The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-09-02
THE Def. CTIyE'S OATH.

[ CHANGED to be in New York court
of general sessions, a good many years
ago, when two professional thieves were
being tried for burglary.
There was but little doubt of their
guilt; but they had secured excellent
legal services, the actual evidence
against them was very slender, and
there was every promise of their being
acquitted, when the prosecuting attor-
ney suddenly called us witness for the
state the name of Patrick Harden, the
mere mention Of which caused an
abrubt and striking overshadowing of
the criminals prospects.
They both lost their countenance-
their counsel looked blank; and as the
bearer Of the name-a powerful, we'll
knit young man, with a pale face, an
iron jaw, and stern, relentless eye
stepped upon the stand, and in hard
tones and simple language gave the
evidence that secured their conviction
beyond q doubt, they turned white
with terror, and trembled as though
confronted with the ghostly Nemesis of
all their crimes, and bark cning to the
accusing words of fate itself:
"These men are professional thieves;
they are guilty of this particular charge
for which they are now on trial, as my
evidence will prove, and they are the
last of the Silver Gang, the members of
which | have haunted, tracked, shad-
owed and bounded down, one by one,
for years.
Such was the opening sentence of
witness Harden's testimony, which in
addition to securing that particular con-
viction, displayed throughou certain
sleuth-hound tendency and a deadli-
ness of purpose on the part Of the
speaker that was quite remarkable.
After the prisoners had been sem
fenced to heavy penalties, McArdle, the
porters table whispered in my ear:
IL knew it was all up with them fel-
lows as soon as Harnden took the stand
Did you note the crushing effect of his
mere presence upon them? He is the
bete NOR, the incumbus, the haunting
nightmare phantom of their tribe"
'What is he? A detective like your
self"
Something of the sort though he has
been hunting down this special Silver
Gang of thieves, about the last of whom
have been disposed, more out of re-
vengful hatred than for pay. He is not
only a thief transformed, but thief
converted into one who has proved
their retribrltive and pursuing Nemesis.
Some time will tell you his story, if
you would like to hear it,
expressed an ardent desire to that
effect, and not long thereafter he told
me the story, very much as follows:
"Patrick Harnden was about finish
ing his apprenticeship at brass finish
ing, and was sobre, Industrious and
promising young fellow, when he be-
came attached to a pretty shoplifter
named Jennie Brettle, and then went
headlong till he landed in her profe ssion.
am bound to confess that they agreed
well together, and chung to each other
through thick and thin, with devotion
and affection that have seldom seen
equaled. Still they were only thieves,
after all, and Jennie as a thief's wife,
was, perhaps not greatly better than
she had been before; she was faithful to
him and that was all.
'They were identified with the Silver
Gang, an associated band of robbers,
who were just then becoming famously
notorious under the mysterious direc-
ton of Montieth, a clever rascal who
acquired immense influence over them
through the uniform success of his
schemes, and was, strange to say, al
most as much of a mystery to his crimi-
nal subordinates as to the police and
those upon whom their depredations
were committed. He only commune
Gated to them under various DISCUSSES.
Not one of them at that time knew
who he was, what was his real name,
occupation, or even probable age but as
each of the Silver Gang $50 named from
one of its specialities ofrobbing wealthy
houses of their silver service-plate) was
under terrible oath not to pry into
things that do not concern him, and as
it was to their interest to keep the oath
the identity of the major as he was
called remained secure.
ITO make long story short. Harm
den fell under the displeasure of this
mysterious leader, through dispute
concerning the division of the spoil, and
was marked for summary punishment.
The major put up a job upon him, and
then betrayed him into the hands of
the police, doubtless under the SUPPOSE
ton that he would be effectually dispos-
ed of by being sent up for term Of
fifteen or twenty years. But the en-
trapped man got only twelve months
by pleading guilty, and then after
swearing vengence against the man