The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-09
Ihc Sender of Poisoned Isou-
uuct Vet Jndiscoycrel.

3etaetvc in Detroit Free i'rcss.
During the war Washington was
filled with some OF the worst people
IN the land, and in addition to thieves,
thugs, burglars, gamblers, and that
class OF sharpers, there was anelement
wllchconstantly plotted and conspir-
ed against the government, If not
against almost every individual Off
clal. 1t was the duty OF the Secret
Service Bureau to look up and keep
an on these people, and l am hon
est in stating my belief that we drove
out OF thecapital, in one way and an
other and at one time and another,
one hundred men and women who were
plotting conspiracy and assassina-
ton.
In the summer OF 1868 a member of
the Cabinet who had expressed con-
siderable bitterness toward what was
called the disloyal element in Bati-
more, received Il very fine basket OF
flowers at his desk. They were placed
on the desk while he was atlunch, and
the colored attendant who received
them stated that he took them from
the hands OF a well-dressed boy. They
We're flowers OF which the Official was
particularly fond, and he spent some
time admiring the gift and inhaIing the
perfume. Within quarter OF an hour
he was takels suddenly i'll and had to
be sent home in a carriage There
! We're several stories whispered about,
but believed from what followed,
that the bouquet was poisoned and
had been sent in hopes to cause his
death. He was done up for four or
five days, anyhow, and | received or
ders to make every effort to hunt
down the person who had sent in the
| bouquet.
| 1t was little had to encourage me
in the start. got description OF
the boy, however, and after a day or
two | found people OF whom he had
| inquired his way from the station to
the Secretary's Office. 1t was easy
enough after that to trace him as hav-
ing come on from Baltimore. He came
alone and he had the bouquet in @
bank-box. The bouquet was tied with
grass cord; and took tins cord and
went to Baltimore and scarcely rested
moment until | had seen the owner
OF every greenhouse. | applied to
twenty or more before Hound the one
who put up the flowers. He re-
membered the circumstance, identified
the cord, and described the buyer as
handsome-looking lady about thirty
five years OF age vino had come in 81
hack. The vehicle was drawn bv q
white and bay horse, and inside OF
two hours had found the driver. He
described the lady about as the florist
had done, and added that she had
sold-hlled front teeth, blue eyes,a little
scar on her chin, and was sharp and
| decisive in her speech. She had taken
| the hack at the stand and left it at
the same place.
Ii this woman intended the death OF
the official she had gone to the green
| house in an attire selected for the oc-
caslon, and one she would not wear
again on the street. | hung about the
various hotels until certain that she
was not guest OF any OF them, and
then could only trust to accidentfo
success. On two occasions | caught
sight OF a face Ill a carriage which an
! swered the description and fol
lowed the vehicle without success.
Each time it escaped me by rapid
driving Again caught sight OF the
lady on the street, She entered q dry
goods store and followed. She soon
passed out and was at her heels, but
she dodged into q crowd gathered
about the scene OF an accident and
I lost her An hour later suddenly
ltSpn,.a,.n] Il 80 I u, 4
! did considerable walking, turning
and dodeing before would admit that
this was the case but | finally had to
acknowledge that the hunter was be-
ing hunted
My shadow was medam-s sized man,
about forty years old, well-dressed
respectable looking, and doing his
work in the neatest manner. He did
not lose sight OF me until he saw me
enter my hotel, where brought up
about 6 O'Clock in the evening, | had
no cue connecting the man with the
woman was looking after, but it was
natural for me to infer that there was
some connection ! wrote out and
made my daily report, ate supper,
smoked Il cigar. and then started for
the theater. 1t wouldn't be at all
strange if found my lady there, even
II had the seat next her. Twas with
in twenty feet OF the door ofth theater
when a rough and raggcd-looking man,
who certainly spoke in a disguised
voice, stopped me and said
Mister Im a discharged soldier,
and I've been sick, and am out OF
money. Won't you buy this revolver
OF me for So I"