The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-29
PINKERTONs PICKING.
A BAND OF DEsPERADoEs

A BAND OF DESPERADOES.
THE HEADQUARTERS AT ELKHARr-AN Ac-
COUNT OF THEIR DoINGs-oNE OF PINRER-
TONS DETECTIVES SECURES THEIR ARREST
AND CONVICTION.
A correspondent of the Chicago Inter-
Ocean, writing from Elkhart in this state,
gives the following account of the doings of
band OF thieves in that section of the state:
Elkhart has for four years had the reputa-
ton of being the headquarters of all the
"dead beats" in the country. Even chicago
professionals had their "pals" here. with
whom they were in constant commun-
ication. A house of ill-fame, kept by
one Frank McKinstry, was the head
quarters for all the gamblers and thieves in
the country. They would board at Franks"
and radiste through the country. The many
bold robberies, the kerosening of the wells
of prominent temperance men, the firing of
dwellings and outhouses, and general de-
struction of the property of those known
to be interested in the late temperance
movement, and the special attentions of
these midnight marauders TO the very able
and efficient prosecuting attorney, Mr.. j. NJ.
Van Fleet, led some of our acute citizens to
suppose that the whisky interest was sus-
tanning and protecting these men engaged in
arson and robbery; so it was deemed ex-
pedient by Mr.. Van Fleet and Mr.. Proctor,
the marshal, to employ detective. Ac-
cordingly one OF Pinkerton's choice souls
was sent for-one John Cooper-who sud-
denly appeared upon the stage of action in
September last, and forthwith proceeded to
make the acquaintance of "the boys" He
smelled about McKinstry's. but in
such quiet, professional way
of 'em." He was jolly and liberal, and be-
fore the month was over he had tied the
gang to him almost to man. He was fire.
quently discussed, and so aptly did he play
the role of general villain that Josh Tyler,
proprietor of the railroad eating house where
Cooper boarded, went to the marshal and
quietly informed him what a suspicious
character Cooper was. Said Tyler:
He is hanging around with these thieves
and low villains, and believe he is Chi
cago burglar. Pm afraid of him. Don't
want him about my house."
"Don't he pay his board ?'tinquired the
marshal.
"Yes, pays up square; but he acts suspi-
ciously. He is out all night sometimes, and
he is writing, writing all the time"
"Oh, you had better let him stay" eau
tiously replied the marshal.
NO" determinedly replied Tyler. 81 don't
want him around"
This left the marshal In a dilemma. He
did not want Cooper down in town for fear
he would attract attention. He could
hardly be boarded at McKinstry's, for that
might arouse suspicion, for, while none Of
the gang doubted his being a thief and
gambler, they felt his superiority. 1t evil
IDENTIFY would not do TO make any change;
so, upon hasty consultation, it was decided
to let Tyler into the secret. Thick and fast
came midnight depredations, and
CooPER's LITf1E MEMORANDA
affixed dates to each transaction, and gave
names of participators. The marshals barn
was fired. burglaries were of frequent oc-
currence, and Cooper was right along with
'the boys" all the time. Finally one night,
as all were sitting around the fire in "Wash
Holmes F" saloon, doc Zellers" approached
Cooper, installing him for one Murphy, a
notorious character. and said:
Il want to get ria of that id Colburn the
night policeman Pll give you $50 il you'll
| slug him and get him out of the way. He ar
rested me not long ago and Pm going to fix
| him tor it,"
"All right" replied Cooper, "I'm your
man; but don't want to do this until am
ready to leave town. Elkhart is a pretty
| town, and Pm doing we'll here"
VERY well,' said Zsllers. when you
get ready TO leave just tap him on the head
/ q. Il
you right off into Michigan, and your $50 is
ready"
| His GOODNESS of disposing of such
grave matters rather added to the ad-
miration in which he was held.
For three months now Cooper has been
hand and glove with these knights of the
lock. Some time in October, Mortimer
| Squires, whost wife had gone away on visit,
| in mis- loneliness sought consolation in fire.
queN visits to McKinstry's establishment.
Honey" Rawlins, a desperate character,
discovered that Squires had about $40 upon
his person, having drawn his pay the previ-
Gus day. So a hastY consultation was held
with Cooper and PATSY" McDonough, and
Rawlins proposed TO Ego through"
Squires before he left the establishment,
as he was pretty drunk, and would
not be likely to remember about it.
SO it was determined to let Squires go home,
and "tap his till" when he should be asleep.
Squires, however, was not so drunk as they
imagined, and was armed with revolver,
with which hs shot McDonough when they
attempted to enter his house, and at the time
he was thought to be MORALLY wounded, so
made confession, but when the trial came
on an intelligent (?) jury sent Rawlins up
| for two years. The next most important
affair was
THE PLOT TO BURN
Prosecuting Attorney Van Fleets residence.
professional named "Beachem" had now
come upon the stage of action. The crusade
was in full blast, and Van Fleet was IVORY
ing the liquor men terribly with prosecu-
| tions, so the cheapest way to scare him off
seemed to be to burn his house and threaten
his life. "Beachem" told the bows that he
| burned the church at Allegan, Mich, for
the id crusaders, and got 500 for the op-
Grafton; that he got good round sum in
Kalamazoo for burning the district
prosecuting attorneys barn for
cutting the tails from the sheriff's horses,
and numerous other depredations, which, |
suppose. would include the destruction of
that fine lot of marble by pouring ink upon
it. He said he was right around all the
time, ami no one ever SUSPECTED him.
Douglass Beardsley had offered to give $50
to have Van Fleets house destroyed. Cooper
4 % oil