Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-17
A Detectives Luck.

One of the early triumphs of George
II. Bangs. General Superintendent of
PinkertOn's Detective Agencies, who
died in ROselle, n. j., recently, was the
capture of Jules Imbert, q famous
French forger. From August Belmont
Gmbert obtained four drafts aggregat-
ing some $4,000, and by q series of
adrOit forgeries, he managed to clear
almost double that sum. To Mr.. Bangs
was intrusted the task of tracing up
he fugitive, who had escaped to Cana
da, arresting him and bringing him
oack to New York CITY, The Young
ietectire located his man in Canadian
Gown, and, paying no attention to the
indignant prOteStations of the French
man that he was gentleman and would
repay the insult with summary venge-
ance, arrested him, and succeeded in
getting q partial admission of guilt.
After eluding q score or more of anna
teur detectives, Bangs landed his pris-
Oner on American soil and started
homeward in the cars. AS precau-
tons against escape the detective had
handcuffed Imbert's right wrist to that
of his own. After riding hundred miles
or more the Frenchman showed signs
of fatigue, and fell asleep beside his
captor. Bangs had then been without
rest for more than forty-eight hours and
was completely worn out. He began
nodding, and, despite his utmost efforts
to keep awake, fell into doze when
the train was near Fonda, in the state
of New York A sudden iolting of the
car aroused him, and to has chagrin he
hot 4 Il 4
picked the lock of the handcuff and es-
capped. He rushed into the baggage
car and inquired of the conductor where
the last stop had been made. He was
informed at Fonda, and that the train
had slackened speed fxw miles further
on to run on a siding. Bangs felt sure
that he was wide awake when the train
stopped aG Fonda, and reasoned that
the fOrger had made q dash for liberty
after that point. The train was stopped
and the detective got off and walked
back to Fonda. He applied at the prin-
cipal hotel in the town for q bed, and
was informed that the house was full
all except one large room, with double
bed, which was occupied by gentle
man who had arrived short time be-
fore. Bangs was ready to sleep any,
where, and gladly accepted the offer.
He went up to the room and sat down
on a chair, overcome with mortifca-
ton, and after arranging a mental pro-
gramme for the following day he start
ed to 60 to bed. Turning down the
cOverlid the detective glanced careless
ly at the snoring occupant of the bed.
TO his surprise and JOY he beheld the
features of lmbert, the forger. Creep
ing quietly into bed, Bangs began
nudging his companion in the ribs. I'M
bert ceased snoring, turned over, yawn-
ed once or twice, and then opened his
eyes. To his intense disgust he found
Bangs lying beside him, smiling broad
ly. The Frenchman was utterly non
plussed, and, sitting up in bed, exclaim-
ed: by gar, Mistaire Bangs, where in
re h you come from?"
After that the detective had no fur
Their trouble. HIS prisoner was 50. ely
landed in New York, tried, convicted
and sentenced to ten years IN the state
prison. He died after serving eight
years, and up 10 the day of death de-
clared that Bangs was in league with
the evil one.-FhjlGdeiphia EreSS.