The Van Buren press., 1875-11-16

of money. The old devils rich. He's
got a fine house over the water. at Bar
ton, and young wife. The woman here
passes as his wife. but she isn't"
Benson can be pretty good fellow,
when he chooses, can't he3' asked the
officer.
Yes, d-n him % was the reply, It'll
he gets a mar in his clutches !"
lyon don't seem to bear him any
love-" the officer remarked.
"IIe served me scurvy trick, three
years ago" the thief rejoined, and
though | find him useful now, I'll get
square on him, some day."
"Look here, JIM" the detective said,
:. I've notion ! should like to know this
Benson Can't you introduce me, t..
night2 You can pretend In cham,
and I'll pretend I've got good thing in
his line
Something mp, eh p the thief ssked
eagerly; " well, it amt any business Of
mine Come along
! he two men entered the marine store
dealers shop. and were confronted by
the woman.
My husband isn't in she said
Yes, he is. the thief answered quick
ly, hes looking through the blinds.
now. and he moved toward the door 10
the rear, followed by Thorpe.
Suddenly the blind dropped, and the
light in the back rson was extinguished.
The thief laughed and said
"All right, If he don't want to do more
business, to night, we'll call again. to.
morrow and the tive men quilted the
place.
. A soon as they got outside the thief
said:
Come round into George street, quick !!
He runs free and easy house, there. and
he's got door from his yard here into
the yard of the house in George street,
and that's the way he quits business Of a
night
The two passed hastily round the cor
ner, and stopped opposite the third house
from the corner. A lamp threw its full
ligtt on the door way, and in few sec
onds the door opened, and man came
forth.
That's him !! the thief exclaimed; he
is rugged out in his toggery, and he's go
ing down to ferry for home
As tue man passed down the steps, the
detective took him In at a glance. The
old seafaring captain who had made Lay
cock acquaintance in the oyster saloon,
was before him,
That's all right the officer said ;
good night and A. Benson turned down
the street toward the river, the detective
followed him As Benson entered the
ferry gate, Thorpe was close in the rear.
The latter made sign TO . policeman
who stnad by. and the next moment ths
detectives hand was on Bcnson's shoul
der.
Mr.. Benson he said. i want to
speak with you moment.'
Benson turned round quickly. and
seeing a neatly dressed, suspcious-look.
ing man confronting him, said:
| Well, now, what il 1T
| Simply that you're my prisoner said
the officer, and in moment Benson was
handcutfed.
Whnt's the meaning Of this 2 he eA-
claimed.
tmeans I'm detective, and that they
want to know at headquarters what be
came Of that gentleman who was last
seen in your company on the night Of
| November IL, in Bakers oyster house
| Fifty pounds Benson said in . whis-
per.
I'm sure OF thousani,' the officer
replied; that's the reward.
I'll make it two,' Benson said.
Probably the detective replied; bu,
you'd better see the chief, as he doesn',
allow us to take any present without per
mission
I'll make it three said the prisoner,
mploringly.
Say twenty thousand at once, and un.
derstand 1t is declined 1t will save you
the trouble Of going up one at time
Finding it useless. Benson got into
the cab which the officer called, and was
driven to head quarters. An hour later
officers we're in charge OF his shop on
Ginger Lane. his house in George street
and his residence at Barton. Ia the Gel
lar beneath the shop. buried in five diff
ferent spots, were found the mutilated
remains of Mr. Laycock, the Fragments
OF clothes leaving its identity beyond .
doubt
Benson was tried for the murder, and
after his sentence and conviction made 4
confession Of that and other crimes. On
the evening of November 18th, he wa,
on his way to the ferry, when he turneS
into convenience. Two other mel
we're there, and he heard one of then
propose that they should go to the thea
tire, and have good time. The other re-
piled that he must 60 to his hotel 6rss a;
he had a large sum of money about him
and he didn't think it prudent for him tc
carry it into a crowd.
| The other man said there was nothing
to fear, and il he went to the hotel, they
would miss the best part of the play
Then they quilted the urinal. and Benson
followed thhm. A thief himself, and
living on the spoils of crime, and, above
all, being reek!essly aynricions, here, he
thought, was chance to put some ofhis
constituents on the track of good
theft. of which he might get the lion'i
share.
He followed the men to the theatre,
and watched them there, but he looked
in vain for any of the gang on whom he
depended to turn the thing INTO profit
When the play was over, he followed
Barrett and Laycock into the oyster sa-