Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-25
NO. 2o1. 2

more closely imam usual. ADOut quarter
of a mile from the village was grave
yard on hill which commanded the rail-
road, and at dark the Englishman set out
toward this wild and romantic spot, and
Pinkerton after him. The night was cloudy
but every now and then the moon broke
gut and lighted up the lovely scenery.
10 Pinkerton's amazement, he climbed
the fence of the graveyard, aad sat there
looking towards the village, SO that his
shadow" had to hide himself Presently
he jumped on grave, and strobe along
towards the middle of the cemetery, with
Pinkerton still after him, but lodging be-
hind the trees and gravestones. He could
hear him muttering to himself and occa-
slonally talking aloud, and he stole up to
him as near as he dared, and managed at
last to creep into a vaulted grave close to
him, one of the side slabs of which had
fallen down. The dew was heavy and
the grass SO surchargedi it that he was
wet through; but he kept on listening, ,and
finally made out that he was reciting a
soliloquy from Lord Byron's Manfred"
and occasionally gesticulating wildly to
the moon. Was the man mad What
remorse had brought him here to vent it.
self in the terrible and dreadful lines of
Manfred? At length he drew out his
watch and tried to make out the time.
| Then he jumped over the fence and ran
down to the railroad. lie was evidently
waiting for somebody. For whom Time
would show perhaps, for Pinkerton still
followed him. Once he lost sight of him.
Then he fancied he heard voices, and hur-
ried in the direction whence the sounds
proceeded-and as he gained upon them
he found that his man was returning. So
he skulked again, and the man went over
to the churchyard. Here he stopped seve-
raj times and listened. What had he been
doingP Had he laid another trap for the
overthrow of another trainp 1t was a
dreadful thought; and as it struck him the
due train was heard in the distance. On
it came, and no one to warn the engineer
OF the possible danger. In another mo-
ment it rushed past them, and went thun-
dering on in the darkness.
Then with all his soul in his ears did the
detective listen, expecting crash every
moment. But it was not to be. The man
watched it as it fled past and then turned
toward the village and Pinkerton followed
him back to the hotel He was all this
time in secret conference with the superin-
tendent of the railroad, who lived hard
by. The next day, when Pinkerton call.
ed on him and showed him letter which
he had received from some one who said
he knew the gang that had thrown the last
train overland that they wanted to get
him to join them--their object being to
cause more accidents" before long, he
offered. for consideration, to join them
and become spy on their action for the
company.
Pinkerton advised the superintendent to
employ the man, stipulating g that he should
be allowed to come to the office while the
conference took place, in order that he
might see him and thus be able to identify
him hereafter. He had no doubt in his
own mind who the man was. He felt sure
that he was the same person whom he had
followed so often and 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 clerk in the Post
Office at New York, who informed him
whenever large sums were sent from that
office west. This is a fact, however,
which transpired subsequently, when all
was over with this very smart man who
was so fond Of playing the spy.
Mr.. Pinkerton found that there was an.
other man also in the league with the "spy''
and that his work kept him chiefly in New
York. Pinkerton now expected every
day that 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 so long that Pink
erton returned to Chicago.
| About three weeks afterwards he re-
ceived another despatch to go Immediately
to the old station, his expectation being
realized in another overthrow and robbery
of the mail train. On his arrival he found
boot marks as in the former cases, and was
now satisfied that he had got the real GRIM
inal-for behold he had returned to the
hotel two days before the accident" oc-
Cured but he had the cunning to be abed
with some other person all that night, that
he might establish an alibi in case he was
suspected. But still there was no legal
proof against him. The boots never
showed themselves on his legs, and Pinker
ton even overhauled his room in search of
them, but without effect. He found out.
however, that he had pair of strong and
black-green boots which he wore on rainy
days. and Pinkerton resolved to lay trap
for him on the next wet day, which hap
pened during the same week that the sac
cident" took place
His trap was this. He persuaded the
superintendent to lay down fine red sand
over all the paths to the office, and then to
send for his spy, hoping that he would
come in his hob nails. They had not long
to wait; for expecting payment Of
moneys due him for services not rendered,
he came wrapped up in big coat, and
having on those very boots that had been
so long a mystery to 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 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 precaution 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. However, he
pretenee of setting him on the persons
suspecfed of having share in the late