The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-10-14

he mau watched il as it fled past and
then turned toward the village, and Pink
erton followed him back to the hotel. He
was all this time in secret conference with
the superintendent of the railroad who
lived near by. The next day when Pink
erton called on him, he showed him let
/ ter which be had received from some one
who said he knew the gang that lad
( thrown the last train Overland that they
wanted him to join them their object
! being to cause more accidents before LONG
lie offered, for consideration, TO Join
/ them and become spy upon their actions
for the company.
Plnkerton advised the superintendent to
employ the man. stipGIafing thai he should
/ be allowed to come to the office while the
/ conference took place, in order that he
! might see bin and be able to identify him
/ hereafter. He had no doubt in his OWN
/ mind who the man was. lie felt sure he
! was the same man whom he had follow
ed so often ard so long up hill and down
dale, and into the very jaws of death
/ And so it turned out The man was en-
| gagged by the superintendent, and was in
correspondence with a clerk in the post
/ Office in New York, who informed him
whenever large sums were sent from that
Office west, This is a fact, however, that
transpired subsequently when all was over
wrh this very sWart man who was So fond
Of playing the spy.
Mr. PinkeTt found that there was
another man also in league with the spy
and that his work kept him chiefly in New
I 1ork. Pinkerton now expected every day
there would be ''smash- up'-but under
the pretence that the conspiracy called
him to New York, the spy left the west
and was gone 50 long that Pinkerton re-
, turned TO Chicago.
About three weeks afterwards he re-
ceived another dispatch to 90 immediate
ly to the old station, his expectation being
realized in another overthrow and robbery
, of the mail train. On his arrival he saw
the same boot marks as in the former
cases, and was now satisfied that he had
got the real criminal-for behold he had
returned 10 the hotel two days before the
''accident' occurred, but he had the cum
ming to be abed with another person all
that night, that he might establish an dIiJi
in case be was SUSPECTED. But still there
was no legal proof against him. The
boots never showed themselves upon his
legs, and Pinkerton even overhauled his
room in search of them, but without ef~
feet. He found oct, however, that he had
pair of strong and black-green boots
which be wore on rainy days, and Fin,
kerton resolved to lay trap for him on
. L. 4 Il. I. i
the same week that the accident took
place.
His trap was this: He persuaded the
superintendent 10 lay down fine red sand
over all the paths to the Office, and then
to send for bis spy, hoping that he would
! come in his hob-nails They had not
long to wait for. expecting payment of
monies due 10 him for services not render
ed, he came, wrapped up in a big coat,
| and having on those very boots that had
been so long mystery 10 the detective.
| This time there was no mistake. The
red sand was pitted all over with the
small pox of those tell tale boots, and now
the reader will think there was nothing
more to do but to arrest the man.
But what proof was there against him
Vivid circumstantial proof in abundance
legal proof none at all. Pinkerton had
taken the precautioa to make perfect casts
and drawings OF the impressions in the
earth and If he could get those boots
into his possession he might manage to
scare the owner into confession. How
ever, be resolved to get him over to Chi
cago, under pretence of setting him on the
persons suspected of having Il share in the
late smash>up.
In this he was succeesful, through the
co operation Of the superintendent; and,
strange to say, be carried his boots with
him on the train Pinkerton now made
up bis mind that he would have them by
hook or by crook. So at a midway sta
ton he got the conductor, who knew the
.sspv," to invite him to take drink with
him; and when fhay were out together
those boots in some quiet way found their
way under Pinkerton's carriage seat. Cn
the arrival of the train at Chicago, fin>
kerton followed his man until they got
into quiet street, ard then arrested hlm,
charging him point blank with throwing
over the two trains in question, and also
with the robbery of the Michigan South~
ern train some two years before.
He shook in every limb, t,rned CHASTITY
pale, and in half an hour had made full
confession of his crimes. He owned that
he and friend robbed the mail at the
collision between tbs Illinois Central and
Michigan Southern, and said that they
went to Europe and spent the money IN
eighteen months, when they returned, de
signing to make regular trade of throw
ino trains off the track and robblng the
mails. He was tried, convicted aud sem
fenced to the Jack penilentiary for
life, where he died after an Imprisonment
of more than ten years.
Such. as near as l can remember the
facts, is the story of these Infamous trans
actions There is not a word exaggerated,