River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-29
IN DEADLY PERIL.
An English Drler ives Adventure.

An English Dolce ives Adventure.
One Of my journeys called me away L
town in Suffolk, where | was ordered t,
take charge OF a prisoner to be discharged
the next day from one Of the local jaiis
in which he hat been undergoing year
imprisonment for criminal assault. The
man had been let out on ticket-of-leay,
from the Defence hulk at WOolwIch, ano
had speedily as il appeared got into
trouble down in the country. As he was
merely wanted" to complete his origi-
nal scntencc-having broken his tickct-ot
lcave-there could be no bother about ap
pretending him inside the prison, and
using such precautions for his safe keep
ing as seemed best to my judgment.
Just as | was about to leave the office
in Bow Street, one Of my comrades, viii
whom ! was rather intimate, came in
having finished a journey such as l wa.
myself about to set of. on.
''Going out. Tom +" he asked and on
my telling him where / was bound for, he
continued Better have this BARKER,
Tom You may find ii useful
At the same time he produced small
pocket pistol, which he held out for my
acceptance,
II have not got any powder he added
"but here are somc caps and bullets
II seems needless To remark that this
was before the DAYS of reviewers and pat
cnt cartridges. We had then to load in
the old fashion, and had merely got as
far rs the introduction of the percussion
cap had never before carried any
thing mere deadly by way of protection
than Il litc-preservcr but as nay friend
seemed to mean kindness, made nc
ado ABOUT accepting his offer, and having
capped" the pistol there and then,
consigned it Ia thu -ide-pockct Of pilot
coat which | wore buttoned over my uni
form
My journey down to Suffolk call, fol
no particular notice.
IN due time the railroad deposited me
at nv destination, and left me with
ample Leisure 70 call upon the governor
of the prison over night with a view to
arranging for my carrying off my charge
che next morning | asked what kind of
"a customer. | would have to deal with
and must confess | did not feel much en-
courIgcd bv the reply
"Hc is what | call Il nasty customer,
was the answer "lEc has given us a dea
of trouble while we have had charge oil
him, continually breaking prison rules
and more than once he has tried to com
init suicide in the most determined man
ncr Ivy tearing open the veins in his arms
with his finger nails
This account Of matters was not a,
may well hc supposed, at all cnlivening
and when the governor added that the
man was perfect giant, and had been {
navy before he fell into evil courses, ]
began 10 fear that my work was cut out To-
me. However, there was no help for it
We Bow Street runners had as tickle Gus
TONERS to deal with as any Of your mod
crn detectives All could do was to ash
that the prisoner should be detained un
Gil got over in the morning | told tn,
governor where had put up, but he die
not seem disposed to offer me his com
panv for an hour or two in the evening
and to me he hardly appeared the sort o
man | could ask IN an oti-hand way t.
take friendly glass; So my arrangement
being thus far completed, | there ant
then left him,
The inn where | had taken up N,
quarters stood right opposit" the .iail en-
france. and as the street was somewhat o
the narrowest, tn, most com niete view o
all comers and goers could he command
al from the front Of my temporary resi-
dencc
Is my Iaudla,lv knew the GRAND ha,
come on, and had a most becoming re-
spect for the representative OF the law
she kindly accommodated me with he
own private parlor as sitting room, an,
a very pleasant evening spent in tn
company of the intelligent daughter o
he house, business leaving her mothe
but little time to bestow upon me Mex
morning found me seated AZ very com
Portable breakfast, and the weather bcin.
fine, the window of the private parlor wa
left open, atlording a perfect view OF al
that might take place at the prison doc
opposite While | was absorbed in tn
good cheer before me, | was startled bv Il
exclamation from both the landlady an
her daughter. which caused me to loo
up aud instiuctively 10 glance across tn
street
did You ever see such big, coarS
and clumsy looking woman" exclaime
the younger of my entertainers.
"Or is it Il woman ut all!" added tn
mother
NV attention was at once rivited upO
the new-commer, whom l could not avoi
connecting with the criminal it woul
soon be my duty to apprehend. Withot
saying a word to the two ladies, car,
fully and closely watched every movemeu
of the party opposite during the remain
der Of my morning meal, More than one
caught myself mentally repeating M
laudladv's query:
is il "a woman. after all ?"
The II must Ice excused. as the poir
was 50 entirely doubtful For womdl
the individual was very considerable
above the average height. and her Who'll
physique indicated far more than tn
average .rcngth OF womankind.
There was swagger in her walk, to-
most unlike the carriage of female; an
once during her pacing in front of Il
Jail door she stopped to adjust a boo
lace, or some such matter. in fashio
that showed an intire absence of dele;
cy, and al the same time showed a pc
tion of 4 limb which might have dor
credit tn an athlete in the highest state
training. I WIS fairly puzzled and nor
the less So that had twice noticed h,
ringing the prison hell, aud that
knew there was but one ndividu
to he discharged that uorinig and
was close upon my time to ~ and 10,
after him. had barely finished my la
cup of coffee when one of the prison va
dcus came across 10 say that the wife
my prisoner was waiting outside, al
had twice made demand 10 see him; l.
that the governor did not care to aCcecd
the request without first consulting nj
After casting the matter over IN nv ov
mind for minute. I told the ward
that did not mind the woman being a
mitted, but that the two ought to be VI
closely watched during the intervic
The man rc-entcred the prison, and wit
in few minutes | observed that d
woman was called in.
Punctial to my time. | crossed over
the prison. and found my charge waitil
fer me, his wife being still with hin
anG no one in the room but the governt
Contrary TO my expectations. the prise
or held up his wrists and submitted to