Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-18
HOW THE DETECTIVES MAN
AGED THE CASE.


recalls to mind similar crime commit
tel on the Bank of Yazoo City on the
night Of June IL. 1855.
At that time ! WAS Mayor of the city,
as well as attorney for the bank, and
was, therefore in position To become in
timately acquainted with all the incidents
relating thereto.
There stands midway on Main Street
brick building originally erected for the
purpose of bank, and has served in
that capacity for many years. On one
side Of the bank, and Immediately ad
joining the same is two-story brick
store house, known a. the Wilson build
ing.
On the llrh Of June 1853, Colonel
Greenleaf sold valuable plantation sit
uHted on the lazoo river, together with
unmber Of Negroes. Twenty-three
thousand dollars of the purchase money
was paid down in cash. the same being
duly deposited in the bank. The door
oI the vault was secured by means of a
clamp fastened on the outside by pat
mt Chubb paddock, con,rivance that
would excite the contempt of an expert
burglar. No light was kept burning
during the night as is now the custom
with banks. On the morning following
the day on which the above deposit had
been made the cashier went to the tank
At the usual hour, and on opening the
front door his astonished eyes saw the
vault door standing wide opon and the
floor literally s'rewed with papers. The
alarm was given and the widest excite
ment prevailed The method adopted
10y the burglars to effect an eni,anee was
;::1ry evident An opening had been cut
through the wooden doors in the rear OF
the Wilson building and thence breach
had been made in the division wall into
the bank, when the vault door was cas-
lly opened. The loss involved over $685..
600 and many valuable securities. There
l.! K. not appear to be the slightest clue
that would lead to the unrsyellng Of the
mystery, M one upon whom suspicion
could rest A meeting of the bank di-
rccturs was at once called. and | was in
>,ructed to adop, any measures that
would tend to the discovery and arrest of
of the guilty parties. sat down at
once, and wro,e to the Chief OF Secret
Service in Cincinnati 10 send me detec-
tive expert in working up bank robber-
ics. One night, about week after | had
written this letter, as sat in my o..;ce
busily preparing some cases for the ap-
preaching term of court, | became con-
scinus that some one was in the room,
aud looking up saw man IN the act OF
closing the door. and having done this
he deliberately turned the key in the door.
At the same time turning his face toward
me. saw the raggedest, dir,iest, most vii
lainous looking scoundrel | had ever seen.
Instantly jerked out my desk drawer and
seized my pistol, when the fellow said
with the utmost coolness, "Don't be too
hasty Judge South just let me say
few words, aud then | think will be
the last man in the world you would
wish to shoot, particularly at this tim" "
While | stared in astonishment, he con-
tinued, "You are the attorney for the
bank that has been recently robbed here,
and YOU have sent TO Cincinnati for de
tec,ive. Well, not to detain you longer,
am the man you sent for. You see,
couldn't come into town in broad day
light, rigged out in broadcloth and a
silk hat, and call around at the news
paper office to give the editor local to
the effect that Mr.. Il, detective from
Cincinnati, had Just arrived to work up
the late bank robbery. No, Judge that
is not the way men OF my calling do GUS
mess. So took the liberty to come up
here after nigh,fall and Of locking the
door TO prevent any casual interruption.
Had not found you here ! would have
called at your residence. | travelled in a
second class car to Nicksburg, dressed as
you now see me, and loafed around the
wharf until the regular steamboat for
this place was ready to leave, when
went on board and offered to work my
way up here as deck hand. can tell
you earned my passage, for one time
when was carrying a sack of corn up
the bank on my shoulder, | slipped and
fell, narrowly escaping a drubbing at the
hands of the mate, who made after me
with u stick, at the same time oursing
me for my awkwardness. Unnecessary
as this may appear TO you, was obliged
to use every precaution in carrying out
my role as tramp. But here am, al
any rate, safe and sound came up thi,
morning and am ready to proceed t(
work" But" said !, II don't under.
stand all this mystery. Why didn't yot
come to me at once, as soon as you ar
rived here - Then | reflected that h,
had slipped into my office after dark
locking the door behind him, and it oc
Cured to me that, perhaps he was on'
of the burglars himself, come to rob me
and all this talk was mere pretence Il
throw me off my guard So, still retain
ing my pistol, | confined, What guar
antee can you give me to assure me O
the truth of what you have said :"
With that he smiled, aud. remarkinI
that it was difficult to evade the caution
of lawyer, promptly produced from hi
pocket paper that he threw over on tn
desk toward me. Taking it up sa,
that it was printed form properly file
out, and bearing the seal of the Secre
Service Department, setting forth tina
the person therein named was dull
authorized agent. Dropping my pistc