Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-07-26
CATCHING A THIEF.
Ho,c Md1ini, the Electrician, Did it.
Paris dispatchto the London Standard. ]

Paris dispatchto the London Standard.
The passengers by the night train to
Dieppa lsst Tuesday witnessed most ex-
citing struggle. In 1881, Hiram S. Maxim,
the electrician, was robbed of 10000 francs
while at the Grand hotel. One of the
thieves was tall, stout man, calling him
self an American naval captain: the other
man was smaller man, and supposed to
be Irish. Mr.. Maxim determined to find
out the men and bring them to Justice,
and, after being several times baffled, has
now succeeded in arresting one of them.
He gives the following graphic account of
his exploit:
81 learned that the supposed
naval officer was named Jack
Hamilton, and that he had
acted as second to John G. Heenan in the
great international iprize-fght between
Heenan and Sayers. The other mans
name found to be John Palmer, a racing
sharper and thief, passing himself off as
an Irish lord. Both these men live in
London, Palmer in Chadwick road, Peck
ham. About ten days ago these thieves
robbed a Mr.. Williamson, the editor of a
New York paper. From this robbery I
concluded that these thieves were in Paris.
l received information from the London
police that these men would be present at
the Grand Prix last Sunday. I therefore
went to M. Mace, the deputy chief of
police, and persuaded him to send two de-
tectives with me to Longchamps in Or
der to effect their capture. We did not,
however, succeed in finding them, though
they were on the field On the evening of
the fifth inst I left Paris for London, via
Dieppe and Newhaven. Upon the arrival
of the train at Rouen I alighted, and no.
ticed group of five Englishmen standing
at the refreshment bar. Two of these 1 at
once recognized as the men who robbed
me. Without delay I seized upon John
Palmer and called for the police, stating
to the bystanders that 1 was capturing q
thief who had robbed me, and I asked for
policeman but none was to be found
The interpreter at the station, how
ever, said he would fetch one,
but before the policemen arrived the four
others had entered their carriage, and the
train started. When the train had got up
fair speed Palmer, whom 1 held, made
tremendous effort, slipped out of his coat,
leaving it in my hands, and rushed for the
departing train. pursued him, and, gain
ing on him, caught him just as he got on
the foot-board. He made a desperate at
tempt to throw me under the carriage
wheels or beat me off. I succeeded, how
ever, in gaining a firm foot-hold, and,
passing one arm through window, held
on to the thief with the other hand. He
could thus neither throw me off nor get off
himself. The train ran rapidly into the
tunnel, and l found myself in darkness.
Many passengers looked out of the window
and screamed. The great confusion caused
signal to be given to stop the train, and
when the speed was sufficiently slackened
jumped off the foot board, dragging my
prisoner with me, and, Notwithstanding his
vigorous exertions to escape, forced him
out of the tunnel, where was met by the
interpreter. Upon my arrival at the station
two policemen put in an appearances; but
did not relinquish my hold of the prison
er until he was safely handcuffed. 1
earnestly requested the police to telegraph