Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-12
Misftllant0ns.
Five Tears Chase for q Murderer.
4 DETECTIVE TRAVELLING 5000 MILES
To CAPTURE HoUcK, THE NoToRIoUs
GAMBLER


GAMBLER.
Norris, the detective has had a hard
time going East with bis captive, the no.
torious murderer. Lew Houok, and had it
not been for the aid Of General Superin-
fendent Dickinson Of the Union Pacific
Railway here, his man would have been
taken from him at Cheyenne. HOuck is
the most expert gambler, three card monte
man, and bunko steerer in the West. II
not in the country. He is 4 handsome
man of 81 years, and has visited, in his
search for victims, eyerv corner OF the
continent, He il one day a cattle man.
with whip and prod. the next drummer,
and again a poor emigrant, and OCCASION
ally a MASKING dandy. Any character
which will serve bis purpose he assumes
with ease, and has become in consequence,
notorious among the card sharps of the
country. He has hundreds Of admirers
and friends among them, who have stood
by him while the hounds of Justice have
been on the chase for nearly five years.
As has already been telegraphed Houck
murdered Paul Lehman. a commercial
traveller. on Columbus and Toledo Ohio,
train on July 81, 1873, in a quarrel over
game OF cards The stakes amounted to
fierce quarrel ensued. and the men clinched
10 a struggle for the money. but H0uck,
with the quickness for which he is famous.
shot the drummer, killing him instantly.
He then pulled the bell cord stopped the
train, and made his escape. The railway
company determined to capture the muir
derer at any cost and engaged John I.
Norris. the detective, to follow Houck I'M
Ill he caught him. Norris has travelled
10 his search over 2S,C00 miles, visiting
several foreign countries. Houck fled at
once to the frontier, and since the murder
has been in Texas. New Mexico, Arizona.
s:exico and California.
Some time ago. hearing that liouck was
in California, Norris searched the State
from end to end without finding any trace
Of him. As he was about giving up the
search, he got on llouck's trail in the
telegraph office OF a small town in the in
terror, through a message to Ilouck from
one of his old pals. 1t gave Norris "a
pointer and told MIN to go to Las We
gas" Norris, being an operator, sent the
message. having access To the office. aud
changed Las Vegas" to Los Angeles"
lie telegraphed the sheriff there to arrest
Houck. and going there Immediately AZ
terward found IIouck in rtiI. Norris left
Los Angeles at once with his prisoner,
hut the news of his arrest had been tele-
graphed over the country. and many sport
ing friends of the captive came promptly
To the rescue llouck was released three
times in California on writs OF habcas
corpus. but each time Norris succeeded in
getting hun back into his clutches.
On the way east from California, the
news reached Norris at Ogden that "A party
of Denver and Kansas CITY sports had OBJ
tanned n writ at Cheyenne and would take
him off there on the arrival of the train.
Norris had consultation bv telegraph
with the Union Pacific officials here. and
To prevent his losing his prisoner ii was
decided TO take Ilonck through Wyoming
"A distance of GOO miles. on II special at
such rate of speed that it would be out
ot the question To stop him General Su-
perintendent Dickinson, therefore, went
west from here with bis special car until
he met the western train. when llouck
and the detective were taken on board and
the special preceded the regular pasScn-
ger as fast rs wheels could turn. 1t
whizzed through this city like lightning.
and kept up the same speed until Chev-
enne. 60 miles east of here was passed.
and continued on with Il clear track to its
uestiittitil. biitbu. - >tdtltH W tlil nv pup
ula,ion save "A few railroad employees.
Just inside of the Nebraska line and be
yound the power OF n Wyoming writ.
There the special awaited the arrival late
at night OF the passenger train, when the
prisoner was again placed on board, all
fears of his release being over.
Houck is one of the boldest rascals in
the country, and will probably get a life
sentence in the Ohio penitentiary. He
takes things very coolly. and hopes to es-
cape from the clutches OF the law. On y
trip to Barton he gave the party exhibit
tons of his skill with cards. initiating a
drummer for their amusement and related
many anecdotes OF hi' checkered career.
He has been everything from minister
of the Gospel to Jail bird and murder
er. and il sent TO prison, As he deserves.
will take his sentence as philosophically
and coolly rs though fleeing granger
On an emigrant train or a millionaire on \
Pullman.-Lawrence CITY Dispatch 10
NeU York San.