Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-09-29

A SHORT time since, while our reporter
was visiting town in the interior, he
made the acquaintance Of a well-to. do
farmer, who, after making some inquiries
in regard to the growth and prosperity OF
Detroit inquired If there were any pick
pockets in the city. The reply was OF
course in the affirmative. The farmer
laughed quietly moment, and then
said:
~ don't often tell my first experience
in seeing the lions Of your city, but l am
not as seneitive over II now ss l used TO
be and III tell yeu about It Some years
before my father died he went to New
York city on business, and while there he
bought himself gold watch. He wore il
as long as he lived, and when he died, a
few years ago, it came to me. OF course
I was strongly attached 10 the watch, and
not little proud of IL, especially when
put it in my pocket upon the occasion of
my first visit to Detroit. | haven't any
doubt that looked at 1t hundred times
day, and you will not be ut ali surprised
when l tell you that had not been in the
city two hours before twas missing, chain
and all
81 informed the clerk of the hotel where
I was stopping OF my loss, and rs did not
remember Of being jostled by any one and
could give no clue TO the thief he said
there was no use IN calling In an
officer. He advised me TO offer
large reward for the return OF
the watch and add that no questions
would be asked. l then put such al sdver-
tisement in the morning papers, and dur
ing the afternoon received note INFORM.
ing me that If would be at the corner Of
B and l. streets that evening
at seven o'clock with the reward ($i0O)
my watch would be returned TO me. The
note also stated that must come alone,
and il during the day made any attempt
to inform an officer the writer would not
meet me. That would be watched all
the time, and the only way that 1 could
recover my watch was by doing precisely
% advertised.
"At seven o'clock was at the spot in.
dicated, and after waiting few moments
a well-dressed man in passing me asked
me the time of day. replied that 1t was
seven o'clock. Atthat he asked me TO walk
along with him q short distance, and as we
walked he inquired If bad brought the
800 Irephed In the affirmative, when
he handed me my watch, received the
money, and was about TO leave me, when
l stopped him, and told him would give
him $40 more to tell me how he managed
to pick my pocket.
"'Ohv said he, placing his finger on
his lips, you promised to ask no ques.
tons, but would show you If 1t wasn't
for that man standing over there on the
corner. He is a detective officer and
knows me- and the man pointed across
the street
IL looked in the direction ne had indi.
Gated, but could see no one that looked
like IN officer, though there were plenty
of people standing in that locality. THAT
tall fellow with the stove pipe hat IL the
one | mean but must b. off Good
bye
1.-THE man hurried off and cav him
disappear round the corner then l again
trie1 TO see the tall fellow with the stove.
pipe hat but If he had been there he had
disappeared, and / started for the hotel
happy in again possessing my fathers last
present to me. At this thought put my
hand upon my vest pocket, where had
placed the watch moment. before, and
the next instant you could have knocked
me down with straw, for the pocket
was empty. The thief had indeed COM
piled with my request, and shown me
'how it was done | didn't advertise for
itsgain, and / came home without telling
the hotel clerk about that evenings ex.
perience. Detroit Post.