The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-08-07
A DETECTIVES EXPLOIT.

A DETECTIVES EXPLOIT,
IN the year 1S7-, a series of robber-
les were committed in several of the
sarge Western cities, SO successful in de-
sign and mysterious in execution that
detectives from all parts of the country,
who had been called upon to .work
up the case, found themselves com.
pletely at fault.
The victims of these robberies were
usually gentlemen of means and leis-
ure. residing at the principal hotels,
though occasionally q transient guest,
socially inclined and DESTROYS of enioy-
ing all he saw IN sight, fell into the
treacherous web spread for the unsus-
pec'ing fly. The robber was well-known
by sight but his present haunts were
undiscoverabie.
After wasting much time, in coniec-
ture with my fellow detectives, without
gaining anything of tangible value, l
determined to work up the case, soli-
eary and alone, and without the knowl-
edge of my coDfreres. l accordingly
asked and obtained leave of absence
to enable me to work untramcled by
official interference.
Providing myself with sufficient
means and number of simple but eff
Iectual DISCUSSES, l started South in
search of my prey. had previously
obtained fac smile of his signatures,
for though he registered at each hotel
under different name there was u GER
tain marked and peculiar similarity in
the handwriting which, to man of my
profession, might prove invaluable.
FROM the landlords and clerks OBJ
tanned minute description of his APP
pearance and manner which CORE.
sponded with charming exactness.
l visited all the principal cities of the
South-New Orleans, Galveston, Mo-
blve, Charleston, Savannah and Pensa-
cola-but not the slightest track or
trace OF my victim could be found.
My purse suffered from repeated drafts
upon 1t, and my temper was becoming
irascible. for there is nothing that puts
detective ''out of Sorts like defeat.
l returned to New Orleans and con-
cluded to abandon the search. While
settling my bill at the office of the St.
Charles Hotel, preparatory to leaving
on the evening train, the name I" Frank
Delisie, " just entered upon the register,
seemed to burn up in my eyes in the
well-remembered and peculiar auto
graph of the man was after. The Of
nee clerk seemed somewhat astonished
at my sudden decision to remain,
which ascribed to a cause far from be-
ing the true one.
Mr.. "Delisle" was a young man of
perhaps thirty years of age, tall, cle-
giant and faultlessly dressed, with that
nameless polish which attrition with the
world and the entree to polite society
only Can give. He appeared like
gentleman of ample means and elegant
leisure. He was coolly polite to all
who addressed him, but did not appear
TO seek Intimate acquaintance with any
one. His time was spent in the parlors,
dining and reading rooms of the hotel
and in daily drives to various portions
OF the city. Occasionally he visited the
few places OF amusement which yet re-
NAMED open tit was early summary.
and infreQuent fish dinners at the lake
were INDUCED in.
AS part of my programme, l often
found occasion to chat with him upon
current topics and, as we became more
acquainted, we rode together to the
various resorts from the Barracks to
Carrollton. Sometimes we dined to-
gether at Moreau's, Budro's, or Demo-
chaud's, and l contided in him, one
day, the information that l was in New
Orleans upon business with the Citizens
Bank, from which l expected to re-
celve large sum of money in settle
ment of an adjusted account. casual
~ exhibited considerable ready cash in
bills of large denominations. My bait
was greedily swallowed. His manner
became intensely cordial, and was
thereafter his almost constant COM
panion.
In our frequent drives upon the she'll
road and on the avenues, l noticed
that we always had the same driver,
though seldom the same team. This
seemed a curious circumstance, and
something suggested to my mind the
possibility that an understanding ex.
listed between the two. This some
what troubled me, for might not be
aole to cope with or outwit pair of
scoundreis, when 1 might safely dis
pose of one.
had never heard that life had been
taken by this man. From all could
gather, his victims were either intoxi-
Gated or drugged, though information
upon this subject was little better than
surmise. did not fancy being made
bait for the cat fish of the canals and
bayous that abound in the rear of the
city and, as Porter ALWAYS drove
our turnout, became satisfied that a
co-partnership of interests existed be-
tween them and that my battle must
be fought against odds.
Often after returning from our
drives, "Delisle would leave the
hotel and be absent till past midnight.
As he appeared to be Indifferent to
sensual pleasures, was at loss to &C
count for these prolonged absences
and determined to shadow him. He
led me u wild-goose chase through un-
irequented streets in the French quar-
Ter OF the town, and finally boarded a
BARRACKS street car. Hastily assum-
ing one OF my evcr-ready DISCUSSES, l
intercepted the car at the next cross
ing. and, seating myself as far "a nos
sible from "Delisle,' l became inter.
ested in the perusal of six months
old newspaper. In q short time
g Porter" also stepped in, and. seat
ing himself beside his companion, thew
held animated conversation, the Dur.
port of which could not gather.
After riding a long distance the
check strap was suddenly pulled and
the pair alighted in front II a some
what stately man sion, rather the worse
Tor wear. The house stood short
distance from the street and was COM
pletely surrounded by trees and orna-
mental shrubbery. A beautiful avenue