Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-09-03
ATALK WITH A DETECTIVE.

A talk with detective is generally in
teresting, and often instructive. We
have very acute officer in the city, and
from him learned a little regarding
the difficulty experinced in tracking
criminals. Some years ago all extensive
forgery was reported to the police; and
on the evening of the same day a seri-
GUS burglary was carried out in jew
elers premises in the city. There was
not the slightest trace of the daring
criminals. The detective department
was in dispair; and the usual cutlery as
to the inefficiency of the people began to
make itself heard. The detective told off
for the burglary CHANGED to obtain
slight trace of some of the missing prop
erty, suspicion having attached itself
to the inmates of certain house, owing
to their lavish expenditure of money.
Further inquiries only strengthened the
suspicion; but although there was the
strongest proof that the police were on
right trail none of the jewellery or silver
plate could be discovered. This was ex-
asperating, more especially as the de-
tective had been assured that the prop
erty was actually taken into that house.
The officer went to the station very des-
pOndent, and sought to beguile his
thoughts by reading a volume of Edgar
Allen Poe's stories. He had got the length
of "The Missing Letter. when he started
up, blaming his own folly, and proceeded
again to the suspected house.
Acting on the suggestion of the tale,
he determined, this time, not to look I'M
der carpets and into mysterious cavities,
or to tear up Understanding portions
of the floor. Knowing now that the
safest place to hide anything was where
people would never think of lOOking-as
in the case of the letter staring the search
ers in the face from the mantel-piece
the detectiYe, accompanied by another
officer, went into the house; and there,
outside one of the windows looking to
the back-green. and attached by a strong
cord to the Intel, they found a bag con-
tanning all the silver plate. But there
was no trace of the jewels, some of which
were of great value. The officers had
another look round, little encouraged
by their partial success. The main
room was elegantly furnished, the Oriel
window being gay with rich parterre
of flowers in handsome Satsuma ware
vases. My informant went forward to
the window, took hold of one of the plants,
when it came away in his hand, revealing
the fact that the earth in the pot did not
reach the bottom of the vase. In a few
minutes the whole of the property was
recovered from the several vases. An
arrest and conviction followed, with
sentence of ten years. penal servitude to
each of the ingenious thieves.
While the prisoners were awaiting
their trial, one of them dropped a hint
that rather enlightened a turnkey on the
subject of the forgery, which, as above
nj hoH al hon hn
same day as the theft. The detective was
once more made aware of the infOrma-
ton, which at first appeared insignif-
cant. But this "trifie light as air"
proved important enough. The slight
cue was followed up with the relentless
perseverance, with the result of bring
ing to light the fact that the forger had
spent large sums of money in the very
house where the burglars had been ar
rested. 1t was easy to get information
from the inmates who had not been
taken into custody. The detective Mt
last became aware that the man he was
i'm search of was betrOthed to a young
lady, the daughter of very prominent
citizen. CuriOusly enough, the crime
had not reached the newspapers; while,
on the other hand, the authorities had
been heavily handicapped through the
absence Of any photograph Of the GRIM
inal. The detective called upon the
young lady, when he had assured him
self Of the absence Of her parents, and
asked her quickly to show him her al
bum. With great selfpOssessiOn, the
girl brought the book, and looked steadi-
1y at her visitors face; nor did she ex-
hibit the slightest feeling when the de-
tective, with half smile, congratulated
her on being clever woman. although
he thought she might have been even
more so il she had filled up the page
from which she had taken the photo
graph which had faced her own. He left
The house with the conviction that while
the girl knew Of the whereabouts of her
lover, she was match for the cleverest
Of criminal officers. Let me tell e.
story in the detectives own words.
"Hs went about, considerably ar
ed at the way we had been checkmated,
saw the girl come out OF q shop.