The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-28
What q Letter Did.

Some weeks ago business house in
this city received letter addressed to
"Tip" Farrell. 1t was post-marked
Dallas, Tex. Farrell was not a member
of the firm that got it. He is confidence
man. At the time the letter came he was
in the Bridewell. The business house
cast the letter into the street. Some one
picked it up and it found its way into
Allan Pinkerton's hands. 1t requested
Farrell to send word to the writer, who
signed his name Business" giving his
Farrell's) address. Pink"rton sent a
note to Business, P-O. Box 1868, Dali
las, Tex" Back came letter directed to
the box Pinkerton had suggested. 1t de-
manded the. aid Of Tip" and two
craftsmen. There was big job on hand.
The Golfers of the Texas banks were re-
plete with wealth. From $50, 900 to
100000 would reward skilled labor.
Pinkerton, still assuming to he Farrell:
wrote back. He did not like anonymous
correspondents. "Who are your he
pertinently inquired. Tell me your
name, and Will see what can be done ~
"Business,' crawled out of the brush
" am Tom Speider,' he wrote. Then
he entered into description of the work.
1t was Dank-robbery. Everything was in
shape, only it needed Chicago experts.
Pinkerton had no idea Of prosecuting
tue affair. So he sent the correspondence
to MIR. John Kerr, President Of the First
National Bank of Dallas. Mr. Kerr con-
tered with other bankers. The infoIma-
ton struck horror to their souls. Tom
opeider was the detective employed to
protect the banks. The man who was
trying to set up the job was the guardian
of the vaults. Kerr asked Pinkerton t.
stick to the job. Pinkertou consented
He wrote to Speider that the men would
De sent. Speiuer sent back word to have
them register at different hotels under as.
sumed names which he assigned. Two OF
Pinkerton's operatives went down to Dial
las. Speider met them. They had
brought few tools. They explained thai
Farrell had been thrown from a sleigh
and had dislocated his arm. Speider took
them and their tools to his home and Sc
creted their tools. He told them the
scheme was to rob Adams s. Leonard
Bank.
But we must have sledges," said the
operatives.
Speider took his two sons. They broke
into a blacksmiths shop.
But we must have leather to cover the
sledges," said the operatives.
Speider went to saddler's and bought
it. The saddler has identified the leather
and the purchaser.
There was policeman on the beat neal
the bank. His name was Jack Duff.
g. He is in the job," said Spcider, "anG
will pipe for us
All was in readiness.
Last Sunday night was fixed. Speider's
boys carried the tools to the bank. The
operatives got in without any trouble
Speider and Duff watched outside. Ir
about an hour an operative came out an(
whispered to Speider that he wanted help
Speider went in. The Sheriff, who had
been secreted in the bank, nabbed him
The jig was up.
Duff ran. A posse ran after him, anG
threatened to shoot. Then he stopped.
IL don't know what was going on ii
the bank,' said he.
A dead give-away.
Speider and his sons and Duff were
lodged in jail Next week the Crane
Jury will sit on their case.
Speider was at one time policeman il
Chicago, and stationed at the North Av
enue Station. He was discharged from
the force. This was six years ago. III
was suspected of playing in with thieves
to watch the banks.
PinkertOn's scheme was q good one
Had Speider succeeded he would have
secured about 1926, OOO.-Chicago Trib
une, Dec. IS.