Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-16


the two women set out together, one carrying
the little bundle of clean clothes. They crossed
the river and proceeded rapidly by narrow courts
and unfrequented, dmly lighted streets, in the
direction of Sh oreditch. So thick and dark was
the night that the detective serjeant would have
been thrown out, had not this contingency been
Iforeseen and guarded against. Under her din
Igy, dirty dress the confederate had put on q
clean white petticoat, and at the sharp turns or
crossings the dark dress was raised, and the
white signal shown to her follower. In this
Iway the whole of London was traversed, and at
length they reached public house in the Kings
land Road. Here they stopped the woman with
the bundle went in, the other disappeared. The
serieant soon found a policeman on his beat,
and making himself known, secured his servi ices
and directed him to fetch two more. He then
eDte7el the house, and there, in large room
where number of tn ieves were smoking and
drinking, he saw the object Of his pursuit Ma
lon' sitting beside the woman whose faithful
services had 50 unwiltinglv betrayed him. For
une seemed disposed to shower he farors upon
ne police officer, for little farther Of he spied
Robinson. Confident in his ascerdancy over
amy number Of criminals, he allow oil one police
man TO show himself at the door, and with the
qulet, business like manner thai characteristics
t1fe-. detectives, he walked up to Mahon, and told
him he was wanted The robber felt that his
hour was cong; as to resistance, notwlthStand-
ling the numbers PRESENT n1 one so much as
thought of il. Each in his secret sou was re-
/ ieved TO find that he was not the person want
ed, and was quite willing 10 sacrifice Mahon
for the benefit Of thecommunity present; besides,
for anything he knew, the whole division might
be behind the policeman at the door. At a sig.
al tbn mo- in
his place, however, for the sake of Appearances,
being Immediately taken by another. Mahon,
with perfect submission went to the bar, where
he was searched and handcuffed; Robinson was
also arrested, and both prisoners were removed
to the station house.
Some important evidence was supplied by a
cabman who had read in the newspapers the ac-
count of the robbery. He had been on his stand
not very far from Holford House, when, about
two in the morning of the l4th October, (the
hour at which the attempt had been made a
man ran up 10 him, and saying that his hand had
been bitten by dog, asked him to pump some
water upon it, that he might wash away the
blood. Immediately afterwards, another man,
wHhom hat, and with blood pouring from his
face and neck, ran up to the stand, called the
cabman, and jumping hastily into the cab, was
driven of towards the Strand. When the cab
man was brought to the police Office, he was
confronted with Mahon, and recognized hun as
the man who had washed his hand at the pump.
On the hand being examined, 1t was evident not
only that the wounds had not been occasioned
by the bite Of dog and therefore his story to
the cabman was false, but they corresponded to
the cut Of the bayonet and the Craze OF the shot
and the dark blue stain OF the gunpowder was
still there The wounds, however, were heal
ing, and returning TO the natural state; so that
these curious pieces of crcumstantial evidence
would have been lost, had there beer much de-
lay in Mahon's apprehension.
1t was of course surmised that the wounded
man who called the cab, was the remaining one
Ior the gang, Mitchell, and his conduct rendered
this highly probable. While proceeding on his
way, he heard a chaise coming after HIM at a
galiop; he instantly called to the cabman 10 stop,
jumr,ed out and, though almost fainting from
loss of blood, attempted to run away. The
chaise, however, passed on, and he returned,
but in the extremity of his terror all considera-
tions of prudence gave way before the one
Thought of watchiulness against pursuit, and he
would not enter the cab again, but got upon the
box In the Strand, he was put down, the
caLman, getting another fare, drove oil, and all
farther trace was lost.
The police, however, thought that in these
circumstances u criminal trying to escape, and
finding his strength failing would most probably
desire to be driven tOlraTdS his place OF conceal
ment, but would stop short ol il IN order TO BAT
ne pursuit, and were satisfied that Southwark
was the cover he had gained: tins conceded also
with the belief that Mitchell was the man, and
the M. division were again set lnmo'lon' Tins
time recourse was had to one ot those womeT
who, living by the vices OF others, are perhaps
the most degraded and infamous Of lie human
race. For stipulated reward she engDged tC
Iendeavor to ascertain MltchelIs hiding place.
Her information was, however, necessarily al
, second hand, and therefore imperfect, besides
being tardy. Three times did the othcerS search
, houses which were indicated TO them, but with
/ out success, Mitchell having got away before
their arrival, and ii seemed doubtful whether
! there was not some double treachery going on
The next place named was a house IN Little
,, Surrey Street, BlackGriaTs Road; but as il wa!
! a priyate house, kept by persons apparently
{ supporting themselves by honest LABOR, II wa,
: NECESSARY TO proceed with much caution.
. Doliceman was found who was friend Of In
r nearest baker, and who learned from hlm tina
I an unusual quantity of bread had OF late bee
Isupplied TO the house; another policeman wa
. ACQUAINTED with the owner of the house, and con
! Itrived on some preteXt to get the door openeC
- The sereanL tAen went in and asked who tn
h lodger was. While the parley was going or
/, the face of woman, listening anXiouSl y, al
N pearod over the bannisters, and she was rec
y ognized as having been with the gang in I'll
:, public house on the night Of the burglary. A
10 hesitation was now over, and on gong INTO III
ts t bedroom, they found Mitchell (who had bee
as wounded by the discharge OF small 'ho') wat
re- his head and neck enyeloped IN bandages al
n. bread poulices; he was in miserable SIa'e, i'
Df hitherto he had been afraid TO get medical assiS
n. ance. The officers, having now fairly run The