, 1877-07-20
A Daring Capture,

/ had Just landed from the steamer,
and was passing what seemed to be a
bank. 1t was now broad daylight. l
saw distinctly five masked men at work
among a lot of safes. Presently there
was slight explosion. Iperceived that
one of the safes had been blown open.
1t certainly looked suspicious. On the
corner l saw a police officer. hailed
him. He came quickly. l said to my
self show prompt this, the finest police
force in the world, to stop the career of
crime" He came straight up to me,
drew his club, aud hit me an awful rap
on the head. "Take that" says he, "fOr
disturbing the slumbers of the poor
laboring men of Sunday morning.
Have ye no regard for the quiet and
peace of the Sabbath in a Christian
land9"
Just then the burglars, or those who
seemed burglars, five in number,
emerged from the building, heavily
laden with sacks of silver coin. heard
the chink as they passed by. 1 raised
my arm to point them out to the officer
who stood guard over me. He hit that
arm an awful rap. as it threatenen'
me, ye are," said he; "if ye raises so
much as a finger I'll blow yer brains out
wild me pistil."
Said l, NV what have l done2"
"Done" said he, "why don't ye kape on
the right side of the walk, and turn yer
toes in2 What did ye spit on the pave
ment for, and kick dogl What's that
yes got now in that carpet-bag9 Give it
to mel" and he snatched for the bag and
knocked me down again with his club.
Then he opened it by cutting the bottom
out, put three neckties and a bottle of
pomade in his pocket. "What is this9"
say he, taking out pair of glOve-stretch-
ers. They're my glove-stretchers, " says
l, making a motion to get up. Then he
clubbed me all over. "Glove-stretchers
be -" says he, "that's what ye opened
the safe of the National bank wild.
That's the new machine ye've got for in
dacent purposes. Come along wild me !
want yes"
Well, he took me to the station-house.
When the captain and sergeant saw me
brought in, they made a rush for me.
They clubbed me about half an hour.
Then they went and hung their clubs up,
and says the captain: "What is the
charge against this mani" all traitin'
an officer on duty. Drunk and disorder
ly. Suspicious actions. Looked at a
house as if he wanted to break in. Re-
sistin' an officer. Shure, he's desper-
ate blaggard, that he is. l continded
wild him near an hour, and not a soul to
help me-"
was about to speak, when l got an
other rap on the jaw from the officer who
was nearest me. Then they took
down their clubs and examined their
pistols.
"And, look now at this" said the vigi-
liant officer, who had arrested me, show
ing my glove stretcher to the rest. The
finest police in the world clustered about
the instrument, and heard the follow
ing remarks: "This is what he broke
open the bank with" "That's what they
got old Tweed out with" at is clever,
very clever"
Detective Ignawk came in. He looked
at me for q moment steadily: ut is
him, sure" he remarked, "it's Jimmy,
the Dodger. Can't you see the resem-
blancel The Dodger had an eye. This fel-
low has an eye. The Dodger had two
eyes. This fellow has two eyes. The
Dodger had stomach. Evidently this
man has a stomach. Why, the resem-
blsnce is perfect. But 1 will make as
surance doubly sure" said Detective
Ignawk. "The Dodger would.holler if
you only clubbed him sufficiently. Boys,
turn to and club the man, and see if he
won't holler."
Then they took down their clubs, and
clubbed me black-and-bl until l
"hollered." "lt's Jimmy the Dodger,"
said Detective Iguawk, and they hung
their bruised clubs up.
Next day the papers remarked that
"the boldness and bravery of Officer
McPhiggins, and the sagacity of De-
tective Ignawk, in following out the
faintest of all possible clews through its
many labyrinths and turnings, had re-
suited in the capture of that notorious
burglar, Jimmy the Dodger.-Prentiee
Augord, in Puck.