Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-05-12
Gatts aIto Skeifbfs.
SOME OF THE FAMOUS EXPLOITS OF VET
ERAN DETECTIVES.

Passing down narrow fight of tortu-
Gus stairs leading from the Detective Office
into the sitting room on the ground floor
Of Police Headquarters, where. Micawber
like, the detectives, when on house duty,
wait for something to turn up. and spend
the time comparing notes and relating
their often novel and strange adventures,
The Star reporter found two Of the veter-
ans putting away at cigars and chatting on
various topics.
Il can tell you strange story" said
one Of the veterans. They say that truth
Is stranger than fiction, and this story
would make good novel. I've never
told it before, and the characters are still
alive; so / won't mention names. To
them it would recall sad experience.
1T was-let me see-I'm getting Old
twelve or more years ago. Twas sent up
by the Captain Of the squad to cover the
Academy. There was some big singer
here then. and the house was packed, and
pickpockets worked the crowds for all
they were worth. When the people came
out had my eyes wide open, and who
should see but one Of the cleverest pick
pockets in the country-a handsome, gen.
tlemanly fellow of good address-in the
company of lady covered with diamonds
and silks. guess Iopened my eyes then,
and looked closely at the woman as she
passed under the street lamp to get into
her carriage. 1t was a face can't forget,
one of those sweet, pure faces that become
impressed on your memory and will haunt
you for years; such a face as a painter
would take for a model. l stared hard
when my old friend, whom had arrested
half dozen times, jumped in and the
carriage whirled of. Quickly revolved
matters over in my mind and came to a
quick conclusion. That was the face Of
pure woman, or else l was fool. I
would then be rascal not to try to save
her from such villain as knew my old
friend to be. jumped into a cab. Fol
low that carriage said to the driver.
and the man, who knew me, did so. We
drove up town, through to Madison
avenue. where the carriage stopped in
front of a substantial old mansion. The
young lady entered the house, and her
escort soon after left her and drove away
The next day made inquiries. and learned
that the occupant of the house was a
South street merchant, and that the young
lady was his daughter, | called on him
and he looked askance when | told him
who I was.
''Do You know the gentleman who took
your daughter to the opera last night" !
asked.
..Why do you ask?" he said, in hurt
full tone, as il had insulted him.
II told him why, but he only smiled
and said: You are mistaken, sir; that
young man is a member of the firm of So
and so. promising young firm in Cncin-
natl.
elf he is I'm an IDIOT | answered
Come with me aud III satisfy you
my earnestness at last resulted in his
reluctantly calling cab and going up to
Headquarters with me. showed him
Novel;. never mnd-in fhe Rogues'
Gallery. The old merchant staggered
back and said: 1T cant be he; but what
resemblance At last when | told him
who the pickpocket was, and that he had
served two terms in State Prison. the old
merchant broke down. and all he could
say was, My poor daughter
Then he told me how he had been i'm |
posed upon. The fellow had evidently
seen his daughter on the street and been
struck with her beauty. He contrived to
have business with her father. showed |
letters to prove his identity, and took the
old man in so completely that he invited
him to dinner. where he met his daughter |
and was introduced. Courtship followed.
and my glib-tongued friend made an i'm
pression-the girl fell dead in love with
him. and at last the old man was won over
and gave his consent to their marriage.
''rhe old father went home that nightl
sad and heavy hearted TO break the news
to his daughter. An hour afterward
carriage ratified up outside the station
house. and in came the girl and her father.
Show me the picture. she said. /
opened the gallery. The next instant she
fell back rs ii dead. in deep swoon. She
was taken home. and the following day
note arrived asking me to call at the house.
responded and was told that the girl
could not believe that her lover was
thief. and that had been sent for to con-
front him when he came that night. The
girl was sitting in the parlor. deathlv pale
when the fellow entered with big bou-
quet of choice flowers. He came toward
her, when l stepped out of the backroom
and said
''How do you do. Mr.. alias So
and-so, alias So-and-soP' Have you ever
seen 4 man shotp That man acted like one
who had just received bullet Not a
word was said by him. and it was a scene
l shall long remember. He hung his
head. and the old father pointed toward
the door.
Co." I whispered; go. or 60 with
me; you know for whatp" He went out
without syllable. except broken good
bye to the girl. who looked scornfully at
him. and then when the door slammed.
she fell back IN a hvsterical fit. She was
sick for months. and her father took her
to Europe, where she recovered her health
and is now living in this city happy
mother and wife. She married Young
business man.
''But what became of the pickpocket P"
HE is pickpocket still. and meet him
now and then"
Talking about women reminds me of
. yarn. You remember Joe Eustace he's
out Of the business now? We were look
ing for a man named Greatorex some
years ago. for forgeries. Greatorex was
in business on the other side, and when
about to fail. committed forgeries aggre-
eating thousands of pounds. He fed tax
ing his daughter, who was described as u
remarkably beautiful girl. with him. They
came over here and hired furnished
room in Canal street, the father staying