The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-23
A DETECTIVES Story.

n VI IUIIuI " oTVusb
The annexed narrative was related by
James Oldfeld, the English detective
81 was on very intimate terms with
Mr.. Edwin Boncliffe, residing in Man.
chester. He was foreman in the large
cotton mills, for which Manchester is SO
famous. He came to me one day in
such deep disguise that would not have
recognized him had he not made himself
known. Then 1 asked what his mas
querading meant, whereupon he made
this statement
go Some six weeks ago, during po-
litical meeting, 1 was relieved of my
pocket book. L felt the thief's hand,
and grasped it as it was withdrawn from
my pocket, but the expert owner of it
wrenched it from my grasp before
could turn around to see who he was.
ga tall, handsome and well-dressed
young man stood behind me, on the side
where the robbery had been perpe-
trated. L asked him if he had seen tho
man who had just robbed me. He said
he had not.
"'"But had hold of his hand. Did
you see that?" asked L, and again he
replied negatively.
"'I became vexed, and remarked
"You must be either very stupid or
blind not to notice such thing under
your very nose " He replied by q
knocking laugh, and added
So" Perhaps you are the thief ?"
Perhaps L am, was the cool re-
joinder.
His insolence aroused my ire, and
I had him arrested on suspicion. A
policeman took him away, and next day
appeared against him. The pocket
book was not found on his person at the
time of his arrest, and, as | could not
swear that he was the thief, he was ac-
quilted. The Magistrate said that moth
ing wrong had been proven against him,
and his name had never been on the
Magistrates docket, or he might have
been remanded as a suspicious charac-
ter. L. fact, he was stranger in town,
which was proved to the Magistrate =
entire satisfaction.
"'Since that occurrence, continued
Boncliffe, 1 have met this man on the
streets on several occasions, and he al
ways greets me with hooking bow and
sneer. L believe he is the fellow who
robbed me, and the money not being
found on his person L can explain it only
in one way. He had confederate with
him to whom he doubtless passed it the
moment he had distracted it.
Now, being impressed with this be-
lief, / haven't the least do'iOt that he is
q regular member of the "swell mob, "
and intends to ply his trade in town. i
want you to see him. l win point him
out to you know his haunts. This
disguise l have adopted, so that he
would not know me if we should meet.
After you have seen him, want you to
watch his movements, and if you catch
him at his tricks shall consider myself
your debtor to any reasonable amount
you may name. Is it a co.?
So 1t is, L said. L shall willingly do
this for your sake and for the benefit OF
society,"
eve met the man, and Boncliffe
pointed him out to me. He was about
twenty seven years of age, intellectual
In appearance and strikingly handsome,
with a profusion of glossy black and
curly hair, and dark melancholy eyes.
"I was thinking to myself it would be
q difficult matter to adjudge him a
criminal by his personal appearance, for
that bore the impress of a refined gen.
tleman.
81 loitered in the vicinity next day and
again saw him. Before noon / had man
aged to learn his name-Alfred Rapins
and ascertained that he lodged at q
highly respectable place.
81 logged his footsteps for several
hours in the afternoon, and never saw
him accosting any one, or being ac-
costed hence concluded that he was
indeed stranger in Manchester.
He followed no apparent business,
and dressed like gentleman, and con-
cluded that he was either q man oi
means or truly one of the swell mob,
as my friend Boncliffe had observed.
THAT evening 1 followed him to a
tap-foom where the mill hands resorted
after their evening meals. He drank his
ale quietly, and, while slipping it,
glanced over a paper he had taken from
his pocket.
"But could see that his mind was
not on the paper. He was covertly
watching every one that came to the
bar to drink, and his eyes would rest
eagerly on the wallets of the men as
they paid their score, and he always
watched them after they replaced their
wallets or purses, as If noting their To-
cation for purpose.
81 at once pronounced him n light.
fingered gentleman and watched his
every movement thenceforth.
Although he mixed freely with the
men in the tap-room and in the adioin.
ing apartment, where seats were pro.
vided for the patrons of the house, ]
did not perceive q single suspicious
movement on his part. Suddenly some
one cried out