The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-12-29

= sharp Rogue III Limbo.
We are indebted to Detective Police OF
tcer CRANE, Of this City, for the following
particulars:
Ga the 2lst of October last, horse and
buggy were stolen from J. B. Martin, Of
Lscon, IN this State The thief vas known
to be a young man named Wm Il. II.
Tompkins, who had 50 adroitly managed
the theft that in spite of all efforts, the
Sheriff Of Marshall County was unable to
secure him, and had to bring to his aid the
machinery Of Mr. Crane and his detectives
where ne he had been ,a' arre s5d on the i7th
inst, on a charge of blowing up and rifing
2 safe. The charge appears to have been
made up merely to detain him, for on ex
animation he was acquitted. 1t had, how
ever, given Sheriff Gore, Of Marshall Co,
time to be on hand with the proper papers
to arrest him in the affair Of the horse and
buggy, and the moment Tompking was
discharged on the q" Safe affair the Sheriff
laid his hands upon him. Tompllins was
taken by surprise, but in an instant
brought tho Sheriff 4 blow that sent him
rceling across the room. Other officers,
however, rushed in-the man was man
acled, and finally taken TO Lacon, where
he is now safely in Jail awaiting his trial.
In tracing out this man, the detectives
got hold of the following scraps of his
history, which certainly shows him to DO
no ordinary rogue.
His real name is VIM. IT, II ToIrpkins,
and his ago about % years He was born
and raised on the banks OF Crow Creek,
in Marshall County-a place which has
long been and still is noted as the redez-
vous OF q gang Of the most desperate horse
thieves and robbers in the West. Among
these he seems to have had his education,
and to have been trained in their princi
pies, tricks, secret CIPHER, and technical
and slang pflraseoiogy. OF his numerous
operations, the following are tho only ones
in which he seems to have been clearly
traced In 1888. he stole horse IN Wood
ford county, and sold it at Chilicothc. in
track aud finally found him in the bride
well at Chicago, serving out o three months
sentence for some petty offence. At the
end Of the three months, although the
officers from Woodford county were there
to take him, he adroi,!y slipped through
their fingers. Soon after he stole horse
i'll La Sale county, for which he was ar
rested, tried, convicted and sent 10 the
penitantary for one year.
In following him up IN his late search
after him, Mr. Crane and his aids traced
him under the following aliases: James
Rawlings, Charles F. Dean, Geo W. Fay,
q. w. Jennings, Geo W. harrington, C. Q.
Peasc, Henry Caldwell, Geo. Clark, VIM.
Clark, Clas. {. Dean, and Goo. ". Parker
Under these various names he has tray
e!lled over most of tho railroads in the
State, using forged passes or forged letters
OF recommendation being conductor
on some railroad Indeed for the last Of
fence, an indictment is now hanging over
him. lie has also been traced as engaged
lreIuehtly III the confidence game Of
making raise by getting u small LOAF on
q gold watch which turns out to be brass
one Of our OWN citizens having been roped
in by him in this way not long ago
Doubtless a moro thorough investigation
would fasten upon him hundreds Of acis
OF roguery, of which those enumerated
may serve as u sample. The community
certainly owe Mr.. Craue and his aids n
debt Of gratitude for Kidding them at
least for q season, Of so bold and adroit a
depredator upon their property.