Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-07-08
A TELL TALE PHOTOGRAPH.
ny AN ENGLISH DETECTIVE.

~
Of the metropolis.
An elderly gentleman had been dis
covered lying near the roadside in an
unconscious state, his pockets rifled,
and with every indication that he had
been subjected to very rough treatment,
and that robbery had been the object.
As nothing was found on him that
could give any clue to his identity, the
police were unable to communicate
with his friends, and he was, by direc-
lion of the division surgeon, removed
to the hospital, where it was found that
his injuries were of very serious ma
ture, and at least three days elapsed
before anything like an ineligible &C
count of the occurrence could be OBJ
tanned from him.
BY degrees, and during lucid inter-
vals, the following facts were elected.
He resided near London, about five
miles from the spot where he had been
found. On that day he had called upon
one of his tenants, who lived about n
mile distant, and who had paid him a
quarters rent in cash. In addition to
TO this amount, he had few pounds
with him, making altogether about
twenty pounds. He was wearing p
gold watch, and he had also 4 few other
articles about HIM of no great value.
He stated that when he left his tenants
to walk to the nearest railway station,
about mile and half distant, it was
nearly O clock, and dark.
When he arrived ut nearly a quarter
of mile distant from the station, he
was accosted by a man of stoutish
build, and whose general appearance
he infinitely described. The man ask
ed to be directed to some place at no
great distance, and after being inform
ed the way, still fingered, and, suddenly
turning round, aimed blow at the gen
tlcman'S head. The force of the blow
was checked by his hat but this was
followed by others, until the old gentle
man became exhausted, having strug-
gled with his assailant vigorously, and
shouted for help. As no houses were
near, however, and the road was not
much frequentcd. he was unheard. He
was conscious that his assailant was
robbing him. He felt him take his
watch, remove from his pocket bag
containing gold, his purse and pocket
book, but was too weak to offer further
resistance. Having secured his booty,
the man struck the old gentleman a
violent blow with his stick and left him.
He remembered nothing more until he
found himself lying on bed in the
hoSpita! ward
The case having been placed in my
hands, | Mt once caused description OF
the man to be circulated among the po-
lice, and also among jewellers, retiners
and pawnbrOkerS, accompanied by the
makers name and number of the watch.
| soon ascertajned that a man answer
ing this description had been observed
near the spot by policeman. who had
closly observed him, as he had sus-
pic.o look. But the question was
where 10 look for some clcw to his
whereabouts. had been about week
on this job, and could get no farther
with it, when / received a note from
Mr.. c., pawnbrokcr with whom was
acquainted, asking me to call upon him
as early as possible.
| lost no time in complying with his
request, when Mr.. c. produced q bill
such as is daily circulated among pawn
brokers, conta ming description OF
stolen and lost property. He explained
to me that his assistants always care
fully scanned these lists, but that rs he
did not give much attention to the
pledge counter, he did not always ex.
anime these bills. He had, however.
casually taken up this list on the pre-,
vious day, and had been particularly
struck with one item, in which it was
Stated that special attention was re-
quested to the following:
NoflCE.-A EBli lever NaICD, open lace
with scCOnds--lnakers' name, Barr and Lund
Cornhiu, LOndon-likcly to be offered By
man of the following appearance.
The general appearance of the man,
his height, complexion, his dress, anl
some peculiartics of manner and ex.
preston were then given.
| may here remark that added to the
q NJ
twenty pounds to any person giving
such information as should lead to tn,
restoration of the property and to the
conviction of the thief
at once confided to Mr.. c. the fac
that | was then engaged on the case
and sincerely hoped that, as he had
sent for me in relation to it. he hat
some information to give that would be
of real assistance to me in my investi
cation.
WELL" said MIR c., 81 am by nc
means sure that my suspicious ar,
well founded, but imagine have a
least some slight clew to the mys
terry" for had told him all the cir
cumstances as ! have already related
them here. He then went to a drawer
and taking from it photograph al
bum, opened it before me, saying
as that the man you want9'
From the first moment | saw tn,
photograph | felt convinced it was tn,
likeness eff the man of whom / was il
search. Instead of replying to hi
question, l asked, Where did you ge
this?"
We'll" said Mr. c., when rea,
the description of the man on that bill
he seemed to rise up before me.
could not divest myself of the idea tina
j had seen him, and that the genera
details of his appearance brought befor,
my mind familiar reality. l pom
dered the subject for some time, whel
the whole thing came to my recollec
ton. called one of my assistants an,
directed him to 60 to the ware nous