Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-04-15

| CA1u1uAl. V1S1IluEs 1lIGSDuTS ana mar
risburg laid my plans to trap him if he
tried to dispose of the watch. I wrote
letters to various officials, and then
could do no more. For six months had
the case uppermost in my mind, while
transacting other detective bushes, but
had failed to fiud the least clue. Then
one day I got trace.
Twas riding on the cars of the Pennsyl-
vauia Central railroad, when I observed
an old lady shaking gold watch in her
hand, and then holding it to her ear to
see if it would run. Crossing over to
her asked to look at the watch and she
handed it out with the remark:
ut isn't much good, but I don't know
as it ought to be. Ny husband only
paid $40 for it.
found out that her name was Allen;
that she lived within a dozen miles Of
where the Arno1ds had been murdered;
that on the morning after the murder, as
near as she could remember, her husband
had purchased the watch of traveller on
the highway, who was looking for work
and out of money. She remembered
that the man was large man, had red
hair and full beard of the same color.
but could not say that she had observed
anything suspicioustin his actions. !
found by questioning that the stran-
ger had continued on the road to the
west, and that if he kept on he must
have struck the railroad after an hours
travelling. I am convinced that this was
the murderer, and that he had made a
I long journey on, the highway in order TO
battle pursuit and hide his trail.
But it was little comfort to know it as
so many months had passed that the man
might now be in Europe or under ground.
took the lady's address, allowed her to
retain the watch I knew had belonged to
the Arnolds, and again I lost the case for
several months. Iwrote over City let
tiers, Travelled three or four Thousand
miles on the lookout for big man and
nothing came of it. But one day when
| approaching the village of Dewfeld, N.
| Y, by stage, two suspicious looking
chaps got into the vehicle, and they were
my only company. I knew them to be
Hash, as soon as I saw their faces,
and their talk went to prove it. I pre-
tended to be very deaf as soon as they
got in, not replying to any of their ques-
tions. 1 assumed the tone of voice gen.
orally used by the deaf, held my hand
to my ear, and moved over and express
ed my regrets if had offended them,
saying that I could not even hear the
rumble of the coach.
"Good!" exclaimed one of the men. as
sat down at the other end of the
vehicle. CHOW you can 60 on with your
yarn, -
Before proceeding, the other one called
me an old fool, a thief, a robber. and
various other things, closely watching
my countenance tosee if I could hear his
words.
"The old smooth-bore is as deaf as a
stone" he remarked, having satisfied
himself as to my deafness, and then he
went on with narrative which had been
interrupted. "
I soon ascertained that they were on
their way to Penfeld, to rob merchant.
They had everything arranged to commit
| the crime the next night, and the one
who had "put up" the plan gave all the
4 details as to how the robbery was to be
committed, where they would "run" to
and gave a guess as to each ones share.
"What about Luke % inquired the
other, after the plot had been fully dis
"Oh, Luke will be there on time. :" re-
piled the man. 'sHe has kept devilish
shady since that business at + -. but
now wants to make haul and dig out
for the far west. You needn't fret-we
can depend upon him. -
Before we got into the village the men
tried me again, but I could not hear ex-
cept when they shouted in my ear, and
they were sure that the conversation had
been strictly private. While they put
up at the hotel, went to the house Of a
deputy-sherif, intending to remain con-
cealed all the next day. had, of course,
to state my business to the officer, as
must have his aid, and he, the simpleton
that he was, related the whole story to
his wife after they bad retired. Thus it
naturally came about that next day,
while I was lying shady, but planning
how to capture the burglars, the woman
was retailing my plans to the neighbour
hood. When night came there were six
of us ready to pounce upon the burglars,
but there were no burglars to be found.
The fellows had pot wind OF the affair
and were off, and I had lost the second
only reliable clue to the Arnold murde,
which T had been. ever .ablesto find.
q Sometime after this, while in the CITY o1
Rochester, I caught sight of hand rest
ing on the window-sil of horse-car-s
large red hand The hand was nothing
strange, but the thumb was missing. = y
. did not wait an instant to think.
. leaped from the Car, entered the othel
and there sat my friends of the stage
7 coach on either side of the owner of tn
hand-"a big man with red hair ant
whiskers." They all jumped up as I en-
, tered, but I hung fast to Luke, and sool
had the bracelets on him allowing TIL
: others to get away. He had no idea VIII,
1 was, and took care not to hint at tn
+ charge against him until I had him bacl
t at til. - ~
: Ny arrival created much excitement
t as pursuit of the murderer had from tn
t first, been deemed hopeless. Many con
tended TINT had not secured the RICH
9 man, and Luke professed never to hav
. been in that part of the state before
The chld was several miles away iron
! the village, but I sent for him. It ha1
!. been year since the murder. Littl
Jack had almost forgotten the circum
: stance, and of course the murderer ha
3 changed some; but had strong hope
. that the child would be able to identif
: the man and was not disapp pointed.
: Walting until evening, 1T conducte
: Jack into q room where Luke and
dozen citizens were sitting. The littl
: fellowshad no knowle 'of what we in
tendad, and for some time did not zee th
+ murderer. When he did he uttered
loud shrek, ran to me, and exclaimed: