The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-28

Davenport Democrat.


On Thursday morning members of the
police force dropped upon the scoundrels
who have been picking pockets and playing
the freight-bill game on the O.. Il. l. u 4.
between Geueseo and Wilton, the past
fortnight. Officer Cortland, in citizen
dress, seated himself in q coach with the
2 o clock train for the west-and found
himself right behind young business
like looking fellow, who had just now made
the acquaintance of solid looking, we'll
to do traveller. who was evidently none too
| sharp. The young man was going right
to the country of the old fellow TO start o
general store. and knew all the prominent
people in that region. AS the train pass
| ed Main street. the sharper raised his hat
twice-a signal for his pal to come forward
with the freight bill, The pal didn't ap"
proaoh; again and again the rascal eleva-
ted bis tile. and still the pal kept back.
Now No. got up and went to the rear of
asked the old fellew, "did that young fell
he's going right where hve." Did he
try to borrow any ?''No""Just then sharper
No. stepped into the closet. and in o
second was out again with silk cap on his
head he wEisked out of the door, and Cart
land quickly followed. The train was
passing Gaines street. Both sharpers
jumped off, and one put eastward. but
GartIand's man ran north, and the officer
after him. Up the street the fellow lead
the officer, turned east into an alley, ran
half the distance of block. jumped a
fence into yard, ran into q kitchen
through dining-room where the family
were seated at breakfast. and out of a
door which led the heet-footed robber
right on Fifth street-and that's how
he escaped. The family had no
mind to let Garland rush through their
domicile without an explanation
while their CONSERVATION prevented their
holding the scamp whose halt was so badly
wanted. The main trouble was, the fell.
low who was sienalled to enter and didn't.
suspected Gartland-and that's why the
two jumped the train.
But Officer Tilebeiu had q piece of luck
as the 500 train rolled in from the West
Seated in the smoking room of the dining
car. was business looking Young man.
well dressed, wearing a nobby hat and
smoking nice cigar. Tilebein noticed
that the chap didn't want to look his way
when he peered in at the door. Hello. +"
says the officer, show far are you going? 2"
Through to New York." was the reply.
SOL Let me see your ticket" The
traveller demurred-he would see him in
Hades 6rst-it was none of bis business.
But the officer insisted vigorously-and
the ticket was for Molinel Come with
mel" 1t was no use protesting-Ofic
Falkner and Garland were at hand, and
they conducted the gent to the Fifth street
station. He was searched, and $1,000
gold bond Of the u. s., which, with the
exception OF the signature. was exactly
like the bogus one played on the traveller
yesterday morning for loan of $1,000.
was found in his coat pocket. He said he
found it in the closet of the coach he was
travelling in. He exactly answers the de-
scription Of the fellow who played the
game yesterday. The victim who lives in
Charles City, has been teleeraphed to. and
he will probably arrive here to morrow
morning The prisoner declines to talk
| about himself, but insists that the police
have made a mistake, and that he will sue
them for false Imprisonment. He has
given himself away a half dozen times,
however, in the little he has SAID. The
| police have dropped upon the train rob-
Der gang, without doubt.