The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-06-03
A DETECTIVES EXPLOIT.

we're committed in several of the large
| Western cities, SO successful in design
and mysterious in execution that detec-
tiyes from all parts of the country, who
had been called upon to "work up the
case, found themselves completely at
| fault
! The victims of these robberies were
usually gentleman Of means and leisure,
residing at the principal hotels, though
occasionally transient guest, socially
inclined and desirous OF enjoying all he
saw in sight, fell into the treacherous
web spread for the unsuspecting fly
! The robber was gell-knowE by sight but
! his present haunts were undiscoyerable.
After wasting much time, in conjecture
with my fellow detectives, without gain
! ing anything of tangible value, l deter
mined to work up the case, solitary and
alone, and without the knowledge of my
confreres. / accordingly asked and OBJ
tained leave of absence to enable me to
work untrammsled by officialinterference.
Providing myself with sufficient means
and a number of simple but effectual dis
guises, | started South in search OF my
prey. / had previously obtained fac
simile of his signatures, for though he
registered at each hotel under a differept
name there was certain marked and
peculiar similarity in the handwriting
which, to a man of my profession, might
prove invaluable. From the landlords
and clerks I obtained a minute descrip-
ton of his appearance and manner which
corresponded with charming exactness.
I visited al the principal cities Of the
South-New Orleans, Galveston, Mobile,
| Charleston, Savannah and Pensacola
| but not the slightest track or trace of my
victim could be found. My purse suffer
ed from repeated drafts upon it, and my
| temper was becoming irascible, for there
is nothing that puts a detective "out of
sorts" like defeat.
| returned to New Orleans and con-
cluded to abandon the search. While
settling my bill at the Office of the st.
! Charles Hotel, preparatory to leaving on
the evening train, the name "Frank De-,
isle" just entered upon the register.
seemed to burn up in my eyes IN the
well remembered and peculiar autograph
of the man / was after. The Office clerk
| seemed somewhat astonished at my sud-
/ den decision to remain, which ascribed
to a cause far from being the true one.
Mr.. "Delisle" was young man of per-
haps thirty years OF age, tall, elegant and
fauItlessly dressed, with that nameless
polish which atJrition with the world and
the entire to polite society only can give.
He appeared like gentleman of ample
means and elegant leisure. He was cool
! ly polite to ell who addressed him, but
did not appear to seek intimate acquaint-
ance with any one. His time was spent
in the parIors, dining and reading rooms
Of the hotel and in daily drives to various
portions of the city. Occasionally he
visited the few places of amusement
which yet renamed open Git was nearly
summer), and in frequent fish dinners at
the lake were INDUCED in.
| As a part of my programme. [ often
found occasion to chat with him upon
current topics and, as we became more
acquainted, we rode together to the var
ious resorts from the Barracks to Carroll
| ton. Sometimes we dined together at
l confded in him, one day, the informa-
ton that ] was in New Orleans upon
| business with the Citizens Bank, from
which I expected to receive a large sum
of money in settlement of an adjusted
account. L casually exhibited consider
able ready cash in bills of large denom
nations. My bait was greedily swallow
ell. His manner became intensely cordi
al, and l was thereafter his almost con-
slant companion.
In our frequent drives upon the shell
road and on the avenues. 1 noticed that
we always had the same driver, though
seldom the same team. This seemed a
curious circumstance, and something
suggested to my mind the possibility
that an understanding existed between
the two. This somewhat troubled me,
for 1 might not be able to cope with or
outwit pair of scoundrels, when [ might
safely dispose of one.
had never heard that life had been
taken by this man. From all [ could
gather, his victims were either intoxi-
Gated or drugged, though information
upon this subject was little better than
surmise. I did not fancy being made
bait for the cat fish of the canals and
bayous that abouLd in the rear of the
city and, as Porter" always,drove our
turnout, I became satisfied that q co.
partnership of interests existed between
them and that my battle must be fought
against odds.
Often after returning from our drives,
"Delisle" would leave the hotel and be
absent I'LL past midnight. As he appear
ed to be Indifferent to sensual pleasures,
| was at loss to account for these pro-
longed absences and determined to shad-
ow him. He led me wild goose chase
through unfrequented streets in the
| French quarter of the town, and finally
| boarded Barracks street car Hastily
assuming one of my ever ready disguises,
l intercepted the car at the next crossing,
and, seating myself as far as possible
from "Delisle," / became interested in
the perusual of six months old news
paper. IN a short time ''Porter" also
stepped in, and, seating himself beside
his companion, they held animated con-