The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-17
A DETECTIVES STORIES.

In my profession as a detective have
often been asked if I believed In the
virtue of circumstantial evidence. In
every instance I have replied In the
aHirNative. While the profession may
make q man hard hearted and anxious
to convict, it is nevertheless
3 certain fact that a complete
chain of circumstantial evidence
against criminal will settle his case
sooner than half dozen respectable
witnesses. Lawyers can browbcat and
con fuse witnesses, and the veraclty OF q
witness can be slurred or impcached,
but when you strike against circum-
stance it is not so easy to step over 1t
or explain it away. I have been an
interested party in two cases where
circumsta ntial evidence convicted the
wrong persons, but still, if on jury
where circumstances were against the
prisoner, I should not hesitate to weigh,
everything against him.
Many years ago, when was a young
man of eighteen, I ran away from my
uncle, to whom was apprenticed. He
had farm near Liverpool, Medina
county, Ohio, and he was man who
had not one jot of pity for or mercy on
man or animal. His wife lived in NOR
tai fear of him. and look from him
would make his children trcmble. Our
family lived hundred miles away, and
we knew little or nothing of Uncle
Jabez. He came out on visit, seemed
to take liking to me, and he gave my
father $1OO to apprentice me for three
years. liked farm work, and as Uncle
-Sabez was on his good behavior while
visiting us, Twas by no means opposed to
1.-THE arrangement. No sooner had we
. arrived at his home than he became
1lyrant and slave driver. I was over
worked, half fed, scolded, and NAL
treated, and one night, after the promise
OF good licking" in the morning, l
tied up my few personal effects. dropped
from my chamber window and set out
for Cleveland. Uncle Jabez was man
who would demand his pound of flesh
and more. If I returned home he would
follow on and make me o captive. AS
ssoon as he missed me he would raise
great hue and cry over the country, and
L felt that my only safe course was to
reach some large city and lose myself In
the mass.
The farm was twenty-five miles from
Cleveland. I could have walked the
distance in seven hours, as it was cool
autumn night, and the roads were good,
but for the first ten miles I did not dare
use the highway. Teams were coming
and going and farmers moving about,
and wanted to cover my tracks from
Uncle Jabez. With the difficulties in
nv path did not enter Cleveland until
about 9 o'clock next morning. l had
not yet reached the business portion,
and was walking in the middle of the
street, country fashion, when made
rich fiud. In the dust lay three dia-
mond rings, two ladies' watch chains.
and several charms and lockcts. They
were scattered about as if they had fallen
from some vehicle passing over the road.
I picked them up of course, and there
bciug nc one near me I continued on my
way. l had never found anything of
value in my life before, and did not
know exactly how to proceed. I knew,
of course, that I had no right to the
property, nor did I have the remotest
intention of converting it to my use.
The trouble was that did not know cx-
actly what course to take, being but
young, green boy. At home l would
have gone to my father or a neighbor,
but under present circumstances l was
puzzled. had heard of policemen, but
never saw one. I finally made up my
mind to accost the first one met and
ask him what to do
About four squares beyond where I
had found the jewelry I stopped at q
German grocery to ask for drink of
water There was boy about IA years
old in the store, and he told me to 60
around the side way to a pen-stock. 1
was drinking when dog rushed at me
and was so determined to bite me that I
had to keep him off with my feet. The
German and his wife rushed out and at
tackled me and as got out of the gate q
policeman came up and seized me.
There had been row enough to collect
quite crowd, and all were against me.
The officer asked who I was, where l
came from, and where was going. If
had returned him prompt answers he
might have let me go, but did not dare
Cell him that was a runaway for fear
he would return mo to Uncle Jabez. l
therefore refused to answer him. and he
naturally concluded was a suspicious
character, and took me to the station.
As was registered they searched me,
and when the jewciry came to light
-here was great astonishment and re-
ioicing, and the charge of grand larceny
was at once entered against me.
On the night previous jewelry store
on Superior street had been robbed of
large amount Of jcwelry, and the robber
had got away, leaving no clue for
the detectives. This was some OF
the plundcr. I told them where l
found it, but as I would not tell them
who was, or anything about myself,
my find was declared too thin. Under
tho same circumstances to-day I would
do Just as tho officers did then. They
+>garded my grecnncss as assumed FIR