River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-04-20

Cole, in making the turn, had run
into the midst of a returned ships
crew, who, in charge Of the captain
and matey were on The way 10 the COM
pany's Office to be paid of II was i'm
possible for him 10 slacken his high
rate of speed, or. 20 avoid them, as
they met almost face 20 face.
Joaded 20 the extreme verge Of Dies.
peratton as ne was by the unforeseen
accident, ana being within few PAGES
Of the place be was striving rs gain, ii
Is probable that he determined upon
the suddenness of a furious attack, in
hopes OF escaping during the con
fusion.
This plan might have succeeded
with almost any body Of men bat sail.
ors--a clark Is the haven of their de.
highland as Cole bounded among
them, savagely striking right and left,
regardless of who he hit so that he
gained the street, he was instantly
surrounded by the merry gang, who
made a ring, and enjoyed the fun
hugely, cheering "the little bantam.
rs they called Cole, whenever he laid
Que Of their comrades on his back.
Every second was Of the utmost i'm.
portance to the burglar. Had he been
more collected, q few choice words, or
some oif.hand, witty remark, would
have opened tho circle like magic hut
foaming with rage, lost 10 every idea
except escape, he east his biOOd.shot
eyes around for some weak point, aud
collecting all his remaining strength,
was about to make u final effort 10
break through them, when the mate,
rushing into the ring, struck him a
blow which laid him cold and sense
less upon the sidewalk. The inuri-
ated man, who had his jaw.bone
broken, would have stamped him to
death, but was forcibly prevented by
his men.
Several policemen, who had succeed
ed In working their way through the
crowd, hastily explained matters, and
bore the still iuaulmate body to the
Tombs, followed by three rousing
cheers for "the game little bantam"
by the thoughtless and light-heartcd
crew.
POndering upon the mutihility Of hui
man events, and the ickleness Of fate.
| slowly retraced my steps to the Office
10 keep my appointment with the
chief.
Arriving at the bakery we immedi-
ately entered the false oven. As we
expected, il was tttel mp as 4 work
shop for manufacturing false KEYS, au-
gers, and other hurglauoUs tools. The
furnace doors We're Of stamped sheet
iron, and K pit red-hot By several Jets
Of gas playing upon them. 1t was an
ingenious cast of forethought, making
the entrance from the top, as any one
would suppose that the large pan Of
crackers which covered il had lust been
baked and were placed there to grad
ually cool off. In all other respects it
had the appearance OF a bona-fde oven,
and would never have been suspected
without some previous clue or infor-
nation.
After completing our observation,
we began search for the money,
which was wrapped in a paper and
crelessly thrown into the corner of
shelf, probably by cole himself with
ont the slightest attempt of conceal.
ment.
At the trial everything was cleared
up by the evidence OF the baker, who
turned State $ evidence. The burglar
invariably disguised himself in his
wife s clothes, both in planning and ear
rying out his nefarious pursuit, while
she who bore q most remarkable re-
semblance to him both in size and
features, personated his character Al
though a splendid mimic, She still fur
Their carried ont the deception by pre-
tending 10 be sick or drunk and after
attracting sufficient attention to prove
an alibi without doubt, would take
bed for the night at the place she had
selected.
The Scotchman, who was an escaped
convict. and perfect master of his
art made the false KEYS and tools,
while the baker and the bakery were
used rs a "blind TO cover the entire
proceedings. Cole~Has attacked with
the brainfever, and died in the
Tombs four days previous to the trial,
never having spoken to or recognized
any one after the mates blow. His
wife and the Scotchman were sen.
fenced for the full term of the law.
The baker, fairly frightened into hon
esty, took mp his old trade. and / took
charge OF Snatch, who became quite
respectable dog, considering his
morose and surly disposition.
Thus crime, like murder, no matter
how carefully perpetrated or concealed,
will out.
As in this instance, who for mo.
ment would have supposed that this
baker, meek and cowardly as a lamb
was engaged in one of the deepest and
most skillfully laid schemes that in
genuity, craft and cunning could de.
wise or that Cole, after defying and
escaping detection from all human
sources, was left TO be betrayed by the
instinct Of a lost dog. The words of
the old merchant came distinctly be.
fore me