Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-06-13
A CLOSE SHAVE.
The Story Told by Secret Ser
vice Detective.
PIOtters Of Conspiracy and Assassination in
Washington---AImost Done for by the
Agent Of a Dangerous Woman.
Detroit Frss PreSs,

Daring thu war Washington was filed
with some Of the worst people in the land,
and in addition to thieves, thugs, burgulsrs,
gamblers and that class of sharpsss, there
WIS an element which constantly plotted
and conspired eg&nst the government, if
not against almost every individual official
1t was the dsty OF the secret service bureau
to look up and keep an eye on these people
and au honest in stating my belief thst
We drove out of the capital, in one way
and another, and at one time and another,
100 men aud women who were plot.
ting conspiracy and assassination
In the summer of 1863 q member OF the
cabinet who had expressed considerable
bitterness towards what was called the dis
loyal element in Baltimore, received very
foe basket of flowers o. his desk. They
we're placed on the desk while at lunch,
and the colored attendent who received
them stated that he took them from the
hands Of we'll dressed boy. They were
flowers of which the official was particular.
ly fond. and he spent some time sdmiring
the gift and lnhaling the perfume Within
Q quarter of an hour he was taken sudden.
" Ill and had to be sent home in carriage
There were several stories whispered about,
but believe. from what followed, that the
boquet was poisoned and had been sent in
hopes to cause his death. he was done up
for four or five DAYS INFLOW, and | received
orders 10 make every effort to hunt down
the person who had sent in the boquet.
1t was little had to encourage me in
the start. / got description Of the boy,
however, and after 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 having cnme on from Baltimore. He
came alone and he had the boquet in a
handbook. The boqust
WAS TIED UP WITH GRASS CORD,
and | took this cord and went to Baltimore
and scarcely rested a moment until had
seen the owner of every greenhouse. |
applied to twenty or more before ! found |
the one that had pm: up the flowers. He
remembered the circumstance, identified |
the cord and described the buyer as hand
some-looking lady about IS who had come
10 hack. The vehicle WAS drawn By
a white and bay horse, and inside OF two
hours had found tho criver. He described
the lazy about as the florist had done, and
added that she hal gold filled front teeth,
blue eyes. little scar on her chin and VAS
sharp and decisive in her speech. She had
taken the hack at the stand and lett it at
the same place.
If this woman had intended the death Of
the official she had gone to the greenhouse
in an attire selected for the occasion, and
one she would not wear again on the street
| hung about the various hotels until Ger
tsiu that she was not guest at any OF
them, and then could only trust to acct
dent for success On two occasions caught |
sight OF face in carriage which answer
ed the description and followed the vehicle
without success. Each time it escaped me
By rapid driving Again | caught sight
OF the lady on the street. She entered a
dry goods store and | followed. She soon
passed out and was at her heels. but she
lodged into crowd gathered about the
scene OF an accident and lost her. An |
hour later suddenly discovered that was
being Swallowed | did considerable walk
ing, turning and lodging before | would
admit that this was the case, but |. finally
had to acknowledge that the hunter was
being hunted.
NV shadow" was medium sized man
about forty years Of |, we'ldressed, respect
able looking and doing bis work in the
nestest manner.
He DID NOT LOSE SIGHT OF NE
until re saw me enter my hotel, where l
h.onght up about o'clock in the evening.
| bad no clue connecting the man with the
woman vas looking after, bat il was M
tural for ne TO infer that there WAS some
connection. | wrote out aud made my
daily report, ate NY supper, smoked e.
gar End then started for the thca,er. Ii
wouldn't be- ut all strange If | found mp
LADY there-tven il hsd the teat next 10
her. WAS within twenty feet OF the door
of TIE tLeater when rough snd ragged
looking mon, who csriaiuly spoke In dis
guised voice, stopped me and sold:
Mister I'm discharged soldier, and
I've be n sick and am ont Of money. Won't
you buy this revolver OF me for S3T
He pulled the weapon from his pocket
and showed it toward me, muszIe first.
Before coQi comprehend the full import
of bis words there wsa Each nnd report
and was dimly conscious OF falling. Four
or FIVE minutes later | come to myself TO
find that crowd had gathered, and that
was in the hands Of doctor A bullet
from that revolver had ploWed along my
,kull making a wound whichlaid me of du
ty for q month The fellow who sought to
murder ma escaped without par'nit, and to
this day is undetected If he was not the
person who had Swallowed me in the after.
ronn he was in that PERSONS employ, and
both were acting for the woman. Ii was
after wards sscerrained that she was Q wo-
man who was notably vindictive, and that
she left for Eogland before vas recovered
from my wound.