The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-05-24

policeman's bludgeon completed our de-
fencee.
It must here be observed that the room
was papered with a representation of leaves
and flowers in strongly marked pattern.
Taking the lantern in his hand, the police
man proceeded to make close examination
of the wall, which by the application of his
knuckles he Immediately ascertained to be
hollow.
1--WE have a closet behind this, and must
find the door," said he.
A rigid inspection shortly enable US to
do this, although it was concealed with great
ingenuity, neither lock nor handle appear
ing; and the pattern of leaves and flowers
being SO disposed as to preclude the idea of
any opening existing. Aided by knife
from the supper-table the superintendent
threw open the door, of the closet, which as
far as we could perceive was untenanted.
A deep. dark, hollow space. however, exist
ed on both sides of the door, in the interior
of the wall: and we felt that it was in one
of these that we must now look for the OBJ
Ject of our search. The superintendent was
much excited; and disregarding q warning
from B As, stepped boldly within the door,
lifting the lantern high above his head, SO
as to enable him to gaze into the dark interior.
At the same moment, a shot was discharp-
ed from the recess, and the superintendent
fell heavily to the ground. was nearest TO
him, and rushed to his succor: he was bleed
ing copiously from wound in the thigh,
and my efforts and attention were SO absorb
ed in dragging him beyond the reach of his
assailant, and afterwards in endeavouring to
staunch the blood by binding my handker-
chief tightly round the limb, that was I'M
able to take any further part in endeavoring
to capture the figure who now emerged from
the closet. followed by large white bull
dog. This dog was shot at once by our brave
landlord. The man, powerful built and
truculent-looking fellow, made directly for
the door. fighting his way among his enc
mics with great vigor and determination.
At length B as, with blow from his
hludgeon, laid him PROSTATE. He was then
secured and handcuffed, and subsequently
marched off to the county Jail. On search
him, discharged pistol and large clasp
knife were found on his person, and he was
recognized as criminal of most ferocious
character. who had been transported many
years before for completely in a heavy bur-
glary, accompanied with arson and attended
with circumstances of great cruelty and
atrocity. He was known to have escaped.
and suspected to be in the neighborhood,
where he had relatives and connections; and
as he had in his boyhood lived as groom in
the very house where we captured him, we
were at once satisfied as to the means by
which he obtained so minute an acquain-
lance with the premises. A reward had been
offered by Government for his apprehension.
1t was eventually discovered that he had for
some time been lurking concealed in one of
the cellars of this house, where he had been
supplied at night with the necessaries of life
by his friends, and that he had been locked
out of his lair on my arrival; and he was
doubtless the perpetrator OF many mysteri-
GUS robberies, which from time to time had
been lately committed in the vicinity. He
would probably have both robbed murder
ed me on the previous night. had been
sound asleep, instead of recollecting, prov
ident:ally, as I must always consider it, the
school-boy story of John Armstrong, and
his invitation to the diabolical enter tain
ment.
The wounded superintendent happily re-
covered, and received from Government the
reward promised for the apprehension of the
felon. And as we frequently meet in the
course of our professional avocations, we
seldom fail to felicitate each other on the
fortunate termination of our short acquaint-
ance with the burglar, from whom I had been
thus twice strangely and providentially res
cued.