The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-01
A Police Officers Story.
HOW a ROGUE ESCAPED AND WAS CAUGHT
AGAIN,

house, who for a long time had not only sue
cessivey diverted suspicion from himself
lie made no confession when apprehended,
and was very sullen /: but got facts enough
to give NE clue that the property he had
taken was sold to the Ehrwitz Brothers, who
for aseries of years had defed by their faesse
all the exertions of police and magistrates.
After commitment he was 'habeas corpused
plague On those bothersome writs In
stead of being helps to justice, as in olden
times, they had got to be mischevous, and
oftentimes-as in the case now speak Of
mere lodges to hel an escape. Being some
what his criminal guardian. was selected to
care for him on his way to the judges cham
bers and back again. The argument over,
he was remandtd; for there was nothing in
the points made for the liberty of this citi-
zen, as the counsellor with much bombast
contenGed.
Just by the corner of Leonard and Elm
streets, as We were going to the TombS, Two
intensely countrifed fellows came along, and
as quick as lightning seized me by each arm,
and just as quick my prisoner cut and run
towards Broadway. The thing was so bold
and audacious, | was for a moment par
al!zed, and they held tightly, too, assure
YOU. In an instant there was a crowd
i Help me, | cried, am officer The crowd
came closer: the men released me. One
said, | will get an officer ; the other cried,
Oh the fellows drunk and off they went,
everybody laughing like mad, and coming
closer and closer around me- Don't be so
atftctionate, said |; let me out of this :
and made a lunge at big fellow, and down
he went. At this another struck me, and
saw AT once that the whole thing, rescue,
crowd, and all that, must be a premeditated
dodge of the Brothers aforesaid. who were
protecting pal, and had well watched the
opportunity.
My bird was gone, and bottling my wrath,
| said to myself, Very well, gentlemen, you
think | don't know you: before nightfall.
however, Ill have both you and the prisoner
lighter than the kettle-drums at oratoios, or
Iii resign ny office
Sinking away, went Immediately to the
Office OF an evening paper, and wrote bit
of intelligence that-had escaped, and was
probably on his way to Philadelphia, and
that Sergeant Barker wo!ld take the after
coon train in pursuit. AlI blind, of course
From there instantly went to the shop of a
leading ieweler and told my story. He COM
miserated. Now said |, : if YOU want to
pity and aid Inc, lend me two diamond rings,
four or five watches, ard Il case of chains.
pledge you my word they shall be back to-
morrow Decoys? said he, laughinglv.
Just So returned for he and had served
each other before. left with my booty
saying, Us did so, If YOU see in the paper
that You have been robbed, tip the wink and
humoc it, you know He laughed. and off
/ hoted again to the newspaper office. and
fortunately got there Just as it was going to
press. 1t was but the work of moment to
write few lines speaking of daring larceny
IN .ewelry shop that morning, bold plum
derers, &c, &c, which, coupled with the es-
cape, made the fourth edition Of the paper a
highly spicy issue. From there | went to
the house OF particular partner in our pc
lice business. told him at twelve o'clock
precisely to be at No., John street. with
eight or ten men, and come in and make
search. i hat is Ehrwitzs den, says he;
they're cunning; therell be nothing found !;
we've tried that before Never you mind,
relomed, this time III be there before YOU,
and learn the mysteries With sign of
delighted recognition-for he loved bit of
eXcltement-we separated. he to pick his fel-
lows, and to put into my travelling bag the
costume Of jaunty cracksman, which had
once before served as good dissuise-the
sandy wig and whi>kers, and check cravat
were perfectly irresistible.
BY six o'clock, bag in hand, was at the
New Jersey railroad depot. Said | to my
self, John, my boy, somebody interested has
seen that piece in the paper, and is watching
to see if you go. Now you must find out
who. that somebody is Looking around over
the crowd carelesslv, it was some time before
| could venture a conjecture; but finally |
hit upon a certain demure- looking parson as
the spy. So, to try him bit of bait, pulls
out stale teesraphic dispatch, and holding
it so as he could see what it was, scanned it
carefully with one eye, while with the other
, peered over at him. He nibbled, and
, shortly edged toward my position. l was
now almost sure, and onl y wanted a grain
more into the scale to poise the doubt. So
taking favorable turn in the voyage
made over to him and said, Have you an
evening paper? omitted to buy one No
sir said he; but you will get one inside, !
think then pulled out the railway ticket,
so as TO carelessly show it-caught his eyes
looking anxiously at it, and felt more con-
vinced. But when, just as getting into the
train, | saw him whisper to another parson-
ish cove, and they both looked at me. l was
sure OF the spy. But to my chagrin, he go,
into the carriage, and sat near me. Imay be
baked yet, l thought, for perhaps he is to
follow me through. You may believe was