The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-26

ssDairy Of . Detective. .'-ArFesl
ETA Horse Thief and . Deserter.
Few narratives Of the experience Of de-
tective officers which have been presented
the public, disclose more shrewdness and
perseverance than the following operation
| Of detectice J. C. McCraw, OF Chillicothe
About the I'd Of January last valuable
pair Of horses and sleigh were stolen
from the Lawn Ridge Church. They were
the property Of Mr. Hendrick Butler Of that
place, and though rewards were offered
for their recovery nothing could be obtain
ed in regard TO them until some two weeks
since, when they were accidentally discov-
cred in the possession Of A. j. Wright,
near Reading, in Livingston county. Mr..
Wright had traded for them with an ac-
complice ofthe original thief, giving i'll ex-
change a land warrant, and as soon as
Mr.. Butler ascertained the Whereabouts Of
his property ne secured the services of
officer McCraw to hun. up the thief. Ac-
cordingly, a week ago last Monday, Nc
Craw started out and having obtained a
description of the party from whom Mr..
Wright tad obtained the horses. he imme-
diateiy recognized in him man named
Henry II. Fredericks, Of Sparland, a, once
took measures to ascertain his present
place Of abode.
Going to Sparland, he learned that Fred
ericks, wife had recently received letters
from him from Burlngton,: Iowa, and
forming her acquaintance, ne soon ingra-
tiated himself into her favor SO far by rep
resenting himself as al accommplice of
her husband, as to be informed Of his
whereabouts and be entrusted with q LET.
ter 70 deliver him through sister of his a.
Burlington. Starting for this latter place,
three days We're spent in finding the Sister.
who q: last was found IN a house OF III farne
on an island some two miles down the
river. She, however, looked upon him
with much distrUst, notwithstanding his
his credentials, and nothing could be o.
tanned Of her III regard to her brother until
he was obliged 70 get the Sheriff Of Bur
lng.On to assist him by pretending to ar
res, him in her presence as horse-;hief.
This settled the business and when, after
his release, he pretended to be anxious to
purchase an interest in the institution
in which she resided, he was at once taken
into her confidence. From her he learned
Fredericks had purchased q half interest in
. floating house OF ill-fame, familar!y
known as gun -boat," !" and had but few
days before started down the Mississippi
and was then probably but a few miles dis
tant. With this information he immediate
ly started out, and finally discovered the
institution he was in search Of near Fort
Madison, on the Iowa side of the river. Sc
curing the aid Of Mr.. Layton, Warden Of
the Iowa PeniteEtiary, ard the Sheriff Of
Fort Madison, both Of whom rendered him
signal service, the arres. was easily effect
ed, and Fredericks soon found himself
handcufed and delivered on the Illinois
side OF the river. lie was taken in buggy
to Burlington, and from thence TO Lacon.
where he was safely lodged III iaii yester-
day.
On the trip thither Mr.. McCraw obtained
sufficient information from him 10 convince
him that his entire suspicious were correct,
and that Fredericks was connected with a
gang OF horse thieves known as the "Wvo-
ming chain.' lie also learned tha. man
named Wilson, residing at Lacon, a broth
er-in-law OF Frederick, was indirectly
connected with the gang, and was also n
deserter from an Indiana regiment, and
upon this Information, after lodging his
first prisoner il the Lacon Jail, he arrested
Mr.. Wilson, and bringing him 10 this city
last evening, safely delivered him into the
custody Of Capt. Allan. An attempt was
made, however, by trio Of copperheads 70
rescue him at the ferry IN Lacon, but the
appearance Of McCraw's six-shooter put a
sudden stop TO their fun.
Mr.. McCraw is an old detective officer,
and has within a few weeks arrested some
fourteen horse ,Lieves--a number Of them
in Ohio and Kentucky. lie IS now well on
the track Of the ''Wyomings," with fair
prospect Of getting al least portion Of that
gallan: band Ito rights pretty soon, and
suspending their operations in this vicinity
for i ,ime.-Peorla Transcript.
DANIEL BRyAN's OATH.-TMost of the
temperance stories OF the day are weak end
washy dilutions Of preceding ones; but the
following has startling strength and Wig
or. Daniel Bryan, as appears by the con-
text. had been lawyer OF eminence, but
/ huH n Han tv,$f, v,Cnt,
gary and dying condition. Bryan had
married, in his better days, tie sister OF
Moses FELTON,.
Al length ali hopes were given up. Week
after week would the fallen man lie drunk
on the floor, and not a day Of real sobriety
marked his course. doubt il such ano.h-
er case was known. lie was too low for
conviviali:y; for those with whom he
would have associated wonld not drink
with him. .f
I All alone in his office and chamber. he
still continued 10 drink, and even his very
life seemed the offspring of his Jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had a call
to 60 TO Ohio. Before he set out ne visited
HIS sister. lie offered to take her with him
but she would not 80.
! but why stay here7" urged the brother.
You are fading away and disease is epOu
you. Why should you live with such d
brute?''
Hush, Moses, speak not, answered the
wife, keeping back her tears. II will no,
leave him now, but be viii! soon leave me
he cannot live much longer"
/ At that moment Daniel entered the apart.
ment. He looked like wanderer from the
tomb. lie had his hat on and his jug il
/ his hand.
"Ah, Moses, how are ye?" he gasped 70,
he could not speak plainly.
/ The visitor looked at him for q few mo.
ments in silence. Then, as his features as
surEed a cold, stern expression, he said il
Il strongly emphasized tone:
Daniel Bryan, i have been your bes
friend but one. My sister is an angel. bu
matched with q demon. I have loved vor
Daniel, as never loved man before; YOU
were noble, generous and kind; but / hate
you now, for you are perfect devil incar-
nate. Look At that woman. She is nv
sister-she might now live with me ii
comfort, only she will not do it while YOU
are alive; when you die she will come to
me. Thus do pray that God will soon
give her joys to my keeping. Now, Daniel,
! do sincerely hope that the first intelli-
gence that reach me from my native place,
after shall have reached my new home