The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-04-07
The Detectives Account ~ tho Cause
which Frustrated Ihcir Plan,

which frustrhteu hhctr fInu,
To tho Editor OF Tho Horadi
DEAR SlR-As an explanation con.
corning the arrest OF the Innocent man,
Grant, which we rs deeply regret IA
any OF his warmest friends, we desire
to say that after forty days OF tho se'
verest surveillance we nj last learned
the haunt OF the shrewd NJ we'll ~ des
perate cut.throats who had committed
two crimes against the sacred laws o
the people an Il shocked the commune
ty with their deeds OF desperate daring
Being convinced that the pDrties whom
we had Swallowed" were the men
wanted, we disguised and learned that
they would attempt to rob the express
train ut Eagle Ford on Wednesday or
Thursday night OF the present week.
We learned this on Sunday night and
had but three days In which TO lay
our plans and act upon them.
| A few hours later OF the same day,
We discovered that stranger In the
neighborhood had left doublebarrel
shotgun, large dirk knife, heavy
navy revolver, with large quantities
of buckshot and cartridges at the house
OF one Patrick Powers, who lives In a
rather secluded place near the scene OF
tho robbers haunt. We also learned
that the owner of the arms had made
his appearance at the house several
times, always dressed In different
manner, and never dropping one word
that would give the least possible clue
concerning his business or from
whence he came. We also learned
that he had been there that very
morniHg, merely changing hats anC
saying that he would be after his arms
on Wednesday. This, you will see
correspondent exactly with the time
set for the Eagle Ford robbery, anC
believing that the same parties who
contemplated robbing the Eagle Ford
express, were those who robbed the
train at Aliens station and Hutchins
We accordingly took out papers for
Grant with the four real robbers. We
advised Sheriff Moon TO notify the ex
press company of the facts, feeling as.
sured that they would be in readiness
with sufficient force to assist In cap.
turing these men.
We now compared notes and found
that we could proceed to where Grants
arms were secreted, capture Grant
returned to the city, mustered our
forces and proceed to Eagle Ford and
assist the supposed company's forces
in capturing the whole party.
Grant did not come until Thursday
at O'Clock p. NJ, when we arrested
him and then being retarded by un.
looked-for delays, did not get him in
the city until nearly eight o'clock.
Then there was no judge in town; we
sent In the country for him; he didn't
come. Then we were compelled to un.
dergo the blufiing process by Grants
counsel for one hour more. This over
the proper papers were made out for
the prisoners detention.
We he'd one hour remaining vet
wherein We had to muster our forces
and get to Eagle Ford to intercept the
robbers. Finding that II was useless
to attempt to do anything towards
mastering force ut that late hour, we
started for Eagle Ford, but before we
got there the train went whirling by
and all WINS lost. We then returned
to the city disguised and worn
out with fatigue, having exhausted
forty days. incessant labor, q large
amount Of money, and believing from
the careless appearance Of the officers
OF that train (there being no guards
upon II when IL passed us), that we
were entirely deserted by the railroad
officials, whose duty 1t was to arm the
train with force sufficient to avert
the robbery, and whom we believe to
have been notified Of the plan by the
proper officials.
Nor do we entirely blame Sheriff
Moon for having failed to remember
his part In the matter. He, like many
other valuable officers Of this county,
Is overworked without sufficient re-
Enumeration for valuable services.
Trusting that the above will be q
sufficient apology to Grants numerous
friends for his unfortunate part In the
affair, we remain, respectfully, &C.,
DETECTIVES l.,