Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-09-25
Joe Belden.

arduous search had led me on
the track Of a noted counterfeit
er, known among the fraternity
as a wholesale dealer in bogus
issues, or one who had spurious
money in large quantities.
Whether it was that leak
had occurred through one of
my subordinates, or that an in
stinctive idea had entered the
mains mind that he was getting
into the tolls, / could never di-
vine. ssqar.
The real fact was that evil
dence sufficient to cenSign him
to the penitentiary had accumu-
lated, and, armed with the prop
er warrants, I disguised myself
and visited his usual place of
rendezvous, only to learn that
he had fled the city. E Sqow Ia
As near as could be ascer-
tanned, he had gone to a little
town located on the borders of
the Erie Canal, and thither /
followed him. n7raEssF
1t was In the month"; OF eDe-
cember. The canal was frozen
and solid, ard; as there were
numerous locks at this point
many boatmen were laid up
there in winter-quafters With
their barges. a
A row of frame houses, one
story and a hall. high, with ga-
bic roofs, had been built years
before upon the immediate borz
ders of the canal and were oc-
cupied mainly by the boatmen,
among whom a number of dis
reputable and worthless fellows
had ingratiated themselves, I'M
culcating habits Of gambling
and excessive whisky dfinkng,
which soon gave the locality a
bad reputation.
Joe Bclden, the man / was
after had there found congen-
ial abiding-place.a In the end
house Of the row, looking To the
south, a bar-room had been es-
tab.ishesl, and al, night twas IN
easy matter TO stand upon thc
outside and get good view of
all the frequcnters. o' +.
Belden was evidently some
what cautious, as it was not 9un-
til the third night of our watch
that we observed him, crOuch-
cd by the stove, in one corner
of the room. 1 eab
AS we had not seen him enter,
we concluded helmust lodge i'll
the place, and have come from
one Of the rooms overhead. 81
1t was Saturday night, and
the bar-room was too full OF
people formyself and one assis-
tant-Tracer, sthe shadowo-;o
attempt to make a dash and
take him out. As the evening
-
rolled ON, Belden appeared te
indulge very freely in stimu'
lants, and we determined tc
stand watch by turns unit
morning, when there would be
few people about The place, and
he would be stupeffed' by lil'
potations.
1t was Just breadag. day
when Tracer. came on board the
caual boat where / had conceal
led myself Tor rest and SHELTER shelter
and reported thatssome one wa'
moving about the, bar-room, apo an
he believed it was Belden. ii
Ten minutes afterwaTd VIZ
had him in custody, and were
out of the house, at least on'
. hundred rods away. He had a
woke burning up with thirst, lic
Isaid, and had come down to ge
a.moming dram, which he hat
Just drank as we dashed int
the place and look him.
He made no resistance re
marking that he had been fairl.
5 caught, and was perfectly will
ing to 60, but would like to &c
e his overcoat, anit We could g
: with him TO his room forit. ~
i We could sec no objection t
d this. and we rc-entered the ban
room. Tracer remained below
d while l was to go with Belde
q TO his room. L took the pre-
;. caution tolbc near seliopgh I
Il place my hand on his Shoulders
! it he attempted, to rum or pla
any tricks.
d We passed behinA the by
J. through a adoowaiy leading to
square room, in which a yer
r old and'very stout lady Wa
a making an apparently feeble c
's fort to sweep. the floor. wkk
f. 1t must have been that ]
!. !. gave her some sign, which
.. did not perceive but which 81
understood, for she dropped h'
: ! broom, approached closer
) Belden, and said:
. "Good morning, my son!
Then she approached me WI
a like salutation, and IN n ST.
ond Of time threw her = arms
bout my neck, with a grip Ill
=