The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-11-22
What Led to the Arrest OF The Great Elk.
press Robbers.

PiOSS ioOppSlJ VI quarter VI ulllllOu
that startled the country last summer.
There were good many detectives EN-
ployed in ferreting out the guilty parties
and some Of the newspapers gave some
of them great deal more credit than
they did me but I care little FOR that.
Between you and me, was the first man
that got clue to the robbers, and that
was really what overhauled them in the
end, after three months chase all over
the United States, wiJh no end OF tele-
graphing and secret working.
That clue came by chance, as is very
often the case. was ate the depot,
waiting for train that was 70 bring
a man who had some important business
for me. There was crowd at the station
and during the ten minutes that | had to
wait, walked up and down the platform
There wasn't the least reason that [ then
knew of for me to keep an eye out for
anything or anybody; but the sequel
will show that the ruling passion was as
strong with me as ever.e
The tightening express for the east
was to leave Just as the train that / was
waiting for came in. AS / neared the
end of the depot in my walk, [ saw three
men 90 out and to the let OF the doorway,
together. / walked straight out after
them, and saw them standing close to-
gether, talking fast and eagerly gave
a loud HEMP to make them look up,
which they all did, at once and | saw
their faces. 1t is unnecessary for me to
describe them; marked each of them
at a glance, and saw that they were fcl-
lows who lived by their wits. When
they saw me, they hastily withdrew along
the side of the building, and | passed into
the depot again and resumed my walk.
[ had walked across the platform once,
and when / turned to go back, saw
left approaching me. Another of the
three passed between us, so close to the
first that he could have touched him
with his outstretched hand and although
they looked directly into each others
face there was no nod, no, word, no
sign OR expression of recognition. l saw
the three within the next five minutes
each man by himself, and meeting con-
tinually as they mixed with the crowd
but never betraying in any way that they
were ought but entire strangers to each
other.
All this would seem strange TO any one
but understood it at once as the extra
precaution of accomplished rascals, and L
concluded that some deep and important
game was afoot. As the whistle of the
approaching train sounded, the bell of
the departing one struck, and the con-
ductor shouted /" all aboard ~ and watch
ing now in earnest TO see what became
Of these men, Saw chem take the out
going train from the side opposite the
platform, each one entering separate car.
This was at five o'clock in the after
noon. The robbery was committed about
one o'clock the next morning, in the ex-
press car of this train, and the fact was
discovered about day-break. Before
word was in print about it, | was sum-
moned by telegram to the headquarters
Of the company, where / met IA dozen
more detectives that evening.
OF course, the officer who telegraphed
to me did not suspect that ] was in poss
ession of any knowledge on the subject
but when | sat down at that first secret
anxious conference, and described the
men whom had noticed at the depot
at--,and their actions, one of the de-
tectives present who lived at IA place
hundred miles away from the line, instant
ly recognized the description as that Of
three burglars well known to the police
of his town.
Some months afterwards the last of the
three was captured by the aid Of this
clue, and with him the greater part of the
money. They had worn masks or black
cncd their faces for the robbery, and ta-
ken every precaution against detection
and it was remarkable, though not at all
unusual in this kind Of business, that
their detection and capture, as well as
the recovery Of most of the money, should
result from their meeting total stranger
at a distant city, eight hoIrs before the
robbery.
Befg" Kind words are the brightest
Hnnncs a Ia ft,n,, Io a