# Looters of the Public Domain/Chapter 9

Chapter IX
IN February, 1904, I returned to Portland, Ore., and calling upon Mr. Mays, gave him full particulars relative to my experience with Secret Service Agent Gallagher, in connection with the Porter letter. Mays made inquiry concerning Mrs. Watson's whereabouts, and I assured him that she was safely located in Southern California, which information seemed to meet with his approval.
He next asked about Heney; if I had met him in San Francisco, and as to my opinion of his legal ability. As a reply I told Mays that I had attended the preliminary hearing before United States Commissioner Heacock, at San Francisco, wherein F. A. Hyde, John A. Benson, Joost H. Schneider and Henry P. Dimond were accused of conspiracy to defraud the Government of its public lands, and had passed the better portion of two days in the courtroom; that I followed Heney closely in his examination of witnesses, and found him to be most thorough in detail, as well as rigid and severe at times; that his points of law were well taken in almost every instance, being sustained repeatedly by the Court, and that, notwithstanding the fact that several of San Francisco's most eminent attorneys were arrayed against him in behalf of the defendants, Heney seemed to be drawing blood with every stroke of the mallet. I had no hesitancy in telling Mays that I should be exceedingly well pleased if the Government could find it convenient to substitute someone else in Heney's place.
Mays shared my opinion relative to the Government prosecutor, having instituted a quiet inquiry concerning him on his own account, and stated that he had been informed that Heney was one of the best lawyers in the country, being especially formidable on Federal law by reason of his familiarity with the statutes while United States Attorney for Arizona during President Cleveland's administration. Mays mentioned the fact of Heney having been appointed Special Assistant to the United States Attorney-General, through the influence of Attorney-General Knox, and remarked that he must, of necessity, be a man of superior qualifications, else he could not have otherwise been so honored. All in all, Mays was frank in his admission that Heney would be a "hard customer" to go up against, and that under the circumstances it would be advisable for him to remain in the background when our case came to trial, and not undertake to openly represent me as counsel on account of its liability to involve him in trouble. He much preferred to be my "silent attorney," as he expressed it, relying altogether upon his personal influence with United States Attorney John H. Hall to defeat the ends of justice.
Mays suggested that I engage Judge Martin L. Pipes, of Portland, as my chief counsel, classing him properly as one of the ablest local lawyers. He remarked incidentally that he, also, might be called to account for some of his land transactions, and that in the event of an indictment being returned against ​him by the Federal Grand Jury, he would probably secure the services of Judge Pipes as his associate counsel, and would therefore esteem it a favor if I would also get him in the case with a view of familiarizing him with the issues.
While there is no question that Judge Pipes is one of the best lawyers in Oregon, and a man of sterling integrity besides, it struck me that Mays was saying one word in my behalf and making a whole Fourth of July speech for himself when he was so anxious that I should break Judge Pipes in with reference to the details of the case.
"If Hall should continue to have full swing," said Mays, "I shall not fear the outcome; but should this man Heney gain control of the reins, there is no telling where we might all land."
In discussing the situation further, he told me about having received private information to the effect that in addition to Col. A. R. Greene, Special Inspector, Department of the Interior, the Government had placed a large number of other Secret Service men in the field, who were making a systematic and thorough search for evidence against the accused, more particularly with reference to the 11-7 case.
This information caused me no end of worry, as there were ten people implicated in the fraudulent claims, and should the Government agents succeed in getting a confession from one or more of them, I felt that the jig was up. Mays, however, anticipated no trouble from this source, even though we should be indicted, contending that three years having elapsed since the transfer by deed to Mrs. Emma L. Watson through the original entrymen, the Government was barred by the statute of limitations in any criminal action.
I felt greatly relieved upon learning this, as I had the utmost confidence in Mr. Mays' legal opinions at that time. It has since transpired that he was very much mistaken in his assumptions, as we were afterwards indicted and convicted for our part in the 11-7 deal, the Court holding that the statute of limitations did not commence to run until three years after the issuance of patents.
Feeling thus secure, so far as the possibility of any indictment in the 11-7 case was concerned, our conversation drifted to the indictment involving us in the six fraudulent entries in 24-1. I had no hesitancy in assuring Mays that there was no occasion for apprehension there, as the six names constituting the supposed original entrymen were purely fictitious, hence the Government agents would find it uphill work to locate any of the claimants, thereby rendering it impossible for them to secure a confession.
These agents, no doubt, could find numerous persons who would make affidavit to the fact that they had never seen the alleged entrymen on or near the tracts embraced in their homesteads, but what would all that amount to when it became a question as to their actual existence and our criminal liability, I reasoned.
Mays was not so confident that my position was absolutely tenable unless Marie Ware, who was United States Commissioner at the time the final proofs were supposed to have been made before her, should stand pat. If, as Mays declared, Miss Ware could be relied upon to play her part, and Mrs. Watson was kept out of the way, he agreed that under those circumstances there was nothing to borrow trouble about.
Some days later I called upon Mays again and acquainted him with the contents of a letter just received from Mrs. Watson, in which she informed me of her intention to leave Southern California for Chicago very soon, and for me to communicate with her there. He was much perturbed to learn of this unexpected move, and expressed the opinion that she was displaying a degree of recklessness that was extremely dangerous. He insisted that I refrain from writing to her, as that would amount to certain detection, but instead that I should take the first train for the East, and upon my arrival in Chicago, that I insist upon her going to Canada, or one of the Southeastern cities, whichever she preferred.
​To return to Chicago at this particular time signified that I must sacrifice certain interests demanding my immediate attention on the Coast, some of which were of great importance to me personally; but rather than have it said that because of any seeming negligence on my part the capture of Mrs. Watson had been effected, I decided to adopt Mr. Mays' suggestion in the matter, and left for Chicago immediately, going by way of San Francisco, where I visited my home in Berkeley for a few days only, arriving in Chicago about March 20, and stopping at the New Southern Hotel.
At noon of the day following my arrival, I called at the postoffice for my mail, which I had ordered forwarded from Portland, and upon presenting myself at the general delivery window, whom should I see once more but my old friend Gallagher, of the gumshoe fraternity. The Secret Service man eyed me complacently as I repeated the name of S. A. D. Puter when inquiring for my mail, and I felt no surprise, upon leaving the building, to discover that I was not without company, for sure enough, the faithful Government sleuth was close at my heels.
The thought of meeting Gallagher at this time was not altogether a pleasant one, especially since I had received, among other letters, one from Mrs. Watson advising me through whom I might be able to secure information as to her whereabouts.
If he was familiar with the contents of this letter—as Government detectives, it is assumed, experience little difficulty in gaining knowledge of this character—I felt the necessity of being more cautious than ever regarding my movements. To see Mrs. Watson, and that, too, immediately, was most imperative; but to attempt to locate the person whose name was referred to in her communication would be sheer folly so long as Gallagher was on my trail. However, there was no personal danger involved, as Mrs. Watson, and not myself, was the one wanted, so it only remained for me to give the Secret Service man the slip, a feat that I had accomplished successfully so many times before.
Walking leisurely about for a time, I decided to try the street car route, so boarded a south-bound car on Wabash Avenue. My effort, however, on this occasion availed me nothing, as Gallagher succeeded in getting aboard with me and taking a position that gave him a good view of all my actions.
Taking advantage of a temporary suspension of traffic by reason of some obstruction, I left the car we were on and took the first one north-bound, with the Government sleuth in close pursuit.
After alighting, I walked into the Palmer House and registered. I then went to my room and after remaining a few minutes, decided to make another effort. Gallagher, who had been watching for me in the hallway, accompanied me in my descent by the elevator. Walking out of the hotel and north on State to Madison Street, I hesitated on the corner to speak to a hack driver, which was a ruse on my part to determine the whereabouts of the detective, whom I discovered to be close at hand.
I then walked over to Wabash Avenue again very slowly and apparently unconcerned, that I might, if possible, induce him to slacken pace also, and as luck would have it, I discerned a car on the corner which was about to start south. Seeing my opportunity, I waited until the car was well under way, when I made a tremendous sprint and succeeded in catching it on the next corner just as it was about to start again.
Glancing back I could see Gallagher coming for all he was worth, with umbrella in one hand and hat in the other, both of which he was waving in frantic fashion and shouting at the top of his voice for the car to stop.
Realizing that his efforts might prove successful, I hurriedly extracted a dollar bill from my pocket book, and handing it to the conductor, remarked that it was important for me to reach home with all possible dispatch on account of illness in my family.
The "serious illness" was not of long duration, however, and there was a convalescence as soon as I noticed that Gallagher had given up the chase; so I alighted immediately, and in this instance it was my turn to do the trailing. as I had noticed that he was retracing his steps in the direction of Madison Street.
Noting that he turned the corner, I followed him as far as the Palmer House, and knowing that I was safe from pursuit for the time being, I struck out to locate Mrs. Watson's friend, through whom I was to ascertain her whereabouts. Luck favoring me, I was soon in possession of the desired information, and proceeded forthwith to her boarding house on North Dearborn Street, in the vicinity of Jackson Park, where I learned that Mrs. Watson had just stepped into the dining room for luncheon.
Presenting my name to the landlady, and stating that I was a friend of Mrs. Watson's from California, I was ushered into the parlor and she was notified of my presence.
My visit on this occasion covered a period of about two hours, in the course of which I related my experience with (jallagher and suggested that she leave Chicago without delay. She was visibly afifected by the proposition, and it was plain to be seen that she was not at all enthusiastic on the subject.
"Here I am," said she in mournful tones, "fearing almost to venture on the street, say nothing about visiting the city, and this condition has been my lot for fully three months. This thing of eluding detectives at every turn has become unbearable," she went on, and I could see plainly that she was on the verge of giving it up as a lost cause and surrendering without any further ceremony. From her conversation and manner I perceived that I was up against a hard problem, but it was not for me to quit at this stage of the game, nor could I permit her to entertain such a thought, either. It became incumbent upon me to reason with her, and convince her that quick action was absolutely necessary. Had I attempted to frighten her into going away, it would have been all off, as lack of confidence is destructive to courage, and at this trying juncture she must be possessed of both.
After parleying for some time in an effort to determine just where Mrs. Watson should go, she finally consented to take her departure, providing her destination should be New York, where she stated that a number of her friends and acquaintances resided. I assented readily to the plan, and expressed the wish that she leave on the evening train, to which she demurred, promising that if I would not insist upon her going at once she would gladly remain indoors, thus avoiding any possible chance of detection.
Not wishing to appear arbitrary in the matter, I assured Mrs. Watson that I coincided with her views, whereupon I bade her good-bye and took my departure, after arranging to call again soon, and returned to the Palmer House.
I saw nothing more of my friend Gallagher that afternoon, nor did he put in an appearance on the day following, which convinced me that our race for the street car on Wabash Avenue had settled the question with him. I learned afterwards that h6 had reported to headquarters that I was too swift for him. and had suggested that one more, fleet of foot be detailed on the case if the Government hoped to effect a capture.
The absence of Gallagher, however, did not eliminate the cautiousness that I had observed from the beginning. In truth, his non-appearance furnished me with just cause for alarm, as I realized that beyond the question of any doubt the vacancy would be filled without delay, and in the absence of anv knowledge of the sleuth who might be shadowing me at that very moment, a greater danger confronted me than any yet experienced.
On the following morning I decided to call upon Mrs. Watson again, but before making the attempt, I enlisted the services of a friend to follow me for ​awhile with a view of finding out, if possible, whether detectives were on the scent or not. All the details as to where I should go and when I should start were arranged in advance. At no time was 1 to appear concerned, nor was I to look behind me, but simply proceed on my way, apparently oblivious to all surroundings—my friend was to do the rest.
It was discovered from the start that I was being trailed, this time by a younger and more likely man, who proved to be Elmer A. Gorman, a Secret Service operative. There was no more running after me. The tactics adopted by Gallagher were discarded by the new man, who employed more modern methods in the effort to keep me in sight and locate Mrs. Watson's hiding-place.
Whenever I boarded a street car and my new "shadow" found it impossible to reach it without attracting attention, he would quietly take the next—the one ahead being always in sight—and by occupying a front seat, could watch all my movements and be governed accordingly. This process consumed the better part of two hours, when T returned to my hotel, followed shortly afterward by mv friend, who gave me full details concerning the maneuvers of the detective. In view of the situation, I concluded that it would be unsafe for me to call upon Mrs. Watson until evening, when I felt confident that I could meet her without great danger of being observed.
Dusk having arrived, I determined to give the detective the slip, and favored the elevator route again. Being familiar with quite a number of the larger buildings in Chicago, several of which possess from two to four elevators, I walked directly to one in mind, ascended to the fifth floor, and taking the elevator furtherest away from the point of entrance, I descended and soon found myself on another street.
Not being entirely satisfied, and to avoid all possible detection, I boarded a West Side elevated car, and after riding about a mile, doubled back for quite a distance, this time taking a surface car and transferring to one traveling north on Clark street. In this way I soon arrived at Mrs. Watson's apartments, where I found her in a very gloomy state of mind, and much as she felt when I left her the day previously.
She seemed to feel that she was being dreadfully imposed upon, and while I was in no position to deny her claim, at the same time I dared not admit it. I explained, of course, that her present condition was brought about by a combination of circumstances, through which she was made to suffer more than was her rightful due, but that this same situation might have easily befallen any of the others against whom indictments had been returned; hence, since the die was cast, it was her duty to stand pat, and to maintain the same position assumed by her associates in the transaction.
I reminded her that the Government's case would go by the board without her testimony, but that, if she were discovered, the news of her capture would be heralded broadcast throughout the country, and would go down in history as one of the most sensational episodes connected with the trials of the land fraud ring.
My arguments in favor of her leaving Chicago at once were to all appearances having a telling effect. If there was one thing that Mrs. Watson detested more than another, it was notoriety. She would avoid it at any cost, and it required but little further persuasion on my part to secure a promise that she would not ask to remain but a few days longer. Upon leaving for my hotel, she assured me that she would think the matter over, and that I might call for her answer on the following day.
Returning to the Palmer House, I settled my bill and engaged a room at the Grace Hotel, registering under my correct name. I was hardly settled in my new quarters when I discovered that my identity was known to the detective who had supplanted Gallagher. It mattered not where I went, the Secret Service man was right after me, but I did not mind this so much so long as I could keep Mrs. Watson under cover.
​Next morning I went to the express office and secured a telescope basket for which Mrs. Watson had given me an order the night before, and which I was to either send or bring to her when opportunity offered. In the meantime, I placed it in my room for safekeeping.
I then made some purchases around town, kept a few business engagements, and visited an occasional friend, after which I spent the day about the city, with little or nothing to do but kill time. I felt that it would be unwise for me to attempt to deliver the telescope basket that evening, as the Government sleuth was within ten feet of me when I took it from the express office, and therefore let it remain in my room.
Before boarding a car for the North Side, I walked about for something over an hour in the effort to locate the detective, but he was nowhere to be seen, so I concluded that for once I was not being watched. Quickly walking over to Clark street, I lost no time in reaching Mrs. Watson's boarding-house, where I remained but a few minutes, securing her promise to take her departure for New York City on the following evening.
Upon arriving at my hotel, I found the "gumshoe" man in conversation with some other person, whom I afterwards learned was also a detective, and had been delegated to assist in trailing me, and, if possible, to capture Mrs. Watson.
I was up bright and early the next morning, although for no apparent purpose, except a natural anxiety to get Mrs. Watson safely away on her journey. I was ill at ease, and time lagged heavily on my hands until nightfall, when I hoped to make final arrangements for Mrs. Watson's departure and at the same time deliver the telescope basket to her.
After dinner that evening, I passed some time in the neighborhood of the hotel office, thinking by that process I would be able to ascertain if I was being trailed, and find out if possible who my pursuers were. I wondered if it could be possible that the sleuths had neglected me for the moment, as I believed they had done on the night before. However, the way seemed clear enough, and as I must get to Mrs. Watson's apartments without further delay and assist in spiriting her out of the city, I decided to make the attempt.
Going to my room, I secured the fateful telescope basket, and descending a stairway from the second floor that led to the basement, I experienced little or no difficulty in reaching the streeet. When I took a car on State Street for the North Side, I was pleased to observe that no one but myself had boarded it at that particular point, and after scrutinizing the passengers closely, became convinced that there were no Secret Service men around.
Everything looked so easy for me, in fact, that I really became quite nervous. I could not understand it. I knew that they wanted Mrs. Watson, and that they hoped to locate her through me. Why, then, should I be permitted to leave my hotel on two different occasions, one evening after the other, without being followed by one or more of these detectives? The entire proceeding appeared mystical in a way.
While thus meditating, the conductor called out the name of a certain street, and as the car was stopping in answer to the signal from one of the passengers, it occurred to me that I, too, might alight at the same place, although still several squares from Mrs. Watson's boarding-house. However clear the coast seemed, I could not separate myself from the idea that somehow, and in a manner entirely unexpected, these "wise men" of Uncle Sam had determined upon some carefully devised plan whereby they hoped to thwart my efforts to conceal the whereabouts of the one they were so anxious to capture.
Stepping off the car, I walked two blocks west to Clark Street and took the first north-bound car. Here, again, if I may judge from surface indications, there was nothing to fear, so I rode to a point exactly one block west of Mrs. Watson's stopping-place. After alighting, I walked east a block, and crossing the street continued ahead until I came to the side entrance of the ​boarding-house, and went direct to Mrs. Watson's apartments. Upon delivering the telescope basket. I asked if everything was in readiness for her journey, at the same time handing her a ticket to New York.
"Yes, and no," replied Mrs. Watson. "I was all ready, but Miss————, who is going as far as Boston with me, finds it impossible to leave until tomorrow night, and I do not wish to go without her. Besides," she continued, "I have several articles of clothing that should have been delivered before this, but which have not yet arrived, and it cannot hurt for me to remain one day longer."
It was a woman's way, and there was no help for it. I was sorely vexed and disappointed to learn of this change in my plans, as I expected to go to Milwaukee early the next morning on business of importance, and I disliked the thought of going away until Mrs. Watson was safely out of the city. I reasoned with her, on the plea that she should show some consideration for the seriousness of our position, and carry out her agreement with me of the night before; that I had lost considerable time already in perfecting arrangements for her departure, and that, in all fairness to me, she should leave Chicago without further delay.
She was obdurate, however, and could not see that my objections to her remaining over were well taken, as she argued that I, not she, was largely responsible for her predicament, and that my demand for her immediate departure was not based upon reason. On the other hand, she thought I should be congratulating myself for the manner in which she was protecting me, instead of upbraiding her in this fashion for what I was pleased to term her seeming negligence and lack of interest.
It was no use to discuss the matter any further, as Mrs. Watson was determined not to leave that night, but she promised faithfully to go on the afternoon or evening train of the next day.
Returning to my room at the hotel, I busied myself with studying out a plan of action for my own observance on the morrow. I resolved to go to Milwaukee by the early morning train, but questioned the advisability of remaining there over night while everything was so upset, as I wanted the matter of Mrs. Watson's departure entirely off my mind, and considered it best that I should be present when she left. I concluded, therefore, to go to Milwaukee as outlined, transact what business I could, and return again during the afternoon, and this plan was subsequently executed.
My thoughts, as I neared Chicago on my return, can better be imagined than described. The trip to Milwaukee, while it consumed only a few hours, had been highly successful, and I felt in buoyant spirits as the train speeded along in the direction of the "Windy City."
We were approaching a station, the brakes had been applied, and even now the train was slowing up. The brakies were busy once more, and as they passed through, announcing in strenuous tones, "Evanston!—next stop! Evanston!—next stop!" an occasional passenger would rouse himself and make ready to take his leave. To me, however, this stir and tumult was of little moment. My thoughts were centered upon the one idea of getting Mrs. Watson safely away, and although I felt highly elated over the financial outcome of my trip, the subject of her presence in the city under the circumstances was the skeleton at my feast.
Soon the suburban town of Evanston was reached, and the great iron monster had hardly ceased its throbbings. when there was a din and confusion outside that rose high above the natural tumult around the depot. It was the "newsies" shouting out the different features of the evening papers, and as one great army they clamored about in noisy demonstration. Every passenger by this time had become inoculated with their enthusiasm, and from window and platform were fast dissipating the youngsters' stock in trade.
What a chorus of voices! I thought, but paid little heed to the inharmony of sound until one shrill shout aroused me from my lethargy and seemed to chill every drop of blood in my veins.
"All about the sensational capture of Mrs. Watson!"
"Here's your latest about the woman millionaire in jail!"
"Full particulars of the capture of the land fraud queen!"
And so on, until, sick at heart and bewildered in mind, I re-entered the car and took my seat, after vainly endeavoring to purchase a paper. "Sold out!" was the answer that greeted me on every hand, and for once I was left.
Oh, well, thought I, "sour grapes," and for the moment I did not care to read. Then came the reaction, and appreciating the seriousness of the situation I was determined to learn the truth.
"That paper, son!" I exclaimed to a young man sitting directly in front of me, and suiting the action to the word, I grabbed it from his hands.
"But it's mine!" was his alarmed rejoinder, as he tugged at it with jealous instincts.
"It don't make any difference," was my frantic answer. "I must have it!" and tossing him a coin as a balm to his injured feelings, I continued more soothingly, "there's your money back—just keep the change"—and I had my way.
Talk about headlines! Whoever made them up for this paper was certainly a past master in the art. They were the most glaring I ever beheld, and the combination of different colored inks reminded me of the varied hues of a rainbow. And then the body of the article! Why, it would have done credit to one of "Nick Carter's" most bloodthirsty tales!
Mrs. Watson was described as a woman of wonderous beauty and captivating manner, who had surrounded herself with a desperate gang of border ​ruffians who made her homested claim in Township 11-7 their constant rendez-vous, when not making incursions into the neighboring settlements and tearing Uncle Sam's land up by the roots and running off with it to their mountain fastness.
According to this pen picture, she had defrauded the Government out of millions of acres, and there were columns of details showing how she had been systematically operating for years.
To me the description was ludicrous. As a matter of fact, she had acted in perfect good faith in all her transactions, and although mixed up in a way in some of the land frauds, it was on account of being imposed upon by her friends.
As to the pictures of Mrs. Watson appearing in the Chicago papers, there was no more of a resemblance to her than of some mythical person. The only authentic photograph of Mrs. Watson that has ever been printed appears in these pages, and it shows that she is anything but the gaudy creature portrayed in the columns of the enterprising Chicago newspapers. The description of her wearing apparel was also absurd. Although known by her friends to dress in good taste, she was depicted as wearing exquisite gowns, and fairly dazzling with diamonds, with hat fully thirty inches wide, and an ostrich plume a yard long. The fact, is, what purported to be a picture of Mrs. Watson was none other than that of some swell actress dressed for the occasion.
It was now close to 5 o'clock and we were nearing Chicago. My first step upon reaching the city had been fully determined upon, and no sooner had the train stopped than I was on my way to an attorney's office. I handed him the evening paper, and after acquainting him with the circumstances attending Mrs. Watson's flight from California, her stay in Chicago and her plans for going on to New York, requested that he see her at once and learn the facts connected with her capture, after which he was to report to me.
In less than two hours he returned with the statement that Mrs. Watson had been arrested by Secret Service men of the Government about 9 o'clock in the morning; that she had been "sweated" by some of the best detectives in the service and had borne up under their inquisition with great fortitude, absolutely refusing to talk or be interviewed, and that at the present time she was in charge of the matron at the North Side Dearborn street jail. He informed me further that she had expressed an intention to waive all rights to any preliminary hearing; would not fight extradition, and wished to return to Oregon at once. From another source he learned that in conformity with Mrs. Watson's expressed desire, she would be sent back in charge of a deputy United States Marshal, and in all probability would leave the next evening.
With this information at hand, there was nothing more for me to do that night, as I also learned through my attorney that positive instructions had been given the matron not to permit anyone to see or converse with Mrs. Watson, and that this order was to apply particularly to one S. A. D. Puter.
The next morning I found that all the papers were teeming with the story about the capture of Mrs. Watson. It was the talk of the city, in fact, and I wondered how a matter of that kind should create so much local interest. The press, no doubt, was largely responsible for conditions in that respect, as the photographs of several of America's noted "beauties," not one of whom represented the real Mrs. Watson, graced the front pages of nearly all the morning dailies, and were supposed to be reproductions of her classic features.
Few, indeed, who could have been able to resist a desire to gaze on such loveliness of face and figure as portrayed by the newspapers. She became a momentary sensation on that account, and the remarks of the morning papers were like fuel to the flames created by the evening papers of the night before. Her exploits alone, as detailed so graphically by the clever reporters, were sufficient to promote the fondest admiration in the hearts of brave men, some of whom would have no doubt been extremely willing to furnish bonds in any amount.
"That woman should never have been jugged!" declared a fierce-looking Southerner, as his admiring glances rested upon the classic features of Maxine Elliott.
"I should say not!" echoed a big Westerner, with equal indignation, as he fixed his gaze longingly in the direction of a picture of Edna May that appeared in another paper.
"It's a downright shame!" chorused a third, riveting his affectionate attention upon the beautiful brow of Maud Adams. For the boarding-house at which Mrs. Watson stopped, which was described in the papers as one of the most fashionable in the city, the advertisement alone must have been worth a small fortune, and I have no doubt that prices were advanced accordingly.
Old Oregon itself came in for a goodly share of praise, for if such as the Watson woman could be found in great quantity within her borders, the State Immigration Commissioner's office might just as well be dispensed with, and Western feminine loveliness, instead of the wonderful commercial, mineral and agricultural resources of the country, should be held out as a sufficient allurement to attract the masculine attention of all nations.
My next move, after digesting the contents of the newspapers, was to call upon my attorney once more and request him to make. another visit to Mrs. Watson and assure her that I approved her plan of returning to Portland without offering legal resistance; also that I would leave for Portland myself within 24 hours, and would arrange the matter of bail for her immediately upon my arrival.
Up to this time I had no knowledge whatsoever concerning the method of her capture, and proceeded to interest myself in that direction. This was no easy matter, as I soon discovered, as it was impossible for me to gain anything definite from the newspapers bearing upon the subject, and I recognized the. futility of trying to find out anything through the Secret Service branch of the Government.
Fortunately, I met the friend who had assisted me so ably by shadowing the sleuth who was trailing me on the morning of my second visit to Mrs. Watson's apartments, and to him I related my tale of woe.
"Wait until noon," said he. "and I believe I shall be able to place you in a position to secure this information, provided you work things just right."
After outlining his plan, which appealed to me very forcibly, I improved the interim by refreshing my memory relative to various names, places of interest and dates that seemed apropos to the scheme, and at the appointed hour was on hand at a certain cafe, where a few moments later myself and friend were joined by a third person, who had dropped in for his customary noon-day refreshment. The formalities of an introduction over, I suggested that we might all indulge in a round of drinks.
While they were being served, our conversation gradually turned to the Emma Watson case. I held a morning paper in my hand, which I apparently unconsciously unfolded, and gazing with some degree of intentness upon the supposed likeness of the subject of our discussion, took occasion to comment upon her wonderful beauty, and express sympathy that one of her apparent refinement and culture should be placed in such an unfortunate position.
"Yes, she's a corker all right," remarked my new acquaintance, "but." lie continued with a smile, "that doesn't happen to be her picture."
"Oh, you are acquainted with the lady, then?" I remarked, in an oft'hand manner.
"Well, yes, somewhat," he replied with a peculiar expression. "And I tell you she is a brick at that."
"You see," chipped in my friend, "this gentleman is in the Secret Service department of the Government, and is generally pretty wise on matters of this kind." ​"Oh, ho," I answered, "in that event you probably know all about the case."
I then shifted the subject of our conversation, and having learned in advance that my new acquaintance had come to Chicago some years before from a certain town that I was very familiar with, I managed to drift that way without arousing suspicion. He asked, of course, when I was there last, whom I knew, and all about the old place, and the questions being answered to his entire satisfaction, he insisted that we take luncheon together for old time's sake. My friend found it convenient to have an important engagement at this point, so the Secret Service man and myself were left alone.
Another drink was in order, another word or two about the old town, and still another smile. We were good friends by this time. He liked my style and said so, with wonderful frequency, and it was not long before we had formed a mutual admiration society. I admitted, in fact, that since my boyhood days I had always entertained the highest regard for detectives—especially great ones like himself—and went on and related how my youthful mind had been fired by reading tales of the daring achievements of "Old Sleuth," "Hawkshaw," "Sherlock Holmes," Vidocq, and a host of other human ferrets, too numerous to mention.
Still another drink, and we sat down to luncheon, and while waiting for our order, the newspaper, which I had retained in my hand, was again unfolded.
"That Watson woman must be a 'hummer,'" I remarked, by way of opening the conversation.
"More than that," was his prompt reply. "Do you know," he continued, "she is looked upon as one of the cleverest we have ever nabbed. That man Puter, too, is the best ever. Why, sir, he has fooled some of the best men we have over there," nodding his head in the direction of Secret Service headquarters.
"How do you account for it?" I asked.
"No accountin'," he replied.
I had been introduced to him under the name of Lawrence, and the ice having been broken, the story was soon told: How Puter had spent several days in the city, and had, it was believed, visited the Watson woman every day. Of this, he said, they had no positive knowledge, but they did know to a certainty that he managed to shake the detectives wherever and whenever he saw fit, which fact was beyond comprehension, as Puter had no idea he was being trailed. Nevertheless they would lose him in the shufi:le every time.
"Our captain put up with it just so long, but finally lost all patience one night when his operative reported back that Puter had disappeared as if swallowed up by the earth. He described how he had trailed Puter to a certain point, when all trace of the quarry was lost, so the captain decided to supplant this man with another, and later put two of our boys on Puter's trail.
"One of them thought Puter was 'wise,' but the other disagreed with him, and in order to settle the matter, instead of going into Puter's hotel, they stationed themselves at a convenient distance where they could observe everyone going in and out, and at the same time be free from observation.
"They did not have long to wait before their man appeared, and following him at a safe distance, they felt confident of their ability to locate the whereabouts of Mrs. Watson before many hours.. They had reckoned without their host, however, as he vanished like a mirage.
"About two hours later, while sitting in the hotel office, they noticed Puter come in and go up to his room, and from that moment they never lost sight of him, until the next morning when they were relieved and permitted to rest up for the work of another night.
"Now, sir, this is where they get in, or rather, when they locate her hiding-place. When Puter came out of the hotel that night, he held a grip in his hand, and emerged from a side entrance leading- from the basement. It was a sure shot that he was 'wise,' for he walked around for some time before he brought ​the grip out with him, seemingly in an effort to determine whether he was being watched. It was all apparent that he felt satisfied with the situation, at the same time, wishing to avoid any possible chance of detection, he took the precaution to come out by the basement route.
"Our boys then watched Puter until he took a north-bound car on State street, when they boarded the next one and fixed it with the motorman to make the best time he could, and if possible catch up with the car ahead. This could not be done on account of the numerous stops, but nevertheless, they were close enough behind to see Puter alight, and were sure of their man on account of the grip he was carrying. They followed him then over to Clark street, and also saw him take another North-bound car. Again they followed, taking the next car and working the motorman as before. The grip was playing an important part now. and was a target for their observation. When within four blocks of the car ahead of them, they noticed that it stopped, and a man got off with grip in hand and walking in an easterly direction.
"One of the boys also alighted and went east on a street just three blocks south of the one Puter was on, making the first corner in time to see him cross over and continue east, our man doing likewise, but when he reached the next corner, Puter was nowhere in sight.
"Our other man had continued north on the Clark street car to a point one block north of the street upon which Puter had alighted, he, too, going east. In due time our boys came together; and it was decided that the one they were after must be within two or three blocks, so they looked up all the likely places, visiting private hotels and boarding-houses, until they finally located their party.
"Giving an accurate description of Mrs. Watson, one of our boys inquired if any person answering that description was stopping there, and upon receiving an affirmative answer, they took the landlady into their confidence, assuring her that they would create no disturbance, nor would any arrest be made that night, but that they must be given quarters in her house, convenient to those of Mrs. Watson. This was agreed to, and she was not molested that night.
"Puter left shortly afterward, and one of our boys trailed him to his hotel, later reporting to headquarters all that had occurred, and then returned to Mrs. Watson's stopping-place accompanied by the Captain, who approved all that had been done, and instructed his men to keep a close watch on the Watson woman until they received further instructions. Nothing else was done until the next morning, and Mrs. Watson was permitted to eat her breakfast as usual, little thinking that she was dining in the same room with her prospective captors.
"At 9 o'clock that morning, Captain Porter called in person at Mrs. Watson's apartments, and knocking at the door, was admitted by the lady herself. Ts this Mrs. Watson?' he asked. 'It is.' was the reply; 'what can I do for you?The Captain informed her that he had a warrant for her arrest, and she simply said, 'AH right, I will go with you,' and putting on her hat, she accompanied him to headquarters.
goes to Oregon, Cap., and send two of the best along, for if Puter and McKinley get next, they will have her off that train in a jiffy, even if they have to hold it up. "The Watson woman sat there listening to every word that Gallagher uttered but she never batted an eye until he had finished his spiel. Then she arose, and going straight up to him, she looked him square in the eye before the whole bunch of detectives, and said: T guess, sir, that the United States Marshal is amply capable of taking care of me without your assistance. Do you realize, sir, that it is a woman you are talking about? By what right do you interfere? What have you done to effect my capture? Not a single thing! You it was who trailed Mr. Puter for weeks, but to what avail? You it was who tried to locate me, but with what success? These, sir, (pointing to the two lads that were with the Captain when he brought her in) are the gentlemen who captured me, and to whom all credit is due; and it is for them, not you, to say when I shall be deported, and in what manner.'
​"Finishing her outburst of indignation, in which she made no attempt to conceal her disgust for Gallagher, Mrs. Watson turned around and resumed her seat like a queen, amidst the silent applause of all present. She had won their hearts hands down, and as the clatter of voices could be heard once more, Gallagher could be seen making a quiet sneak, with the air of one who refused to be comforted."
Luncheon finished, there was nothing further for me to do but to make my leave-taking from my new-found friend as pleasant as possible, which I did with the best grace at my command.
Returning to the office of my attorney, I learned that all arrangements had been perfected for Mrs. Watson's return to Oregon that night, accompanied by Deputy United States Marshal Milton, a gentleman fully 65 years of age. who was one of the most trusted men in the Government service. I then sent word to her through my attorney that I should also probably leave for Portland the same evening or the following morning, at the very latest.
Upon my arrival in Portland I ascertained that Mrs. Watson had reached the city the evening before, and was stopping at the Imperial Hotel, having furnished cash bond in the sum of $4,000 as soon as she got there.
I was somewhat surprised, in calling upon Mrs. Watson at the hotel, to find her in excellent spirits. She had enjoyed the trip immensely, she said, and was greatly pleased with the kind consideration shown her by Deputy Marshal Milton, whom she declared was a gallant escort.
Some weeks later, while discussing the arrest of Mrs. Watson with an old acquaintance who happened to be in the Government service, I was considerably amused to learn of Col. A. R. Greene's wild-goose chase across the continent in response to the first news of her capture. The Special Inspector of the Department of the Interior was of that calibre who fancied that everything would go wrong unless he were consulted upon an important matter of this character.
Rushing to his room as soon as he got word that Mrs. Watson had been apprehended, he bundled what wearing apparel he could get hold of in his haste, and made a break for the railroad depot.
"First-class ticket for Chicago!" he thundered. "Never mind the Pullman—I can get that on board. Oh, yes; my change—I nearly forgot that," and he bolted through the gate like the belated fragment of a Kansas cyclone, with his billygoat whiskers streaming behind as a fluttering farewell. The train seemed to creep along with snailish speed to the one whose vivid imagination led him to believe that everything would be at a standstill until he got there. His eagerness knew no bounds, and the Windy City had no sooner been reached than he jumped into a waiting cab and was away like a flash for the United States Marshal's office, where his animated appearance created no end of surprise.
"Why, hello, Greene, old boy; how are you?" came from one.
"Thought you were out in Oregon?" chimed in another.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the old man himself," echoed a third, and being more bold than the others, he ventured to ask:
"What brings you here, Colonel?"
"Oh, nothing much," he replied with an air of nonchalance; "just came to take her back, that's all."
"Take who back?" came a chorus of voices.
"Why, the woman we have been hunting for these many moons, of course—Mrs. Watson, the land fraud queen, to be sure!"
Then they all gave him the horse-laugh, until one, in the pity of his heart, broke the sad news to the famous Government sleuth, and told him how she had been gone long enough to be pretty near home by this time, and that he had had his labor for his pains in coming after her.
​My informant assured me that the Colonel's face took on a look of decomposed woe when he heard this news. He gasped for breath, and complained about the sultriness of Chicago climate, while a sickly, castor oil smile played around his features.
To think, after he had become reconciled to the fact that his bird had flown, that the Marshal should have had the utmost disregard for the fitness of things by sending her on that long journey accompanied by a man of fully 65 summers, and the Lord only knows how many winters! It was preposterous, and he would look into the matter.
"He will never land her there!" ejaculated the Colonel vehemently, "Never, sir! never! You ought to have sent at least two, if not three, of your best men back with her. Captain, or else have waited until I got here—-you should have known that I was coming for her," he added sorrowfully, and once more his countenance assumed a mournful expression.
It made him sore to think that he should have made the trip all the way from Portland only to learn that Mrs. Watson had passed him while en route, and might even now be in the "Rose City," providing she had not been rescued from the law's clutches by a desperate gang of land frauders, headed by the notorious Puter and McKinley.
Several days after Colonel Greene returned to Portland, the question of his whereabouts became a topic of serious consideration around the United States Marshal's office. He had been traced to Chicago, and the dispatch from that point was very emphatic in the declaration that he had left there on the very evening of his arrival, presumably for the Oregon metropolis. This was a week ago, but no Col. Greene had put in an appearance. Could anything have happened to him? was the question of the hour. Some were inclined to believe that either Puter or McKinley—and perhaps both—were responsible for his absence, while others were unkind enough to hint that he might have been kidnapped by Marie Ware, and it was even suggested that the Government should put sleuths or bloodhounds on his trail, with a view of ascertaining the facts.
The truth came out at last, when one of his intimates gave the whole snap away. The Colonel felt so sore on account of having had his labor for his pains, that when he got back to Portland he was afraid to face the music, and had virtually crawled into a hole and pulled the hole in after him. In other words, he had sought the seclusion granted by his private apartments, and was not at home to anybody until after the affair blew over.
After my interview with Mrs. Watson at the Imperial Hotel, I concluded to call on my attorney, Mr. Mays, but hesitated in doing so, as I knew that he would hold me responsible for her capture and blame me accordingly in the absence of any knowledge of conditions. With this thought in mind, and being in no humor to invite his displeasure and consequent reprimand, I remained away from his office until the second day after my return, and felt greatly relieved, when I did call, to learn that he had just stepped out. Shortly afterwards, however, I called again, this time to find him engaged in conversation with a client, and apparently too busy to confer with me, which situation, I was pleased to observe, required that I should retire and see him upon a more propitious occasion. I had remained long enough to break the ice, and that was all I could expect under the circumstances.
The next morning I found him alone and apparently waiting to see me, so putting on a bold front in the consciousness of being blameless so far as Mrs. Watson's capture was concerned, I seated myself with perfect indifference to fate, and was prepared to face the music.
It came soon enough, for I was hardly comfortably settled in one of his big easy chairs before he had whirled around from his desk and fixed his eyes steadfastly upon me, as if endeavoring to subdue me with his majestic glance. "How did you come to make such a botch of that job?" was his first question, after a moment or two of this sort of bluff. ​"Botch nothing," was my reply, meeting his stony stare with equal impertinence. "I did the best I possibly could under the circumstances, and probably as well as anybody else could have done, all things considered."
"Yes, you did fine!" was his cynical rejoinder.
"Well, what do you know about it?" I asked, defiantly.
"Know about it? Why, I know everything!" he replied. "You know nothing—absolutely nothing!" I responded, with considerable warmth. "You have probably been reading the newspaper reports, or else lending your ear to the tale of some jackass who knows as little as yourself concerning" the facts."
Noting at this phase of our conversation that Mays was wavering, and seeing my opening, I went on to state that only the Chicago detectives, Mrs. Watson and myself knew anything about the circumstances attending her arrest, and further, that not a living soul, outside of Mrs. Watson and I. were familiar with conditions leading thereto.
"I know that Mrs. Watson has not mentioned the subject to you, and also, as you must admit, that I have not yet been given an opportunity to make any explanations," I continued, "consequently you are entirely in the dark."
My remarks seemed to exercise a quieting effect upon my worthy antagonist, and seeking to take advantage of the situation, I related the whole story in detail: how I had been trailed from the time of my arrival in Chicago tmtil the very moment that Mrs. Watson's hiding-place had been discovered. I also related, to the most minute particular, how I had managed to elude the officers, and of the preparations I had made for her escape. I admitted, however, that I might have displayed even greater precaution had I been properly advised that conditions demanded it; but that, inasmuch as I was laboring under the impression that indictments could only be returned against us in the 24-1 case, and knowing, as I did, that the Government had no ground to stand on in that proceeding, I could not perceive, either before or at the time of Mrs. Watson's arrest, wherein her capture made any material difference so far as our standing in court was concerned.
"But now," said I, "since my return to Portland I have ascertained that we have been indicted in the 11-7 case, and right here is where we shall find ourselves up against the real thing. You told me, Mays, before I started for Chicago, that the statute of limitations would bar our prosecution in the 11-7 case, and on the strength of your assumptions I felt that there was nothing to fear; but now, as soon as I get back here, I learn that we have been indicted by the Federal Grand Jury on this very case, and you mark my words, Mr. Mays — we are up against it."