Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-27
GaIts zrro Sketches.
now fuR pErvcrTvRs MAylGBD fuR
CASE.
(continued from yestcrdsy. }

" OHtBHusff tfbtn ISL tfH- -
s.WelI.- said he, s.he has gone now,
and, as the old saving goes. there's no
use CRYING over spilled milk so We'll dis
miss him at once from our minds and pro-
coed to speak af the matter that brought
me here He asked me all manner of
questions about the burglary. and. after
conducting a regular cross-examinatiOn
for some time, quite a novel position for
ne to occupy. hewound up bv asking me
to Introduce him to the officers of the
bank. replied that that was just what
his predecessor had requested me not to
do. But said he, II thought we had
agreed to drop all thought Of the other
man. must even ask YOU not TO mention
that he has been here. for that would in
terfere with my plans. Just have conf
deDce in me, and allow me to work in my
own way. and the first step shall take
will be to let everybody know that am
detective and the purpose for which have
come.'' Well. that completely astonished
me. had read stories about detectives,
and they were always described as trans
acting their business in a very mysterious
and secret manner. Publicity was the
last thing desired, for that only served to
put guilty parties on their guard. But the
chiefs letter babe me trust him implicitly.
and it was due him to allow him to man
age his case as he thought best. | ac-
cordinglv introduced him to the bank peo-
pie. and then. at his request we walked
around to the Banner office where he made
the acquaintance Of the editor He reg
istered at Hobson's Hotel, the best in the
town and soon made himself acquainted
with everybody. He played billiards and
poker, was frequent visitor to the sa-
looms. though he never appeared to drink
to excess. took buggy rides and became
generally regarded as hale fellow, well
met" If he did anything toward discov-
ering traces of the burglary, no one was
conscious of it, and people ceased to speak
of him as detective. The directors. now
that they had detective among them.
ceased to worry me, and thought if they
were satisfied, | certainly ought not to
complain.
A week or ten days must have elapsed
in this way. when one day Mr.. Wheeler
came to my office and handed me the fol-
lowing letter, for there was no telegraphic
communication with this place, at that
time, which read
MEMPHIS. Tenn. Aug 2, 1850
Josiah Wheeler, Esq, Yazoo City, Miss.
Dear Sir-I have my men. four of them,
safe in Jail here. Get requisition from
the Governor of Mississippi. Come up at
once and bring with you the Sheriff OF
YazOo county. Very truly,
A. STRIKENHEIMER.
That was the name of the first detective,
and | felt there was some mystery that
did not understand, so | asked to be ell
lightened.
We'll" said he, ''you can rest perfect
" assured that all will come out right in
the end. You must pardon me for not
saying more now. just write out the
proper application to the Governor and
will take it over to Jackson on my way up
and get the necessary papers. while you
can have cell arranged in the Jail to re-
ceive the company"
prepared the application as he had re-
quested. and he and the sheriff departed
for Jackson. In due time I received a
letter from Memphis announcing that they
would proceed with their prisoners by boat
to Vicksburg, and stated the time that they
might be expected here.
Punctually at the time appointed the
boat arrived here. and on board were the
four prisoners. guarded by the Sheriff,
Wheeler and Strikenhemer. The latter
was altogether changed in appearance,
being well-dressed man. | was anxious
to hear the solution of the mystery, and
after the prisoners had been duly lodged
in Jail Invited the two detectives to spend
the evening at my house. IL accept your
invitation upon one condition." said Mr.
S. and that is that you promise not to
kick me out" With that pleasant allusiOn
to our last parting we INDUCED in good
laugh. and they accompanied me home.
After tea we retired to the library, and
lighting our cigars, Mr.. S. thus began:
You are already familiar with my &C,
tons up to the time when announced my
intention of leaving. so there is no neces-
sity to repeat that As you know l acted
the part of tramp to avoid attracting no.
tice. | carefully examined the manner in
which the burglars had done their work
and saw that it was done in no bungline
way, but was the work of professional ex-
perts, In a small place like this the ar
rival and departure of every stranger is
noticed! After careful investigation
arrived at the conclusion that the burglars
were still here. One day happened to
stroll down on the wharf. and got into con-
versation with some of the men belonging
W tuS H&h-pVae. We e.Vt INV =" hiChuiS
way. and they asked me to go on board
and drink with them, which, of course, |
did. 1t occurred to me that things APP
peared rather more comfortably prepared
inside than was usual among men Of such
rough class. They had a little coun-
ter built in one corner, and behind
it little bar. They even had an ice
chest. One of the party prepared the
drinks, and having nothing with which to
break the ice he went into the back part
of the boat and returned with a regular
Jimmy in his hand. Now. Jimmy" is
not an article that one sees lying around
loose every day, so said to myself: "Oh,
no that's the way the land lies. Well.
YOU and won't part company for WHILE
at any rate. Looking around saw vi
olin hanging on the wall, and as had
learned to fiddle. among other accomplish
ments, took it down and struck up a
tune.
This delighted them. and they called
for one tune after another, and that diver
SION. coupled with taking several drinks.
cemented quite friendship. at least upon
their part, and as for myself, l certainly
felt strong attachment for them. They
invited me to come again, which | did.