Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-08-25
1t first. Several of us wrote it down, and

l cha1ged the child to remember 1t.
4 was convinced that the murderer was
stranger in that part of the country. No
one has seen him come or go; no one knew
the hour of his arrival or departure; and he
had left no clue behind-nothing but my
4 theory that the thumb was missing from
the left hand. I rode out to the toll gates,
but he had not been seen to pass. I ques-
toned the stage drivers, but they could
give no satisfaction. I went to the rail-
road station; but no one could. remember
having remarked the presence of stranger
on that night. The murderer had arrived
and departed like q bird.
was considerably discouraged in not
striking his trail, but was determined to
pu1sue the case until there was no longer
any hope, or until had found the criminal.
Visiting Pittsburg and Harrisburg I laid my
plans to trap him if he tried to dispose of
the watch. I wrote letters to various Off
cials and then could do no more. Forsix
months I had the case uppermost in my
mind, while transacting other detective
business, but I failed to find tho least clue.
Then one day t got trace. !, -
! was riding on tho cars of the Pennsyl-
vania Central railroad when I observed an
old lady shaking gold watch in her hand
and then holding it to her ear to see If 1t
would run. Crossing over to her I asked
to look at the watch, and she handed it out
with the remark: ..... .,,.
'Is isn't much good; but don't know as
it ought to be. My husband only paid ten
dollars for it.
found that her name was Allen: that
she lived within dozen miles of where the
Arnolds had been murdered, that on the
morning of the murder, as near as she
could remember, her husband had pur-
lol,a A., okoI, II ;<l~
way, who was looking for work and ,,ont of
was large man, had red hair, and full
beard of the same color, but could not say
that she had noticed anything suspicious in
his actions.
found by questioning that the stranger
had continued on the road to the west, and
that if he kept on he must have struck the
railroad after an hours travelling. was
convinced that this was the murderer. and
that he made a long journey on, the high
way in order to battle pursuit and hide. his
trail. 80
But it was but little comfort to know it,
as SO many months had passed that the man
might now be in Europe or underground.
took the ladY's address, allowed her to
retain the watch, which I knew had be-
longed to the Arnolds; and again / lost the
case for several months, I wrote over fifty
letters, travelled three or four Thousand
miles OH the lookout for big .1pan and
nothing came of it. But one day when ap-
preaching the village of Newfeld, New
York, by stage. two suspicious looking fell
lows got into the vehicle, and they were my
| only company. I knew them to be flash"
as soon as I saw their faces, and their talk
went to prove it. I pretended to be very
deaf as soor as they got in, not replying to
| any of their questions. I assumed the
tone and voice generally used by the deaf,
and held my hand to my ear and moved
over and expressed by regrets if had Of
tended them, saying could not even hear
the rumble of the coach.
"Good!" exclaimed one one of the men,
as l sat down at the other end of the
vehicle. "Now you can go Oh with your
yarn" - E
Before proceeding the other one called
me an old fool, thief, a robber and var
| ious other things, closely watching my
countenance to see If I could hear his
words. ~
"Thc old smooth bore is as deaf as q
| stone," he remarked, having satisfied him.
| self as to my deafness, and then he went
on with narrative which had been inter-
rupted.
I soon ascertained that they were on
their way to Penfeld to rob merchant.
they had everything arranged to commit
the crime the very next night, and the one
who had "put up the plan gave all the de-
tails as to how the robbery was to be COM
mitted, where they would "run" to, and
gave guess as to each ones shares,
What about Luke?" inquired the other
after the plot had been discussed.tyaE
aOh, Luke will be there on time" replied
the man. He has kept deyilish shady
since that business at L-.but now wants
to make haul and dig out for the far west.
You needn't fret-we can depend on him" !"
Before we got into the village the men
| tried me again, but could not hear except
when they shouted in my ear, and they
were sure that the conversation had been
strictly private. j..
When they put up at the hotel, I " ent to
the house of q deputy sheriff, intending to
remain concealed all the next day. I had,
of course, to state my business to the ofti-
Ger as I must have his aid, and he, the sim
pleton that he was, related the whole, story
1 to his wife after they had retired. Thus it
naturally came about that next day, while I
was lying shady, but planning how to cap
ture the burglars, the woman was retailing
my plans to the neighbors. When night
came there were six Of us ready to pounce
upon the criminals, but there were NO Grim
inals to be found. The fellows had got
wind of the affair and were out and had
lost the second only reliable clue to the Az
mold murder which had been ever able to
find. Some time after this, while in the city
of Rochester, caught sight Of hand rest
4 ing OH the window sill of horse cara
large, red hand. The hand was nothing
strange, butthe thumb was missing.
I did not wait an instant to think, I leap
ed from the car, entered the other, and there
| sat my friends of the stage coach on either
side of the owner OF the hand-"a big man
with red hair and whiskers. They all
jumped up as entered, but hung fast to
Luke, and soon had the bracelets on him,
allowing the others to get away. He had
! no idea who / was, and took care not to
hint at the charge against him until had
him back to l..
My arrival created much excitement, as
the pursuit Of the murderer had from the
first been deemed hopeless. Many con-
tended that had not secured the right man,
and Luke professed never to have been in
that part of the state before. The child
was several miles away from the village.
but sent for him. 1t had been q year
since the murder. Little Jack had almost
forgotten the circumstances, and, of course,
the murderer had changed some; but had
strong hopes that the child would be able
to identify the man. and was not disap-
/ pointed.
Waiting until evening conducted Jack
into room where Luke and q dozen citi-
zens were sitting. The little fellow had
no knowledge of what We intended, and for
some time did not see the murderer. When
he did he uttered o shrek, ran to me and
exclaimed;
There's the big man who hit grandpa
and grandmap
Luke braved it out to the last; even
when the purchaser of the watch testifie j.
to his identity he kept bold face, and
went to some pains to attempt to prove an
alibi, but when convicted, mainly on the
testimony of little Jack, who shivered. at
the sight of the man, the prisoner knew he
was done for, and cried out in anger.,
eWel, am the man. I saw the boys
eyes looking at me after I had finished the
old 'uns, but I had done enough, and
could not kill him, curse the brat! now
| regret nothing axcant that did not snlit