The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-11-25
THE DETECTIVES OATH.

THE DETECTIVES OATH.
l CHANGED to be in the Now York court
/ general sessions, a good many years
go, when two professional thieves were
eing tried for burglary.
There was but little doubt of their
Euilt; but they had secured excellent
egal services, the actual evidence against
hem was very slender, and there was
: very promise of their being acquitted,
then the prosecuting attorney suddenly
allied as witness for the State, the
anne of Patrick Harnden, the mere men
ion Of which caused an abrupt and
Eriking overshadowing Of the criminals
Prospect
They both lost ountenance-their
ounsel looked black; and as the bearer
f the name "a powerful, well knit young
han, with pale face, an iron jaw, and a
Fern, relentless eye-stepped upon the
land, and in hard tones and simple
language, gave the evidence that secured
heir conviction beyond doubt, they
tlrned white with terror, and trembled as
lough confronted with ghostly
GENESIS of all their crimes, and bark
hing to the accusing words of Fate
seH:
s'These men are professional thieves;
hey are guilty of this particular charge
pr which they are now on trial, as my
violence will prove; and they are the last
# the Silver Gang the members of which
have haunted, tracked, Swallowed, and
founded down, one by one, for years."
Such was the opening sentence Of wit
less Harnden's testimony, which, IN ad-
Sition to securing that particular con-
fiction, displayed throughout a certain
Sleuth hound tendency and deadliness
i purpose on the part of the speaker
nat was quite remarkable.
After the prisoners had been sentenced
p heavy penalties, McArdie. the veteran
detective who sat at the reporters table,
whispered in my ear:
II knew it was all up with those fell.
,ws as soon as Harnden took the stand.
bid you notice the crushing effect of his
here presence upon them? He is the
etc 7a0ire, the incubus, the haunting,
Eightmare phantom of their tribe.''
"What is he? A detective like your.
ef9"
"Something of the sort, though he has
cen hunting down tnis especial Silver
fang Of thieves, about the last of whom
ave just been disposed of, more out of
'syengeful hatred than for pay. He is
r. only a thief transformed, but q thief
lonverted into one who has proved their
btributive and pursuing Nemesis. Some
me will tell you his story, if you
Fould like TO hear it,
l expressed my ardent desire to that
fleet, and not long thereafter he told me
he story, very much as follows:
"Patrick Harnden was about finishing
lis apprenticeship at brass finishing
Ind was sober, industrious and prom.
bing young man, when he became at.
Pched to a pretty shoplifter, namnd Jen.
~ Brettle, and then went downward un-
II he landed in her profession. I am
Iound to confess that they agreed we'll
pgether, and chung to each other, Through
nick and thin with an affection and de.
Iotion that I have seldom seen equaled
Ptill, they were only thieves. and Jenny
IS thief's wife, was, perhaps not great
" better than she had been before; she
D7as faithful to him, and that was all.
''They were identified with the Silver
bang, an associated band of robbers, who
we're just then becoming UNANIMOUSLY
Sotor1ous under the mysterious direc
ion of Monteith; a clever rascal, who &C
luired immense influence over them
through the uniform success of hi:
chemes, and was, strange to say, almos
IS much ola mystery to his crimina
ubordinates rs to to the police and those
pom whom their depredations were
Committed. He only communicated
nth them under various DISCUSSES. Not
SSnc of them at that time knew who he
as, what was his real name, occupation
N even probable age; bat as each of the
silver Gang $50 named from one of IT.
pecialties of robbing wealthy houses Of
heir silver service plate) was under F.,
errible oath not to pry into things tha
lid not concern him, and as it was t.
heir interest to keep the oath, the iden
aty of the "major," as he was called, re
hained secure.
''ro make long story short, Harnder
oil under the displeasure of this myster
us leader, through dispute concerning
he division of the spoil, and was mark
d for summary punishment. The Ma
Or put up job on him, and then betray
d HIM into the hands of the ponce
doubtless under the supposition that ht
you'd be effectually disposed of by being
.ent up for term of fifteen or twenty
kears. But the entrapped man got only
welve months, by pleading guilty, ane
hen after swearing vengeance agains
he man who betrayed hlm, bidding al
Effectionate farewell to his wife. ani
shild, and. solemnly promising the judg,
Pho sentenced him, that he would com,
Tut of prison reformed and altered
pan, prepared to undergo his punish
bent with philosophical cheerfulness.
I was present at his last interview will
is wife and child, and it was very af
Getting.
2"Good by and God bless you, Jenny |!