bu t b e f ore it c o u ld be serve d h e h ad

,

fled f rom t h e j u risd i ction o f t h e lo ca l co u rt .

Th e s cen e n ow Shi f t s f rom Chi ca g o to Low s

’

E x c hang e i n Tra f alg ar Squa re London Wilki e ,

.
,

a t tha t tim e was t h e London c orre spo n d ent o f an

,

Ameri ca n pa pe r an d while st an ding i n t h e c orri

,

d or o f thi s hoste lr y h e was surpri se d to s ee hi s

”
old tim e
- Gyp f rien d Fran k M ac y ente r an d , ,

p l ace hi s n a m e on t h e hot el r e g iste r M a c y . .

look ed p ro sp erou s He was dres sed in swagge r

.

st yle wo re a long co a t ca rri ed a hea vy can e an d

, , ,

h a d a s un bu rs t of d i amon ds repos ing a midst t h e

-

f ol ds of a bloo d red c rava t i n f a ct h e look ed t o o

- -
,

vulg a rl y ri ch t o be t rue Wilki e c onsulte d th e .

h ote l reg i st e r an d f o un d tha t hi s ers twhil e cri m

i nal f ri e nd h a d re g ist e re d as Frank L a cy Th e .
1 9 6 SUPERI NTENDENT PROBST AN D
to the te l e phon e an d callin g u p Frank Froest ,

o n e Of t h e b rig hte st d e t ec tive s in S cotl a nd Ya rd .

Wilki e tol d Fr oest tha t it mi g ht be wo rth hi s

'

w hil e t o c om e u p to Low s an d h ave a look at t he

’

la t est a dd i tion to t h e Am e ri ca n inva sion of Lon

Fr oe st f ollowed t h e dvi ce o f hi s f ri en d a n d
a

t ook se ve ra l look s at L acy He h ad hi m sha d

.

o we d d ay an d ni g ht an d a f t e r a wee k s work was

’

, ,

i n po sse ssion of hi s hi sto ry He f ound among

.
,

othe r thing s t h a t L a cy h a d b ec ome a ca rd sha rk

,

o f t h e first wa te r . He h ad travel e d acr o ss th e

A tl a n ti c Oce a n in l uxu ri ou s styl e an d had ma d e
hi s expen s e s a n d a comf o r tabl e sum be sid e s by th e ,

cl eve rne ss with whi ch h e pl ay e d t h e n obl e g am e of

p ok e r with hi s f ellow p a ss eng e rs O n a rri

. ving in
London h e e st ablishe d a g amb ling ho u se in t h e
,

West End whe re h e m et with rema rkabl e success .

Not long a f t e r t h e m ee ting in Low s Excha nge

’

a ll Lo n don b e ca m e e x c it e d ov er wha t w as ca ll e d
“ ”
t he C utla ss Myst e ry . It bega n when a well
d re sse d eld erly g entl em a n o f c onsid e rabl e w ealth
, , ,

was f ou nd o n t h e S id ewa lk with hi s hea d badly

cut an d t h e blood flowing f rom se ve ral sa b re

w ou n ds . He s a id h e h ad n o recoll ection o f how

h e ca me to be i n s u ch a pli g ht an d re solu tely ,

d ecli ned t o give t h e poli ce an y inf o rma tion u pon

 THE VERSATILE ROGUE 1 97

th e subj ect Two d ays l at e r anothe r m an was

.

f oun d S imilarly woun d ed a n d i n t h e s a me co n d i

tion He was not as Close mou the d as t h e first
.
-

individual an d wen t so f a r a s t o sa y tha t hi s mi s

,

f ortune was t h e re su lt Of a ca rd p a rty in whi ch h e

h ad p a rti cip at e d t h e previo u s ni g ht He w as .

u nabl e howeve r to g iv e t h e lo ca lity o f t h e hou s e

, , ,

having be en t ak en the re by a n Oblig ing c abby

whom h e h a d sought with a r equ e st to b e t aken
t o some pl ace wh ere h e c o uld sa tis f y hi s d e sire s t o
d ally with t h e Godd ess Of Chan ce In l ess than .

twenty f our hours f rom thi s tim e still a nother m an

-

wa f o und with two sa bre cu ts ab ou t hi s hea d a n d

s
,

”
then t h e Cutl ass Myste ry b eca m e t h e reig ni ng

In t h e meantime Fran k Froe s t h a d b ee n hard

at work an d a l thoug h t h e res ults w ere n ot v e ry
,

promising h e kn ew tha t h e wa s o n t h e scent an d

,

that it wou l d only be a qu estion of time when h e

would win t h e g am e Th e ca bman was locat ed an d
.

h e rememb ere d t a kin g t h e fi rst vi ctim to t h e hou se

in th e West E n d Othe r threa d s we re boun d
.

tog ether an d finally all t h e evid en ce point e d to t h e

hou se ope rat e d by Frank L ac y It s eemed tha t .
,

in eac h inst ance t h e vi ctim a f t er lo sing hi s

, ,

money at ca rd s g ot into a r ow with on e of t h e

,

pla ye rs L a cy h a d hi s room o rna mented with

.
1 9 8 SUPERINTENDENT FROE ST AND

the sa b re f rom th e wa ll an d wal ed his vi c tim Ove r

nu mb er o f ug ly but n ot e xactly s eriou s wou nds

, , .

Th e hou s e was ra id e d a n d a ll t h e p a ra phe rna li a

ca pt u r e d bu t L a cy hi m s e lf h a d fled f rom si g ht
,
.

Th e next ch a pt e r i n t h e hi story Of thi s cu ri ou s

M arg at e A mu si ca l in st rum en t d e ale r o f Lon

.
[

d on was ta king his holid ay at thi s re sort an d was ,

enj oying him s el f in a mann e r s u c h a s is pos s ibl e

only to a Lo n don tra d es ma n As h e was strolling .

along th e str and h e ca m e f a ce to f ace with La cy ,

who was the n a f ug itive f rom j u sti ce He g ra sped .

hi m by t h e c oa t .

“
Mr La cy h e excla i m ed I am so g la d to s ee
.
, ,

”
Why sked L ac y
? a .

Why reto r t ed t h e othe r be ca u se n ow yOu

, ,

wi ll pay m e f or t h e m an dolin you bought f rom

”
me abo u t a month a go .

Lac y l au g he d .

”
You w i ll pa y m e wo n t you ? c ri ed t h e d ea l er
’
, ,

“
hyste ri ca lly You wo uld n t r ob a poor m an
’
.
,

would you ?
“ “
F ad e a wa y sa id t h e Versa til e Rogu e
,
I ,
 THE VERSATILE ROG U E 1 99

am ba vin m e
’
holi da y now an d I ca n t be dis
,
’

”
t ur bed by vulga r tra d e sm en .

Whe n th e mus i cal d eale r mad e a thi r d a ppea l

f or his mone y L acy invite d hi m to g o to a w a rm
,

rea liz ed th e f utility of f u rthe r t alk He knew tha t

.

La cy was a f ug itive an d h e d et e rmi ne d t o ha ve

his reveng e He hu rri e d to t he nea rest t e leg ra ph
.

Office an d wi re d to Sc otl and Ya rd tha t th e m an

they soug ht could be f oun d a t Ma rg a te .

L ac y i mme di a t ely rea li z e d t h e mis t a ke h e h a d

ma d e an d lea rni n g t h e ch a ra c t er Of t h e te l eg ram
,

that h ad been sent to Scotl and Ya rd h e ma d e ,

qui c k pre pa ra tion s f or sho rt ening hi s vaca tion a t

t h e cozy se a s h ore re so r t . He ac ted with c ha r
acter i s ti c di sregard of convent i ona liti e s He .

summon ed a fisherma n an d hired hi m t o t a ke hi m

out in a sm a ll bo a t whe re h e ha ile d a C as tle Li n e r

whi ch was bo u n d to South A f ri ca By t h e ai d o f .

a cl e ve r c oc k an d bull sto ry h e in d u ce d t h e
,

ca pta in t o ta k e hi m a b o a rd a n d be f ore t h e S cot

,

lan d Ya rd m an rea ched M argate L acy was ca lmly

sailing t h e sea on hi s way t o C a pe Town .

Su perinte nde n t Fr oe st imme di a tely t e legr a phe d

t o t h e a u tho ri tie s at C a p e Town d e s c ribing Lac y
, ,

an d instructing th e m to a pp re h en d t h e m an on

hi s a rrival a t tha t port . L a cy mana g ed to get

2 00 S UPERI NTENDENT FROE ST AND

a shor e an d stroll ed a bout th e Af ri can city a d mi ring

t h e Bot ani c Ga rd en s a n d t h e a stronomi cal Ob se r
vat ory with t h e en thu si a sm o f a tou ri st who se

only d e sire is t o whi l e a way profit ably an idle hour .

He was insp e ctin g t h e fin e n ew do ck s Of t h e pl ace

when t he a gen t of S cotl an d Ya rd cla pp ed hi s
han d on hi s Should e r an d place d hi m un de r a rrest .

Lacy submitt e d with p erf e ct g ood g race an d was ,

f o rmall y lodg ed i n j a il a t C a p e Town .Arrang e

ments were m a d e to have him return ed to E n g
l and th e f o ll owing d ay .

But in t h e ca s e of thi s Ve rsa ti l e Rogu e man

p ropose d an d L a cy di s po se d Du ring th e ni ght
.

h e b roke j ail an d m ad e his way to Johann es burg .

He w as d elight e d with this pl ace an d sa w a g rea t

b u sine ss po s sibility in thi s g ol d mining town of
-

Sou th Af ri ca Th e Boe rs we re in control a t tha t

.

t i me an d L a cy by hi s aff abl e manne rs an d libe ra l

,

ways soon won the ir g ood g ra ce s J u st as h e w as

,
.

a bo u t to s e ttl e d own t o wh a t wo uld no do ubt h a v e

be en a prosp e ro u s ca ree r in South Af ri ca on e o f ,

S u pe ri nt en d ent Fr oest s m en p la ced hi m und e r

’

a rre st a g a in
. That a f t e rnoon ca ptor an d ca ptive
took a tra in f or C a pe Town with t h e int ention of
g oin g f rom th e r e to L o ndon Th e local o ffi cer
.

c ong ra t ula t ed him s el f on h a ving ma d e s u ch an

importa nt a rre st .
 THE VERSATILE R OGUE 20 1

But , alashi s s at i sf a ction wa s pre ma ture f or

, ,

t h e d a ring L acy j u mp e d o ff t h e tra in whi l e it w as

in motion an d disa pp ea re d in th e d e pth Of a
South Af ri ca n f ores t Th e Officer h ad t he train
.

stopp ed a t t h e n e xt st ation a n d with t h e as sist

,

an ce o f s ev e ral oth e r m en ma d e a s ea rch Of t he

,

woods They fin ally loca t ed the ir m an in an

.

e mpty ho u s e a f ew mil e s f ro m t h e point wh e re h e

ha d j u mpe d f rom t h e t ra in He w as a rre s te d

.

“
f o r kee ps this tim e t a ken bac k to Lon don
, ,

t ri ed sen te n ce d a n d imprison e d
, ,
.

'

Af te r h e h ad s e rve d hi s time h e st a rt ed on a ,

tour of t h e C on tinen t a ccompani e d by a m yst eri

,

o us b lond e wom an who p a sse d as hi s w i f e He .

pla yed ca rds en gag ed in t h e p a st i me of bunco

,

stee ring an d va ri e d thes e pe rf orman ces o cca s ion

,

a lly by a ss u ming t h e p a rt of t h e wrong e d hu sban d .

He was qu ite su cce ssf ul with this g am e at s eve ra l

o f t h e mor e pro mi nen t c on tine n t a l re sorts b u t a ,

ma n o f hi s re c kl e ss disposit i on c ould n ot rem a in

long i n t h e s a me line of bu sine ss an d a f ew yea rs ,

a g o h e re tu rne d to t h e Uni t ed St a t e s an d w as

a rre ste d i n W as hi ngton c ha rg ed with be ing a

c onfi d en ce m an He m et a well known re sid en t

.
-

Of t h e Distri ct Of C ol umbi a a n d finding tha t t h e

,

m an ha d a wea kne ss f or ca rds Off e re d to t a ke hi m

,

t o a room wh e re they c ould pla y a g am e whi ch

2 02 SUPERINTEN DENT FROE ST AN D

would m ea n wea lth f or both He h ad a sc heme

.

by whi ch th e bank co uld be b rok en an d off ere d ,

to Show t h e m an h ow h e c ould t ake a thou sand

doll a rs a n d c om e out with a profit o f ten thou sa nd .

Th e m an acce pt e d thi s g lowi ng O ff er but instea d ,

O f g oin g to t h e ho u s e tha t w as d e si gna te d he ,

notifi e d t h e Distri ct poli ce an d t h e Versa tile

Rogu e was on ce more a rre ste d this time under
—

t h e na m e Of Fra nk T rac y . He was rel ea se d on

ba il howe ve r an d soo n af t e r thi s aga i n soug ht
, ,

t h e hi stori c a tmosph e re o f Lo n don .

His l a te st exploit is really d e se rving of a cha pt er

in its elf but beca u se o f l a c k o f sp ace mu s t be
, ,

Fr oest who was alway s on t h e lookou t f or qu eer

,

ch ar a ct ers l ea rn ed tha t T rac y

,
as h e n ow called
—

hi m se lf was in Lon don twen ty f ou r hours af te r

— -

h e h ad s et his f oot on English soil He inst ru ct e d

.

his su b ordina te s to be on t h e lookou t for Tracy ,

bu t oth e rwise did not g ive mu ch thought t o the

,

On e mo rning t h e t el e phone bell at Scotlan d

Ya rd rang an d t h e voi ce of an ex cite d indivi d ual
, ,

who p roved t o be a cl e rk in a banking hous e n ea r

Le a d en h all stree t inf ormed t h e a u thori ti e s tha t
,

a t hi e f h a d en te re d t h e instit ution tha t mor ni ng

a n d robbed on e o f its d epo sitors o f t wo hundre d

 THE VERSATILE R O GUE 20
3

“
Pard o n m e ,
”
sa i d t he st r a n er ,
g but yo u h a ve

”
d ro pp e d o ne o f yo u r n ot e s .
20 4 SUPERI NTENDENT PR OBST AND
po un ds Th ere was mu ch e xcit ement ; a crowd
.

h a d g a the re d i n t h e c orridors an d in t h e conf usion

,

th e t hi e f h ad e s ca p ed with t h e mon e y .

Th e cl erk s an d t h e d e positor b etween them , ,

g a v e a r a th e r ind e fin it e d e s cription o f t h e thi e f ,

but they w ere pe rf e ctly a g r ee d u pon t h e in cid en t s

prec e ding t h e robbery The d e posito r i n qu e s
.

tion an el de rly g en tl eman ca ll e d at t h e bank an d

, ,

hand e d in a che ck f or tw o hundre d pou nd s He .

was we ll known to t h e p aying t ell e r an d t h e ,

mon ey was g iven to hi m in B ank of E n gland n ot e s .

As h e re ceiv e d t h e ca sh h e wa lke d ove r to a little

d esk on t h e sid e o f t h e corri d or f or th e pu rpo se of
c o un ting it b e f ore pl a cing it i n his wall et He .

went a bou t this l e isu rely an d with a pe rf ec t s en se

o f s e cu rity B ef ore h e h a d finishe d co un ting th e
.

not e s howeve r some on e t a pp ed him g en tly on

, ,

t h e sho u ld e r He look e d a ro und a n d s aw a nother

.

m an st an ding by hi s sid e Th e strang er w as t all

.

an d as strai g ht as a n I n di an with sti ff c oa l b la ck

,

ha ir He h a d a s a llow c ompl e xion a n d w as ve ry

.

aff abl e in hi s ma nn e r .

“
P ard on m e sa id t h e strang e r but you ha ve
, ,

”
d roppe d on e of your n ot e s .

Th e d e positor g l a n ce d a t t h e floor on t h e othe r

sid e o f t h e d esk an d s ure en ough there was a bank
, , ,

not e .
 THE VERSATILE ROGUE 20 5

Thank you ,
h e re pli e d g ra t e f u lly an d ,

stoop e d down to pi ck up t h e od d n ot e Th e a ct .

c o n s u me d o nly two s e c o n ds a t most b u t wh en t h e

,

d e positor strai g htene d u p and wa s ab o ut to ad d

t h e mi ss ing not e to hi s pil e h e f o und to his a ma z e
, ,

me n t that t h e orig inal p ackage of money h ad

,

g on e
,
a n d with it t h e s tr an g e r H e.
g a v e t h e

a la rm a n d ru she d out of t h e b an k but w hen h e

rea ched t h e stree t th e cr owd was so grea t that i t
was impo ss ibl e to fin d hi s m an .

When S u pe rint en d ent Froest rece ived news of

th e thef t h e imm e di at ely di s pa t ched on e of hi s
,

m en to t h e bank but n ot sa ti sfied with this h e

, ,

res olve d t o go there in pe rson as soon a s h e h ad

fini she d t h e work in hi s priv at e o ffi ce at S cotl an d
Ya rd Tha t consu me d only a f ew minut e s an d
.

at i t s c ompl etion M r Fr oe st p u ll ed d own t h e t op

.

o f hi s roll d esk an d hu rri ed t owa r d Le ad enh all

-

stree t At Old g a t e where Co rnhi ll an d Lea d en

.
,

ha ll st ree ts converg e h e s aw a t all well d re sse d

, ,
—

m an hur rying a l ong a midst t h e c rowd It did .

not t a ke hi m many se conds to reco gni z e t h e m an

a s hi s o ld f ri en d t h e V e rs a til e Ro gu e wh o h a d
, ,

live d su cce ss ively un de r t h e title s of Frank

M a cy Fran k L acy a n d Frank Tra cy In st i n c
, ,
.

t i vely t h e S u p erint en d ent a ssoc i a te d t h e f ellow

with t h e the f t of t h e bank in Lea d en h all
2 06 THE VER S ATILE ROGUE

stre et . He walk ed up an d took Trac y by t h e

a rm .

“
My d ea r f ri end h e sa id I would like you
, ,

to g o down to t h e o fii ce with m e an d ha ve a talk

ove r old time s .

Tra cy ma d e n o re sistan ce ind ee d thi s was —

c ha ra ct e risti c o f t h e m an Th e mome nt a n o fii ce r
.

o f t h e law to u ch e d hi m h e s u rren d e re d withou t a

strugg l e Th e two m en pro c ee d e d t o Sc ot la nd

.

Ya rd an d Tra cy when s e a rch e d was f ound t o

, , ,

posse ss t h e two hun dre d po und s whi ch had bee n

stol en f rom t h e d e positor in th e ba nk tha t morn
i ng. He w as tri ed f or tha t o ff ense c onvi cte d and , ,

se rve d h i s t i m e .

Th e V e rs a til e Rog u e is a t libe rty on ce a g ain ,

a n d a t t h e tim e t hi s ar ti c l e is be i ng w ri tten i s

hon oring t h e U ni t e d St at e s with hi s p re sence .

This bri ef sket ch is n ot o ff ere d as a sto ry of hi s

li f e It is on ly what it p u rports to be a f rag
.
—

m en t f rom t h e lif e of a Vers a til e Rogu e .

T HE «
HEAD U AR T ER S MAN " ”
AND T HE
BU R G L A RY T H A T FAI L E D .

[Th i s is a s t or y o f h ll be a
“
h ead qu a r t er s m an who s a

na ml E v y l g ci t y i t h U ni t d St t t h t b
e es s . er ar tse n e e a es a o as

o f d t cti v b u
a u h wh t i kn w i n t h v
e e e r ea cul r as a s o n e er n a a

f th p f h d qu t m li t y
“ ”
o ei r o es s o n a s a H i i ea a r er s an . e s n r ea

a m mb f th f c w h i d t i l d f d uty t t h ff c
e er o e or e o s e a e or a e o i e

o f th c hi f f d t ct i v
e e H i o v i l bl fe e m g cy es . e s a a a e or e er en

c lla s d m an y f t h c ll ian c l u d c o li k t h c m
e se a s n e a se s , e e ae o

p yi g t y whi ch v g t i t t h c lum f t h d i ly
an n s or ,
ne er e n o e o ns o e a

ne wp p s Th a h d qu t
er s . m m u t b l t t ct
e
“
ea ar er s
”
an s e a er ,
a

f ul d c u g u
an H m u t t hi k q ui ckly
o ra eo d
s . t p mp t ly e s n an ac ro .

N t ll f t h d i t i g u i h d
o a o ld i e
g s l nd f t h i s s e so e r s ar e e n er a s a n or

rea so n it h b e d m d pp p i t t i cl ud t h t y f
as e n ee e a ro r a e o n e e s or o

a p i v t i th
r a e k i t hi c ll cti
n f c
e ra n c c n i n g the
s n s o e on o a se s o n er

w ld g t t d te cti ves "

or
’
s rea es e
‘

T
d u sk a n d a so ft f all of sn ow
was
was powd e ring t h e stre ets o f t h e c ity
with fla ke s a s li g ht as a i r an d as
d a i n ty an d transp a ren t a s my l a dy s ’

handke rchi ef Th e m an was slo u chi n g along i n a.

sham e f a ce d sort of way whe n his a tt e n tio n w as

-

a rre s te d sh a rply by a s u dd e n flood o f li g ht f rom

an ope n doorwa y Th e y e llowish g l a re f rom t h e .

ca nd e l ab ra i n t h e b ro a d h a llwa y shi mm e re d on t h e

white ca rpe ted sid ewa lk so that ea ch s ep a rate

p a rti cl e sp a rkl e d like a n e wly c ut di a mon d H e - .

( 2 0 7)
2 08 THE HEADQUARTERS MAN AND

ha lt e d irre sol ut ely an d hi s eye s d ulle d by dissi

,

p a t i on look
,
e d cu rio u sly i n to t h e ho u se At t h.e

en d o f t h e lon g v ist a w a s a n e l a bora te ly ca rv e d -

sid ebo a rd he avily f rei ght e d with g list eni n g s ilve r

,

ware He tri e d to pro cee d on his way but th e

.
,

g litt e ring si g ht h e ld him root e d to t h e s pot .

Some f ee ble re mn an t of vi r tue st a rt e d him ahea d

a f e w st e ps bu t t h e tho u g ht o f t h e shi ni n g w ea lth
,

within m a d e him he sita t e a ga in and in tha t

,
—

hesit at i on h e was lost .

He c re pt sil en tly u p t h e brown ston e step s an d

into t h e ma rbl e til e d h all Hi s l etha rgy wa s
-
.

thrown off e ve ry on e of his f a culti e s was keye d

up t o a hi g h pit c h Once insid e h e close d to t he
.

he avy door but did not shut it Instinctively

,
.

h e re a che d u p a n d lowe re d t h e g as j et s until t h e

co rridor wa s shro u d e d in s e mi d a rkn e ss -
On .

tiptoe h e pro cee d e d ba ck to t h e d i ning room - .

Q u i ckly h e inven tori e d t h e a rra y o f s olid silver

pie ce s e a c h on e s et i n pl ace with prim prec ision
, ,

a n d all of th em s e e ming ly s t a r ln g a t him with s u c h

stu di e d insolen ce He looke d on t h e sig ht g reedi ly

. .

Even a t tha t moment when n o time w a s to be

,

lost h e stood still a n d men t ally c ompa re d t h e

,

opul en ce o f t h e un known owne r with hi s own

pre ssing n e ce ssiti e s ; inst an tly t h e f a int cri es of
co n s ci en ce we re c hok e d .
 THE BURGLARY T HAT FAI L E D 2 09

Th e proble m was how to g athe r up t he stuff

qui ckly an d g et o ut of th e house un ob s er ve d It .

n eve r would do to a tte mpt to ca rry it in his a rms ;

be sid es t h e qu antity h e c o u ld t a ke in tha t wa y
,

sca rce ly would be worth t h e ca ndle He looke d .

ar o und f or somet hi ng tha t c o uld be u se d as a b ag

o r a c ove ring Not hi ng was in si g ht

. .

In cree ping in h e h a d noti ce d a small a p a rt

me n t be tween t h e drawing room an d t h e dini ng -

r oom He t urne d to thi s n ow ea ge rly It loo ke d

. .

li ke a smokin g room ; it mi ght be a ma n s d en

’
-
.

Eve rythin g a bou t it betoken e d a d esire f or c om

f o rt ra the r th an style In on e c o rne r wa s a r oll
.

top d e sk with a revolvin g c ha ir On t h e sid es

.

were c o uche s pil e d hi g h with pillows an d s i lken

,

cu shi o n s . In t h e cent e r wa s a round table c overe d

with a g reen cloth an d litte re d with ma g az ines
an d n e wsp a p e rs A l arg e l e a th e r ar m c ha ir bit s
.
-
,

of s ta t ua ry a s t ee l shi e ld with a p a ir of swords

,

a cross its s u rf a ce som e wa t e r c olors an d n u mbe r

, ,

less littl e t rin ke ts c ompl e t ed t h e f u rni shi ng s o f t h e

a p a rtme n t .It was warm an d coming in f rom ,

t h e chill y stre et t h e man f elt a cu riou s s en s e of

,

cont en tm ent Th e odor o f tobacco pe rva d e d t he

.

r oom an d a h al f s m oke d cigar on an as h tray

-

s ugg e st e d t h e po ss ibl e proxi mi ty of a man .

He swe pt t h e t hi ngs o ff t h e table wi th on e brush

210 THE HEADQUARTERS MAN AND

of his ar m On e o f t h e b ooks f ell on t he floo r with

.

a thu d tha t r e soun d e d i n t h e h a llwa y He p a us e d

.
,

ha lf f rig ht e n e d a t hi s own a u d a city It was

.

pla in to be s ee n tha t thi s was hi s first j ob Th e . .

m e re st tyro in t h e a rt o f b urgla ry would n ot ha ve

b l un d e re d so He stoo d s i l en t f or a mo m ent
. .

Not a so un d was to be hea rd Th e bl und er was

.

n o t f ata l
. He d eli be rat e d f o r a mome n t af te r tha t
u pon whe ther h e sho uld t a k e t h e t abl e cloth i n t o

t h e din in g room o r ca rry t h e s ilve r into th i s littl e

a p a r tm e n t .

Hi s d eci sion f a v ore d b rin g in g it i n to t h e ta bl e ,

so h e a ct e d a c cordin g ly He cre pt b ac k into

.

t h e din ing room a n d li ftin g a ll o f t h e s i lve r h e

,

co uld ca rr y ca ref u lly t i pto e d to t h e little d e n

,

a g ai n a n d d e posit e d it on t h e g ree n t a bl ec loth .

Th e trip was re pe a t e d thre e times bef ore hi s

cu pidity wa s sa t i s fie d Af te r tha t h e beg an l abo
.

r i o u s ly to t i e it u p i n a b undl e It d a wne d u po n
.

hi m then f or t h e fir st time tha t h e was en g a g e d

in a pe ri lo us work But so f a r h e h a d be en
.

su cc e ssf ul an d n othing succee ds like su cce ss

,
.

J u st as h e h a d fini she d tyin g t h e l a st knot i n t he

bu ndle his a ttention was a tt ract e d by a pec uli a r
so und i n t he hallway It cam e swish swis h like
.
, , ,

t he noi se o f t h e w ave s l a pping a g ai nst t h e side of

a boa t . Even to hi s untrai ned ear its mea ni ng was
 THE BURGLARY THAT FAILED 2r 1

ce rta in It was t he move me n t of a woma n s

.
’

silk dre ss His han ds droppe d f rom t he bundle

.

an d h e stoo d stoc k still The so u n d ca m e n ea re r

.

a n d n ea re r Un cons c io u sly he do uble d u p his

.

fis t a n d st eppe d to o n e sid e He wo u ld b ra in he r
.

Bu t t h e mom ent t h e re solve wa s ma d e it was

a ba ndon e d He wa s in a d e spe ra te plig ht bu t
.
,

h e co uld n ot atta c k a helpl e ss woma n His .

f

manh ood revolt e d a g ains t it a n d ma nhoo d i s an

,

incon veni en t thing f or a burg la r e spe cia lly —

a m a t e u r bu r g l a r .

Pre sen tly sh e rea ch ed t h e doorw ay a n d a s s h e

look e d int o the room s h e g a v e a sta rt an d h er fa ce
beca m e whi t e H e c o u ld see th a t ev en in t he di m
.

g a sli g ht . But sh e did n ot scream or speak Sh e .

p a ss e d on a n d in a momen t h e he ar d th e h ang o f
t h e f ront door as it wa s sl a mm ed shu t He w a s .

wo n d e ring whethe r sh e h ad s ee n hi m wh en sh e ,

su dd enly r e a pp ea re d a n d p a rting t h e cur ta ins

, ,

st oo d in t h e doorw a y like a st a t u e Whe n sh e .

spoke h er voice was fir m an d d e te rmi ne d no t a —

t re mo r in it .

“
Th e butl e r i s be hind th a t c ur ta in with a
loa de d revolve r If yo u da re to move you will be
.

sho t down like a d og " ”

Her tone s were c onvinc ing He s tood

.
212 THE HEADQUARTERS MAN AND

helpl e ss a n d d ej e cte d Sh e walke d i n to t h e a p art

.

ment with t h e a i r of on e who is mas te r of t h e s i t

ua t i on
. He retre a t e d i n to t h e f a r en d of t h e room
li ke a c orn e re d r a t In spite of hi s pre d i ca men t
.

h e co ul d n ot help a dmirin g h e r c o u ra g e Sh e w ent

.

to t h e sid e a n d f a cing hi m pi c k e d u p somethi n g

, ,

f rom a shelf on t h e wa ll .He n oti ce d f o r t h e fir st

t ime tha t th e re w as a t el e phon e in t h e room .

Sh e lif te d t h e re ce ive r a n d put it to h e r ea r .

B ending close to t h e tra n smitt er s h e ca ll ed ou t

in an uh f alt ering v oi ce :
“
M a in
There was a moment s p au se A d esire to
’
.

s prin g on h er s e iz e d hi m ; bu t h e looke d in t h e

d irection of t h e cu rt a ins a n d an omi n o u s bul g ing

o f t h e dra p e ry r e stra i n e d him Now s h e was
.

Di ck "Di c k " s h e c ri e d i n to t h e te l ephone

”
,

”
c om e b a c k to t h e ho u s e a t o n c e .

The re was a nother p a u s e a n d then s he e x

cl a im e d :
“
N eve r min d "C ome a t o n ce It is urg ent . .

Th e re is a m an her e who mu st s e e you a t on ce It .

is v e ry urg ent .

His lips cu rl e d in th e d a rk ; h e c o uld not restra in

a d es ir e to t a unt h e r .He tri ed to k ee p d own t h e
impul s e But it was no us e So h e bl u rt ed out :
. .
 THE BURG LARY T HA T FAI L E D 213

“
In st an tly t he l itt l e r oo mw as floo d e d wit h l c ci ty
e e tri .
214 THE HEAD QUARTERS MAN AN D
Ve ry cl ever ; I suppose you thi nk you are g oing
to do t h e h eroine a ct with m e We ll you a re .
,

mi s ta k en When Di ck c omes here h e won t fin d ’

.

m e h e re .

Sh e ma d e no reply to thi s Whil e h e was t alk

.

i n g s h e ha d pi c k e d u p t h e rece ive r a g a in He .

g a z e d a t h e r thr ou g h t h e g loom b u t m a d e n,
o

a tte mpt to i n t erf e r e A wa vin g of t h e curta ins

.

mi g ht ha ve a ct e d as a d e te rren t .

“ ”
Is tha t t h e c en tral st ation ?
Her voi ce w as tre mulo u s a n d unr ea l bu t qui t e ,

di sti nct Th e re spo n s e mu st h ave come qui ckl y

.
,

f or s h e a dd e d sp ea kin g r a pidly
,

“
S en d a n o ffic e r h ere a t o n ce ; yes Ash wor th s ,
’

Ri c ha rd As h wort h s Bro a d st reet There s

’ ’
- —
.

”
a burg la r in t h e ho u s e .

When sh e hun g t h e rec e ive r u p s h e was all i n a

tre mbl e Sh e g a ve a hyst eri cal l aug h bu t it did
.
,

not d ec e ive t h e m an .

”
Do you s u ppos e h e sa id in g rim ton es tha t
, ,

”
I will st a y h e re to be c a ug ht like a r at in a tra p ?
“ ”
If y ou move , s h e s a id y o u will h
, a v e to ta ke
”
t h e c o n s e qu en ce s .

He look e d a t t h e moving c u rt a ins an d la pse d

into ugly sil en ce .

A smil e o f tri umph crept abo ut h e r b la nche d

f ace an d rea c hin g ove r s h e p re sse d a b utton .
 TH E BURGLARY T HAT FAI L E D 21
5

Ins tan tly t h e littl e room w as floo de d with elec

t ri ci t y . Hi s h at was off a n d he s too d the re sul

Walte r "
Sh e shri e ke d o ut t h e n a m e g a ve on e hy st e rica l
,

screa m a n d c o ve re d h er f a c e with h e r ha nds .

He g ro an e d like a m an who had bee n sore l y

M a ry "
The y st ood still f or some moments l ooking at
eac h othe r Sh e spoke first
. .

“
Wha t broug ht you o this plig ht
t ?
“ ”
He w a s a bo ut to s a y You but stifle d t h e wor d
,

bef or e it rea che d his lips The thoug ht u pp e r

.

mos t ih hi s mind ca me out .

“
Of a ll t he pe rsons on Go d s ea rth you a re th e
’

la st I wi she d to ha ve seen m e in thi s hu mili a

The f ea r ha d le f t h er ; t he su rpris e was f a ding

f ro m h er fa ce . In pla ce wa s ri sing sco rn a n d
an g er .

“
Then why ar e you he re ?
H u sh "h e whi s p e red pointing in t he direction
”
,

“
of t h e c u rta ins t he bu tl e r w ill h ear
,
.

Sh e la ug hed bitt e rly an d sa id

“
A fi ctio n rese rve d f or ho u sebre ak er s ; I am
alon e ; a t yo ur me rc y perha ps ’
—
.
216 THE HEADQUARTERS MAN AND
He d i d n ot a ppe a r to hear t h e l a st p a r t o f the
remark but pee re d a t h er cu riou sly a n xiou sly
, ,
.

“
You a r e co mf o r ta bl e he re a r e you h a ppy ?
—

”
C e rta inly , s h e r e pli e d
i n a stra in e d voi ce ,

”
why sho uldn t I be ? ’

Th en sh e stra ig ht en e d u p a n d there was re sent ~

f uln e ss i n f a c e an d m ann e r .

“
How d are you sp e a k to me i n tha t ma nner ,

y o u —
y o u b u r g l a r "”

He move d over towa rd h er a n d sh e retre at ed

a f ew st e p s . Hi s ha n d s were held ou t in a ppea l .

He e cho e d h er wor ds ; his han g do g look d i sa p

p e a r e d ; h e b e ca m e e loqu e n t
.

“
How d a re I ? I d are d o it by t h e me mo ry of
t h e p as t ; by t h e r e c oll ec tion of t h e h a ppi e st ho urs
in my lif e ; by t h e tho u g ht of thos e walks tha t will
live as long as bre ath la st s ; by t h e knowle dge t h a t
y ou w e r e o n c e a l l b u t mi n e ; by t h e r e m e m b r a n ce

o f t h e vows th a t I po u r e d i n to y o u r e a rs —
by all
the se I d a re t o sp ea k to you now " ”

Sh e s a nk into a c ha ir a n d bu ri e d h er f ace in h er
h an ds a n d sobbed He ha lt e d a t thi s a n d
—
.
,

tou ching h er lig htly on t h e s h ould er j whi sp e red

“
Fo rg ive m e "I h a d no ri g ht to d i g up t he p ast ,

but t h e si ght o f you h a s ma d e m e f o rg et myse lf?

Th e si g ht of you a lwa ys did s en d me into a whirl .

”
I f elt tha t I co uld n ot live without you .
 THE BURGLARY T HA T FAI LE D 21 7

But you se e yre tort e d an d then

o u can ,
she , ,

seein g his mel ancholy look an d f ors aken a pp e a r

ance re g rett e d t h e words imm ed i a te l y
, To cove r .

it up s he a ske d qui ckl y :

“
W y
h di d y o u n e v e r r e t u rn to m e ?

Why h e e x cl aime d e a ge rly

, y o u s u re ly ,

remembe r we qu a rrel e d
—
.

“ ”
Yes s h e s a id imp a ti e n tl y a love rs qu a rrel
’
, ,

i t w a s n othin g a t rifle a pre t e xt a d i sp ut e

-
, , ,

”
unworthy of s c hool c hildren .

“ ”
But I re turne d h e s a id a n d the y tol d m e
, ,

y o u w e r e e n g a g e d t o a noth e r to som e o n e i n t h e —

city
“
Who told you tha t "s h e e xcl a ime d ri s ing in
”
,

h er wra th .

“
Your mothe r h e s a i d simpl y ,
.

M other told you that s h e cri e d choki ng back ,

“
a s ob . 0 h ow c o uld s h e do it h ow c o uld sh e d o
, ,

it "”

Ye s h e went on sh e sa id you were en gag ed

, ,

To Di ck ,
sh e e xcl a ime d , fini shi n g t h e se n t ence

”
An d Di ck —
yo ur hu sban d ? he a ske d a nxio u s

Adore s m e , sh e repli e d , an d h as neve r hea rd

3,
218 TH E H EAD "UARTERS MAN AND
“
I m sorry I dri f t ed into thi s hou se he sa i d
’
,

helple ssly .

“
Tell m e a b ou t yourse lf sh e d emande d in an
, ,

irre lev an t m an n e r .

“
The re isn t mu ch to t ell h e sai d bitte rly
’

, .

“
I ve h a d a run o f ba d l u ck e ve r sin ce e ve r sin ce
’
—

I l ef t yo u I beg an to drink ; I m af ra id I dr ank

.
’

t oo mu ch Then I sta rt e d in to g a mble an d my

.
,

law pra cti c e wen t to t h e dog s Yo u kno w a m a n

.

ca n t dri nk a n d pra cti ce la w a t th e sa me time

’

an d do b oth s u cce s sf ully S u dd enly I resolve d to

.

st op t he whole bu si n ess I f elt tha t I n ee de d n ew

.

a ssoc i atio n s a n d n e w s u rro un din g s i f I would

su ccee d So a c orre s po n d en ce w as ope ned with
.

f ri ends in C ali f orn i a a n d I man a g e d to ma ke a firs t

cla ss c onn e c tio n w i t h a la w fir m i n San Fra n cis c o .

I ca me to New York this morni n g t o tak e t h e C al

if orn i a limit ed Whi l e on th e way to t h e ti cket
.

o ffi ce to s ecu re my b er th a n d transporta tion I m et

some f ri en d s We g ot to d rink ing and l a te thi s
.

a f te rnoo n I f o u nd mysel f in a g am b lin g g ame .

When I g ot throug h I was penn i l e ss M y tra in .

was to l e a ve a t 8 o clo c k a n d I did not ha ve mone y

’

f or ti cke t o r be r th Wh ile in tha t dil e mma I

.

p a sse d your ho u s e Th e door was wid e open an d

.

tha t s i lve r see me d to be c kon m e in In my .

f renz ie d st a te I ca l c ul a t e d th a t I co u ld p ic k i n)
 T HE BURG LA RY T HA T FAI L E D 2 29

enoug h va l ua ble s to see m e o ut o f my tro u bl e I .

ca me in an d was p a cking t h e silver wh e n yo u

a ppe a r e d Now you have the whole sha me f ul

.

”
sto ry .

“
I f ee l sorry f o r you sh e sai d simply ,
.

”
Sorry h e sa id with a tra ce of sa rca s m
, , .

Does tha t mea n e poli ce st a tio

t h n ?
“ ”
Skep tica l a s e ve r sh e re tort e d , Th e thing.

now i s t o sa ve you
”
.

Her eye lig hte d on t h e bundl e o f silver .

“ ”
Pu t tha t in t h e c orn e r qu i ckly sh e c rie d , .

If Di c k sh o uld c o m e i n a n d see tha t all wo uld b e

He d i d as h e w a s b i dd en .

“ ”
S u ppose I g o ? hesugge st e d f e ebly .

No , n o, s h e sa id ; Di ck will be he re in a
momen t an d tha t t el e phon e ca ll mu st be e x

wa lk e d u p an d down th e room hy st eri cally .

Be f ore th ey h a d ti me t o ren e w the ir c on versa tion

ther e wa s t h e sound of a key ra ttling i n t h e f ront
d oor Both looke d as i f sta rtl e d an d i n volun
.

apa rtm en t Th e n oise o f t h e ope ni n g an d closing

.

of th e f ro n t door r e ve rbe r a te d throu g hou t t h e

2 20 THE HEADQUARTERS MAN AN D
He llo M a ry "Where a re y
,
ou ?

Rig ht thi s way Di ck replie d a f emini ne

, ,

voi ce tha t tri e d hard n ot to tre mble .

Ri cha rd Ashworth t all bro a d c hes t e d with , ,

-
,

ha n dsome smooth sha ven f a ce i n f ull evening

,
-
,

dre ss with hi s g re a t c o at t hr own ove r his a rm

, ,

en t ere d t h e room He was t aken aba c k at t he

.

shabby a ppea ran ce of t h e othe r m an but only f or ,

a mom en t a n d th en look e d swi f tly a t hi s wi f e f or

,

an e xpl an a tion Her f ace wa s as whit e as ma rble

.

a n d s h e spok e h a ltin g ly :
“
Di ck Di ck this this i s m y my co u sin
—
,
— —
.

He r tong u e s e e me d to cl e ave to t h e roo f o f h er

mouth It wa s s o ha rd to utt e r tha t f al se
.

hood .

“
Th e n a me Di ck s a id a dvan cing an d e xt end
, ,

i n g hi s ha n d
Browning re pli e d t h e othe r ha ng ing his hea d
, , .

” “
Tell hi m s a id t h e woma n f a in tly o f t he los s
, ,

”
of yo u r mon ey .

“
I wa s ab out to t a ke t he 8 o clo ck train f or ’

” “
C ali f orni a h e s a id
,
when I m et with a loss ,

t h e loss o f my mon ey .

Then s ee in g Ashwo r th st a ri n g st ea dily at him

, ,

h e bl u rt e d out :
“
Th e f a ct is I lost it a ll in a g ambling g ame
,
.

”
And na t u ra lly re spond e d t h e othe r cheer
,
 THE BURGLARY THAT FAILED 221

fu lly , want to ha ve t h e e xche qu e r re pl e nishe d .

”
Here t a ke this an d h e thru st a roll o f b ills into
, ,

hi s han d .

Ashworth p ulle d o ut his wa t ch a n d looke d

a t it.

“
My cab i s at t h e door ; I l l lo an it t o you ; you
’

j u st have time to make you r train Good by .

-

a n d g ood l u c k .

It w a s impossibl e to prot e st Th e hea rtiness .

a n d sin c e rity of Ashworth simply clos e d t h e in c i

d en t Th e m an w ent over to th e woman an d took

.

h e r h and A thrill went thro ug h both of them

. .

He l ea n e d ove r an d ki sse d t h e tips of h er fin g e rs

an d a s h e did s o s h e f elt t h e moistu re o f a t e a r on

h er h and .

In a s econ d h e wa s g one As th e noise of th e

.

ca rri a g e whee ls d i ed ou t in t h e dist an c e A s hwo rth ,

tu rn e d to hi s wi f e .

“
Why M a ry you a r e trembling wh a t s t h e
, ,
—
’

”
m att er ?
“
I was afra id Di ck sh e re pli e d you mi ght be
, , ,

”
a n gry .

An gry " h e reto rte d in cre dulo u sly

“ ”
j u st ,

b ecau s e yo u g av e m e t h e opportunity of s ta king

on e of yo u r poor r e l a tiv e s An d a s h e kiss e d h er
.

h e bu rst into a he a rty l a ug h a t t h e thoug ht of t he

abs u rd ity of h er f oolish f ea r .
222 THE HE AD"UAR TE RS MA N AN D

While they were ta lking they we re a tt ra ct ed by

a n oi se o u tsid e An offi cer f rom t h e centr a l
.

poli ce st atio n a rriving j u st i n tim e to see t he ma n

,

j ump int o t h e ca b stoppe d th e v ehi cle p ull ed

, ,

him out an d n ow stood there holdin g him by th e

scru ff o f t h e ne ck .

“
I ve g ot yo ur bu rg lar h e sa id i n t on es o f
’

, ,

tri umph to t h e hu sband a n d wif e sta ndin g o n t h e

,

top o f t h e doorst ep .

Sh e shook like a l ea f an d wo u ld ha ve f a ll e n bu t
for th e s u pport giv en h er by h er hu sb and .

“ ”
Let tha t m an g o shou te d Ashworth You ve ’
.
,

m a d e a mist ake That s a rel ative of Mrs Ash

.
’
.

”
worth i n a hu rry to ca t ch a tra i n
,
.

“ ”
Then you don t wan t him a rre st e d ? he a s ked
’

with a signi fica n t in tonation in hi s voice .

“ ”
No c erta inly n ot
,
.

Th e o ffice r w en t down t h e st ree t ch u c kli ng t o

hi ms elf .

Ashworth t u rne d to his wif e .

“
What do you think of tha t f ellow ta king yo ur —

rel a tive f or a burgl a r ? Tha t s wh at h e g ets f o r ’

looking so se edy an d sn ea king down the ste ps s o

”
su spi cious ly Isn t it .
? ’

“ ”
Yes sh e re pli e d f a intly
,
.

”
Do you mi n d i f l g o b ack to th e d i nn er ? he
as k ed .
 THE BURGLARY THAT FAILED 2 23

No , sh es a id g o by a ll me an s
,
.

Now i f Di ck h a d b een an ob s e rva nt m an

whi ch h e w as not h e probably would ha ve
—

won d ere d why wif e s pillow wa s so wet with

’

t ea rs that ni ght.
CAPTAI N O BR I E N AN D T HE MYS T ERY ’

O F T HE HALLWAY .

[P D O B i
. . C p ta i f th D t cti v Bu u of Chi ca g
’
r en , a n o e e e e rea o

i
s ma wh h an tt i d hi p
o as t di t i c t i
a a ne by m s r e se n s n on co ~

bi i g c mm
n n o wi t h c u g H fill d v i u ub
o n se n se o ra e . e e ar o s s or

di t
na e p i ti in
os v y t i f ct y m
on s a e eri n d d hi sa s a or ann r— ee s

en ti d ul t lif ha b e
re a p t i t h p li c d p tm t f
e s e n s en n e o e e ar en o

hi s ti v
na ci t y Th ce l t d h wi t h i
. e ly
a se f
re a e er e s on on e o

m y my t i whi ch h v be
an s er es lv d by t h i nt lli g c
a e e n so e e e en e

an d th p i t c f C pt i O B i
e ers s en e On ly t h
o w ho
a a n
’
r en . o se

u d t d wh t i t m
n er s a n t g u d t h li f
a d t h p pe ty
ea n s o ar e e an e ro r

o f th id
e res t f gr t ci ty
en s o pp ci te th e m g i t ud e
a ea ca n a re a a n

o f hi l b s a" o rs

NDRE W
FERGUS McG E E was a
soli citor employ e d by t h e C ha rl es
C rea m e ry C omp any o f C hi ca g o He .

w as a lmost s even ty y e a rs o f a g e but

qu it e a ctiv e men t a lly a n d physi cally an d h a d th e ,

rep u t ation of b ei ng a cl ever a n d s u ccess ffrl sal es

m an His dom e sti c lif e wa s cl e an an d ha ppy
.
,

a n d h e w a s known to be a m a n of g ood h a b its .

On t h e 2 ot h o f F ebru a ry 1 89 8 McGee w a s f ound , ,

u n con s ci o u s i n t h e ha llw a y a t t h e f oot o f t h e sta irs

i n a n u n o ccu pi e d b u ild i n g at 2 0 3 0 I n di an a Aven u e ,

Chi ca g o He w a s removed to t h e St Luk e s

’
. .

(2 2 4)
 THE M YSTERY OF THE HALLWAY 22 5

Hospital where h e di e d a f ew hou rs l at e r witho u t

reco vering con sci ou sn e ss It was a nno un ce d a n d
.

n r a lly b e li ev e d th a t his d ea th w as t h e re sult

g e e

o f a n a cc i d enta l f a ll .

o
But a t t h e i nqu e st h eld ove r hi s rem a ins t h e first
su spi cion of a do ubt be g an t o en t er t h e minds o f
t h e poli ce o flfici als . It wa s f o und tha t hi s skull
w a s f ra ctu red an d t h e physic i a ns wh o e x amin e d
,

t h e b ody g ave it as the ir opini on th a t thi s wo u n d

co uld n ot have b e e n t h e r e s ult o f a f all .It was
long an d qu ite d eep an d loo ke d a s i f it mi g ht have
be en ca u se d by a wea pon o f some so rt a long —
,

blunt i nst ru m ent . There was n o possibl e cl ue

to t h e p e rp etrato rs o f t he crime as McGee h a d not
been see n in t h e b u ilding Ju st h ow h e g ot into
.

t h e b u ilding a n d hi s obj e ct in g oi ng there w e re

qu e stions tha t p uzzl e d t h e poli ce very gre atly .

At an y ra te the re w as no evid en ce of an y kin d to

,

prove tha t an y on e othe r than McGee h a d bee n in

t h e bu ilding on t h e morning o f hi s d e a th an d f or ,

a whil e it look e d as i f t h e poli ce a u thoriti e s h a d

r un a g a inst a d ea d w all in t h e co u rs e o f the i r

inve sti g ation s .

It w as at thi s st ag e of t he g am e that P D . .

O Bri en C a pta in C omm an d i ng t h e D ete ctive

’

B u reau of t h e C hi ca g o Poli ce a ctively en tered

,

into t h e work of solving th e myst e ry Hi s first .

15
 CAPTA IN O BRIEN AND
’
226

ste p was to probe i nto t h e l i fe a n d cha rac t er of t he

murd ere d m an Th e re por t t ha t h e rece ive d
.

p racti cally cove re d t h e exist en ce of McGee f rom

t h e cra d l e to t h e g ra ve but not on e o f th e d et a ils
,

m an s u nt ime ly en d Af ter that C a pt ai n

f or t h e
’
.
,

O Bri en h a d a conf e re n ce wi th t h e mem bers o f t he

’

b ook tha t h ad b ee n s d
u e by McGe e while h e wa s
worki n g f or t he fir m .

Th e Ca pt ai n de t a ile d twe nty de tec tiv es in pla in

cloth e s to c o ver t he t e rri tor y wo rk e d by McGee
,

i n t h e hope o f find ing som e on e who mi g ht h ave a

t i ves in th e cour se of hi s i nvesti g atio n ca me u pon

, ,

a Be ll e St e i nh ilbe r who pre sid e d ov er an e sta b

,

li shm en t in Eldrid g e C ou rt i n C hi ca g o , .

“ “
M ad am he sa id c o ur te ou sly I re present
, , ,

t h e C ha rl es C ream e ry C om pa ny an d I would be ,

ve ry g la d ind ee d i f you w o uld f a vor us with a n

or d e r t o se rve yo u with crea m .

Th e wo m an looked a t t h e m an as i f She thou ght

h e w a s t ryin g to ha v e spo rt with h er but t he ,

ea rn estn e ss of t h e d et ective di s sipa t e d t hi s s u s

”
How long ha ve you b ee n wi th t he co m pany ?
sh e a ske d .
 THE MYSTERY
. OF THE HALLWAY 22
7
“
two da ys wa s t he t ruthful re spon se
Only , .

“ ”
I thoug ht so s h e sa id with a smile
, ,
.

“ ”
Why h e a sk ed
? .

“
B e ca u se only a week or so ago I placed
,
-

or d er with on e of t h e sale smen con ne ct ed wi t h

Wh o wa s it ? h e a sked
”
.

I thi nk his n am e wa s MC Gee she re pli ed an d , ,

t h e d esc riptio n sh e g ave t a lli ed wit h t h e p e rsona l it y

o f t h e mu rd ere d m a n .

Thi s wa s t h e first clue in t h e solu tion of t h e

'

myste ry ; n ot muc h it i s tru e but a clu e tha t w as

, ,

to l ea d to more impo rtant d evelopmen ts Two .

da y s a f te r t h e mu rd er a ca rpe n t e r nam e d Ge o rge ,

H Ja cks was a rre s t e d by two d e t ect ives whi l ein

.
,

a d ruggi st at 2 1 2 6 Ind ia naAven u e . When h e wa s

c ha s e d by t he offi ce rs J ac ks th re w , a M a ll bu ndle

it an d f oun d tha t it w as an iron pipe ov er whi c h

the re w as a co atin g o f l ea d whi c h was c ove red by

pipe . Thi s bold an d b rut a l hold -

up in t he stre ets

in di gn a tion a mon g the pe op l e , an d na tu ra lly

On t h e f ollowi ng mo rni ng J acks was ta ken to

 C A PTAIN O BRIEN AND
’
228

o rt i n a p atrol wa g on Thos e who a ccomp ani e d

c u .

him we re C a pt a in O Bri en C a pt a in John McWe nny

’

, ,

a n d J e re mi a h C olli ns a d e t e cti ve on t h e r e gula r

,

f or ce. C ollin s h a d a c opy o f a morni n g newsp a pe r

in his co at po cke t a n d pre s ently t h e prisoner
,

tu rn e d to him an d a ske d if h e woul d let hi m ha ve

t h e p a p er f or a f ew minu t e s .

“ ”
Wha t do you wan t it f or ? a sked t h e d etective .

Oh I d like to se e wha t is g oing on was t h e

’

, ,

ca rel es s r eply .

Now it is an in te re st ing f act n ot ob se rve d by all ,

p e rs ons tha t when a man t ak es u p a newsp a per

,

h e i n va ri ably t u rn s t o tha t s ec tion o f t h e j ou rna l

whi ch c on t a ins t h e character of new s in whi ch h e
h as a p a rti cula r or p ers onal int e re st Th e c h a r .

act er i st i cs o f m en ar e f re qu en tly e xhi b it ed by t h e

ma nner in whi ch they pi ck u p an d c onsult the ir

d a ily newsp ap ers ; f or inst ance a banker or ,

sp ecu l ato r u ncon sciou sly tu rn s to t h e fin anc ial

p ag e of th e p a p e r an d ca re fully rea ds t h e qu ota
,

tion s on t h e stoc ks an d bond s b ef ore di g es ting th e

g en e r a l n ew s o f t h e d a y ; oth e rs in te r e st ed in ,

sports want to know t h e b a s eball score s an d t h e

,

resu lt of t h e l a st priz e fig ht b e f ore bothe ring their

h ea ds abou t crime or politi cs ; othe rs a gai n , ,

(an d th es e ar e i n t h e minority) of a se d at e tu rn of
mind have a habit o f ca re fu lly p erusi ng t he
,
 THE MYST ERY OF T HE HA L LWA Y 2 29

e ditori als bef ore d rin kin g in t h e news of th e d ay .

C a pt a in O Bri en an d hi s a sso ci a t e s were a w a re

’

o f t hi s c ha ra cte risti c o f hu m an n atu re an d c on , ,

sequ ently they kept thei r eye s glu e d o n J a cks as

,

h e took t h e p ape r whi ch was ha nd e d hi m by

Ofli cer C ollins Hi s o wn c a se wa s p ro mi nently
.

d i sp l ay e d on t h e first p ag e an d in type so l arg e tha t

it c ou ld n ot have e sca p e d e ven t h e most c asu a l
ob se rver but J a cks ig nore d thi s entirel y an d
,

tu rne d over t h e pag es of th e p a pe r an d s ca nne d

it colu mn by c ol u mn until h e f ound a d ispl ay
hea ding which told abou t t h e McGee case Thi s .

l oca t e d h e be gan re a ding it with su ch absorbe d

,

int e res t that h e did n ot noti ce anything tha t w as

g o in g o n a ro u nd him .

That s a me d ay t h e d et ective s began investiga

tions of J acks lif e a n d habits They f oun d out
’
.
,

“
a mo ng othe r thing s tha t h e was a f re qu ent e r of
,

t h e St ei n h ilber re so rt a n d tha t h e w a s th ere on

,

t h e d ay tha t McGee call e d a n d obt a in e d t h e or d e r

f or th e crea m C a pt a in O Br i en took t h e i n s t ru
’
’
.

men t a bi t of l e a d pip e whi ch J a cks a tt empte d

— —

t o hi d e on t h e oc ca sion o f hi s a rres t to t h e c oro ,

ner s phys ici an wh o af te r e xa minin g it bec a me

’

, , ,

c onvin c e d th a t it w a s t h e w ea po n tha t h a d c a u s e d

McGee s d ea th In t h e me an time t h e d ete ctive s

’
.
,

su ccee d e d i n roundin g u p se ve ral p ersons who h ad

 C APTAI N O BRI EN AND
’
230

be en at hou se on th e occa si o n of
t h e St ei nh ilber
McGee s v isit to tha t pl a ce On e of th ese wit
’
.

ne sse s w as abl e to de sc ribe t h e mu rd e red m a n with

g rea t min u t en e ss .

“ ”
Wha t did h e s ay while the re ? thi s pe rson w as

I don t know was th e re ply bu t af ter h e

’

, ,

secu red t h e o rd er f or t h e cream h e pu ll e d out a ,

mem or an d um book in whi ch h e en t er ed th e na me

an d a ddre ss In doing so h e un cons ciou sly dis
.
,

p l a y e d a roll of b ank b ill s J a ck s s

. aw th em a n d ,

hi s eye glitt ere d i n a wa y tha t ca u s ed m e to shi ver

with fri g ht .

Th e v ariou s f ragm ent s of p roof whi ch were

b e ing g athe re d u p with p a in sta ki n g ca re wer e v ery

O Bri en f e lt
’
tha t it would be n ecessa ry to sec u re
som e po siti ve link betw ee n th e pr is oner an d th e
mu rd er e d m an bef ore h e c ould f or mally a ccu se
hi m o f th e cr im e McGe e s hom e w as in Wood
.
’

stoc k Illinois C a pta i n O Bri en d e t er min e d to g o

, .
’

th er e i n an effo rt to fin d rela tives who mi ght be

inte re sted in th e ca se Within tw enty f ou r hours
.
-

h e h a d l oca t ed a cou sin wh o knew consi d e ra ble

Amon g other thin g s h e sa id tha t McGee ha d

,

poss es sed a valu abl e wa t ch whi ch w as well kno wn

 THE MYSTERY OF THE HA LLWAY 23 2

to all me mbers of t he f a mily Ca pta in

th e .

O Br i e n secu re d th e n umbe r o f t h e wa t ch and

’

retu rn in g to C hi ca g o f ound f rom th e p a wn shop

,
-

r ec or ds o f t he po li ce d e p a rtme nt tha t thi s sa me

,

watc h h ad been tra de d f or an in f er ior w a t ch

wit hi n two hou rs af ter t h e time tha t McGe e was
mu r d er e d Th e wa tch f ou nd on J ac ks when he
.

w as a rre ste d prove d t o be t h e ide nti cal instru me nt

bro ke r as th e m an wh o h ad
t ra d e d th e wa tch .

As i f thi s w er e not en oug h t h e po lice ne xt ,

di sc overed tha t Ja cks ha d a n accompli ce na me d ,

man ne r or other h a d obta ined an inkli ng of

, t he
c rim e a tte mpt e d to a cc u s e Willow s t o t wo of
, t he
ne wspa pe rs a n d a ls o t o t h e th en C hi e f of Poli ce ,

but t he y ref us e d to li st en t o hi m beca use h e ha d

the m ann er an d a pp ea ran ce o f an ins a ne ma n .

At all event s Willow s w as arre ste d soon a f t e r

,

t hi s whi le hi ding in a ho u se o n t he ou ts kirts

o f t h e c ity .

Wi llows was put un d er th e sw ea ting pr ocess by

lo ws : He an d J acks we re in st ar ite ne d r m
ci cu
 C APTAI N O BRIEN AND
’
23 2

va riou s so urce s bu t m et with f a ilu re On e m om .

i n g they visit e d t h e St e i n hi lbe r ho u s e in Eld ridg e ,

C o u rt While they we re there McGe e ca ll ed

.
,

as a s oli cito r o f t h e C ream e ry C omp any f or t h e

pu rpo se of in du cin g th e woman of th e hou se to

g iv e him an ord e r f or th e ir p rod u ct s I t was .

whil e ta king this ord er that h e h a d pulled out a

roll of bank note s whi ch e xcit ed th e cu pi d ity of
-

Jac ks From tha t moment McGee was a d oomed

.

m an J a cks wh o po ss ess ed consi d erable ing enu

.
,

ity d evis e d a pl an by whi ch they were t o get

,

pos se ssion of hi s money Th ey knew tha t hi s .

b u siness m ad e it n e ce s sary f or hi m t o ca rry a la rg e

a mo unt o f ca sh on hi s p erso n a n d they f el t sa t,

i sfi ed tha t h e wo uld p rove t o be a ri ch vi ctim

wh enever t hey were p rep are d t o r ob hi m Jacks .

a n d Willow s vi s it e d t h e o ffice o f t h e €ream er y

C omp any a t Thi rty fif th St ree t an d m ad e inqui r y

,
-
,

f or McGee .

“
He d oe s n ot wor k in thi s office but , can be
f o un d at the North Clar k S tree t branch of t he

They vi sit ed t h e Cl ark Street p l ace an d f oun d

th a t McGee ha d j u st l ef t f or his home on Ohio
Stre et Th ey w ent there an d Willow s was sent
.

in an d t alke d with McGee an d requ e ste d him t o

ca ll at 2 0 2 8 I n di a na Aven u e t h e n ext morning ,
 THE MYSTERY OF THE HALLWAY 233

b etwe en t h e hou rs of t en an d el even o clo ck f or ’

,

t h e pu rpos e of t a king a l arg e ord er f rom a M rs .

Graha m who wa s ab ou t to op en a bo arding hou se

,
.

Wh en t h e unsu sp ec ting vi ctim called on th e

f ollowing mo rni ng h e w a s m et in t h e ha llwa y by
J a cks wh o stru ck him ove r t h e bac k of t h e hea d
with th e l ea d pip e whi ch fracture d hi s s kull an d
,

ca u se d his d e a th .

Th e e vid en c e w as n ow c ompl e t e . Willows an d

J acks were both in d i ct e d by t h e Grand Jury were ,

ta k en into cou rt tri ed an d c onvi ct e d J a ck s

,
.

w as hang e d by t h e n e ck u ntil d ea d an d Willows , ,

as hi s a c compli ce r ec e iv ed a s en t en ce of f o u r teen
,

y ea rs in t h e p enit e nti a r y .

Th ere was a cu riou s s equel t o thi s my st erious

mu rd e r an d th e cleverne ss with which it was
solve d In th e c ou rse of t h e investig ations Cap
.
,

tain O Bri en an d hi s a s sistan t s f oun d it n ec e ssa ry

’

t o ma k e a n e xh au stive inqu iry into t h e p a st li f e

of t h e s u sp e ct e d mu rd er e r It was f ound tha t
.

he h a d se rve d a t e rm a s C hi e f of Poli ce of M u ske

g o n, M i chi g an, a n d th a t d u rin g his t e n u r e o f o ffi ce

an epid emi c o f robb e ri e s h a d occu rred in tha t

p rosp erou s littl e town J acks a ppeare d to be

.

very mu ch worri e d ove r t h e inva sion of thi eves ,

an d c all ed u pon t h e c itiz ens g en e r a lly t o c o op

, e ra te

with hi m in brea king u p t h e l awl e s s gang s that

2 34 CAPTAI N O
’
BRI EN AND

wer e t er roriz ing th e communi ty He w as re .

g a rd e d as a n ab l e a n d f earl es s o fficer an d th e ,

pe opl e g ene rally inst e a d of criti cizing hi m were

, , ,

inc line d t o sympa thi z e with t h e di fficulties tha t

he en co un te re d i n t h e a dmi n i st ra tion o f hi s o flfice .

This opin ion he ld g ood unti l on e f at a l ni g ht when

hi s hou se took fire a n d bu rned to th e g ro un d .

It was then dis cove re d tha t t h e grea tly res pec te d

Chi e f of Poli ce h a d be en livin g a Jekyl a n d Hyd e
e xi st en c e .In othe r words thos e who ha st en ed
,

t o th e r escu e o f t h e bu rning b u i lding w ere su r

prised to fin d tha t it w as fill ed with t h e prop erty
whi ch h ad be en stol en fr om their homes du rin g
t h e pre viou s s i x mon ths Tho us ands of dolla rs
.

worth of prope rty was rec overed tha t ni g ht an d

t h e f ollowing morning . Se ve r al myst eri o u s m ur
der s were comm itt e d d u ring t h e time of J ac ks ’

a dmin istr a tion as Chi e f o f Poli ce In e ve ry case

.

robbe ry wa s the motive a n d some of t h e pe ople

,

o f M u sk e g on w ere th e n a n d are n ow in clined t o

, ,

the be li ef tha t J a c ks w as g u ilty o f thes e m urd e rs .

C apta in O Bri en a n d hi s a ssoci a t es ha ve ta ken

’

a j u st pr id e in t h e c ompl e te an d e xpe d iti ou s m an

ner in whi c h the y solv e d t h e myst e ry of th e McGe e

murde r Th e ca se h as more tha n u su a l int eres t

.

n o t on ly b eca u se o f t h e shr ewdn e ss with whi c h the

crime w as pl anne d a n d c ommitte d bu t a lso ,

 THE MYST ERY OF THE HAL LWAY 23 5

becau se of d a ngero u s character of th e m an wh o

th e
comm i tt e d it Pres s an d p eopl e j oin e d in th e
.

pra ise of th e officers who w ere concern ed in t h e

ca se,
an d it a l s o rece iv ed sp eci a l m ention in t h e

bull etin i ssu ed by t h e C hi e f of Poli ce a t tha t t i m e.

 C HI E F K ELL Y AN D T HE O P IUM
S MUGG L ERS .

[A b i f k t ch f F
r e s ci R K lly h b
e o gi v
ran in s . e as ee n en a

p vi u ch p t i c
re o s a ct i wi th t h t y f C hi f K lly
er n onne on e s or o
‘
e e

and th D e t d H u e se r e I th fi t c o t hi cl v d
se . n e rs a se s e er e

tect i v d i t i g ui h d h i m lf
e s n d w
s t h c mm
e d ti se f an on e o en a on o

th i t
e l v u ut h i t i by hi ucc f ul ff o t t
n e rna re en e a or es s s es s e r s o

b k up t h illi ci t di t i ll i whi ch fl d d t h c u t y t
r ea e s er e s oo e e o n r a

th t ti m
a I th p
e . t i
n t c M K lly i t d t h
e r e se n ns an e, r . e ass s e e

Cu t m Di vi i
s o s f th T u y D p tm t i d i c v i g
s on o e r ea s r e ar en n s o er n

and c vi c t i g t h
on m n wh w g g
e e d i wh
en l e l o er e en a n a o sa e

c pi cy t m uggl p i um i t t h U i t d S t t
ons ra o s e o I n o e n e a es . n

b th c
o h
as e s ct d wi t he a c u g e d d i pl y d hi g h
r ar e o ra e an s a e a

ord f i t lli g
er o n e ce " en

t r t h e C ivil Wa r t he
HORTLY af e

Unit e d St at e s Gove rnm en t pl ace d a

d uty o f nin et een doll a rs a poun d
on prep a re d opium It wa s not .

ent i r ely a rev enu e m ea su r e Th e c hi ef p u rpose .

was to che ck t h e opi u m habit whi ch was b ec oming

a so u r ce of g re at d e mora liz a tion in Sa n Fra n ci sc o

a s w ell as thro ug hou t t h e U n it e d St a t e s Th e .

imm e di a t e e ff e ct o f t h e high d u ty wa s to b ree d

a host o f opi u m smu gg l e rs J u st a t tha t cru ci a l .

pe riod Fran ci s R K elly a cl eve r yo ung d et e ctive

.
,

who h a d distingu ishe d himsel f in t h e E a st was ,

a ppoint e d to a position i n t h e Unit ed Sta te s

( 2 3 6)
 THE OPIU M S M UGGLERS 23 7

Secret S e rvi ce J ame s R Brooks th e Chi ef of

. .
,

t h e S e cre t S e rvi ce summon e d K e lly t o Wa shing

,

t on. He knew hi m an d h ad f a ith in hi s abili t y

an d r e so u rc e f uln ess .

”
Frank h e Sa id
,
I m going t o send you to
,
’

”
Sa n Fra nc is co .

“ ”
When ?
To morrow morni ng
-
.

”
What a m I to do ?
H e re a re you r sea le d inst ructions .

Tha t was all .

Bu t it w a s t h e prelud e to on e of t h e mo st inter
es ting ca s e s in th e histo ry o f t h e s e cret s e rvi ce .

K elly fill e d with th e bu oya ncy of youth an d t he

,

impo rtan ce of hi s mis sion m a d e a record brea king

,

t rip to t h e P acific C o a st Hi s fir st act on hi s .

a rrival in San Fra ncis c o was t o ca l l u pon t h e

C olle ctor o f C u st oms He di sclose d hi s i d entity

.

a n d rev ea l e d t h e n a t u re o f hi s a ss ig nment The .

offi ci al wel comed him he a rtily saying : ,

“
Th e smugg lin g o f opium betw e en Shanghai
a n d F ri s co h a s b een p e rsi st ent an d e xt ensive .

M y in s pectors ha ve don e everythi n g in the ir

powe r They ha ve m a d e many s e iz ures but t he
.

”
traffi c still flour ishe s .

“
Th e smugg l ers t ake bi g chan ce s suggested ,
23 s C HIE F KE L L Y AND

Th e bi ggest ki n d of c han ce s a ssen te d t he

“
C ollector .The de ma n d for t he do p e is so grea t
and t he profit ormo u s that it h as ca ll e d t he
so e n
”
cl ev e r e st m en in Chi n a town into t he bu sin e ss .

”
Do es it look like a syst ema ti c g ame ?
Un qu e stion ably It s a bi g conspiracy r un
.
’

in my opinion by a combination of t h e steam ship

,

”
e mploy e e s an d t h e m e r cha n ts o f C hi n a to wn .

“ ”
H ave you an y e vid en ce ?
Not a shre d Unf ortun a t ely my m en a re all
.

uni f orm e d an d th ey h a ve be en spot te d by t h e

T hef ollowing morning a me d i u m siz e d m an

-
,

g a rbe d in t h e d re ss o f a lon g s hor e man l oun ge

,
d

e nou g h h e re f u se d s ever al o ff e rs Pres ently a

.

ves sel f ro m Shan gha i a rri ve d an d when t h e ste ve

dore who h ad t h e co n tra ct f o r unlo a ding that pa r
t i cula r steam e r ca ll e d f or m en t h e stra nger was on e
o f t h e fi rst to vol u ntee r .The re w as n othi ng
myste rious a bou t t h e m an He g ave hi s na m e a s
.

F K elly whi ch a s it ha ppen e d wa s absol u te ly

.
, ,

corre ct as f ar as it we nt a lthoug h it did n ot go

,

f ar en oug h Th e ma n who enga g ed hi m and t h e

m en who work ed wi th h i m l i ttle tho ug ht tha t t h e
willing strang er was n o n e othe r tha n Fra ncis R .

K elly t h e n ew se cre t s e rvi ce op e ra tive If t hey

,
.
 THE OPIU M S M UGGLERS 239

ha d,
ther e mig ht h ave be en a d i ff er ent sto ry to

str etch of th e i rnagi n at i on to pi ct ure a nothe r

Th e n ew di d hi s wor k well He ca rri e d

man .

boxe s an d roll e d ba rrels with a reli s h an d he sa ng ,

as h e l abo red He was a f ellow of infinite wit

.
,

t oo an d h e k e pt hi s as soci a te s in c on s tant g oo d
,

hum o r by a succe ssi on of quips an d j oke s an d g ood

storie s When hi s d ay s work was d on e the r e were
.
’

bl ist e rs on hi s hands an d th a t nig ht h e s l e pt t h e

deep re f re shi ng slee p tha t c omes t o a m an who h ad
lab ored l ong an d well For thr ee d ays he con
.

ab uo t him an d th e d a ily routine w ent al ong a s i f

s u c h a p e rso n as F K elly h a d neve r exi ste d
. .

On t h e n ext arri va l o f t h e C ity of Tokio f rom

an d we a ri ng d e rby h at was amon g those

a bla ck
who w aited on t h e pi e r It was F ranci s K elly
. .

He pa s se d un re cog niz ed an d yet hi s d isgu ise ,

was t h e e ssence of si mpli ci ty a cl ea n sh a ve a n dL—

a n ew su it of clothes He ha d th e ma nn e r o f a
.

well t o d o touri st enjoying t he unique si g ht for

- -
,
2 40 C HIEF KELLY AND

t h e fir s ttime He rem ain e d con veni ently in t he

.

ba ckg ro und when t h e g rea t v e ssel b egan to dis

c ha rg e its carg o of p asseng e rs an d f rei g ht ,

an d yet h e o ccu pi e d a point o f v anta g e wh ere

nothing e sca pe d his ea g er restl e ss eyes

, .

It was t rul y a stu p en dou s spec ta cl e this sig ht —

o f Old C hi na po uring its pri ce l e s s prod u ct s into

t h e la p of t h e l u sty young R e publi c Th e .

p as seng e rs pil ed down t he plan kway a cosmopoli ,

t a n crowd curi o u sly costum e d re st l ess t o f ee l

,

t h e so lid ea rth of t h e New World ben ea th the i r

travel tire d f ee t Af t e r they h ad all rea che d t he
- .

pie r a g ri my f a ce d individ u al probably a fir e

,
- —

man f rom t h e b oil e r room o f t h e ve ssel sa unt e re d —

down the gang plank and stood at t h e edge of th e

-

pie r in an e xpe ctant attitu d e Presen tly an .

Ame ri ca ni zed C hi n aman with hi s queue roll e d

round an d ro und in a t op knot an d rest ing eas ily
-

un d e r a d e rby h at stroll e d towa rd t h e gr imy

f a c ed on e . He w as ta ll bi g bon e d an d h a d qu ee r
,
-

looking eyes K elly f rom his look ou t in t h e

.
-

c orn e r o f t h e pi e r w a t ch ed t h e p a i r li ke a ha wk .

Both l ooke d a round an d thin king they w ere unoh

s e rve d be g an to ta lk in subd u e d voi ces It was .

bu t f or a minut e an d th en they se p ara te d t h e ,

fire m a n re tu rning to t h e ve ss e l an d t h e C hina

man st arting o ff in t h e direc tion o f t h e st ree t .
 THE OPIU M S MU GGLER S 2 41

K elly be ckone d to a cu stoms officer .

“
Wh o is that Chi na man ? h e sai d pointing
”
,

to t h e retrea tin g f o rm o f t h e filmy e y ed f o re ign er - .

Th e Inspe c to r looke d int ently f or some m o

men ts For t he time h e was puz zl ed But a
. .

l ook of intelligence fin ally ove rsprea d hi s f ace .

“ ”
That s Joe F ow h e re pli ed
’
.
,

”
And who mi ght Joe F OW be ? asked K elly -

On e of th e bigge st me rcha nts in t he C hines e

Is h e import r an e ?

Oh yes ; h e imports l arge quantiti es of st uff

,

”
tea s fireworks an d pi ckl e d g oods
,
.

“ ”
Ever ha ve any tro uble with t h e cu stom s ?
Oh n o with hi m ev e rything i s op en an d a bov e
—

boa rd .

That s all f or t h e pres en t sa id K ell y

’
—
, .

The Inspector went abou t hi s work an d t h e

d et ective re sume d his cont empla tion o f th e bu sy
scene Th e work of unlo a di ng t h e bi g st ea me r
.

h a d be gun In a short time t h e wharf was f a irly

.

t ee ming with a mass of e x cit e d m en p rancing ,

ho rse s an d n e rve ra cking ve hi cle s o f ever y con

-

ce i vable kind A hi gh crane hovere d ove r the

.

hold of t he ve ssel an d when t h e ma chin ery g ot in

motion dippe d down into t he d e pths of t h e st eam er
an d b roug ht u p ton s an d tons o f f rei g ht A .
2 42 C HIEF KELLY AND

hu n dred m en wi th t ruc ks g rabbe d boxe s and bar

re ls and hu rrie d them ou t on t h e wha rf wher e they
we re sei z ed by wrang li ng pe rs pirin g c u rsing , ,

the s hou ts of score s of voice s ,

t he nei g hing an d

mi ghty ro a r o n e unen din g shee t of so und

—
.

How t he t eam s pa ss ed on e a not her witho ut

colliding w as a miracl e e xpla inab le on ly by th e

ha rsh voi ce d drive rs who n ever c ond e sc en ded t o

-

e xpl a in an ythin g But in som e won d erf ul man

‘

n er tw o tiny l a ne s we r e ke pt open an d thr o u gh

the se t h e lon g pr oce ssion o f wagons st rea me d i n

a n d out An ho u r pas se d in thi s way an d sti ll
.

K elly kept his vig il n eve r on ce t aki ng hi s e yes

—

off t h e pi ct ure squ e p a noram a of tw en ti e th cen

t u ry life Af ter a whi l e the re was a l ull an d th e

.

pa ssag e wa ys on both sid e s we re f or a won d e r

-
, ,

unobs tru cte d At th a t moment a Unite d Sta te s

.

ma il wagon d ashed i n an d backed u p in th e vi cin

ity of a compa ni on way nea r t he rea r of fi re ship
-
,
.

Two sai lors c a me o ut on d e ck ca rrying th e leat her

t hrown wha rf and t hence transf erre d to t he

on th e
ma il wa gon Th e he lper j umpe d on behi nd the
.
,

dri ve r whi ppe d u p his hors es and t h e team

da shed ofi th e wha rf at brea knec k speed Kelly .
 OPIU M
'

THE S M UGGLER S 2 43

re ma ined f or a f ew m inu te s af t er tha t an d then

-

g lan cin g a t hi s w at c h ca su a lly sa unt e r

,e d a w a y .

A month l a t e r h e reappea re d on th e s cen e ta k ,

i
i n g up h s s ta tion at t h e same pl a ce a n d w a t ching
“

t h e s am e s cene a s on t h e previo u s occa s ion Th e .

ship w as l ike E mpr ess t h e c ompa nion bo a t to ,

t h e C i t) " of Toki o On t hi s morni ng howeve r

.
, ,

K elly betra ye d a si gni fica nt al e rtness A poli ce .

offici al stood n ea rby Th e chief ca ll e d t o hi m :

,

“ ”
C a pt a in ha ve you lin ed u p your men ?
,

”
Yes t hey are all r ea dy
,
~
.

”
How ma ny of them ? ‘

Ten .

Ve ry g o od you m ay pro ce e d
, . wil l joi n yo u
I
withi n twe nty min ut e s Wh en .
you g et th e re ,

Mack —
f or s uch h e w as —
s al u t e d an d

pr ocee de d as i f i t we re a p lay be ing rehea rse d by

t h e mos t ca re f ul of st a g e ma nage rs .

Th e t all bi g bon e d C hi nam an with t h e filmy

-

be dl am o f un l a o d ing t h e ves se l be g an H alf an .

hou r l ate r , in th e midst of t h e tu rmoil t h e Uni t e d ,

2 44 C HI E F KE LLY AN D

tos md in an d t he vehi cl e d ashed away A cab .

stood by t h e cu rb . K e lly j umped into its cu sh

i on ed inte rior .

“
Follow th at wag on h e sa id to t h e driver , .

Th e m a n obe y e d l as hi ng his hors e in ord e r t o ,

keep t h e Gove rnm ent ve hi cl e in sig ht For a .

tim e t h e ra ce w as h ot an d f uriou s Once t h e mai l .

stree t When it rea ppea red it h a d a l ea d of three

.

bloc ks Prese ntly it halted be f ore an a lley way

.
-

in a back stree t K elly looke d out t h e wi n d ow of

.

t he ca b a n d spok e to hi s drive r
Wa lk your horse now ; t ake it ea sy .

Procee ding a t a l e isurely p ace th e pu rsuer

reac hed t h e scen e j u st as t h e l ast ba g of l ette rs was
ta ken u p t h e alley way Th e d et e ctive a li ghted -
.

f rom hi s cab in t h e most ca s u al m ann e r ima gin

abl e . In a momen t h e was j oine d by t h e ca pta in
o f t h e poli ce .

M r Kelly s aid tha t p erson so f tly an d with a

.
,

“
su pe rior smil e I m af ra id you ve be en on a wi l d
,
’ ’

g oo se c ha se .

u
Why ? n

You thoug ht the re w as s omethi ng sus pi ciou s

ab ou t tha t ma il w a g on didn t you ? ’

I did .

Well the re isn t ,

’
.
 THE OPIU M S M UGGLERS 24 5

Why n ot ?
B e cau se t he alley way is simply th e ba ck
-

‘
entran c e t o t h e s ub post ofii ce Th e m ail was
’

- -

broug ht d i re ctly f rom t h e ship t o thi s pla ce an d

t h e b a g s ha ve be e n ca rri e d in ther e .

Hm mutt e red K elly with t h e mann e r o f a

’

, ,

“
m an wh o is thi nkin g it ove r t h e post o ffice is n ot ,
-

”
t h e only bu ilding in this blo ck is it ? ,

N0 sa id t h e officer flu shi ng at t h e intima

, ,

“
tion tha t h e did not know hi s bu siness but I ,

f ail to see a nything su spi ciou s in t h e f act tha t a

mai l ca rri er is t a king l ett ers into a post off i ce - .

“ ”
In our bu sin e ss s aid K e lly qui e tly but
, ,

firmly , eve rything is su spi c iou s .

“ ”
Even pe rf ectly na tural thi ng s ? cri ed th e

E spe cially p erf ect ly na t ural things retorte d ,

t h e d e tec tiv e .

While they w ere t alking t he ma il wag on h ad

rattl e d awa y an d disa ppea re d a round t h e corn er .

It wa s almost du sk now K e lly turned to t he .

offi cer .

“
We are g oing u p t h e all ey way an d I a dvise -

y ou t o ha ve you r pistol withi n rea ch in ca se o f a n

y
em erg en cy .

All right l aughe d t he othe r ske pti ca lly

, ,

“
I m un de r you r orde rs
’
.
2 46 C H I EF KE LLY AND

C a ll you r m en an d ha ve the m f ollow u s a s

c los ely as possibl e .

Th e n ext mom en t K e lly h a d pe n etra t ed t h e

g a th e rin g g loom o f t h e a ll e y a n d w as ca r e f ully

f ee lin g his way f orwa rd .Th e a pe rtu re wa s
b ri cke d on e ithe r sid e a n d c ov ere d K elly put a
.

hand on e ithe r wa ll a s h e proc eed e d He h ad not .

g o n e f a r wh en h e u tt e r e d a n e x c la m a ti on o f sa t
i s f a ct i o n .

“
Oh he re w e a r e "
,

Wha t is it ? a ske d t he officer .

A g a t ewa y .

A g a t ew a y ?
Pre cis ely a wood en g at e Put you r should er
—
.

a g a inst it a n d h elp m e to op en t h e t hi ng It s .
’

”
e vid e n tly b olt e d f rom t h e insid e .

Th ey w ere only hal f w ay u p t h e a ll ey At t h e

-
.

f ar e n d c ould b e s e en t h e s ub post ofiic e But

- —
.

K elly rea l i z e d th at hi s bu sine ss was n ot there .

Th e poli ce ca pt a i n w as st a ring a t him i n a st u pid

so r t of way Th e d et e ctive turn e d to him a lmost
.

ha rshly :
Put yo ur should e r to t h e g a t e an d p u sh "
“

Th e po li ce ma n obe ye d t h e b olt g ave way an d

,

they f ou nd them se lves in sid e a littl e ya rd .

“
Tell you r m en to come in close ca ution ed ,

K elly .
 THE OPIU M S M UGGLERS 2 47

The s qua d en t e re d t h e ya rd an d line d u p re a dy -

f or a ction whi l e t h e se cre t s e rvi ce ma n r e conn oi

t e r ed . Th e re a r en d of a bri c k buil di ng c onf ront e d
hi m . Th e door wa s clos e d tig htly The win dow .

h ad n o shutt ers bu t t h e blind on t h e insid e wa s

'

drawn down Ke lly t u rned to hi s c omp anion :

.

“
M ac k we ll g o in her e a lon e We re in c iti
,
’
n .
’
~

f olks inside Te ll you r m en t o lay low an d wa tch

.

tha t window If t h e blin d fli es u p it will be t h e

.
:

”
signa l that they a re w ant e d on u rg ent bu sine s s .

M ack nodd e d c ompre hendin g ly .

K e lly a dvan ce d to t h e doo r an d kno cke d

l oudly with hi s cl enche d fist .

Immed i am the re wa s a sca mpe ring within

an d t h e sou nd o f ma ny f ee t h u rryi n g c ou l d b e

hea rd P rese ntly a bolt wa s withdra wn an d a

.

Chi naman poked hi s he a d o ut of t h e ha lf op en e d -

d oor It was t he filmy eyed C el e sti al whom K elly

.
-

ha d s ee n on t he wha rf Th e e xpe c t ed h a d h ap .

p en e d an d th e d e t e ct ive co uld no t re strai n a

Wh at d o you
«
, wan t ? ”
a sked t he Chi na man i n

I d like t o s pe a k to Joe Fow

'
.

”
That s my name
’
.

Very go o d ; I d like a f ew words with you

’
.
2 4s C HIEF KELLY AND

Go a hea d an d sa y them w as t h e s ull e n ,

r e spo n s e still with t h e door p ar tly cl os e d

,
.

“ ”
I can t ta lk out he re
’
.

Then you can t t a lk at a ll ’

.

As h e spok e t h e C hin a man ma d e a s i f to shu t

t h e door but K e lly was too qu i c k f or th at He .

shove d hi s h ea vy sol e d boot in a n d k ept t h e d oor

-

op en on a cra ck Th e ca pt a in of poli c e rising

.
,

to t h e oc ca sion, pu shed his bulky f orm f orwa rd

an d t h e n ext mom ent t h e two m en we re in t h e

room .

It was t h e rear a p a rtmen t of a wa rehou se .

There was a ro ugh t abl e in t h e c en t e r of t h e room

with a chair on e ithe r sid e Pen ink an d p a pe rs
.
,

we re the re with some she ets con t a ini ng figur e s in

C hi n e s e c ha ra ct e rs Aro un d abo ut p i l e d a s hi gh
.
,

a s t h e ce iling we re m any t ea ch es ts A dozen

,
.

b i g ba g s o f c o ff e e an d b ox e s o f so a p c ompl e t ed
t h e f u rnishing s Nothi ng could b e more regula r
. .

But t h e p e rson s pre s en t w ere n ot so rea ss uri ng .

St an ding n ext to t h e film y eye d Chi nam an was -

t h e smutty f ace d fir em an who h a d t alk e d with

-

hi m on t h e wha rf with t h e smu d ge still c ove ring

—

his f orbiddi n g c ount en an ce B eyon d the s e two

.

f ormi n g a y e llow b a ckg round we re f our C hina —

m en with t h e b odi e s of dwa rf s an d t h e f a ce s of

mu rd erers .
 THE OPIU M S M UGGLERS 2 49

“
Get out " sh ut e d
”
o t he bi g f e ll o w p oi nti ng
,
a b on y
f orefin ger t o t he d oor .
25° C HI EF K E LLY AN D

What is th e meaning of this out rageous

”
intru sion ?

Th e s pea k e r was t h e film y e y e d C hina man - .

His tone was ha ug hty an d hi s m ann e r me na cing .

K elly w as a bo u t to reply when h e f elt a pl u cking

a t hi s c o a t sl ee v e It w as t he ca pta in of poli ce
. .

“
It loo ks a s i f yo u d ma d e a mist a k e h e whi s
’ ”
,

“
pe re d . Th e thi ng to do is to g et o u t of i t as

g ra ce f u ll y as possi b l e .

K e lly smil e d .

“
I ll be po lit e
’
h e whi spe red ba ck
, but I ,

ca n t an sw e r f or t h e g ra ce f ul p a rt
’
.

He tu rne d to J oe Fow Th e t a ll me rc ha nt was

.

Mr Fow h e s a id bl andly w e st a rted for th e

.
, ,

post o ffice but somehow lan d e d in th e back o f

-

your store .

“ ”
Well sai d t h e othe r su rli ly t h e soon er you
, ,

g et o u t t h e be tt e r unle ss you w a nt to
—
b e tu rn e d
ove r to t h e poli ce .

“
Pl e as e don t mention t h e poli ce sa id K elly
’

“
with a significa nt smil e I don t like th e sou nd ,
’

o f t h e word .

Ge t o ut " sho u t e d t h e bi g f ellow poin ting a

”
,

b ony f orefing e r to t h e door .

K elly neve r move d Ma ck was begi nni ng to .

f eel ill a t ea se .
 THE OPI U M S M UGGL ERS 2 5 1 .

Fow, sa id t h e de t ecti ve brut ally dropping t h e ,

“
M r .in his a ddre ss th e Governm ent h as mi ss ed
,

some of its m ail bag s C an yo u te ll m e whe re they.

”
ar e ?

Th e b ony f orefinger ; sti ll su spend e d in a i r ,

trembl e d a t rifle Th e . harsh voi ce wa s mod u

l at e d a bi t with t h e re ply

ba g s ?

Oh said Kelly ca rel e ssly

,
you re such a ,
’

c l eve r C hi na ma n I tho ug ht you mi g ht know

, .

“ “
Well I don t h e an sw ere d
,
’

,
Now pl ease .

”
l eave here a n d g o abou t you r bu sine ss .

“
All ri g ht s a i d t h e d et e ctiv e
,
.

He sta rte d to move a cro s s t h e room an d as h e

d i d so contrive d t o g et n ea r a pile of t h e t ea ‘

c he s t s He g ave a f orcibl e pu sh of hi s b ra wny

.

ar m and on e hig h pil e of b oxe s tippl ed ov er on t he

,

floor .

Th e d e t ective qu i ckly pu she d hi s wa y into t he

h ea vy ma i l ba g s
—
on e in ea c h ha nd .

put his bon y fin ge rs abo ut Ke lly s neck W ith ’

.

a grea t eff or t t he d et ectiv e thre w hi m ofi an d

bo un ded t o the othe r side of th e room Mac k at .

,
252 THE OPIU M S M UGGLERS

l a st a live to the situation p ull ed out hi s pi stol

,

but it was a lmo st imm e di a t ely se i z e d by th e g rimy

fa c ed whit e m an .

“
Now , snarl e d t he C hinama n you ve put
,
’

you r pretty head s in th e lion s mo uth an d you ca n

’

”
t a ke th e cons e quences .

Th e word s we re s ca r cely out of hi s mou th be f ore

K elly pluck ed t h e bott om of t he win dow sha d e an d
g ivin g t h e sprin g a j e rk s e nt t h e blind flyin g to t h e

top of t h e window B ef ore t h e e cho of t h e cli ck

.

h a d d i e d a wa y t en s ta lwa rt poli ce o ffi ce rs w ere in

t h e room pistols in ha nd a n d in compl ete c ontrol
of t h e sit u atio n .
J o e Fow t h,
e g rimy f ace d on e-

an d t h e m u rd e ro u s looking C hina m en w e re h and

cuff e d a n d then t h e m a il bag s w e re d ra gg ed out

into t h e cent e r of th e room It took but a f ew .

minut e s to ma ke th e e xamination Th e re sult .

was c on cl u sive . There were a doz en o f t he ma il

ba g s a n d e a ch on e wa s stu ff e d f ull of smuggl ed
opium It s value r an into t h e thou s an ds of doll a rs
. .

Two more d ays s uffi ced to b ring t h e scatt ered

threa ds o f evid en ce tog ethe r A conspiracy was .

e st ablish e d . Th e co n fi s c a tion o f t h e opi um an d

t h e co nvi ction o f Joe Fow an d his a s soc i a te s b roke
up t h e g a m e an d a ft e r th at t h e re m a ini ng smug

g l e rs tr an s f e rre d t h e s c ene o f th eir op e ra tions to

British C olumbi a an d Van couver Island .

 A DA M W O RT H
LITT LE A DA M
“ ”
A LIA S

T H EFT AND REC O VERY

Du c h e ss of De vo n shi re
’
G ai n sbo ro ugh s

[n on m
’
E ARCH I VE S o r E I N E EE r o n s NAT I ONA L DETE C TI V E A G E N CY "
 F O RE W O R D

H IS i s the s t o ry f Ad am W o rth l i as Li ttl e ‘

'
o , a

Ad am
If a fi ctio n wr i te r co uld co nce ive such a s t ory h e ,
‘

mi ght w ell h esitate to write i t f o r f e a r o f be in g :

3

a ccu s e d o f us i ng th e wi ldly impro ba bl e .

T h e s obe r c o ld t e chn i cal j u dg m e n t p as s e d upo n

‘

, ,

Ad am W o r th by the g r e a te s t thi e f hun te r s o fg

'

‘ “
Am e ri ca an d G r e at Brita i n is th at h e wa s th e mos t
r em a rk ab l e mos t success f ul a nd mo s t d ang e ro us
,

p r o f es s i on a l c rimi n a l-
k n ow n to mo d e r n times .

Ad am W orth in a l i f e o f crime cover i ng al mo st ,

‘

hal f a ce ntury; l oote d at l e a st a n d most

‘

p rob a b l y a s m u ch a s

H e cr u i s e d thr oug h th e M e d ite rr anean on a

steam yacht with a cr ew o f tw enty m en and l e f t ,

a tr a i l o f l oo t e d Cit i e s b e hin d him .

H e Wa s c aught o nly o nce a n d th en throu gh a

,
‘

b l un d e r o f a stupi d co n f e d er ate .

H e r ul e d t he s h rew d e s t crimi n als a n d p l a n n e d

d e e ds f o r th em with cr a f t th at ba d e d e fi ance to the
r
t

b est d etective tal ent in t he world .

T h e po l i ce o f Ame ri ca a n d E urop e w e r e e ag e r
’

f or ye ar s to t ak e him a n d f o r ye a rs h e p e rpetrate d
,

{C V ery f o rm o f the f t Check f or g i n g; swi nd l i ng la r

‘

—
,

Zeny s a f e cr ack i ng d i amo n d robbe ry m a i l robbery

c , , , ,
ii FORE W OR D

b urgl a ry o f eve ry d r hold ps o n the ro a d

eg e e , -u

a n d ba nk ro bbe ry with comp l ete immun i ty

—
.

T h e r e w e r e thr e e r e d e emi ng f e atur e s i n t h e l i f e

o f this l ost h um an c r e atu r e .

H e worsh ipp e d his f am ily a n d r eg a r d e d a n d

t r e at e d h i s l ov e d o n e s a s som ethi n g s acr e d H is .

wi f e n eve r kn ew th at h e w a s a crimi n al H i s chil .

d r en a r e l ivi n g i n t h e U n ite d S tate s to d ay i n co m

p l e t e i g n or a n ce o f t h e f a ct th a t th e i r f ath e r w a s

t h e m a st e r-thi e f o f t h e civi l iz e d wor ld .

H e n ev e r w a s gu il t y o f V io l en ce ; un d e r n o ci r
cum s t a n ce s wo uld h e h av e a nythi n g to d o with a ny

o n e who w a s .

H e n eve r f ors ook a f r i e n d o r accomp l i ce .

B ecaus e o f th at l oy al ty he o n ce r es cue d his b and

o f f or g e rs f rom a T u rk i s h priso n a n d th e n f ro m

G r eek bri g an ds r e duci ng hims el f to b eg g ary to

,

d o it .

B ecaus e o f that l oyal ty he b ecam e T he M an

”
Who Sto l e t he G ai nsboro ugh .

T h e r e a so n f o r th at th e f t wi ll be to l d h e r e f o r
t h e first tim e U nti l n ow all who know it w e r e
’

.
,

u nd e r bi n d i n g o bl i g a t i o n s o f si l e n ce T he motive .

th at caus e d t he d e e d w a s unique i n t he history o f

mo d ern crime .

A n d A d am W orth who h a d mi ll i o ns who o n ce

, ,

fl ipp e d coi ns f o r £ 100 a toss who a t o ne tim e h a d,

a n i nt e r e st i n a r a ci n g s t abl e h a d a st e am y acht
,

a n d a f a st s ai l ing y acht d i e d a s he h ad b eg un
,

p e nni l e ss
.
 F O RE W O R D iii

When Ad am W o rth d i e d he w a s as much a mys

t e ry
—
a s i d e f rom ce rt a i n o ffi c i a l s a n d d et e ctiv e i n

s pe ct Or s o f S c otl a n d Y a r d , t h e Pink e rto n s a n d a

f ew Am e ri can po l i ce o ffi ci a l s even to th e g r e at
—

m a j ority o f t he po l i ce o ffici al s o f the world a s he ,

h a d b een thro ugho ut hi s l i f e . If h e h a d n o t be

c om e prom i n e n t r ece ntl y a s t h e m a n who sto l e a n d

r e t urne d t he G ai n sboro ugh p ortr ait the p ub l ic

,

prob ably n eve r would h ave h e a r d o f him T he .

story th at f o ll ow s i s an abso lutely true o ne v er i ,

fie d i n eve ry p a rti cul a r a n d vo uch e d f o r by the men

w ho sp e nt almo s t h al f a centu ry in t ryi ng to hunt
h i m d own .

N othi ng i n thi s hi sto ry i s l e f t to co nj e ctur e Be .

f or e W orth d i e d W i ll i am a n d R ob ert Pink e rton

,

sought hi m out an d induce d him to g o ove r t he sto ry

o f his c a r e e r as th ey h a d
g a th e r e d it f ro m ti m e to

time an d h e to ld th em f r eely o f all th at he had

,

d one .
 THE RE C O R D O F A C RI M I NAL

N AT ION AL
’

[ FROM T HE ARC H IVE S or PIN K ERT ON S

DET E CT IVE AG E N C Y "

DA M W O RT H al i a s H a rry R aym o nd was
, ,

born in th e ye a r 1 844 i n t he vi ll ag e o f C am
bri d g e n e a r B o sto n o f J ewish p a r e nts wh o h a d
, , ,

e mi g r at e d f r om G er m a ny som e y ea r s be f or e He .

“ ”
w as f a irly w ell e ducate d . L ittl e Ad am in hi s ,

e a r ly s choo l d ays ,wa s a pr e co cio u s Ch i ld f ull o f ,

m i s chi e f ; an d a t th a t time w as a ddi cte d to m ak ing

tr a d e s i n p l aything s a n d v a rious othe r a rti cl es w i th
h i s schoo l f e ll ow s much t o th e ir d is a dva nt ag e .

H e en te r e d s choo l wh en 6 ye a r s o f a g e a n d w as ,

ver y soon a f te r a s h e him s el f sta te d d r aw n into a

, , .

tr a d e with a boy l a r g e r th a n hims el f wh o o ff e r ed t o

,

g iv e him a b r a n d n e w p e nn y f o r tw o o ld o n e s T h e .

n ew copp e r p e nny a pp e a r e d s o v e ry p l a i n a n d br i gh t

th at it l oo k e d to Ad am l ik e g old ; he th e r e f or e
g l a dl y g a v e t w o o ld p e n n i e s f o r it , a n d wh e n h e

a rriv e d hom e , show e d it to his f ath e r exp l a in i ng ,

h ow he b e st e d a boy i n g ivi n g him tw o o ld p enn i e s

f o r a n ew o n e ; his f a th e r p unish e d h i m f o r this i m ,

pr essi n g o n hi m the v alue o f t he n ew p enny a s

a g a i n st his tw o o ld o n e s . From th at d ay unti l h i s
d e ath n o o n e be he f ri en d o r f oe honest o r d i s
, , ,
2 ADA M W O RTH
ho n est n eg r o o r I n d i a n r el ative o r str anger ever
, , ,

o t t h e be tt e r o f A d a m W orth i n a ny b u si n e ss t r a n s
g
a ctio n s r e g ul a r o r irr e gul a r
, .

D ur ing hi s ea r fy bo yhoo d he was empl oye d a s a

cl e r k i n o n e o f t h e l e a d i n g stor e s i n N ew York C i ty ,

a nd , h a d he co nti nu ed a n upri g ht l i f e he und oub t ,

e dly wo u ld h av e bec om e f a mo us a s a b us i n e ss m an .

H e w a s sm all o f sta tu r e d app e r i n app e a r an ce

, ,

n e a tl y dr e ss e d a n d a ctiv e .D uri ng th e pro g r ess of

th e w a r h e be cam e a ssoci a te d wi th som e wi l d co m
,

p a n i o n s ; whom h e h a d m e t a t d an ce s a n d f ro l i c s ,

and throu g h th em enli st e d i n o n e o f th e N ew Yor k

r eg im en ts f o r a bo unty o f
'

T his so f a r ,

as t h e P ink e rto n s a r e a dvis e d w a s hi s fi r st misst ep

, .

H e shor tly a f t erw a r ds d e s e rte d r e-enlist ed an d w as

, ,

st a tio n e d f o r a tim e o n R ik e rs I sl a n d N Y and , . .

, .

f rom t he r e w as co nveye d by ste amship to t he J am es

Riv e r i n Virg i n i a wh e r e h e w a s a ssi g n e d to o n e o f
,

t h e N ew York r e g im e n ts i n t h e Army o f t h e P oto

m ac . A ft e r p a rti cip ati n g i n t h e B attl e o f t he
Wild e rn e ss a n d o n e o r tw o mi n or battl es h e a g ai n
, ,

l ef t t h e A rmy abo ut the cl os e o f th e w a r a n d r e ,

tu rn e d to N ew York T h e r e o n a cco unt o f h i s

.
,

ac qua i nt a n ce wi th bo un ty j ump e rs h e fi n ally bec am e,

a sso ci a t e d with pro f e ssio n a l thi ev e s a n d c roo k e d

p e op l e g en e r ally a n d f rom th at tim e o n his ca r e e r

,

was o n e o f wro n g d oi n g- . A s i n eve rythi n g el s e th a t

h e un d e rtook h e v e ry r api dly w en t to t h e f ro n t
,

amo ng t h e c roo k s s t a rti n g first a s a pi ckpo ck e t a n d

, ,

l a t er o n as so ci a ti ng with a n exp e rt g ang o f ba nk

 ADA M WO RT H 3

k
s ne a s , a c quirin g c on si de ra bl e mo n ey wh ich ho w , ,

eve r h e i nv a ri abl y l o st i n g a m i n g
,
.On a cco unt o f
h i s abi l ity as a thi e f a n d a l ways ha vi n g mo n ey he
, ,

becam e a ss ocia t e d with a d e sp e r ate g a ng o f bank

bu rgl a r s fi r st st a rti ng i n as a capital ist f u r n ishing
, ,

mon ey to pay th e expe n se s o f t he wor k a nd l ate r ,

o n be co min g a n active p a rti cip a n t a n d s ti ll l a t er

,

f ur n i s h ed no t o nl y t he m o ne y bu t t he br a i n s a nd
l wi t h w h i c h to d o t h e w or k In thos e d ays
p a ns .

s a f e bu rg l a ry w a s co mpa r ativ ely e as y t o w h a t it is

n ow . T he s tro ng st e e l va ul ts bu i l t i n l ate r d ays ,

a nd t h e p rote ctive bu rg l ar a l a rm w e r e n o t th e n i n

exi s t en ce a n d t he g ettin g o f m one y by thi s cl a ss

,

o f pe o pl e w a s muc h e a si e r thir ty ye a rs a g o th an it

i s to d ay I t w a s a s tud y then b et we en t he s a f e
.

bu i ld e r an d i nven tor a n d t h e bu rg l ar who d e st royed

,

th eir work a s to w hi ch o f th e two w a s the mor e ex

,

p e rt
. A s w a s s a i d by a w e ll“

-kn o w n a sso c i a t e o f
Wo rth s t h e d i ffe r en ce be tw e en the e nt er pri si ng i a
’
,

ven te r a nd e nte rprisi ng b ur g l a r o f th e pre sen t tim e ,

i s tha t t he in ve nt or w a s s eve r al ye ar s ahe a d o f t he

bur gl ar whe r e a s tw e nty-five ye a rs ago the y r an n e ck
,

a nd n e ck i n th e r a ce f o r cleve r n es s .

In t he ye a r 1 86 6 Wo rth br ok e into th e o ffi ce o f
t he At la n ti c T r a n s po rt ati on C o mpa ny i n L iber ty
St r e et N ew Y o rk an d f or ce d o p en the lar g e d o ubl e
, ,

do o r s a f e conta i n ing i n g o ld Th e money

.

wa s ho we ver l ock e d i n an i n ner box i n s i de o f the

, ,

s a fe, a nd h e f a i le d i n br ea kin
g op e n th e b o x b e f o r e ,

th e a ppear anc e o f d ayl i gh t .

4 ADA M W O RT H
In t he s am e ye a r he a n d his comp an i ons robb ed
t h e s a f e o f a n i n s u r a n ce comp a ny i n C am bri dg e ,

M a s s achus etts o f t he sum o f ,

A f t e r p a rti cip ati ng in s eve r al rob be ri e s through

t h e E a st a n d i n f a ct a ll ove r t he co unt ry W orth
, ,

b ecam e a sso ci ate d with a g an g o f b ank b urgl a rs ,

Bi g Ike M a rsh Bob C ochr a n ( n ow

“ ”
c o n s isti n g o f ,
“ ”
d e a d ) a n d C ha rl e s B ull a r d a l i as P i ano C ha r l ey
, ,

( n o w d e a d ) I n
. l oo k in g ov e r t h e c o u n try f o r wor k ,

t h ey visite d Bosto n M a ss , a n d th e r e W orth d i s

.
,

c ov e r e d tha t th e r e w a s a b a rb e r shop a dj oi n i n g t he

Boyl sto n B a nk o n W a shi n g t o n S tr eet H e r e nt e d .

t his shop st ating th a t h e w as the a g ent f o r a n ew

,

p a t en t b itt e rs a n d, st a rt e d to fi ll t h e f ro n t o f t h e

s hop a n d wi n d ows w i th h i s w a r e s a n d a t t h e s a m e

t i m e bui l t a p a rtitio n a cros s t h e r e a r o f t he shop .

T he bottl e s s e rv e d a d o ubl e p urpo s e th at o f s how ,

i n g his busi n e ss a nd pr eve nti ng t he p ub l i c f rom l oo k

,

i n g i nto t he p l ace T he w all o f this shop w a s n ext

.

t o th e w all o f t he B oyl sto n Ba nk A ca r e f ul meas .

u r e m e n t o f t h e b a nk a n d o f t he shop a dj o i n i n g

s how e d t h e bu r gl a rs j ust wh e r e to comm e n ce th ei r

w ork . Th ey work e d duri ng t he ni ght f o r ne a rly

o n e w ee k pi l i n g t h e d ebr i s i n t h e r e a r o f t h e shop
,

a n d ke epi n g t he f ro n t o f it cl e a n Wh e n th ey w e r e
.

pr e p a r e d to ente r the v aul t whi ch th ey d i d they , ,

f o u n d th e r ei n thr e e s a f e s whi ch th ey tor e to pi e ce s

,

a n d r emov e d t h e co n t e n ts amo u n ti n g to n e a rly o n e

,

mil l io n d o ll a r s i n mo n ey a nd s ecuriti es W ith thi s .

t h ey fle d to N ew Y ork wh e r e th ey w e r e f o ll ow ed
,
 ADA M W ORT H s
by Boston d etectiv es and b ein g a dvis e d throug h ,

i ntim ate f ri en d s o f the pr e s en ce o f th e d ete cti ve s

who w e r e l ooki ng f o r th em th ey fle d to Phi la d el ,

phi a f rom whi ch city Bull a r d an d W orth s a i l e d

,

f o r L ive rpoo l wh i l e M a rsh w e nt to Ba l timor e a n d

,

bo a r d e d a ste am e r f o r " ue e n stow n Be f or e g oi ng .

th ey d ivi d e d the boo ty C o chr an took hi s sh a r e .

,

w ent to C a n a d a a nd bo ught a fin e f a rm som ewh e r e

,

i n th e vi ci nity o f C ob ur g p utti n g o n it bl oo d e d ,

sto ck an d abo ut a ye ar l ate r he d i e d sudd e nly o f

,

he a rt d is e a s e l e avi n g h i s f ami ly w ell prov i d e d f o r

, .

M a rsh was a native o f T ipp e r a ry I r el an d a n d w en t , ,

to hi s n ative town a ccomp an i e d by hi s wi f e wh e r e

, ,

h e p ass e d a s a n I rish Am e ri ca n wh o h a d m a d e hi s
-

f ortun e a n d squ an d e r e d h i s mo n ey l avis hly

, He .

g a m b l e d d r a nk a
, n d d i d e v e ryth
, i n g h e sho u ld n o t
h ave d o n e a n d ev en tu ally r e tur n e d to Am e ri ca f o r
,

mor e f un ds In 1887 i n comp any with anoth e r

.
,

g a n g h e,a tt empt e d to r o b t h e F irs t N a t i o n a l B an k

o f W ell s boro Pa Th ey we r e p ursu e d a nd cap
, .

tur e d a n d M arsh w a s s ente n ce d to 20 ye a r s i n s o l i

,

t a ry co n fi n em en t i n t he E a ste rn P e nitenti a ry at
Phi l a d el phi a H e finishe d hi s tim e l ess wh at h e
.
,

w a s all ow e d f o r g oo d beh avi or a n d s o f a r a s th e

‘

( , ,

P ink erto n A ge ncy is a dvis e d is still l ivi ng a n o ld ,

—

m an bro ke n d own i n h eal th d ep en d ent o n th e ch ar ,

i ty o f f ri en d s .

Bull a r d a nd W orth w ent to L ive rpoo l B ull a r d ,

r egiste ri n g a t the W a shi n gto n H otel un d e r t he n am e

o f C h a s W ell s a n d W orth f o r t he first tim e a s
.
, , ,
 ADA M WO RT H
'

s un ting th e n am e of H a rry R aym on d a ft e r the ,

n o t e d e di tor o f t h e N ew Yor k T ime s B ull a r d was .

i nc l in e d to l ive f a s t a nd d issip ate a n d be ca me g r e atly

,

i n f a tuate d with a ba rm a i d i n the W a shi n gt o n H ot el ,

w h o wa s kn o wn a s K it t i e W e ll s Ba ll a r d a f ter
.

w a rds m arri e d h er un d er th e n ame of W ells a n d ,

sh e be cam e qu it e f a mo us i n E ur op e a n d Am eri ca as

a be a ut y .

W ort h wa s n ot i dl e i n L ive rpoo l H e l oo k ed .

a ro un d f o r som ethi n g i n h i s l i n e a nd f o un d a l a rg e
,

a wns ho p in th a t ci ty wh i ch h e c onsi d e r e d wo rth

p
r obbi ng In E urope a t th at time th ey d i d n o t
.
, ,

p u t t h e s a f e g u a r d s ov e r th e i r prop er t y th a t th e y
d i d i n A m e ri c a a n d h e s a w th at i f h e coald g et
,
;

p l as t er i m pr e s si o ns o f t h e k ey to t h e p l ace h e c o uld
mak e a big h au l . A f ter w orki ng caut io us ly f o r s ev
e r a l da ys h e m a n a g e d to g e t t h e p a w n bro ke r 0 5 h i s

g u a r d l o n g e n o u g h t o e n a bl e h im t o g e t po s s es s io n

o f t h e key a n d m a ke a wax i mpr es s ion ; t he r esu l t

.

wa s tha t two or thr e e w eek s l a te r t h e p aw nbr o k er

”

ca m e t o his p l ace o ne morn i n g a n d f o n nd a ll of h i s

"

va l ua bl e pi e ce s o f j e w e l ry abstr a ct e d f ro m t h e s a f e ,

t h e stor e a nd va ul t s l ock e d but t he v a l ua bl es g o ne

,
.

T h e p rope r ty s t ole n w a s v a l ue d a t abo ut

W o r th th e n w e n t t o L o n d o n, a n d B a lla r d h i s p a rt,

ner , w en t to P a ri s ; Ba ll a rd u nd e r the na me o f
,

C h a rl e s W e ll s op e n e d t he first Am e ri ca n ba r th er e
,

w a s i n P a r is a t 2 Ru e Scr i ebe T hi s r e s ort w a s

'

, .

fi tt e d up i n p al a ti al spl en d or some thi ng l i k e ,

w o rth o f o il p ai nti ng s a d orn in g i ts wa lls .

 ADA M WO R TH 7 ,

T he bar was fi tt d
-
with
e fi nup
e g las s-w a r e ,
lo o k i ng

g la s se s , a nd e v e ryt h in g wh i ch a n Am e r i c a n b a r h a d
in t h os e d ays T he P a risi a n s we r e a sto n ishe d by
.

i ts m ag n ifi cence T he pl ace s o o n beca me a f amo us

.

re so rt a n d w a s exte n sively pa tro n i z e d n o t o n ly by

Am e ri cans but by E ngl i shm en ; i n f a ct by vis i t o rs
, ,

f ro m a ll ove r E urop e T he y ma d e a s pe ci al ty o f
.
.

m aki n g a n d s e r vi ng Ame rica n d rin ks whi ch a t th a t , ,

ti me w e re unkn o wn in E u rop e
, T he second fl oor
.

o f t h e ho us e w a s fi tt e d up a s a c l ub ro om wher e ,

fi l e s o f Amer ic an pa pe rs we r e ke p t a nd w hi ch a ll ,

Am er i ca ns wer e e o rd ia i ly i n vi te d to use a s a ca n
g gr e a ti n g p l a ce a n d m an y r e c e ive d t h e i r m a il a t

t i ns n o te d ho use zLa t e r e n
. M ar t i al i a s We lls
, , ,~

w h o wa s an in vet er a t e g am es t er opene d a gam

-
,

bl i ng h o use o n t he Am e ri ca n st yle t he club ro om ,

be in g l o ca ted o n t h e se con d flo or o f t he bui ld in g ,

im p o rt i n g f r om A m e r i ca ro u le t t e c ro u p i e r s a n d e x

p er ts a t bacca r at Mrs We lls w as a beau ti fu l

. .

wo man a bri l li an t c o nve rs ationa l is t w h o d r e ss e d

, ,

i n t he he i g ht o f f a shio n ; h er c om pany w a s s o u ght

.

by a l m o st a ll t h e pa tr on s of th e h o us e T he f ac t .

t h a t g a mbl i ng wa s car ri e d on soon r e ach e d t he e a rs

o f t he p o l i ce . T h ey had m a de two or thr ee r ai d s
o n t h e ho u s e , hart ne ve r suc ce e d e d i n fin d i ng a n y
thi n g up st airs e xce pt a l ot o f m en sitt i ng a ro un d
,

r ea di ng p ape rs a n d no g ambl i ng i n si gh t A bo ut
, .

t h a t time , i n t h e wi n te r o f 18 7 3 or 1 87 4 M r , .

Willia m A Pi rflcer t o n a rr ive d in Eng l a n d i n p urs u it

.

o f th e me n wh o ha d ro bbe d t h e Thi r d N at i on al
'
8 ADA M WO RTH
Bank f Bal timor e ,
o M d T his g an g ha d b een l o
.

c a t e d i n a s e aport o f L o n d o n a n d whi l e w aiti n g f o r

,

e xtra d itio n p ap e rs to a rriv e i t bei n g impossib l e

,
—

t o a rr e st th e m witho ut p a p e rs e sp eci ally i n E n g ,

la n d wh e r e a t th at tim e bu r gl a ry w a s n o t cove r e d
, , ,

i n th e tr e aty th ey su dd en ly becam e al a rm e d a n d
,
—
,

fle d t h e co untry possi bly o n a cco u n t o f M r P i nk e r

, .

t o n h avi n g m e t tw o o f t h e g a n g i n L omba r d S tr eet ,

L o n d o n by a cci d ent M r Pink e rton h a d g o n e to

, . .

P a ri s to en d e avor to g et tr a ce o f th em a nd sus
“

, ,

p e c t i n g th e y wo u ld visit W e ll s b ar k ’
e pt a c l,os e

w atch th e r e T h en f o r the first tim e t he P a r i s

.

p o l i c e l e a r n e d w h o W e ll s w a s T h ey s.a i d t h ey
knew th e r e wa s g amb l i ng g oing o n in t he hous e ,

a n d h a d m a d e s eve r al i n e ff e ctu a l r a i ds to catch th e m

a t it bu t o n r e a ch i n g t he s e co n d story f o u n d o n ly
,

a n umbe r o f m en s itting a ro un d r e a d i n g p a p e r s ,

with n o g ambl i ng imp l em en ts i n sig ht M r P ink e r. .

t o n exp l a i n e d t o t h e po l i ce th at wh en th ey a p ,

p r o a ch e d t h e p l a ce to r a i d it t h e b a rt
, e n d e r or ,
“
l ook-out o n t h e first fl oor to uch e d a n el ectric but
t o n co nn ecti n g with a b u z z e r i n t h e g ambl i n g rooms ,

a n d g a v e t he a l a rm T h e s usp i cio n o f t h e F r e nch

.

p ol i ce h a d b een attr act e d to t he ho use f ro m a r ob

be ry whi ch too k p l a ce i n th e b a rroom T h e p l a ce .

wa s fi n ally r a i d e d by t he po l i ce a n d W ell s a n d oth e rs

w e r e a rr e ste d ch a rg e d with m ai ntai n i ng a g ambl i ng
h o us e but w e r e a d mitte d to b a i l
, In Fr a n ce bu r
.
,

g l a ry w a s a t th a t tim e c ov e r e d b y e xtr a d itio n tr ea ty ,

an d W e ll s be i ng h eld on a ch a r g e o f g amb l i n g i n
,
 ADA M W ORT H 9

he avy bo n d s fle d to E ngl a n d l e av i ng t he hous e i n

, ,

custo dy o f Raym o n d On e d ay shortly a f te r W ells

.
,

l e f t a di amo n d d e al e r who h a d f r equente d the p l a ce

, ,

showi n g his w a r e s c all e d i n with a ba g o f j ew el s

, ,

whi ch h e ca r el ess ly p l ace d o n the fl oor a t hi s f eet .

H e r eque ste d R aymo n d to c a s h a ch e ck f o r him a n d ,

whil e th e d i amo n d d e al e r wa s be in g a ccommo d ate d ,

R aymo n d a ttr a ct e d his attentio n I n sta ntly t he ba g .

c o nt a i n i ng t he j e w e l s w a s p i ck e d up a n d a dup l i cate ,

o f i t s ubstitute d a n d t he thi e f who w as J o e E ll iott

, , ,

a note d Ame ri can crook th e n i n P a ri s s u ccee d e d i n

, ,

e s cap i n g with t h e ba g wh i ch co nta i n e d

,

wor th o f di amo n d s The robb e ry sta rtl e d all P a ri s

.
,

a n d w a s t h e m e a n s o f a ttr acti n g s usp i ci o n to t he

h ous e a n d a f te r th e g amb l i n g r a i d too k p l a ce the

, ,

h o us e l ost pr e sti g e soo n w ent to p i ece s a n d w a s

, ,

a f te rw a r d s p u r ch a s e d by a n E n gl is h boo km ak e r ,

wh o co nti nue d the bar f o r s eve r a l y e a rs It w a s .

ev en tu ally cl os e d .

B ull a r d move d hi s wi f e t o L o n d o n she in the ,

m e a ntime h avi ng borne hi m tw o b e auti f ul g irl s .

L ate r o n he ven tur e d to the U n ite d State s wh e r e ,

h e w a s a rr e st e d i n N ew Y ork C i ty t ak en to Bosto n , ,

a n d s e n t e n ce d to 20 y e a rs impri s o nm e n t f o r t h e

B oyl sto n B ank robbe ry H e r em ai n e d i n prison

.

s eve r al ye a rs but fi n ally e scap e d M e anwhi l e

, .
,

h i s wi f e h a d o bt a i n e d a d ivor ce f ro m h i m a n d m a r ,

r i e d a ve ry w ea l thy p l a nte r a n d by h i m h a d o n e
,

chi ld . B ull a r d d ri f te d i n to C a n a d a a n d w a s l ate r ,

a rr es te d a n d co nvi cte d o f st e al i n g ch a i n s f ro m a
10 A DA M W O RTH
j ew e l e r s
’
shop wi nd ow in T oro nto H e wa s s en .

t e n ce d to 7 y e a rs i n t he King sto n P e ni te nti a ry a n d ,

d i e d i n pov e rty sh or tly a f te r his r el e ase .

M e anw hi l e W orth un de r t he na me o f R aym ond

, ,

ha d move d t o L on d o n an d tak en luxurio us ap a rt

,

m en ts a t N o 1 9 8 P i cca di lly whe r e he r ece ive d i n

.
,

l avish style T hi s house becam e the m eeting p l a ce

.

o f l e a di ng thi ev e s o f A me r i ca a n d E u rop e His .

ho me bec ame t he r en de zvo us f o r n o te d c roo k s a ll

ove r t he world esp e ci ally Am e r i ca n s a n d he be ca me
, ,
“
r e ce i ve
”
a cle a r in g ho u se or , r f o r mos t o f the bi g
.

r obbe ries p e rpe tr ated i n Eu rope In t he latte r .

7 0 s an d all d ur ing t he 80 s o ne big r o bbe ry f o l

’ ’
, ,
“ ”
lo w ed a no the r ; the fine I tal i an h an d o i A dam
W or t h co uld be tr ace d but n ot prove n to almo s t
, ,

e ve ry o n e o f the m pa rti cul a r ly whe r e it r ela ted t o

,

ro bbe r ie s whi ch re quir e d e xpe rt key fit tin g o r the «

,

va ri o us h e avy s ne a k robb e ri e s whi ch a t tha t ti m e

, , ,

w e r e c ompa r ative ly unknown i n E ur op e T h e re .

we r e n o expr e ss c omp a ni es i n E u rop e a n d n ea r ly ,

e ve rythi n g wa s s h ippe d by r e g i s te r e d m a i l On .

n um e ro us o cc a sio n s ma i l ca rs w e r e fo un d to ha v e

bee n e ithe r fitte d with f al s e ke ys a n d the co nte n ts ,

o f t h e r eg i s te red bag s stole n or el s e th e l o cks ha d

,

b een tw is te d oil an d n ew o n es subst i tuted T he .

g u a r d s o n t h e tr a
,
i n s w e r e su ppo s e d to be v e ry ca r e

f ul o f the se ca rs but th eir vi gi l a nce w as o f no av a i l ;

,

o ne ro bbe ry f o ll ow e d an oth e r i n qui ck s ucce s sio n .

S te am e rs g oi ng betw e en C al a i s a nd D ov er a n d Fo lk
s tone a nd Boul og ne h a d th e i r s tro ng box e s ro bbe d
 A DA M WO RTH 11

in tr an sit a n d i n s eve r al i nstan ce s f rom two mill i on

,

t o five mil l io n f r an cs w e r e abs tr act e d f rom t h e m a i l s

'

i n this w ay .

In 1 87 3 W orth m a d e a trip w i th a p a rty to S o uth

A me ri ca an d th e W es t I n d i es In t he town o f .

K i ng sto n J am a i ca th ey dis cove r e d th at about

, ,

w a s k ep t i n a s a f e i n o n e o f t he sto re h o use s
n e a r t he d o ck s T h ey e nte r e d a t n i ght by t he r e a r
.

a n d w or k e d a t t he s a f e but t he n oi s e m a d e a t
,

t r a ct e d t h e a tt en ti o n o f some one a nd th e cr y o f
t hi e f w a s i mm e d i a tely r a i s e d so th at th ey h a d t o
d eca mp . T he f o llow i ng morn i n g a n e gr o emp l oye d
i n t he w a r ehouse was se ve r el y be ate n H e wa s
.

s usp e ct e d o f havi ng committ e d the crim e be ca u se ,

t h e r e w e r e k ept i n t h e w a r ehou s e two l a r g e bl o o d

h ou n d s whic h w er e s up pos e d to i nt e r f e r e with st ra n
g e rs w h o mi g ht ve n tu r e wi t hin t h e ir r e a ch d uri ng
t he n i ght . Fo r th at r ea so n th e o wn e r s tho ught th at
t h e bu rg l a r mu st be S om e o n e con nec e d wi th t he t

p la ce W hom t h e d o g s k n ew T h e. f a ct w a s t ha t
Worth an d his a s s oci ate di d n ot know o f the p r es
e n ce o f t he d o g s a n d w e r e ve ry mu ch f ri g h t en e d
,

to s e e d o g s comi ng tow a r d s the m f rom the very

s i d e o f th e bu ild i ng wh e r e t he wi nd ows thro ug h
whi ch th ey e n t e r e d w e r e l o cate d Fortun a te ly th e
.

bl oo d ho un d s w e r e qui t e f r i en dly a n d d i d n o t ev en
ba rk a t the thi ev e s wh o a f t e r be in g r e a ss u re d by
, ,

t h e i r p a ci fi c d em e a n or w ent h a r d to wor k a t the

,

In 1 87 5 a g g
a n o f Am e ri ca n t hi eves ,
c ons i sti ng
 12 AD AM WO RT H
of C a r l Se s co vi t ch , l i a s H ow a r d Ad ams Joe Ch ap
a ,
“ ” “
m an a l i a s L ittl e j o e
, J o e E
, ll iott a l i a s L itt
,
l e
” “ ”
J o e, a n d C h a r l e s B e c k e r a l i a s T
, h e D u t chm an ,

w e r e a rr e ste d i n Smyrn a T urk ey f o r p a ssi n g f org e d

, ,

cir cul a r l ett e rs o f cr e d it p u rporti n g to be iss u e d b

, y
C o utts B an k L o n d o n, P r evio us to this th ey h a d
.
,

b e e n committi ng f org e ri es all ove r E u rop e a n d ,

W or th w a s k n own to be th eir b a nk e r T h ey w e r e .

tri e d co nvi cte d a n d s ente n ce d i n Smyrn a to s even

, ,

ye a rs impriso nm ent a t C o n st anti n op l e Abo ut a

"

ye a r a f te r th eir co n fi n em ent W orth who w a s n eve r , ,

i dl e h a d c o nce ive d a p l a n to e ff ect th eir l ibe r ty a n d

, ,

w e nt o n to C o n st a nti n op l e a n d a rr a n g e d all t he d e
“ ”
tai l s by whi ch a ll but C h apm an a l i a s Littl e J o e
, , ,

w e r e e n abl e d to e s cap e f rom t h e T u rk ish prison .

T h ey m a d e th e ir w ay tow a r d s E ngl an d but whi l e ,

p assi n g thro ugh A si a Mi n or th ey w e r e c ap tu r e d by

G r e ek ba n d its who i n spite o f t he f a ct th at the i r
, ,

c aptive s w e r e f ug i tiv e s f rom priso n h e ld th e m f o r ,

“
r an som T h ey p a ro l e d Jo e E ll iott a l i a s Littl e
.
,
”
m d his to o d o c ommu n i
J o e, a n d h e a e w a y L n n ,

ca t e d with W orth a n d t he l att e r r a is e d tw o tho u

,
“ ”
s a n d poun d s ste rl i ng whi ch mo n ey Littl e Jo e
,

too k ba ck a n d d el ive r e d to the ba n dits a n d e fiect e d ,

~
t h e l i be r atio n o f his c omr a d e s C h apm a n how eve r
.
, ,

d i d n o t succee d i n g etti ng o ut o f priso n i n C o nstan

t i n o ple a n d s e rv e d his f ull s en te n ce
,
T he oth e r s .

w e nt to L o n d o n a n d Se s co vi tch a n d his wi f e m a d e
,

th eir h e a dqua rt e rs a t t h e ho us e o f M rs Jo e C hap .

m an who w as known a s Mr s Br own on Bro mpton

, .
,
 ADA M W O RTH 13

R o ad L ond o n I t too k co nsi d e r ab l e t ime b e f or e

,
.

they co uld g e t to m aki ng mo n ey a g a i n At l a s t .

Be ck e r pr ep a r e d som e f or g e d p ap e r o n wh i ch
was r e al i z e d ; this f or g e ry wa s sp e e d ily f o l
l ow e d by an oth e r an d a n other a n d sti ll a f o urth ,

on e . On a cco unt o f k n owi n g th e u su a l m a nn e r by

whi ch E n gl ish bank n ot es w e r e tr ace d to pr event ,

d etectio n a n d eva d e a rr e st a f te r obtai n i ng mo n ey

, ,

o n t he f or g e d p a p e r t h e thi ev e s wo uld a t o n ce fle e
,

t o t he C o nti n e n t a n d g e t t he mo n ey ch ang e d a t
brok ers o ffi ces b anks o r exch ang e o fli ce s f or n ote s
’
,

o f oth e r numbe rs be f or e t h e n umbe r s o f t h e sto l e n

note s w e r e pub l is he d In 7 6 th ey p a ss e d o n e o f
.
’

t h e s e ch e ck s t h e mo n ey w as s e nt t o t he C o nti n en t
, ,

a s u s ua l a n d whi l e o n e o f t h e g a ng w a s exch a n g i n g
,

h e mo n ey in a n exch a n g e o fl i ce un d e r n e ath t he
t
G r an d H otel o n G r an d Boul eva r d P a ri s he wa s
, , ,

a rr e s t e d a n d whi l e h e wa s n o t i d e n tifi e d as t he m a n
,

wh o p a ss e d the f or g e d ch e ck o r a s h avi n g ha d a ny ,

th i ng to d o with i t ye t he wa s h eld o n the cha rg e

,

o f f or g e ry ; extr a d it i o n p ap e r s w e r e a pp l i e d f o r ,

a n d n otwiths t a n d i n g a stro n g l e g a l fi g ht i n Fr a n ce
, ,

h e w as extr a d ite d to L o n d o n ch a rg e d with be i ng ,

t he pri ncip a l i n t he f or g e ry T he m an a rr e ste d .

was a f ri en d a n d a g r e at f avor ite o f W orth who s e ,

i nventive br ai n a t o nce s e t t o work to r el e a s e him .

W orth d ecl a r e d he wo uld g et h i s f r i e n d out be f or e

a tri a l c o uld be r e a ch e d T his w a s n o t a n e a sy
.

m atter becaus e the la w i n E ngl a n d i s n o t l ik e th a t

,

i n Am e ri ca wh er e al mo st anyone can f urni sh a

, ,
14 ADA M WO RT H
bo n d T h e bo n d sm an i n E ng l a n d must be a f r e e
.

h o ld e r a n d o f g oo d r e p ut a tion
, Whi l e p l a n s f or
.

thi s m a n s r e l e a s e w e r e be i ng dis cu s sed an d f or m u

’

l ate d W orth a n d a c ompa n ion a n otorio us Eng

,
—

lish thi e f n am e d J a ck P h i llips bette r kn own by t he ,

“ ”
n am e of J uuk a while w alk ing a l o ng Bo n d
—

S t r ee t o bse rv e d a g re at m a ny ca rri a ge s s t o pp ing a t

,

th e ar t g a ll e ry o f Ag n ew 81 C o o n tha t tho r o u g h
.
,

f a r e an d l a rg e c ro w ds o f pe op le ente ri ng th e pla ce
, .

T h e ir cu riosi ty w a s a ro us e d a n d on e n t er i ng t he
,
‘

g a ll e ry t h ey f o u n d th a t th e n ot e d G a i n s bor o ug h
p ortr a it wh i ch w a s o n e xhibitio n wa s t he ca use
, ,

o f a ttr a ct i ng s o m a ny p eo p l e th e r e This w as at .
,

tha t time t he hi g he st pric ed pict ur e ever pa in te d

,

by a n E n g l i sh a rtist an d whic h ha d a f e w d ays be

,

fo r e be e n p u rch ase d a t a p ub li c sal e o f C h ri st i e s

’
,

by th e A gne ws f o r ,
T h e th i eves ca r e f ull y:
sc a n n e d t he p a i n ti n g w i th t h e o th e r vis i t ors Le av .

"
in g t he g all e ry W orth i mm ed i a te ly t o ld J a nk a
,

th a t he h a d d is cove re d a way o f r el e a si ng the i r

f ri e n d .P hill i ps w an t e d to kn ow h ow it co uld be ”

d on e W orth t old him th at h e wo uld s t ea l the

.

G a i ns borou gh p a i nti ng cutti ng i t o ut of t he f r a me

-
,
'

a nd by d o ing s o w o uld h av e m e an s a t th ei r d is p o sal

to g e t thei r f ri end o u t o f pr iso n T he En glis hm an.

obj ect e d to the pr oposi ti on sa yi ng i f they st ole t he

,
“ ”
pi ctu r e i t wo uld be a whi t e el ep h ant on th eir
,

h a n d s th at th ey co uld n o t d is pos e o f it a t a ny p ri ce
, ,

a s th e f a me o f t he pi ctu r e w a s world wi d e Wo rth - .

r evea l ed th e p l a n he h a d by whi ch the p os es sio n of

 ADA M WO RTH 15;
0

“ ”
g o ba i l f o r
thi e f th en i n custo dy
t he Littl e J oe

E ll iott who w a s c o n n e ct e d wit h the

, f o r g e ry , w a s

as outl i n e d , wa s as f oll ows : T he th ef t

s e a so n is v e ry f r eque nt i n L o n d o n
, .

“
8 d e l e g a t e d to be h l ooko t a n d ob
t e u ,

movem ent s o f th e n i g ht w atchma n a n d ,

o n t h e be a t Ja ck Phill ips who w a s a

.
,

Phillips should e rs
’
, an d r aise d on hi s -
a rms

r ais e t he w i n d ow , g e t i n si d e , an d

a st ep l a d d e r ; cut
.
- the pi ctur e f rom

r e f ully behi n d
him a n d , al l
t he qui etes t m a nn e r pos sible to

be s a f ely hi dd en . I t wa s a g r ee d
rt h wa s to be t he cu s t od i a n o f t h e pi ctu r e
'

Wo rth s atisfi e d h im th at it could be d on e , an d it

16 ADA M WO RT H
w as r d to m ak e a tri al a t a ny r ate On a
a g ee , .

f o g gy n i g h t a n i ght o r two l at e r a f te r r eco nn oite r

,

i n g a n d fi n d i ng a d e sir abl e oppor t un ity to commit

t h e th e f t t h e str e e t be i n g c omp a r a tively d e s e rt e d
, ,

t h e p l a n w as c a rri e d o ut a s o utl i n e d W orth s c en t ,

i n g t h e pi ctur e a n d fl e ei ng i n s a f e ty with his tw o

,

c omp a n io n s .

W or th exp l a i n e d th at h e wo uld g o to a n a c
quai nt a n ce a so l i citor o f sh a dy r ep uta tio n who w a s
, ,

a n ex c o n vi ct
- a n d i n str uct h i m to c a ll o n t h e pri s
,

o n e r i n the j ai l a n d h a n d h im a sm all ca nva s cl ippi ng

,

cu t f rom t h e s i d e o f t h e pi ctu r e T he attor n ey w a s

.

th e n to g o to A g n ew C o a n d s ay t o th em th a t
.

h e h a d a cl i ent in t he N ewg ate P ri s o n who c o ul d

g i v e th e m v a l u a b l e i n f orm a t i on c o n c e r n i n g t h e

G a i n sboro ugh pi ctur e T he pri s oner 1n j ai l w a s

.

to s ay to th em th at i f h i s l i be r atio n w a s e ff ect e d
, ,

h e wo uld g ua r a nt ee to r etur n t h e pi ctur e a n d a s a n ,

evi d e n ce o f oo d f ith d th t h w t ll i t h e
g a a n , a e a s e n g
tr uth h e w a s to pro duce th e pi e ce o f canva s cut
,

f rom t he si d e o f the pi ctur e whi ch th ey co uld fit o n

,

t h e f r am e a s a t e st .

On t h e mor n i ng o f M ay 26th 1 87 6 wh e n t he , ,

A g n ews op en e d th eir g all e ry th ey w e r e a sto nish e d

,

to fin d t he pi ctu r e h a d be e n sto l en with n o cl ew

'

wh ateve r to its wh e r e abo uts T h e th e ft cau s e d a .

g r e a t s e n s a tio n T .h e A g n ews o f
f e r e d a r e w a r d o f
f o r t he r ecov e ry o f t h e pi ctu r e a n d h a d ,

photo g r aphs a nd d es criptions o f the pi cture s ent all

 ADA M W O RT H 17

ove r the k n own world The po l i ce w e r e a t firs t

.

mystifi e d o ve r the m atte r .

M e antim e M r B e sl ey the so l i citor who ha d

,
.
,

b e en r et a in e d to d e f en d t he priso n e r a n d who i s
,

n o w an ho n or e d J u d g e o n t h e be n ch i n L o n d o n h a d ,

d is cove r e d th at the r e was a flaw i n the extr ad ition

p ap e rs ; th at th e m a n ha d b een extr a d ite d f ro m
Fr a n ce a s a pri ncip a l to t he f or g e ry o n t h e L o n d o n
a n d W e stmi n st e r B ank wh e i e a s h e sho uld h ave
'

b e e n extr a dite d a s a n a cce ssory a f te r t he f act a n d ,

o n th a t p l e a a writ o f h abe a s c orp us w a s o bt a i n e d ,

t h e priso n e r w a s bro ught i nto c o urt a n d th e J u d g e

or de r e d his d i sch a rg e a nd i n structe d th at h e be
,

g i v e n 3 0 d a ys i n w h i ch to l e av e E n g l a n d ; th a t i f h e

d i d n o t l eave by th at tim e he w a s s ubj ect to a rr es t

a n d tri a l o n t h e ch a r g e o f a ccessory to t h e f or g e ry .

I t i s n e e dl e ss to s ay th at the thi e f d i d n o t n e e d t he
3 0 d ays ; o n e d ay w a s e n o ug h to g e t o ut o f E ngl a n d
a nd d is a pp e a r . T h at l e f t t h e p1ctu r e i n the h an d s
o f W orth a n d h i s c o n f e d e r a t e s i n t h e sh ap e o f a
“ ”
white el eph a nt whi ch th ey d i d n o t kn ow how t o
,

d ispos e o f T h ey w e r e a f r a i d to tru s t a nybo dy t o

.

r etu r n it f o r a r ew ar d G r a dually ce rta i n f acts

.

l e ak e d o ut i n r eg a r d to the ro bb e ry whi ch put t he

,

L o n d o n po l i ce i n poss e s si o n o f i n f orm at i o n a s to
who t h e p e rp etr ators o f t he robbe ry w e r e but they ,

h a d o n ly h e a r s ay evi d en ce, a n d n o proo f wh a teve r

- .

E ve ry possi bl e i n g e nu ity w a s us e d by Scotl a n d Y a r d

d etectives to fin d the hi ding p l ace o f the pi ctur e
18 ADA M WO RTH
a nd f ast en th ecrime on the thi eves , but all e fio rts
‘

f ail ed .

M e a ntim e t he p i ctu r e r em ai n e d i n W orth s cu s ’

to dy i n hidi ng i n L o n d o n bu t Phillips f rom time

, , ,

to time h a d borrow e d mo n ey f rom W orth f o r his

,

i n te r e st i n it f o r th ey tho ug ht th ey m i g ht r ea liz e
,

s om e mo n ey o n it eventually T his s t ate o f a ff a irs .

c o n t i n u e d f o r s eve r a l y e a rs un ti l W orth a n d Phi l

,

l ips h a d a f all i n g o ut Phill ips de m an d e d th a t the

.

p i ctu r e b e p ro d u c e d a n d h e wo uld
p y
a his i n d e bt e d
n ess a n d buy o ut W orth s i nte r e st An a rr a n g e
,
’
.

m en t w as m a d e f o r a m e eti n g a t th e C rite rion Bar ;

i n L on d on .W o rt h suspect i ng tr e ache ry sec r etly
'

took a positi o n w atch e d Phill ips moveme nts and

’
, ,

f o un d th at h e w as a ccomp a n i e d by two w ell-kn own

d et e ctive s f rom S c otl a n d Y a r d It is n e edle s s t o.

sa y th a t n e ith e r W ort h n o r t h e pi ctu r e put i n a n

a pp e a r a n ce bu t t h e n ext tim e th ey m e t whi ch w a s
, ,

i n t h e C rite rio n n o twithst an di n g t he f a ct th a t

,

Worth w a s a sm all m an be i n g about 5 f e e t 4 i nch e s

, ,

h i gh a n d w e i g hi ng a bo ut 1 5 0 po u n d s h e p o un ce d
, ,

u po n Phi ll ips stri ki n g him a s eve r e bl ow i n t h e f a ce

, ,

a n d k n ock i n g him d o w n a n d th e n k i ck i n g h i m u nt i l
,

h e w a s exh au st e d a n d w a s d r a g g e d o ff by t h e pol i ce
,
.

T h e d i ff e r e n ce s be tw e en W orth a n d Phill ips we r e

n ev e r p a tch e d u p a n d a l tho ug h this too k pl a ce ove r
,

20 ye a rs a g o th ey n ev e r m e t a g a i n so f a r a s t he
, ,
’
P i nk e rto n s a r e a dvi s e d up t o the d ay o f W o rth s
,

d e ath .
 ADA M WO RT H 19 ,

W o r th h a d a d v a n ce d s
”
u ms o f mo n e y to J oe
Ell iott a li as L ittl e Jo e f o r his i nte r est i n th e
, ,

pictur e an d E ll iott cam e to Am e rica firs t h avi ng

, ,

m a rri e d K a te C a stl eto n a n ot e d E ng l i sh comic ,

op e r a sin g e r wi th whom h e l ive d s eve r a l y e a rs i n

,

Am e ri ca In the e a rly p art o f Apri l 1 87 7 E ll iott

.
, ,

w a s a rr e ste d i n N ew York thro ugh t h e Pi n k e rto n s , ,

ch a r g e d with be i ng t he p e rp e tr a tor o f a f or g e ry

a mo u n ti n g to o n t h e U n ion T r u s t C o in .

N e w York h avi n g f org e d a N ew Yor k L i f e In s ur

,

an c e ch e ck o n th e ir comp a ny and o bt ai n e d t he
,

mo n ey Fo r this E ll iott w
,

. a s tr i e d i n N e w Y or k

C i ty co nvi cte d an d s e n t en ce d to 7 ye a rs imprison

, ,

m en t Whil e i n priso n h e s e nt f or M r R obt A

'

. . . .

P ink erton and tri e d to m ak e te rms with him f o r

,

hi s r el e a s e o ff e ri ng to r e stor e the G a i n sboro ug h

’
“

M
‘

p ortr a i t t o h i m a n d t o ld , r P i n k e rto n t h e history

.

o f th e robbe ry a n d h e n am e s o f t h e p a rti e s co n
t
n e ct e d wi th i t a s abov e n a rr a t e d
, T h es e f a cts w e r e .

c ommu n i cat e d to Mr J ohn S hor e S up eri nten d e nt

.
,

o f t he C r i mi n a l I nve sti g ation D ep a r tm e n t

'
N ew ,

Sco tl an d Ya r d L o n d o n E n gl an d a n d o nly co n
, , ,

fir m e d Wh a t M r S hor e a nd th e L ond o n P o l ice De

.

p a r t m e n t h a d r e c e n t ly s u sp e ct e d c o n c e rni n g who t h e

rea l p e rp et r a t ors o f the d e e d w e r e H oweve r .

,

Ell iott h avi ng s old out h i s i nte r e st i n t he pi ctu r e

, ,

co ul d n o t co n tro l it o r d el iv e r it as h e cl a im e d h e
, ,
“

c o uld and, t h e m atte r w a s a ba n d o n e d E ll iott .

se rve d h i s f ull te rm o f i
m priso nm e n t an d w a s a f te r ,
20 ADA M W O RTH
w a rds rr e ste d f o r f org e ry co nvi cte d a n d s en
r e -a ,

teh ee d to fi f t e en ye a rs ; but w a s p a r d o n e d to d i e a n d ,

d i d d i e i n a N ew York hospita l a n umbe r o f ye a rs

ago .

In 1 87 8 Ad ams W orth a n d o n e M eg o tt i with

s ev e r a l oth e rs robbe d the expr ess tr a i n ru n ni n g be
tw e en C al a is a n d P a ris o f f r a n cs i n E gyp
ti a n a n d Sp an i sh bo n ds .

M e a nwhi l e W orth was l ivi ng o n t he top o f the

,
”
w ave i n E n gl a n d h a d becom e w e al thy a n d w a s t he
, ,
“ ”
p oss e ssor o f a ste am y ach t call e d the S hamro ck ,

with a cr ew o f tw e nty m en a n d a l so a s ai l i ng o r
,

p l e a sur e ya cht H e squ an d er e d h i s mo ney with

.

bo th h a n d s g ambl e d a n d d iss ip a te d a n d w a s a t o ne
, ,

tim e i nte r e st e d i n t he own e rsh ip o f s eve r al r ace

h ors e s o n t h e E n g l ish tu r f H e be cam e s uch a
.

“ ”
bug aboo t o t he E ngl i sh po l i ce th a t th ey eve ntu
a lly tri e d to d rive him o u t by st a tio n i ng a po l i ce

m an i n f ro n t o f h i s d oor a n d w atchi ng a n d r eport

,

i ng eve rybo dy who e nt e r e d his ho us e T h i s ca n .

possibly be a cco unte d f o r by t h e b el i e f that W orth

mi ght h ave be e n s usp ecte d o f h avi n g h a d somethi ng
to d o with a numbe r o f dyn amite exp l osio n s whi ch -

too k p l a ce a t th a t tim e i n E urop e but o f whi ch h e,

w as e ntir ely i nn o ce nt With his steam y acht he wa s

.

i n t he h abit o f cr uisi n g a ll a ro u n d the M e d i t e r

r an ean a n d oth e r p a r ts i n E u rop e
,
m aki ng a nnu al
,

to u rs l ooki n g a f te r wh ateve r busi n ess he ha d i n

,

th o s e co untri e s e ith e r g oi ng hims el f or s endi ng

, ,
 ADA M W O RT H 21

othe r p e opl e to atten d to it H e m a d e a numbe r o f

.

trips to Ame ri ca to visit r el ative s bei n g thoro ughly

,

d evote d to his f amily a n d on o n e o f th es e trip s

,

s ail e d o n th e ste am e r Ind i a na o f the Am eri ca n Li n e

, ,

runn i n g betw e e n Phil a d elp hi a a n d L iv erpoo l T h e r e .

w e r e o nly a f ew cabi n p a ss en ge rs a n d o n e o f them

,

w a s a f orm e r o fli cer o f t he White S t a r L i n e w h o

w a s g oi n g o u t t o s ecur e t h e c apt a i n cy o f o n e o f t h e
ste ame rs o f th e Am e rican Li n e s a il i n g f rom Phil a
d elphi a D uri n g a h e avy stor m a t s e a the C apta i n
.
, ,

first s eco n d a n d thir d o ffice rs o f t he steame r In d i a na

,

w e r e w a sh e d ove rbo a r d a n d th i s m a n who w a s

,

g oi n g o u t to s e cu r e t h e c a pt a i n cy o f o n e o f t h e s hip,s
took ch a rge o f t he Ind i a na a n d brought h e r through
,

t he storm s a f e ly to port o f Phi l a d el phi a . W or th

r e co gniz e d t he f act th at the r e w a s c o n si d e r abl e
ch a n ce o f cl a imi ng s al v a g e an d a dv a n ce d this m a n
,

mo n ey with whi ch to file a cl a im a g a i n st the com

p any f o r s alva ge T he comp any co nte ste d the
.

cl a i m o n t h e g ro un d th a t t h e cl a im a n t w a s g oi n g t o

e n t e r th e ir e mp l oy ,a n d r e f us e d to r e c o g n iz e thi s

cl a im . T h e matte r w a s fi n ally s ettl e d by t he co m

p a n y p ayi n g t h e c a pt a i n a l a r g e s u m o f mo n e y
, u p
wa r d s o f whi ch w a s d ivi d e d with W orth .

T his is o nly n a rr ate d to show th a t W orth n ev e r

ove rl ook e d an opportuni ty wh en th e r e w a s a ny
mo n ey i n si ght On a n othe r o cca sio n whi l e comi n g
.
,

to Am e ri ca he w a s to l a n d a t M o ntr e al a n d h a d
, ,

with him a numbe r o f di amo n d s a n d oth e r j ew el ry ,

w hi ch he h ad p urch ase d f rom th i eves i n E ngl and ,

 ADA M W O RT H
a nd whi ch he was bri n g i ng to this country to d i spos e
of . On t h e ste ame r o n whi ch h e too k p a ss ag e a
n umbe r o f rooms h a d bee n e nte r e d a n d t h e pa s

se n g e r s ro bbe d . W orth h a d n othi n g wh a teve r t o

d o with this but kn ew th at h e was apt to be sus
,

t d h e w a s a str a n g e r a n d l e f t t h e ste am e r
p e c e a s ,

a t R imo u s k i be f or e i t r e ach e d M o n tr ea l a n d w en t ,

by r a i l to M o ntr e al T his f a ct h a d evi d e ntly been

.

t e l eg raph e d a s a d ete ct iv e o n e o f t he cl eve r e st i n

, ,

C a n a d a m e t th e tr a i n o n whi ch W orth w a s ri d i ng
, .

T h e ro bbe ri e s o n t h e ste am e r h a d be en commi tte d

.

by a Sw e d e n am e d Ad o l ph Spr ungley a ste amship ,

thi e f but the d et ective s s usp ect e d the m a n w h o l e f t

,

t h e v es s e l a t R imo us k i viz , W orth B e f or e t he

.
, .

d etective f o un d t he missing p a ss en g e r W o r th s us ,

p e c t e d wh a t h i s missio n w a s a n d p u t t
, h e g r e a t e r
p a rt o f h i s d i amo n d s back o f t h e fir e bo a r d a ga i n s t -

t h e stov e i n th e ca r i n whi ch h e w a s ri d i ng He .

w a s t a k e n i nto cu sto dy a n d ch a r g e d wi th smu ggl i n g

, ,

so me j ew el ry bei n g f o un d i n his po ss e ssio n H e .

fixe d t h e m att e r up with t he authori ti es how ever , ,

p rove d his i nn oc ence o f t h e robbe ri e s o n t he ste ame r

a n d w as l i be r at e d bu t t h e d e t e cti ve s sti ll su sp e ct e d
,

h i m o f be i n g wro n g i n som e w ay a l tho ug h n eve r

k n ew how A f te r his l ibe r atio n W orth succe e de d
.
,

in tr a ci n g t he ca r i n whi ch h e l e f t t he j ew el ry hav ,

i ng t ak e n t he n umbe r o f it a n d wh e n t he ca r w a s
,

t i t h y r d f t h i ht h t r d it nd
p u n e a o r e n g e e n e e,
a ,

r ega i n e d poss e ssio n o f the missing d i amo n d s whi ch ,

he a f te rwa rd s s a f ely smug gl e d into t he U n ite d
S t a te s .

On W orth s first trip to the U nite d State s o n the

’

steam e r Ind i a na h e bro u ght with h im t he f amo us

,

G a i nsborough portr a it h avi ng h a d a tr unk m a de

,

wi th a f a l se bo ttom t o it a n d h a d th e trunk fi ll e d
,

w ith dr umme r s s amp l e s wh i ch h e p a i d d u ty o n ; i n

’
,

th is m ann e r he g o t the pictu r e s a f ely i nto the por t o f

Phil a d el phi a a n d f rom th e r e it wa s tak e n to N ew
,

Y ork a nd a sp ec i al trunk m a d e f o r its s a f e k e eping

,

an d prote ctio n T his tr unk w as firs t p l a ce d i n stor

.

ag e in a w a re ho us e i n Broo klyn a f t e rw a r d s i n N ew ,

Y ork a nd l ate r o n i n Bosto n whi ch w as its l as t

, , ,

r e stin g p l ac e f o r a numbe r o f ye a rs pr evio us to i ts

recov e ry .

M e an time during t he 80 s W orth to g e t r i d o f

,
’
, ,

th e su spi cio n th a t w a s a g a i n st him i n E n gl a n d h ad ,

d eci de d o n m ak i n g a trip t o S o uth A f r i ca a nd i n ,

c omp a ny wi th C h a r le y K i n g a n d a n oth e r n oted E n g

,

l ish crook w e n t to C ap e T own Whi l e l o oki ng

, .

a bou t th e r e f o r som ethi n g to d o W orth stu d i e d t he ,

ma nn e r i n whi ch di a m o n d s i n th e rough w e r e
broug ht f ro m the De Beer s an d oth e r mi n es i n S o uth
A f ric a to C ap e T own H e l ea rne d th at th es e g oo ds
.

w e r e bro ught by a sp eci a l ca r w ith an a rm e d B oe r

to C a pe T own i n tim e to ca t ch a n o u tg oi n g ste a m e r
.

f o r E n gl an d In c omp a ny w i th K i ng th ey l oo ke d
.
,

t h e s i tua tio n ove r ca r e f u lly a n d c o ncl ud e d th at t he

,

mo s t f e as i b l e way t o g e t po ssession of th e cons ign

24 ADA M WO R T H
m ent f rom the m i n e s w a s thro ugh wh at would be
,
“
c all e d i n Am e ri ca a ho ld up robbe ry They w e r e
-
.

both sm a ll m e n a n d n e e d e d a n oth e r m a n to h el p
‘

th e m o u t i n th eir e n t e rpris e a n d f o un d i n C a p e ,

T own the m a n th ey w e r e l oo ki n g f o r a n Am e ri ca n
'

s ea capt a i n , who w a s th e r e i n hi d i ng h e bei ng ,

w ante d i n Am e ri ca f o r s i nki n g his ship a t s e a f or

“ ”
t he i n s ur a n ce H e w a s brok e a n d will i ng to tak e
.

a h a n d i n a nythi n g th a t c am e a l o n g s o t h e thr e e o f ,

th em w ent o ut o n th e ro a d to i nte r cept t he co nvey

a n ce with t h e d i amo n d s T he f o ll owi ng p l an w a s
.

a rr a n g e d : T h e c o a ch th ey pro os e d robbi n g wo uld

p
r e ach a ce rtai n po i n t a f te r d a rk a nd as i t wa s bei ng ,

v e ry r api dly d riv en th ey wo uld str etch a rop e a cros s

,

t he ro a d to throw t he hor s e s o ff th e ir f e et a n d ups et , .

th e c o a ch . I t w a s th e ir i n te ntio n to r un out cap ,

tur e the d rive r a n d ove rpow e r the g ua r d Wh en

,
.

th ey attempte d th i s p l an the hors e s w er e thrown , ,

a n d t h e c o ach tipp e d ov e r but be f or e th ey co uld

,

c a rry o ut th e ir p l a n s t he bi g Bo e r gu a r d i n ch a r g e
, ,

wh o w as a rm e d w ith a r ep e ati n g W i n ch e ste r r i fl e ,

c omm e n ce d fir i n g i n ev e ry d i r ectio n d rivi ng t he ,

thi eve s to c ove r T he co ns i gnme nt w a s d el ive r e d

.

s a f ely a t C ap e T ow n This a tt empte d robbe ry cr e

.

a te d quit e a s e n s a t i o n a n d K i n g a n d t h e o ld ship
,

s i nk e r becam e al a rme d a n d l e f t t he country W orth .

,

how eve r d e ci d e d to r em a i n to h ave a n oth e r tri al a t

,

it a n d s e e wh a t h e co uld d o T he Postm aste r a t .

C ap e T own w a s a n o ld g e ntl em a n v e ry so ci al i n hi s ,

h abits a n d W o rth cul tivate d h i s a cquai ntance

,
.
 ADA M W O RT H 25

A f te r s eve r al mo nths o f p ati e nt w aitin g he go t a n

'

opportuni ty to g e t poss ess i o n o f the k eys to th e

P ost Offi ce mo n ey s a f e H e wa s a t l ast pr ep a r e d
.

t o work ; too k thr ee p a r cel s o u t o n t h e ro a d a n d s e n t

them in r egiste r e d m ai l a d dr e ss e d to hims el f a nd
, ,

c am e i n o n t h e s a m e tr a i n with t h e p a r ce l s an d ,

w aite d unti l the Ass i st a nt Postm a s t e r a t C ap e T ow n

w as l e avi n g his o ffi ce i n t h e ev en i n g a n d w en t to him

a n d p l ea d e d th a t it w a s o f g rea t import a n ce th a t h e

r e ce iv e t he p ack a g e s wh i ch h a d bee n l o ck e d up f o r
,

t h a t n i ght T he a ssi st ant a g r e e d to g e t them f o r

. ,

h i m a n d w ent ba ck to g e t t he boo k s a n d wh i l e his

, ,

b ack wa s turn e d W orth m a n ag e d to g e t w ax i m

,

pr e ss i o ns o f the k eys to the s a f e f o r r e g i ste r e d p a ck

ag es r eceive d the p ack ag e s whi ch he h a d sh ipp e d
,

t o hims el f a n d w en t abo ut his b usi n ess

, H e th en
.

b eg an the d i ffi cul t p a rt o f the v entur e fitti ng dup l i

,

ca t e k eys to th e w ax impr e ssio n s ; a t l a st th ey w e r e

fini she d a nd a f te r s ever a l vis i ts to t he P ost O fli ce

, ,

h e succe e d e d i n g etti n g th e k eys to fit so th at th ey

W o uld op en t he s a f e s a n d a l tho ugh th e r e w e r e l a r g e
,

amo unts o f v a l u a bl e s i n th em a t a ll t im e s h e w a s ,

not r e a dy to r e ach th em until a s h e a f terw a r d s ex

, ,
”
p l ai n e d g o t to th e d a rby o r bi g p a rcel B e i ng
, , .

a ll r e a dy to wor k a n d h avi n g n o c o n f e d e r at es with

h i m a t this tim e be a rr a ng e d a n oth e r p l a n to d el ay

,

t h e a rr iv a l o f t he d i amo n d s a n d pr ev e nt th em f ro m
,

b e i n g shipp e d o n the ste am e r they w e r e i nte n d e d

f o r A t a poi nt n e a r C ap e T ow n th e r e w a s a d e ep
.

str eam wh er e the co ach ha d to cro s s t he f e rry

, ,
26 ADA M WO RT H
whi ch ope r ate d o u a wir e rop e cab l e ; ne arby
wa s
w a s a sm a ll t ave r n a n d W orth w a it e d unt il tim e
,

f o r the co a ch to c om e whi ch w as i n t he eve n i n g

, ,

an d th e n cu t th e rop e whi ch a ll ow e d t he f e rry to

,

d ri f t d own t h e s tr e am with the curr ent Wh e n th e .

co a ch ca me up it w a s un ab l e to f or d or cross th e

str e am th er eby d el ayin g th em a n d th e ste am e r f o r

, ,

E ng l a n d s ai l e d witho ut t he co n s ig nme n t o n this oc

ca s i o n ,a nd t h e w a s h eld ove r i n th e Pos t
Offi ce s a f e ( f o r h a d a l r e a dy b e en fitte d
by W orth ) w a iting f o r the n ext ste am er t o s ai l .

W orth s p l a n s w e r e all r e a dy to be ca rri e d o ut

’
.

T h e n ext ni ght h e e nte r e d t he P ost O ffi ce a s h e h a d ,

d on e s eve ra l time s be f or e a n d a bstr a cte d f rom the

,

s a f e d i amo n ds a n d othe r va l uabl e s to the amoun t

,

of T h e robb e ry cr ea t e d a g r e at s en s a
t i o n n o t only i n S o uth A f ri ca but a ll ove r E u rop e
, , ,

a n d exp e rts w e r e s e n t o u t f rom E n gl a n d to i n v e sti

g a t e t h e c a s e. K n owi n g th a t a n y b o d y w h o a t o

t empte d to l eav e the c o untry would be un d er s uspi

cio n W orth qui e tly w e n t up t h e c o u ntry f rom C ap e
,

T own pr e te n d i ng to be i n s e a r ch o f i nve stm ents a nd

,

p u r ch a si n g ostri ch f eathe rs P r evio u s t o g o in g h e

.

buri e d t h e d i amo n d s a n d oth e r v a l u abl e s a t C a p e

T own . H e staye d s eve r a l mo nths i n th e i nte rio r
o f t he c o untry in t he m ea n time h avi n g s e nt to
,

Ame ric a f o r a co n f e d e r ate to come o ut a n d j oi n h i m ,

a n d be tw ee n t he tw o o f th e m th ey s a f e ly bro ugh t

t h e g oo d s o ut o f t he c o untry g oi ng firs t to Aus ,

t r ali a and then t o E ngl an d

, On h is arr iva l in En g
.
 ADA M W O RTH 27 ,

l an d he was imm e d i ately po unce d upon by hi s old

,

p a rtn e r K i ng wh o bl ackm a il e d h im o u t o f a l a rg e
, ,

s um , o n a cc o u nt o f his pr evio u s k n ow l e dg e o f t h e

c o n temp l a t e d ro bbe ry . T h e Postm a ste r w a s sus

p e c t e d a n d a rr es t e d f o r th e c rim e ; th e r e w a s how ,
,

e v e r n o evi d e n ce a g a i n s t him bu t th e r e w a s proo f

, ,

f o un d th at h e h a d be en embe zz l i n g m o n ey l ett e rs
whi ch p a ss e d thro ugh h i s o ffi ce H e w a s th e r e f or e
.

tri e d f o r th i s l a s t o ff en s e f oun d guil ty a n d s en

,

t e nced to five ye a rs h a r d l ab or in pri s o n H avin g .

a dj u st e d this a ff a ir W orth broug ht a yo u n g Am e ri

,

ca n crook n am e d J oh n Sm i t h ali a s J oh n C Wyn ot t

, .
,

to Lo n d o n m i th bei ng a cl ever e d ucated f ell o w

.

, ,

an d enti r ely u nknown to t h e L on d o n po l i ce He .

e s t abli s he d h im i n hi s bu s i n e s s as a bro k e r d e al i n g

i n r o ug h di am onds i n the mi d d l e o f H atto n G ar d e n

, ,

L o n d on o peni ng a n o ffi ce th e r e an d by p utting
, ,

the i r g oo ds at a s hi ll ing or tw o o n the poun d l ess

.

t han t he s t a nd a r d pr i ce i n L o n d o n the y h a d no
.
,

troub l e i n d ispos i n g o f all th eir g oo d s to m er cha n ts

w h o cam e f ro m Amste rd am t o L o n d o n t o buy ; so me
w er e th eir r e al own e rs ; th a t is to s ay t he d e al e rs ,

to wh om th ey w e r e ori g i n a lly cons i gn e d i n Lo n d on

f rom th e S o uth A f ri can mine s but w e r e sto l e n in
,
.

In ye a r 187 8 the r e w e r e stol en f rom the

the
c o unt e r o f a b ank in P a ris s om e f r a n cs 1n
bank not e s o f th e B a nk o f Fr a nce A f ew d ays
.

a f t e r thi s a co n f e d e r a te o f Ad a m W ort h w e n t i nto

the Exch an g e o ffice o f M ons i eu r M eye r i n the Rue ,

28 ADA M W O RT H
S t H o n our e to p u r ch a s e E n g l ish mo n ey f or whi ch
.
,

som e ba nk n ote s o f 5 00 f r a n cs e a ch w e r e te n d e r e d
i n p aym e nt .

T h e Exch an g e a g e nt h a d b een w a r n e d o f t h e
th e f t an d th e l os e rs th e r eby w e r e abl e to g ive a f ew
o f th e n umbe rs o f t h e ba n k n ot es l os t an d on e o f ,

th e s e n umbe rs corr espo n d e d with th e numbers o f

o n e o f t h e ba n k n ot e s t e n d e r e d a n d upo n n oti ci n g
,

this the a g ent ca us e d the m a n s a rr est ; a f te r b ei n g

’

s i x or ei ght mo n ths i n priso n t h e c o n f e d e r a te m a n

a g e d to be s e t a t l ibe r ty but Ad am W orth w h o w as
, ,

n e a r a t th e tim e his a sso ci ate wa s a rr este d swor e ,

v en g e a n ce ag a i n st M M eye r . .

In t he y e a r 1 883 t h e E xchang e o f M eye r w a s

r obbe d o f f r a n cs i n mo n ey a n d s ecu riti e s .

T he ro bbe ry w a s p e rp etr ate d a t n i g ht t h e s a f e h av ,

i n g be en f or ce d ope n with j imm i es Of this rob .

b e ry A d am W orth wa s t he ori g i n ator a n d it s atis ,

fie d his v e n g e an ce a s it r ui n e d M M eye r al most

, .

comp l e t e ly .

D uri n g t he tim e th at J ohnny Smi th al i as J ohn C , .

Wyn er t a n d W orth w e r e d isposi n g o f t he d i amo n ds

,

they sti ll k ep t an eye to b us i n ess T h ey m a d e t h e .

a cqu a i n t a n ce o f Mr P ro ctor a d eal e r i n ro ug h d i a

.
,

mo n d s a n d a propri etor o f d i amo n d l a n d s i n S o uth

A f ri ca who r e ceive d f ro m th e C ap e o f G oo d H op e
,

eve ry f ortn i ght a p ack a g e o f d i amo n d s worth f ro m

to W orth W yn er t a n d M e g o tti
, ,

a E u rop e a n thi e f cul tiv a t e d P ro ctor s acqu a i nt a n ce

’
, ,

a n d whi l e M eg o tt i w en t with Pr o cto r to a T urk i s h

 ADA M WO RT H 29

b ath W orth a n d Wyn e r t obt ai n e d a n impr e ssio n

,

o f his s a f e key i n w ax T h ey w e r e a w a r e th a t Pro c

.

tor w ent ev e ry two w eek s to t he Ba nk o f E ngl a n d

to r e ce ive th e abov e m entio n e d p ack a g e o f di amo n ds
’
-

a n d to bri n g it to his o ffi ce a n d l o ck it i n his s a f e .

Upo n the n i ght o f o n e o f th es e p e r i o d s wh e n Mr .

P ro ctor h a d be en to the Ba nk o f E ngl an d his s a f e

w as rob be d bu t l uck i ly f o r him h e h a d n o t r e ce ive d
, ,

a p a ck a g e o f d i amo n d s f rom t h e C a p e upo n th a t

trip a n d all th at the b urg l a rs g o t f o r the i r troubl e

,

u po n this o cca s i o n w e r e a f ew hun d r e d po u n d s ste r

l i ng i h mo n ey a n d g oo d s .

On e wo uld h av e tho ug ht that w ith th i s amo unt o f

mo n ey W orth wo uld h av e r eti r e d bu t the g ambl i ng ,

p rop e n s i ty w a s s o s tro n g i n h i m a n d t
, h e d e s i r e f o r

othe r fi eld s le d him i nto a sti ll f urth e r l i f e o f crim e ,

a n d h e w a s ev e n tu a lly a rr e ste d a t L i e g e B el g i um
, ,

f o r t h e attempte d rob be ry o f o n e o f t he w ag o n s
ca rryi n g r eg ist e r e d m a i l g oi n g to t h e ba nk i n th a t

ci ty. H e h ad pr evio usly fitt e d a key to t he l o ck

o n t h e w a g o n a n d h a d s e n t a f a l s e p a ck a g e to d e
,

l ive r whi ch wo uld r equi r e the d r ive r to l e av e t he

,

w a g on f o r a short time to m ak e t he d e l ive ry L e av .

i n g a co n f e d e r at e to w atch f o r t he d rive r s r eturn

’
,

W orth j ump e d on the s e at o f t he ca rr i a g e unl o ck e d ,

t h e d oor , an d h a d th e v a l u abl e c o n te nts o f t he

w a g on i n his poss e ss i o n wh en h e d is cove r e d th at
,

h i s c o n f e d e r at e h a d f a i l e d to g ive t h e s i g n al ; t he
d r ive r r eturn e d a nd f oun d t he d oor op e n whi ch ,

Worth i n hi s h aste had n ot had a ch ance to l o ck

, , ,
30 ADA M WO RTH
an d a t o n ce g ave t he a l a rm W orth was a rr es ted
.
,

b ei ng caug ht a bo ut a bl o ck away w a s t ri e d con , ,

vi ct e d a n d s en te nce d to 7 ye a rs impriso nm en t in
,

Bel g ium . T his wa s the firs t a n d o nly c o nvi cti on

ev e r h a d a g a i n s t him i n a l o n g ca r e er o f cr im e .

Whil e h e w as c on fi n e d i n p r i so n i n Belg ium he w a s ,

visit ed by th e Am e ri ca n C o n s ul w h o cl a im e d to
,

re pr e s ent a promin e nt po l i ce o ffi ci al i n Ame rica an d ,

o ff eri n g to pay him a n d e ff e ct h i s l i be r a tion

f rom impriso nm e n t f o r i n f orm atio n th a t wou ld l e ad

t o t h e r e cov e ry o f th e G a i n s boro ug h por tr a it o f the
D uch e ss o f D evo n shir e W or th f e ari ng tr e ach e ry
.
,

o n t h e ir p a rt a n d n o t ca ri n g to tr ust e i th e r o f th em
, ,

d ecl in e d t o h ave anything to d o with t h e m atter ,

cl a imi n g th a t h e kn e w n othi n g a bo ut t h e p1ctur e ,

a n d th a t a ll stori e s t o t he c o n tr a ry w e r e f alse .

L ate r o n his own so l icitor i n B el gi um ca m e to hi m

a n d m a d e a sim i l a r propositio n r epr es en ting t he
,

E ng l ish a uthoriti es an d his s o l i citor brou ght wo rd

,

wi th him f ro m t he H om e S e cr e ta ry i n B e l gi um t ha t
hi s r el ea s e wo uld f bllow th e r eturn o f th e pi ct ur e bu1i ,

f e a r in g dup l i ci ty a s be f or e h e r e f us e d to h av e an y
, ,

th in g to d o with it or eve n a dmit to his own l awye r

,

th a t h e kn e w a nyth i n g wh atev e r abo ut t he pi ctu r e .

Whi l e i n pr i son i n B el g ium h e f o un d M aximilli an

,
“ ”
Sh o e n be in bett e r known a s C o un t Sh i nbur n a n
, ,

o ld -tim e ba n k bur g l a r a n d a f orm e r a cqu a i n ta nce ,

wh o hims el f ha d fle d f rom Am e ri ca a f te r ro bbi ng

th e O ce a n B a nk i n N e w Yor k o f abo ut

or o i to B l i um wh e r e h e i s sa i d
g n g e g ,
 ADA M W O RT H 31
‘

to have boug ht a b a ro n etcy ; but a f t e r l ivi ng a num

be r o f ye a rs i n th a t c o untry sp ecul atio n s o n th e ,
“ ”
B o urs e bro k e him an d h e a g a i n st a rt e d but o n a
,

l i f e o f cr ime Sh i nbur n i n comp any with W orth s

.
,
’

o ld p a rtn e r C h a rl ey Bull a r d att empt e d t o rob a

'

, ,

bank a t Li eg e Be l g ium w as a rr e st e d co nvi cte d a n d

, , , ,

w a s s e rvi n g a te rm o f impriso nm e nt i n B el g ium

wh e n W or th r e ach e d the re Sh o e nbe i n a l i a s Shi n .
,

b u rn w a s ah ove rbea ri ng tyr ant in priso n H e h a d

,
.

m a n a g e d t o curry f avor with t h e p r iso n o ffi ci al s ,

h eld a p e tty positio n ove r oth e r priso n e rs a n d di d ,

ev e rythi n g i n h i s pow e r to i n fl i ct p u n i s hm e n t o n h i s

o ld f ri e n d s a n d w as th e cau s e o f n ume ro u s p un i s h
,

me nts bei ng i n fl i ct e d o n W orth Shi nburn wa s n ote d .

“ ”
i n priso n a s a give a w ay o n t he othe r prison e r s ,

an d t h e spy o f t h e k e e p e r a nd e ve n tu a ll y on ac
, ,

c o un t o f r e n d e ri n g su ch se rvi ce s w a s l ibe r ate d , ,

cam e ba ck to Am e ri ca w as a rr e st e d by t he P i nk e r
,

to n s f o r t he attempte d robbe ry o f the First N atio n al

B a nk o f M i d d l etow n N Y s e nte nce d to 4 ye a rs
, . .
,

i n t he St a te priso n ; a n d o n hi s r el e a s e w as t ak e n to
N ew H ampshir e to s e rv e a n un exp i r ed s enten ce h e
, ,

h avi n g e sc ap e d f rom th e r e 3 0 ye a rs pr eviou sly .

W orth came o ut o f priso n bro k e n i n he al th an d

'

fi n anci ally a wr eck On hi s a rriv al h e m e t with a n

.

o ld a cqu a i n t a n ce P a tri ck F S h ee dy a sporti n g m a n

,
.
,

known th oughout t h e wo rld f rom whom h e r e

r
,

c e i ve d fi n a n ci a l a ssist a n ce S he e dy r eco ll ecti n g a

.
,

c o nv e rs a tio n whi ch h e h a d wi th Wm A Pi nk e rto n . .

i n C h i ca g o a numbe r o f ye a r s a g o th a t h e ( Pi nk e r ,
32 ADA M WO RTH
t on ) wa s s a tisfi e d W orth co ntroll ed the G ai nsbor
o ugh portr a it a n d a sk e d him ( S h ee dy ) i f he eve r
,

co uld a ssist i n t h e m a tt e r wh eth e r h e wo uld l i k e to ,

bri n g abo ut a p l a n f o r t h e r e stor atio n o f t he p i c

tur e ; th at h e ( Pi nk e rto n ) w a s w ell a cquai nt e d with
W orth p e rso n a lly an d h e tho ught with Sh e e dy s
,
’

a ss u r a n ce W orth wo uld be s atisfi e d to trust hims e l f

,

i n hi s h a n d s Sh e e dy a ccor d i n gly bro ach e d the sub

.

j c et to W orth a nd W orth h avi n g co n fi d ence i n

, ,
’
Sh e e dy s statem e nt a n d a l so i n t he f a ct th at i f Mr
, .

P i nk erto n p a ss e d h i s wor d he wo uld k eep it d e ,

ci d e d to m ak e a trip to Am e ri ca On e stormy d ay .
,

e a r ly i n J a n ua ry 1 89 9 shortly a f t e r M r P i nk e rt o n
, , .

a rriv e d a t his o ffice i n C hi ca g o h e r ece ive d a tel e ,

g r a m d a t e d a t t h e C hi c a g o a n d N orthw e st e r n d e pot ,
“
C hi cag o a n d r e a d i n g a s f o ll ows : Le tt e r a w ait ing
,

y o u a t ho u s e ; s e n d f o r it si
( g n e d ) R o y H a vi n g .

j u s t l e f t home M r Pi nk e rto n call e d up his hous e

, .

o n t h e t el epho n e a s k e d h i s d a u ght e r i f a ny l ett e r

,

h a d be en r e ceiv e d f o r him a n d s h e r ep l i e d th a t ,

shortly a f te r h e l e f t a str a n g e m an h a d call e d a n d

l e f t a l ette r stati n g it w a s importa nt a n d r equest
, ,

i n g th at it be d el ive r e d to M r Pi nk e rto n p e rso n ally .

,

a n d to n obo dy e l s e M r Pi nk erto n i nstructe d th a t

. .

t h e l e tt e r be s en t to his o ffi ce imm e d i at e ly a n d o n ,

op eni ng it f o u n d th at it em an ate d f rom Ad am

W orth whom M r Pi nk e rto n h a d n o t s e e n i n 17 o r
, .

1 8 ye a rs . T he l ett e r i ntim at e d th at h e h a d com e

to this co untry a t t he r equ est o f Sh e edy f o r th e ,

p urpos e o f s eei ng Mr Pi nk erton in co nnection wi th .

 ADA M WO RT H 33

a co nfid enti al matte r ; t ha t if Mr Pi nk er ton

. wa s in

t0 \
himthrough t he inte rvi ew i f he ca ll e d to s ee ,

h i m an d t alk e d ove r th e m a tt e r w hi ch h e h a d d is
,

c us se d with Mr S h ee dy w h i ch w o uld be o f mutual .

,

inte r e st to M r P inke rto n a nd himse l f an d a n a d ve r

.
,

t i s em ent be p l a ce d i n o n e o f t h e ev ening p ap e rs i n
C hi cago st ati ng th at l ette r w as r ece ive d a n d ev e ry
thi ng wa s all r i ght he wo uld then consi d e r tha t h e
“

h a d Mr P ink e rton s wor d o f h o n or a n d wo uld r e

’
.

spo n d T he a dve rt i s e ment wa s p ublis he d a n d abo ut

.

1 1 o c l o ck t he f o ll owi ng mor ni n g M r Pi nk e rton

’ ‘

r ece iv ed a c all o n t h e te l eph o n e a t hi s o ffi ce ; r e

spond e d to s ame a nd f o un d hi ms e l f i n co nv er s at ion ,

t ha t o ld ca ll a t th e offi ce with i mp un i ty an d
he
t c u ,

W i thi n five mi nute s W orth w a s u sh e r e d i n to M r .

P ink er ton s pr e s en ce be ing the fir st time th ey h ad

’
,

m et i n m any ye a rs T h ey s at d own an d t alk e d .

ove r old tim es a n d eve ntually le d up t o t h e s tory

,

o f t h e p i ctu re M r Pinke r t on h a d p revio usly t o ld

. .

h i m wh at h e h ad h e a r d abou t t he m att e r thro ugh ,

M r Ro bt A Pi nke rton ; tha t is t h e st at eme n t

. . .
,

m a d e ye a rs be f ore by Jo e fElli o t t W or t h cor re cte d .

s o m e p a rts o f E ll i ott s s to ry w hi ch w a s i n t h e ma i n
’
,

corr ect a n d th en p ro cee d e d to d et a i l all th e f act s

,

i n co nn ect io n with n o t o n ly t he ste al in g o f the p i c

‘

ture but hi s pa s t l i f e as n a rr a te d abov e t he und er

,
‘
, ,

s t an d i n g be i n g tha t M r Pinke rto n un d e r n o cir .

,

c ums t a nces was t o m ake us e o f th es e f acts d ur i ng

,
34 ADA M W O RT H
his l i f etim e H e l e f t i t optio n al w ith M r Pi nk er
. .

t o n a f t e r hi s d e ath to d o wh ateve r h e s aw fit in
, ,

c o n n e ctio n with p ubl i s hi n g h i s n am e a n d t he f a ct o f

his m ak i n g th e s e st atement s an d bei ng t he pe r ,

p e t r a t o r o f t h e th e f t M .r P i nk e rto
. n exp l a i n e d t h e

f ri en dly r el atio n s whi ch ex i st e d betw een his A g e ncy

a n d t h e authoriti e s a t S cotl an d Y a r d a n d th at u n d e r ,

n o cir cumst a n ce s wo uld h e d o a nyth i n g th a t t h e

a uthoriti e s a t S cotl an d Ya r d d i d n o t a cqui e s ce i n ,

a n d it wo uld t ak e tim e to bri n g th e s e m a tt e rs abo ut .

Th es e f a cts w e r e imm ed i ately communi cate d to M r .

R o bt A Pi nk e rto n i n N ew York wh o a t o n ce l ai d
. .
,

th em be f or e S upt D o n ald S w an so n o f t h e C rimi n al

.

I nvesti g atio n D ep a rtm en t , N ew S cotl a n d Y a r d f or ,

who m F r a nk C Fr o e s t I nsp ector o f D etective s

.
, ,

N ew S cotl a n d Y a rd h ad b e en worki ng o n the ca s e

,

f o r a g r e at m any ye a rs a nd who h a d pr acti cally

,

g o t t h e s am e i n f orm a tio n wh i c h P in k e rto n h a d b u t

,

witho ut the proo f o r witho ut t he m ean s o f e ffe cti ng

,

a c o nvi ctio n o f t h e thi ev e s S h e edy i n t alki ng the

.
,

m att e r ov e r with M r P i nk e rton a n d W orth h a d

.
,

i nsiste d o n o n e a g r e em ent th at wh ateve r h e di d , ,

the r e sho uld be n o bo dy p un i sh e d o r i nj ur e d o n th a t

a cco unt ; th a t h e wo uld d o it a s a m att e r o f f r i e n d

ship a n d i n or d e r th at t he l ost pi ece o f a r t might

,

be r e stor e d . S h e e dy took the positio n th a t the

r estor atio n o f th i s pi ctu r e to th e a r t world w a s o f
g r e a t import a n c e ,a n d it c o u ld o n l y b e d o n e i n t h e

m a nn e r sug g e st ed a nd i f a nybo dy w a s to be pun

,

i she d t he pi ctu r e wo uld n ev e r be r e stor e d so f a r a s

,
 ADA M W O RT H 35

he was concern e d W orth tho ught th at the r ew ar d

.

o ff e r e d f o r th e r eturn o f the pi ctur e amounte d to

c o n si d e r ab l e mor e th an th e A g n ews through the
L o n d o n po l ice h a d o ff e r e d i n th e i r cir cul a r T h es e .

f a cts w e r e commun i cate d to t h e A g n ews thro ugh

S upt S w an so n a t S cotl an d Y a r d a nd brought ba ck
.
,

a r ep ly f rom L e wis 8: L e wis promi n ent sol i citors

,

i n L o n d o n who w e r e acti n g f o r t he Ag n ews

, F or .

t h e tim e b ei n g th e m atte r h ung fir e a n d it w a s a t ,

l a st aba n d o n e d o n a cco unt o f t he amo unt i nvo lve d

f o r t he r e tu rn o f th e pi ctur e a n d t he attorn eys,

cl a i mi ng th at t h e pi ctu r e d i d n o t exi s t a n d th a t ,

thi s must be a rus e o n th e p art o f some sh a rp Ame r i

c a n s t o be st t he A g n ews Mr S he e dy a t th at tim e
. .
, ,

w as i n E n g l an d a n d o n th e s e f acts be i n g commun i
,

c a t e d to him , h e m a d e a propositi o n to I n sp ect o r

Fr o es t to g o to t he A g news a n d o ffe r th em the
r etu rn o f the p ictu r e g r atis provi di n g th ey wo ul d
,

a ll ow h i m t h e privi l e g e o f p u tti n g t h e pi ctu r e o n ex

h ibi t i o n f o r f o ur mo nths whi ch t he so l i citors

, ,

{Lewis 8: L ewis d ecl i n e d to a ccept

, An oth e r prop o
.

s i t i o n w as s u b mitt e d a mo n th a f t e rw a r d s wh i ch ,

w as
, th a t i f t h e A g n ews wo uld all ow S h e e d y to m a k e

a st eel e n g r avi n g o f t h e p i ctu r e a n d le t him c o n tro l

,

t h e p l at e th at t h e pi ct ure wo uld be r e stor e d g r atis

,
.

T his must h ave s atisfi e d t h e own e rs th at th e p i ctur e

w as r e a lly i n exi ste n ce f o r o n J a n u a ry 16th 19 01
, , ,

t he Pi nk e rto n s r e ce i ve d a c abl e g r a m f rom S upt .

S wanso n S cotl a n d Y a r d i n structi ng them to t ak e

, ,

up t he m att e r o f th e s to l en pi ct ur e a n d bri ng abo ut

,
36 ADA M WO RT H
i ts r e turn a n d th e t e rm s a sk e d f o r by W orth woul d
,

be a ccept e d provi di n g it w a s t h e g e nui n e pi ctu r e

, ,

a n d a n i d e nti fyi n g witn e ss wo uld com e f orw a r d im

m ed i a t ely f rom E ng l a n d M r P ink e rto n a t o nce ,

.

co mmu n i cat e d with Mr S h e e dy to l ocate W orth .

,

a n d h av e him com e to Am e ri ca Sh e edy kn ew a .

priv ate a dd r es s th at W orth k n ew i n L on d o n an d ,

t h e l att e r w as cabl e d to a t o ne or tw o po i n t s to g o
to this a d d r e s s a nd g e t an impo rt ant l etter Im .

m ed i ately o n r e ce ipt o f t h e l ette r W orth cab l ed ,

S h e e dy th at h e wo uld co me ove r o n th e first ste am er , .

a n d wh e n it wa s k n ow n h e h a d s a i l e d t h e P ink e r ,

to n s cabl e d to L ond o n to h ave the i d enti fyi ng wi t

n e s s come to t he U n ite d St ates In r e spo nse to .

this S upt Sw ans on cab l e d th at M r C M or el and

, . . .

A gn ew h a d l e f t o n the ste am er E tr ur i a o f the

C un a r d Li n e on S a turda y M a r ch 1 5 th 19 01 f o r
, , , ,

Am e ri ca T he steame r w a s a d ay or two l ate a n d

.
,

o n M r A g n e w s a rriv a l i n N e w Y or k h e w as m e t
’
.
,

by a r epr es entative o f the P ink e rto n s a n d a dvis ed ,

to g o to C hi cag o H e a rrive d i n C hi ca g o o n the .

eve ni ng o f M a r ch 27 t h 19 01 a n d wa s m e t by M r s , ,

Wm A Pi nk e rto n who to ld him th a t t he n ext

. .
,

morning h e wo uld be in a pos iti o n to pl ace the pi c

tur e in h i s po s s es sio n T he f o ll owi n g morni ng .
,

a bo ut 1 0 o cl o ck M r A n ew call e d a t M r P i nk e r
’

g , . .

’
ton s o ffice a n d the fi n an ci al end o f t he m atte r be i n g
,

a r r an g e d h e imm e d i at ely r etu r n e d to t he hot el

, ,

whe r e wh il e M r Pi nk e rto n M r Agnew a n d hi s

, .
, .

wi f e w er e sitting i n the r oom a r ap came to th e ,

 A DA M W ORT H 37

d oor , an d on op en i n g it th ey w e r e conf ron te d

,

by a m a n with a l a rg e p a r c el wh o a sk e d f o r M r , .

A g n ew h an d e d h im t he p a r cel a n d i mm e di a tely
, ,

le f t . M r Ag ne w stopp e d f o r a mom ent a n d M r

.
, .

Pi nk e rto n sugg e st e d th at h e op en t he p a rcel He .

l a i d it ca r e f ully o n t he fl oor op en e d th e p a ckag e , ,

a n d th e r e t h e f a ce o f t h e f amou s p a i n ti n g ca me to

lig ht f o r t h e first tim e i n 26 y e a rs I t was i n a .

p e r f ec t s t a te o f p r e s e rv a t i o n . M r Pi n k e rto n .w h o ,

s a t a l o ng si d e o f M r A g n ew w a tch e d his f e a tur es

.
,

cl os e ly a n d s aw h i s eye s fi ll up f o r a mom en t a n d
, ,

th en ri sin g to his f e et h e took M r Pi nke rto n by , .

t h e h a n d co ng ra tul ate d h im a n d s a i d h e ha d a t
,

las t g o t t he pi ctur e Mrs Ag ne w w a s e quall y . .

g r a te f u l . Mr P i
. n k e rto n to ld him to m a k e n o m i s

t ak e ; th a t h e must u se e ve ry poss ibl e te s t m ea s ur e ,

m ent et c on th e pi ctu r e be f or e he d e ci d ed on the

, .
,

m atte r . H e s a i d h e wo uld d o this a n d th en ap ,

p l i e d t h e d i ff e r e n t t e st s whi c h a r e m a d e u s e o f to
t e ll ge nui n e pi ctu r e s a n d th e r es ul t is to ld i n h i s
,
“
own wor d s : I a m p os itive th e pi ctu r e is t h e ori g in al
”
o n e sto l e n f rom my f ath e r s g a ll e ry 26 y e a rs a g o
’
.

M r Agn e w w a s th en v e ry a nxio us to l ea ve C h i cag o

.
,

s o th at h e co uld r e tur n o n t h e E tr ur i a to E u rop e .

H e w ent with M r Pink e rto n to o n e o f th e n ote d art

.

g a ll e ri e s i n C hi ca g o a n d p ur cha s e d prop e r p a cki ng

,

f o r t he pi ctu r e Mr P i nke rto n a ccomp an i e d Mr

. . .

A g n ew an d hi s wi f e to th e tr a i n a n d p l ace d the ,

pi ctur e i n t he d r awi ng r oom o f the Limite d E xpr ess

g o in g t o N e w Y or k O n
. a rr i v a l o f t h e t r a in at
38 ADA M WO RTH
N ew Y o rk , M r Ag n ew was m e t by agents f ro m .

t h e P ink e r t on o ffi ce i n N ew York who too k p os s es ,

s io n o f the k ept it un d e r gu a r d a ll ni ght

pi ctur e , an d

a t t he A g en cy a n d t h e f o ll ow i n g mor n i n g d e l iv e r e d
,

it to M r A g n ew i n h i s state room abo a r d the

.

s te ame r bo un d f o r L ive rpoo l T h e r e wa s n othi ng .

s a i d abo ut the r e cove ry o f t he pi ctur e by a nybo dy

u n ti l it w a s know n th a t t h e E tr ur i a h a d a rr iv e d a t

a n E n g l ish por t On e r e a so n f o r k e epi ng t he m a t

.

t er s o qui e t w as th at i f t h e C u stom H o us e o ffi ce r s
,

w ante d to be d i s ag r e e abl e about it th ey could h ave ,

d ema n d e d th at d uty be p a i d on the pi ctu r e an d ,

whi l e th ey pro bab ly wo uld n o t h ave f or ce d co ll ee

tio n i t mi ght h ave caus ed a g r e at d eal o f unne ce s
,
.

s a ry tro ubl e T h e own e rs a l so f e a r e d t he pi ctu r e

,

mi g ht be sto l en M a ny stor i e s have b een p ubl ishe d

.

t o t h e e ff e ct th a t W orth c am e o u t f ro m E n g l a n d
o n t h e s am e st e am e r w i th Mr A n ew a n d r e tur n e d
g .
,

o n t h e s am e st e a m e r w i th h i m T his is po s itively .

u n tr u e W orth w a s i n Am e ri ca be f or e M r A gn e w
. .

a rriv e d a n d r em a i n e d i n Am e ri ca 10 d ays a f t e r his

,

d ep a rtur e a n d w a s n o t a dvi s e d by e ith e r Sh e e dy or

,

t h e Pi n k e rto n s a s to wh a t st e am e r M r A g n ew r e .

tu rn e d to E ngl an d o n T h e f a ct o f M r A gn ew s . .
’

o r W orth s pr es e n ce i n Am e ri ca w as k ep t e ntir ely

’

f rom eve rybo dy bu t thos e d ir ectly i n te r e ste d a n d ,

W orth l e f t g oi ng b ack to E urop e a s qui etly a s h e

,

a rr iv e d .

It w a s dis cove r e d wh e n M r Pi nk e rto n s aw W or th .

i n Am e ri ca f o r t he firs t t im e i n y e a rs th at h e w a s ,
 ADA M WORT H 39

Ve ry much b r ok en i n h e al th a n d W o rth then to ld

,

h i m he wa s s uff e ri ng f rom a d is e a s e whi ch h e h a d

c o n tr a ct e d i n th e B e l g i um priso n th at h e suffe r e d
,

f ro m vio l e nt h e a d ach e s whi ch w e r e d r ivi ng h i m

,

cr a z y , a n d th at h e o n ly g o t r el i e f wh e n his no se

bl e d whi ch it f r equ ently d i d

, A f te r his r eturn to
.

E u rop e th e firs t tim e h e wrote M r Pi nk erto n a

, .

l ette r stati ng hi s co n di tio n w as wors e th a n eve r

,

be f or e a n d th at h e w a s l i abl e to be f o un d d e a d a t
,

a ny tim e a n d th at i n t h e ev en
, t o f h i s d e ath h e h a d
l e f t an or d e r to be f orw a r d e d to him ( Pink e rton )
f o r a p a r cel whi ch h e co uld cl a im a n d all he a sk e d
, ,

w a s wh ateve r mo n ey w a s g otte n o u t o f i t s h o uld g o

f or th e ben e fit o f his t wo l i ttl e ch i ld r en w ho w e r e ,

a ll h e h a d i n th e wor l d to ca r e f o r a n d wh o k n e w ,

n oth i n g o f his p a st ca r e e r On h i s r etur n to Am e r

.

i ca the s eco n d tim e Mr P i nk e rto n w a s st a rtl e d to

, .

s e e how mu ch h e h a d f a i l e d Wh en h e w e nt ba ck
.

to E n gl a n d he too k hi s chi ld r en a l o ng a n d fitt e d

, ,

up a n i ce ho m e a n d l ive d a c omp a r a t i ve ly qu i e t l i f e
,

up to t h e 8th o f J a n u a ry 19 02 wh en h e qui etly

, ,

p a ss e d a way a f te r much s uffe ri ng H e h ad be en .

tempor a rily l e f t a l o n e by t he nu rs e who o n r eturn , ,

i n g to t he room f oun d him d e a d

, H e l e f t wor d
.

wi th his s o n th a t i n the eve nt o f his d e ath th e f a ct

, ,

sho uld be communi cate d to Mr W A Pi nk erto n . . .

,

a n d his wish e s w e r e ca rri e d o u t .

T h e l a st n ote d crim e whi ch W orth w as co n n e cted

w i th a n d whi ch h as up to this tim e be en a myste ry
, ,

a s n o o n e w as a rr e st e d f o r it a n d it h as n ev e r be e n
,
40 ADA M WO RTH
kn own except by suspi cio n wh o commi tte d t he cri me ,

w a s t h e th e f t f rom a m a i l w a g o n f rom th e Ga r e d a
N or d a p ack ag e tha t was bei ng shippe d to the
,

c r e d i t La N o a i s e Ba nk c o n t in i n i
y , a g n

Fr en ch mo n ey .K eys to th e m ail w a g o n h ad be en
fitte d by W orth a n d t he robbe ry w a s s ucce ss f ully
,

a cc omp l ish e d by him .A ye a r l ate r a s imi la r r ob

be ry w as c om mitte d by W orth at th e s am e p l a ce t he ,

p a cka g e b e in g co n si gn e d to t he s ame b ank and o n ,

t his occa sio n h e s ucce e d e d i n g ett i n g a w ay sa f ely

,

w ith
.
Both o f t he robbe ri es w e re
sh roud e d i n mys tery a n d n o o n e wa s eve r a r r e st e d
,

f o r th em . T h e s e w e r e his l ast r obbe ri es .

In t he d e a th o f Ad a m W orth th e re probably d e
p arte d the g r e ate st i nv ent ive d a ri ng cri mi nal o f
,

mo d e rn tim e s T his m ay be s ai d o f him i n his

.

f avor th at i n t he prosp e ro us d ay
, s whe n he ha d
mo n ey he w a s g en e ro us to a f ault n ev e r le t a
, ,

f ri en d com e to h i m a s eco n d tim e an d he ld o ut a ,

h elpi ng h a n d to eve rybo dy i n d istr ess wh ether i n ,

h i s mo d e o f l i f e or n o t A nybo dy with whom h e

.

h a d a sp e a ki n g a cqu ain ta nce c o ul d a l w ays c om e to

him a nd r eceive a ss i sta n ce wh e n he h ad it in hi s
,

p ow e r to give In all hi s crimi n al ca re e r a n d a ll

.
,

t h e v a rio us crim e s h e c o n nn i tt e d a s h as bee n be f or e

,

sta te d he w a s al w ays p r o u d o f the f act tha t he

,

n eve r committ e d a robb e ry wh e r e t he u s e o f fir e

a rms ha d to be r e sort e d to n o r h a d he ev e r e scap ed

, ,

o r a tt empt e d to e sc ap e f rom custo dy by f or ce o r

j e op a rd i z i ng t he l i f e o f a n o ffi c i al cl aim,
i ng th at a
 ADA M WO RTH 41

m an w ith br a i n s h ad n o ri ght t o ca rry fir e a rms,

th at th e r e w a s al w ays a w ay a n d a b ette r w ay by
,

t h e qui ck ex e r cis e o f th e br a i n
.

Amo n g all the m en t he P i nk e rto ns h ave known

i n a l i f e tim e this m an was the mo st r em a rk ab l e
,

cr imi n a l o f th em all
.