The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-15
INTRopuoEp no p1NKERToN.

How Newspaper Man just Missed Making
q Round Two Hundred Dollars.
Detroit Free Press
If you are going anywhere from Camden, OPP
posite Philadelphia, my advice is to hire horse
and buggy and promise the driver an extra fee
from $I5 to 800 to get you out of the place as
soon as possible. If you want to go by train
you will have to wait from four to six hours, and
it is worth 800 an hour to wait In Camden.
was there seven or eight times last summer, and
no matter what time got in there was the same
tedious wait to get out-the same disappointed
crowd-the same swearing and grumbllng You
can't buy anything to eat in the depot For this
reason building five or six blocks away is called
hotel If there is any other reason for it be-
ing called hotel it must be because eight or ten
loafers sit on the veranda facing the river and
Sleep and smoke and spit You can sit in the
station and starve, or you go to the hotel
and do the same thing. The station, however,
doesn't charge you for it, while the hotel does
On the floor in the railroad station at Trenton,
which is another good place to wait, found
photograph Of good-looking man. On the back
was written: 1.-TWO hundred dollars reward. The
above reward will be paid for the arrest OF
George K Smith, who is wanted at Blnghamton,
n. Y, for arson. This is perfect likeness. be
is slow of speech, and clears his throat oftene
l pocketed the picture, arguing that some de-
tective, sheriff or constable had lost It, On the
way down to Camden got the face down pretty
fine in my memory and made up my mind TO
by discovering George playing him for awhile,
and then turning him over to the police and
pocketing a couple of hundred dollars TO spend
for shark bait at Atlantic City. l had been In
the station half an hour when | walked down to
the gate through which passengers for the sea-
shore were obliged to pass / wanted to ask the
gate keeper when the train went. knew 1t was
just four hours and half, but wanted to see II
he knew He came very near knowing, when he
replied "It will be over three hours, anyway. >
L
gate-keepers companion-a man in citizens
dress, who stood beside him and had evidently
been looking me over. 1t seemed to me that he
gave a start of surprise. If he didn't I did.
Right there within arms length was George 4.
Smith, described to dot on the photograph,
and not a change made since the picture was
takenl 1t took me full minute to realize the
situation, and / expect he didn't get ahead of me
more than a second or two. l had it down on
my programme to play with him for awhile, and
/ was tickled to death when he observed that 1t
nice weather, asked which way had come,
and walked up AMI down with me. never
grew so friendly with man on short notice.
We offered each other cigars, lied about the big
fish we had caught and were twin brothers in
agreeing that Camden was the worst
place in the United States In very
guarded manner, as we walked, l pulled
out the photograph to make comparison, the
comparison was all right, but was grieved to
detect him with photograph in his own hand.
Had accident furnished him with one, and did
he suspect he was being pursued2 If so he
might become dangerous, and it would be safer
to give him away at once. There was an officer
at the ferry gate, and kindly inquired of Smith
if he didn't want to look round town a little.
He did. We sauntered up to the gate. and /
took his arm. He returned the courtesy by TAX
ing mine.
Officer" I said, as we reached that officer.
"arrest this man! He is George K. Smith, and
is wanted for arson"
"You come with me-" said Smith, while the
officer smiled and chuckled.
81 tell you to arrest himl He is wanted for
arson!"
''Now, come quietly and don't make scene!"
softly remarked Mr. Smith. elf you get too
bad shall have to put the handouts on!"
''Who are you2" l asked, as we walked aside.
: "mat Pinkerton."
''Oh And who am II"
Billy Soue, wanted for embezzlement."
"Do you see that2" asked, as l handed him
the photograph.
'And do you see thisp he replied, as he hand
ed me one.
They were fair likenesses. No officer would
have wanted anything better on which to make
an arrest We had little talk, and we crossed
to Philadelphia where was identified, to Mr..
Pinkerton's satisfaction and he to mine. If he
hadn't been | should have made that 5000 It
was mutually agreed in the editorial rooms of
the Press that nothing should ever be said about
it, but as may come I'D for Governor some day,
and the matter be raked up and given false
turn. to my detriment, l have hereby made
clean breast of the whole affair.