The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1861-01-23

! AFTERNOON the coacn stopped at small
village, where we changed horses again,
and four passengers got up. This broke
up the arrangement of my frieal and
self for rest, as he had to take one of the
stran gers on his seat, while | took an
other upon nil e. the other two occupy
ING the middle seat.
The new corners soon broaohea the
subject of the robberies which had been
! committed in that region, and | listened
to gain information, if possible; but they
knew no moro than every one else knew.
They had heard about it, and were in
fated with wonder.
One-an old farmcr-asked if knew
anything of the robbcr told him that
| knew but little of the affair in any
way, having been sick, and unable to be
ont among folks. Then he asked my
consu,nptive friend ifhe knew anything
about it.. The latter raised lis head
from its reclining position, and was on
the Point of answering, when we heard
our driver, in quick, abrupt tones, order
ing some one to get out Of the road. |
instinctively put my head out Of the
window to see what the troable was, and
my eye was just quick enough to detect
load Of fagots in time to dod re back
and avoid them. The road was quite
narrow at this point, and as the fagots
were loaded very widel Y, it was impossi-
bic FOR the driver to wholly avoid them,
and the side of the coach swept by them
quiet smartly. l escaped with being
touched, but not SO my friend. [ head
an exclaimation-an | thought rather n
profanc oue-from his lips, and on look
inc toward him, | saw one Of the fagots
had struck him over the LEFT eye, making
quite mark upon the pale skin. The
incident turned the conversation from the
subj ct of the ro5beres, and was not
again alluded to during the day.
We reached Lowstone shortly after
dark, and went at once to the residence
Of Mr.. Stickncy, whom found at home.
He had been out all day, and had made
al sorts of efforts to obtain some clue to
the Perpetrators of the robbcries that
were being comm t ed, but without eff
feet.
lie sai he could learn Aothing upon
which to hang suspicion. Two shops
had been robbed in his town, but he
could gain no clue to the perp't 'atois.-
We consulted toee her, and finally pro
posed to go in the morning and see an
other, and finally proposed to go in the
morning and see another detective officer
named Gambite, who resided about
twelve miles distant III the town of Or
ton.
This met the views of my host, and 81
we left tue matter for the evening. On
the follow ing morning we wereup early
and as III coach would take us directly
to GamLit's house, we chose that mode {
conveyance, and repaired at scasonabla
hour to the tavern for that purpose
When we reached the inn we found tho
farmer, who had been one of my fellow
passengers the night before, stepping
about the doorway in high state Of ex-
element. He had been robbed of three
hundred pounds, and he was sure it must
have been done in the stage coach, for
he had slep. with his poke: book under
his piilow. He had not thought to look
into it when he retired, but he had found
it empty that morning when he got up.
He said the wallet had beer taken from
his pocket and put back again-he knew
it. AS soon as he saw me lie was an
xious that | should be searched. OF
course | allowed the operation to be per-
formed willingly. After the excitement
was allayed, l asked where the pale
young man was that came in the coach,
and was told by the landlord that he
went away soon after the coach arrived.
NV first aim was to satisfy myself
that the old man had been robbed in
the stage coach, and of this he sue
ceeded in convincing me. After this
my suspicious rested upon the con
sumptive man, and l believed
if I could find him 1 should find
rogue. So l tale the landlord keep a
sharp lookout, and also spoke to the dri-
yer who Lad brought me from Sidney
and was on the point of returning re-
questing him, if he saw anything of the
pale man, to see that he was secured
The suspicious individual had only re-
NAMED at the inn few minutes on the
previous evening, and had then gone
away in gig, which had como for him !;