The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-02
Adventures Of a Detective.

Nl road travel was not the safest in the
world, and when all monies due from the
east in payment for western produce had to
be sent in cash by the mails, there occurred,
not far from Chicago each time, several ac-
cidcnts in consequence of trains being
thrown Off the track, during which the
mail cars were broken open and the bags
robbed to very large amount. The first
of these accidents happened within six
miles of the "Garden City" and was
caused by the Michigan Southern running
into the Illinois Central mail train, if | re-
member rightly, striking it at right angles,
and not only cutting it into two parts, but
making wreck of both trains.
The loss in every way was large, and the
conductor and engineer was killed on the
spot--the former lying with his face up
wards close to the mail car-whch It was
afterwards discovered, had been forced open
and the gold and silver it contained carried
off. Mr.. Pinkerton, the great Western de-
tective, was then beginning one of the
most remarkable and successful careers
known to police history, and he discovered
upon the face of the dead conductor of the
train the imprint of nail head, such as
was usually worn by English laborers in
the soles of their heavy boots He then
examined the ground and was lucky enough
to find complete imprint of the sole of
the left boot, containing double row of
nails, all of which were exactly like that on
the conductors face. He also made auoth-
er important discOvery-that there were
three nails wanting in the impress on the
earth, showing that three must be also
wanting on the sole of the boot that made
it.
Mr.. Pinkerton's theory SO far, was this
that the robber was in so great hurry to
force open the mail car that he set his left
foot upon the face of the dead man without
knowing it, and thinking, no doubt, that it
rested upon the earth /; and that one of the
nails" hob-nails" he called them--havng
started from the leather, was more promi-
nent than the rest, and so left its mark be-
hind 1t, and with a secret clue for the de-
tective. Unfortunately. before Pinkerton
came on the ground, there had been so
many people about that the earth was trod-
den down hard in the neighborhood of the
calamity, and he had no chance of tracing
the hob-nailed boot, and discovering it,
owner.
He had made some important discoveries,
however, during this difficult investigation
He had found out that the rObber, whoever
he was, wore boots nailed with hob-nails in
peculiar form round the soles, with three
English make, and the wearer of Them
therefore, was probably an Englishman,
and that the left boot made the impression
on the face of the dead conductor, and or
tho ground. This was all the clue that
he had to the robber but neagre as it was
he did not despair of hunting down hi,
quarry. He did not believe, however, tha
the collision of the trains was purposey
caused, but that it was an accident, ant
that the robbery was sudden evil inspira
tion on the part of the robber.
Eighteen months passed away, ant
Pinkerton, although always more or less OF
the watch, had well nigh forgotten the hob
nailed boots, when one fine morning he re
oeived a telegraphic dispatch which sum
moned him to another accident, which hat
just happened on the same rail- DAD, within
twelve miles of the city of Chicago. Or
his arrival he found great concourse o
,a,aons oAHcaro and man and naeaanoa,.
about the wreck, and he Immediately or
dered a rope TO be paid out and guarded b.
the company's servants while he made al
examination of the ground, and searcl
for the hobnailed boots, If, by any chance
they might figure upon this scene also. II
first examined the locality where the oil
struction was placed that overthrow tn
train, and, to his great joy and surprise
there was the old boot mark with the man
hob-nails and a full impression also Of til
right foot
OF course he said nothing, but began (
make detours in all directions to see if
could pick up the retreating trail. II
thought it most likely the man would g
boldly towards the village after he had lai
his trap, and so he hastened on till he cam
to bit of grass leading to the main roa
ON the heights above, Here he stumble
upon the footmark once more, ana proceed
ing right and left upon line with this di
covery, he found the advancing foot to-
The grass however, threw him Off all fu
ther trail, but he had proved that the san
man who hal q hand in the previous ro