The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-10-22
Would Have Tackled Him in the Tub
 Louisville Post.

Would Have Tackled Him in the Tub
 Louisville Post.l
 "Detective Bligh informs me that you recognize in Frank James, alias F.. T. Thorn. who stopped at Rulers hotel a wear ago, man who purchased pair oi boots at your store," said Post reporter to Mir. Hill, a Fourth avenue boot and shoe dealer yesterday.
 Yes, our suspicious have been con- 6rmed by recent discoveries he replied. q was me rely suspicion at the time, and we said nothing about it to the detec- tives, but there was something about the man that attracted our attention, and my brother. who waited on. him, was thor oughly convinced that il was Frank or Jesse James, and never changed his oPin- ion.n
 Why did he think it was one or the bandit brothers
 Let me sec. 1t was just year ago to- day a, an early business hour, that man entered the store and asked to be shown a pair of boots He bore all the marks of ruralist, except that there was noth- ing verdan, about him. He was polite and ouick-spoken and talked to the point every time he opened his mouth. Or dinarily stranger may come Tn, make A purchase, pass out and attract no atten- ton whatever. but in this case every one in the store seemed to be drawn to the in- telligent looking countryman. Our trst impression was that he was member ot an engineer corps that was engaged sur veying railway routes through the State. but few remarks he made dispelled that theory. He was wearing pair of boots made of fine leather. but put up strong and substantial. which gave them rough appearance. My brother remarked that they looked as If they had seen hard sei- vice, and he replied that they had. pass the most of my time on horebaek. and, while tha, does not wear them out ycTy fasT. t fias5s yissssi- us brother attempted to draw him into a general conversation to learn something of him. but he switched of on the pleas ure and health to be derived from outdoor life, and talked considerably on that sub- eci. but failedto drop even d hint as to his profession. After finding pair of boots to sui, him. he asked to have his old boots wrapped up in as small pack age IS possible and sent 10 Rogers barber-shop.
 He said he had gone there to take d bath. and finding he was Tn need of a more gcnteel-looking pair of boots. he cone luded to ge, them before taking the bath On being asked for the name to which they were ;o be sent he replied :: F. T. Thorn" and then walked out. A seon IS he was gone W began to discuss him. and Ill insisted that hc was ra or- dinary lndI, dual. My brathcr N.s the hrSi tn cypress Il belief that heU.is dac of he lanes brothers. but he though, t e.,> Jesse. and fnr an hoa We talked uf ihc man who had made ,dch .tn impression apon us. asked m& d'a,her Il hl> zan- CtJTuS Nere strt1rI,, ft,,'ytii T,rll m 1lI.ns tie ,if.,ssi..,t 'i'he- ,e'...-. .ivcs n the ,irtngcl. ana hc rcgiIed that ihcy were net. or a; .lny ral" that h. suuhl have nothing h | with thc r3p- :afe Il hz U>toiacr. f 'naticfeel not @he he~a, Me ,,,lked aai, among oaf ,ciHc> a.l thc llc,' 4sIIt istcac ti;cnfitc,N all dAl te hear ot an important arrcs;
 Enc eid heot> were wrapped ln d neat pao klsc and addressed ip T I. ThuIn u kostt'~ barber shop. and de .iycrcd hy the porter. Aut we heard noth 'nS more oi the interesting ,itangct. Nc had ofIo,,cu tine n ideut enureiy unul NC read the pa,ftaeeount al | I. Thorn >,opplns |, Kufer and that confirmed. our suspicious, and tll the details vi the nelden, same back. and they appeared ,,s fresh as when they happened. My brother has been n Baltimore several months. and wrote ,o him immediately calling his attention to the affair. and in reply he sad tha, he had never for d moment doubted the accuracy ot his belief. and had watched and waited for something to occur that would prove that hIs customer WAS either Frank or Jesse James
 ''Ah," said Detective Bligh. as he unused over the aocoun, given to the reporter. If Hill had told me of his sus- pioions would have tackled Frank in the ba,h-,uh. He would have been right slippery. no doubt but he woYldn', have had his belt on