Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-25
MILNE IN MISSOURI.
What Detective Tracy Says About Our
Recorder and Chief of Police.
The "TrOuble He was Put TO i'm
Getting His Prisoner.

Detective Tracy, who was N this city
| few days ago, has been at the ear Of the st.
| Louis reporters with the following tale
this version being from the Republican:
"a couple of weeks ago VIM. Barr &
| Co. gave to David S. Milne, their glove
clerk, a two weeks vacation, as it is their
custom TO treat all their employees. a few
| days later the police of Nashville arrested
a Young man for peddliDg without license,
his stock in trade being Alexandra
kid gloves, and his prices being about
| fifty per cent below the market
prices for these goods. The police were
satisfied that there was something wrong
about the young man, and from his papers
| they learned that his name was David S.
Milne, and that be had been employed by
Barr X Co., Of this city. Hewas fined so,
and in default of cash Was sent TO the
Nashville work-hOuse. Meanwhile Chief
HaITigan was notified, and he quickly
ascertained that Barr X Co. had been
robbed of twelve dozen kid gloves. He
telegraphed the Nashville authorities to
hold Milne, as he was wanted for grand
larceny, and Detective Tracy ct once
started for that place. When Tracy
arrived there on Monday he inter
viewed Milne, who admitted his crime and
expressed willingness to come to st.
Louis and stand trial. Tracy then went to
Capt. Yater Of the police TO ask for custody
Of Milne, and the captain said he would
get Recorder DUling to remit the fine in
order that the prisoner might be turned
over to Tracy next morning. On Tuesday
morning, however, both Capt. Yaier and
Recorder Duling refused 70 surrender pos
session Of Milne unless Tracy would pay
the so fine, which Of course Tracy
refused to DO. That this was merely ruse
to gain time was probable from the fact
that during the hight two dignitaTies had
telegraphed Barr Il Co, to SNOW what re-
ward that firm would be willing to pay for
the prisoner. Tracy reminded them Of the
numerous and valuable services which the
ST. Louis police have rendered the Nash
vile department, without remuneration or
reward, and fatty told them that he would
not pay them one cent. Tracy then telegraph
ed to Chief HaTigan, informing him of
the situation, and ask hat q reguisitiOn
for Milne be sent TO In. The requisitiOn
was promptly secured, and in a remarkably
short space Of time was in Tracy's posses /
sion. The little catch-penny syndicate
now realized that they were beaten, but
still they we're determined TO try and make
q nickel or two ont Of the accident which
threw the prisoner into their hands. |
Tracy had in his possession IS which be-
lOnged 10 Milne, and the dignified eye of |
the recorder fixed upon this pittance an en- |
yiOus glare. He would have that s. and |
then Tracy might have the prisoner. The |
proposition was made Through Captain |
Yater, who said he wanted TO pay it over |
10 Duling. Tracy again refused, and was |
Ia Of hot
ment TO which he had been subjected, |
which he considered little short Of at
temp ed blackmailing. The protectors Of |
NsshVille's peace and dignity finally re- /
signed this claim, but would not allow the /
removal of the prisoner until they had been
paid eleven and twO-thjrds cents for each /
meal he had eaten while labOring in their
workhouse, and 10 order to avoid further /
delay, Tracy paid it, and started with his
man for st. Louis. They arrived here yes
terday, and a warrant was sworn out
charging Milne with the theft Of 500 worth
Of gloves"
We have not seen the Recorder or the |
Chief of Police since our eye fell upon
the above publication, and consequently
do not know how many of Tracy's state
ments they would fatty deny. But we
know the character of orr police authOTi-
ties here too well to have our confidence in
their integrity and fair-dealing shaken a
particle by the vOluble mOuthlngs Of that
detective. What we are puzzled TO ex-
plain is how he got his prison.
er without waiting longer than
he did. Milne was put III the WOrk-hOuse
for GG2 days to work out fine for an Of
tense against the laws Of this city. There
is no reason why he should not have atOned
for the wrong he did here, before being
given up to atone for another wrong done
in st. Louis, and If cannot be construed as
anything but piece Of indulgence toward
the detective, and a mark OF courtesy To-
ward the authorities in Missouri that the
prisoner was surrendered before the expira-
ton Of his sentence or the payment Of the
fine. II was but Just, too, tOOficer Cayert,
who arrested him, to hold on till he could
find out whether there was reward, as lie
was undoubtedly entitled to a share Of the
lucre. Another consideration is that
Tracy was detective. We do not see
WHY he should have been treated with the
only due a whole police depart
nent, if lie 1vds from st. Louis. Let him
get down off his ear and 90 hire hail.