The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-24
IN DEADLY PERIL.

uOAb udy llOul OuG VI buC AO ~di ih
which he was undergoing years impris-
onment for criminal assault. The man
had been let out on ticketof-leave from
the Defense hulk ut Woolwich, and had
speedily, as it appeared, got into trouble
down ir the country. As he was merely
wanted" to complete his original SEN
broken his ticket .of-leaye,
there could be no bother about appre
hending him inside the prison, and using
such precautions for his safe-keeping as
seemed best to my judgment.
just as was about to leave the office
in Bow street, one of my comrades, with
whom was rather intimate, came in,
having finished a journey such as l was
myself about to set off on.
"Going out, Tom?" he asked; and on
my telling him where l was bound for,
he continued: "Better have this barker,
Tom. You may find it useful"
At the same time he produced small
pocket pistol, which he held out for my
acceptance.
81 have not got any powder" he add,
ed, ''but here are some caps and bullets"
1t seems needless to remark that this
was before the days of revolvers and pat
ent cartridges. We had then to load in
the old fashion, and had merely got as
far as the introduction of the percussion
cap. l had never before carried anything
more deadly, Ivy way of protection, than
a life-preserver, but, as my friend seemed
to mean kindness, made no ado about
accepting his offer, and, having capped
the pistol there and then, consigned it
to the side-pocket of my pilot coat, which
| wore buttoned over my uniform.
My journey down to Suffolk calls for no
particular notice. In due time the rail
road deposited me at my destination, and
left me with ample leisure to call upon
the Governor of the prison over night
with view to arranging for my carrying
off my charge the next morning. l asked
what sort of customer I would have to
deal with, and must confess did not feel
encouraged by the reply.
"He is what would call a nasty GUS
TONER" was the answer. "He has given
us deal of trouble while we have had
charge of him; continually breaking
prison rules, and more than once he has
tried to commit suicide in the most de-
termined manner by tearing open the
veins in his arms with his finger nails"
This account of matters was not, as
may well be supposed, at all enlivening;
and when the Governor added that the
man was a perfect giant, and had been a
"navvy" before he fell into evil courses,
began to fear that my work was cut out
for me. However, there was no help
for it. We Bow-street runners had rs
tickle customers to deal with as any of
your modern detectives. All could do
was to ask that the prisoner should be
detained until got over in the morning.
told the Governor where had put up;
but he did not seem dispo-ed to offer me
his company for an hour or two in the
evening, and to me he hardly appeared
the sort of man | could ask in an otf-hand
way to take friendly glass; so, my ar
rangemcnts being thus far completed, |
| there and then left him.
The inn where l had taken up my
quarters stood right opposite the Jail en-
trance, and as the street was somewhat
of the narrowest, the most complete
view of all comers and goers could be
commanded from the front of my tenn
orary residence.
As my landlady knew the errand |
had come on, and had most becoming
respect for the representative of the law,
she kindly accommodated me with her
own private parlor rs sitting room, and
very pleasant evening spent in the
company of the intelligent daughter of
the house, business leaving her mother
but little time to bestow upon me. Next
morning found me seated at very com
Portable breakfast, and the weather be-
ing fine, the window of the private par
lor was open, afiording perfect view OF
all that might take place at the prison
door opposite. While was absorbed il,
the good cheer before me, was startled
by IN exclamation from both the land
lady and her daughter, which caused me
to look up and instnct.vely to glance
across the street.
odd you ever see such u big, coarse
and clumsy,looking woman" exclaimed
the younger of my entertainers.
"Or is it woman at alp added hel
mother"
My attention was at once rivcted upor
the newcomer, whom ] somehow cOu,C
not avoid connecting with the crimina
it would so soon become my duty to ap
prehend. Without saying word tC
| the two ladies', | carefully and closely
watched every movement OF the party
opposite during the remainder of my
morning meal. More than once | caught
myself mentally repeating my landlady''
query:
as it woman, after allf''
The IT must be excused, as the point
was so entirely doubtful. For woman
the individual was very considerably
above the average height, and her whole
physique indicated far more than the
average strength of wOmankind.
There was swagger in her walk, too
most unlike the carriage of female
and once during her pacing in front o.
the Jail door she stopped to adjust boot
lace or some such matter in a fashion
that showed an entire absence of deli
cacy, and at the same time showed por
ton of limb which might have dont
credit to an athlete in the highest state
Of training. was fairly puzzled, ant
none the less so that had twice noticed
her ringing the prison bell, and that
knew there was but one individual to bt
discharged that morning, and that it wa
close upon my time to go and look afle
him. | had barely finished my last cul
of coffee when one of the prison warder
came across to say that the wife of my
prisoner was waiting outside, and hat
: twice made a demand to see him, bu
that the Governor did not care to acced,
| 4 q