Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
IN DEADLY PERIL.
An English Detectives Adventure.

An English Detectives Adventure.
One of my journeys called me away to
a town in Suffolk. where / was ordered tt
take charge Of a prisoner to be discharged
the next day from one of the local jails
in which he had been undergoing a years
imprisonment for criminal assault. The
man had been let out on ticket-of- leave
from the Defence hulk at Woolwlch, and
had speedily, as it appeared, got into
trouble down in the country. AS he was
merely 'wanted" to complete his origi-
nal entence-having broken his tickct-of
leavc-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, with
whom I was rather intimate, came in,
having finished journey such as I was
myself about to set off on.
"Going out, Tome" he asked; and on
my telling him where was bound for, he
continued ''Better have this barker,
Tom. You may find it useful"
At the same time he produced Il small
pocket-pistol, which he held out for my
acceptance.
II have not got any POWDER The added,
'but here are some caps and bullets"
1t seems needless to remark that this
was before the days of revolvcrs and pat
cnt cartridges. We had then to load in
the old fashion, and had merely got as
far as the introduction Of the percussion.
cap. I had never before carried any
thing more deadly by way Of protection
than Il life-preserver, but as my friend
seemed to mean kindness, made nc
ado about accepting his offer, and having
''capped'' the pistol there and then, ]
consigned it to the sidc-pockct of /. pilot
coat which I wore buttoned over nv uni
form.
My journey down to Suffolk calls fol
no particular notice.
In due time the railroad deposited me-
at my destination, and left me with
ample leisure to call upon the governor
of the prison over night with view tc
arranging for my carrying off my charge
the next morning l asked what kind OF
Il customer I would have to deal with
and must confess l did not feel much en-
couraged by the reply.
He is what I call a nasty customer,
was the answer. "IIe has given us !, tlea
of>trouhlc while we have had charge o
him, continually breaking prison rules
and more than once he has tried to com
nit suicide in the most determined man
ner by tearing open the veins in his arm
with his tinger-nails."
This account of matters was not, a
may we'll be supposed, at all enlivcning
and when the governor added that tn
man was a perfect giant, and had been
navy before he fell into evil courses,
began to fear that my work was cut out 70
me. However, there was no help for il
We Bow Street runners had as tickle Gus
toners to deal with as any of your mod
crn detectives. All could do was to as]
that the prisoner should be detained I'm
til | got over in the morning. I told til
governor where had put up, but he di
not seem disposed to offer me his com
pany for an hour or two in the evening
and to me he hardly appeared the sort {
man | could ask in an off-hand way t
take friendly glass: so my arrangement
being thus TAR completed, there an
then left him.
The inn where I had taken up m
quarters stood right opposite the Jail CT
trance, and as the street was somewhat {
the narrowest, the most complete view c
all corners and goers could be comm ant
cd from the front Of my temporary res
dence.
AS my landlady knew the GRAND ha
come on, and had most becoming It
spect for the representative of the Law
she kindly accommodated me with he
own private parlor as a sitting room, an
a very pleasant evening spent in til
company of the intelligent daughter {
the house, business leaving her motht
but little time to bestow upon me- Mex
morning found me seated at u very con
Portable breakfast, and the weather bein
fine, the window of the private parlor W,
left open, affording a perfect view of a
that might take place at the prison do,
opposite. While was absorbed in IL
good cheer before me, I was startled by s
exclamation from both the landlady an
her daughter, which caused me to loo
up ana 1nStmCtlVely 10 glance across Il
street.
''Did you ever see such big, coar
and clumsy looking woman?" exclaimt
the younger of my entertainers.
'sOr is it a woman at ala" added Il
mother.
NY attention was at once rivited upt
the new-commer, whom could not avo
connecting with the criminal it wou
soon be my duty to apprehend. Witho
saying a word to the two ladies, l car
fully and closely watched every moveme
. of the party opposite during the renal
der of my morning meal More than on