St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-11-26
Hunting a Man Down.

tivated. He quite as often prevents
criminal from reforming as he prevents
Justice from overtakmg him. Captain
Young once told me of several cases
where the stupid imdiScretion of the
officer had loaded society with outlaws.
One WAS that of the wcll-known "One-
eyed Thompson." who early in his ca
rccr WAS saved from the clutches of the
law bN some fl licnd who raised il sum of
money tor him and sent him oul West.
He settled in thriving town on the
border, and changing his name made Il
most pr;iiScwolthN effort to hecome Il
useful member OF society. He opened
il store, Won the respect of the towns
people. WAS actually made Sclectmau,
and was in Il far way to live long and
die honored for his many virtues, when
he suddenly turned up on the streets
here again.
"Hulloo." says Captain Young. 81
thought you had squared it and was
out West"
"Ies, thought so, too" says ThOmp-
son. ''But it was no Use /; one of your
best men did my business for me-
1t seems that this detective. sitting on
the NcIilnda of the new hotel opposite
To the store which the reformed man
had opened. .'Spot:cd him. well, I'm
blessed if there isn't 'Onc-eyed Thomp-
SON." Some of the people guessed not.
Oh no that was Mr.. simpson, IL respect
ed and prominent citizen.
"Oh. no. it was. ch ! If that isn't
'Onc-rled Thomp>on.' the burglar, then
I'll go back and join the church"
"All up" said Thompson. ''Im done
I t,,I | t.IIn IL at
Your men that fixed me-.
And 81 well fixed WAS he that he he
came thc most noted law breaker of his
day. 1t l. the easiest thing in the WoI ld
/ to hunt man down when he is trying
| To hc honest with his own record against
/ him. There Is Il case on record of Il
| Young man III Il prominent dry goods
| house IL this city. who in Il moment of
/ temptation forged Il check on his en-
/ ploNcrs. 1t WAS u peculiarly painful
affair. The Young man WAS well con
nc,tcd. and when the detective made
/ the discovery il almost broke his parents
/ hearts. However,. after some trouble
/ the matter WAS compromised. | he Ia
thtr paid the moucN and some mIIiga-
tion OF sentence Wa> effected. With
the stain upon him he started out to
redeem his character. if he could. Al
ter Wandering about tnI some time he
obtained u situation in New Orleans ~
entry clcrk. and at the end of the Ncar
SAN a fair prospect ot achieving >uccc>S.
Ills employers had confidence III him.
and lac had numerous reputable ac-
quaintamrr>.
One day while on the sidewalk >u-
pclihIcnding the shipment of some
goods. one "t these New lnIk men came
along.
"lIalI"o, l"u hrIci
"lc>." said the Young mlIr. with his
heart III his mouth.
Nv hat are Nnu doing -
''IIN in" to earn IN honest living
1t seems incIcdihlr but il l. true. Ih,
officer went straight into The store. On,
week Later til" Young man WAS III New
York.
tod knows. Lc said. Il tried a,
hard ~ ANY body could Ia hc honest
hui il no use OF course Il detective
VI hu had the slightest notion of his Oh,
legation rs Il man t" society. t" >al
nothing of his duty as an officer. w"ulo
uut have made this mistake. And thai
reminds me uf another ease " hlCh uuTh
tn teach cNtl: police officers that dI>crc
tnn and kindness are not without tult'
even in this business.
Every body on the force remembers
.Iuhmu> Maa>. He WAS Il pickpnCkct ;n'
b,Inumcd to Il mob that worked on tn,
west side How he ""i into the com
panl nl these people il would hr hard I,
tell l;ut he Was an adinIl and rathr
amiahIr thief that scarcely ever caDI>r,
Il 1,
any ia the daN : "f the metropolitan pn
licr to lock up all the pirkp"rkct> am'
.'gulIS when there was To Ice Il grca
celebration or pIoCrs>Ion. lh"N were
merely ordered to the central office. an,
there kept until the city WAS rc>t"lc'
to it, original quiet. Johnny MaaS "ml,
needed To hc told To e" to hcadqnaItrI
to report himself there promptly. liz
WAS Il Young man. rather slight III build
and >nmrW hat taciluln.
To the surprise of the superintendent
he came To he office one afternoon an,
; inquired when all the special men w"ul,
H., in. lie WAS told he could see then
> in the morning. When the moIniu!
came h,. WIS there. After the roll wa
called the superintendent said: 'NoW
Johnny. the men are all here if yol
want to speak to them" He got "a
/, from the conner in which he was sitting
l and vrmging ont his cap with his tw
T. hands. proceeded to address them in
! t;ltcrim" and ahaShcd manner:
"WrlI. Nnu see. I've concluded t
square it, lou'Nr been pretty roug
>; ON me for some time. and I've got il sis
u ter that's GOT the heart disease, and she
took il inter her head that she'd live
II hit lougcr if us how Id do the Iigl
: thing. and told her I'd make il try ,
Il il: and if You mcn'll gimme Il han
why don't mind maxim it Il go.
don't want to get the cholera no NOR,
and if the GALL live Il hit longer on m
,. account | am williu'.
II Ali the men went up and shook hand
: with him. and il WAS agreed that h
u ShouIdn't .havr the cholera" unless h
l. broke through his resolution. About
T. near after that. in the dead of ii seveI
=" winter the superintendent was comm
II through Crosby street into Blcccke
and he met Johnny Maas. The tello
waS dressed III IL thin bomhazne Goa
II lie was colarleSS and his feet were oI
T. and he looked hungry, piuched an
II wrctched.
" I'm glad y"u've kept your wore
Johnny. But its going pretty hard wit
u, v"u, suppose, t" he honest ?"
awful hard, sir" said Johnny : ''hr
' told her would. and | did
!, That's Iignt. Don't 90 back
: YOU word. Stick it out. You'll hay
= better times 10y and by
I'D" y"ii see that bank over there
Is said the Young man. pointing to the MAJ
T. hlc hIIilding i'll Blrcck"r street. .Wel
" there amt money enough in that pla,
II to make me go back. I'd rather go ..nI