The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-28
JACKSON.
HE PASSED THROUGH AUSTIN
YESTERDAY FORENOON, AND
WAS INTERVIEWED.
An Interesting Account + His work
In Tracing up Famous French
ROpber and Murderer.

Yesterday as the train was stand
ing at the International depot a
representative noticed in
the sleeper Johnny Jackson, one of
Chicago's sharpest detectives, who, it
is believed, was in the employ of the
Pinkerton agency for many years,
and perhaps Is yet. The representa-
tive Of the STATE1iAN at once joined
the detective, and after the usual
hand-shaking asked him what his was
doing down in this countryp His
reply was characteristic of the man:
He said he was trying to get back to
Chicago as fast as he could. He was
then asked what wickedness had
brought him to the state? well" he
replied, "as the game is up, I don't
mind telling you. / have had
THE HARDEST RACKET
I have worked for number of years
Why, have been playing cowboy for
the past two years the greater part of
the time. and / have been right here
in Austin several times in that dis
guise, too. I was in the Iron Front
saloon one day last summer when you
came in, but you did not know me,
for I was fixed" My mother would
not have recognized me in that dis
gulse.
"What have you been dcing?" he
was asked.
well the fact is I have been work
ing regular gold mine, but it has
been no,-, ,
1t is French murder and robbery
case. You will remember that just
before the Chicago fire the papers
were full of an account of the murder
of very wealthy banker in France
The robbers took the man to the bank
J and forced him to unlock the combi
nation lock of the safe, and after thi:
was done they riddled him with bull
let's and carried away the contents o.
the vault; about one million dollars
One of the robbers dropped hand
kerchief in the bank, which enabled
the police to ascertain that one OF thu
men was well known criminal char
acter. There was nothing to indicat
who the other parties were. Tn
French police traced this man up anC
found he had sailed on a certail
steamer for America; but this was no
learned until some time after tn
: steamer had landed in New York. Z
: very large reward was offered TO
r the capture of this maj
and made up my mind 1 would tax
hold Of the work.
Z WENT TO NEW YORK
and from what learned there I be
came convinced that the man ha
either gone to Mexico or Texas. fol
lowed up my clues but did not sue
l - ~ niT oofi 10 q n
. tory. had other business that
! could not neglect and so l droppe
! the matter entirely until about tW
years ago. when troke of unexpect
ed good luck gave me further clu
that put the fire into my veins one
more. I came down on a gang c
I thieves and by getting one of than I
turn states evidence, in order to clea
crets of that crime, but positive infoI
nation in regard to the French mul
derer. Ny man belonged to the sam
l secret fraternity and learned he wa
a gambler in Texas.
ACTING UPON THIS
J information 1 came to Texas, but b,
r some unaccountable means tn
I fellow had shifted the wind and lef
i for the mountains OF Mexico. l dis
guised as a cowboy and followe,
his trail. / traced him from Laredo t.
: Houston aud from Houston to San A q
). tonic, and from San Antonio to Austi1
and then to Eagle Pass and Nadadores
7 Mexico. Here came upon my gam
{ and saw the fellow whom instantl
: rec gniZed from photographs. II
D was going under the name of Quiet
q ski and was well known as an exper
gambler. I knew the difficulty
would have in trying to procure hi
arrest in
r THAT WILD COUNTRY,
:. under the laws of Mexico and so
!, concluded to "play him" and get hin
into Gods country If possible b6for
: had him arrested. / courted hir
Q and succeeded in partially gaining hi
confidence as / thought, but the fel
low was a thoroughbred and d
$ you know the scamp began t
Q play me and actually intercepted lei
Q ter and discovered my racket. Fl
procured my arrest under those az
cursed Mexican laws, and l WAS pu
0 into jail Before / could obtain m,
g release, the fellow had dropped froI
the earth, judge, for l could not ge
the slightest clew to him after thai
l mistrust he went to South America
but it is only surmise. He howeve
t left this country forever, and 1 Wi
q go back to Chicago and bleach out 70
7 awhile" The time was very Unite
r as the train only remained abou
!, twenty minutes, and much Of the de
' tails Of interesting occurrences coul'
D not be inquired into. The man wen
! under several aliases. Mr.. jackson
!. stated that the name he gave in Aus