The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-04-07
NOT THE MAN.
How Buffer" Jones Obtained Trans
portation from Schuylkill to, Pitts
burg-The Officials Sold" essT

From the Pttsburg Gazette, ,MarchS s. T1s =
| "Bufer' Jones. an cid vagrant, well
known to the police authorities Of this
city, perpetrated an immense joke on
some of the officials IF Schuylkill. as well
as upon some of our city officials, few
days since. in order 10 obtain transporta-
ton from Schuylkilli to this city. 1t APP
pears that Buffer was at Schuylkill,
and wanted to cone to Pittsburg. He
had no money and the idea of making
the trip on foot was too much for him,
SO he sot his wits towork and finally hit
lupon a plan which, notwithstanding it
| was an exceedingly crude one, succeeded
admirably, and brought 5stBufer" 4 into
the city, where he arrived yesterday
morning.
! Having perfected his plans, s'Bufer''
started out to execute them, and meeting
officer w. Watkins on on the street, en-
! quired of him where he could find con
stable. The officer informed him there
were several of them III town, and de-
sired to know what he wanted with a con
stable. Buffer" replied that he had
committed crime near Ten1peranceville,
in this county, about ten years ago, and
as he had not been able to sleep sound
since, he desired to surrender himself TO
the officers Of justice.
Mr.. Watkins informed ''Buffer" That
he was an officer and HcuId hear his
statement.
aWen,'' says s'Buffer,' 'scoa7e down
to blind Toms and take dlink, ard /
will tell you all about it. IS rr~
The officer declined, and "BufTern said
that he would go himself, and cone
back and tell his story.
mo you DON'T replied Watkins,
''you are my prisoner, and suiting the
action to the word, he took hold of
Buffer and hurried him to the Office
of justice of the peace.
"Buifer" was stranger in the town,
and OF course no one knew his name; af-
ter some questioning before the magis
trate, he told his story. which was as fol-
lows: vtssfssa asafE7
He said that in the month Of June,
1867, he had killed old rBuffer ',Baias,
by holding his head under the water@in
CHARTERS creek, near Tcmnerapceyille,
until hs was dead, and that he, had left
the dead body lying in the creek.
The Justice made out a Commitment
and lodged the murderer as he sup
posed, in jail, and Immediately telegraph
ed to Chief Hague the facts, but without
giving any names. -l.is's.
The Chief recollected. distinctly of a
murder having been committed abop1
the time stated and locality named in the
dispatch. and after two days investigation
of the affair discovered that a.Epan named
Bond had been murdered, and was fully
satisfied that the man arrested was Nj
chael Torley, who was accused Of the
murder. He telegraphed to the officer
at Schuylkill to hold the man till he could
have time to send a warrant, and telling
the officer to either bling the man on or
hold him until the chief could come for
him. aa. rsB -t-al .t- is
The next morning after Jones was ar
rested, Officer Watkins called at the jail
TO see hii1s expecting to get some Farther
details of the horrible crime he had com
mitted. He was met by old Buffer" at
the door, who laughed at him heartily,
and remarked H.aia zss
That was nice joke I played Oh yes
last night" ass Ta
"What," said the officer. ''do you
mean to say that you didn' kill man p
Sure, yer honor" !" said ''Bu der, Il
never said [ killed man it was only a
dog-old Buffer" Burnes was the dog s
name, and it was him I drowned in the
water two years ago, bad luck to him.
AS no reply had been received at that
time from Chief Hague, Buffer was
released, and his plan for free ride to
Pittsburgh was likely to prove failure.
When the letter transmitting the warrant
arrived however, ''Bnffer" was rc-;lfrcst-
ed, and on yesterday morning, acconpan-
led by Officer Watkins, he arrived in the
city. As soon as he arrived at the lock-
up he was recognized, and a hearty laugh,
nwhich Buffer joined Justify, was en-
gagged in the expense of the officer. Of
course Chief Hague was not one of "Buf-
fer 81 victims, as he only spent two days
in looking up the case. He informed
Buffer" however, that if he caught
him loafing around town, he would have
him arrested and sent to the workh
for ninety days. Exit Buffer" with a
broad grin on his dirty countenance