St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-06

cOnIrlDuteQ Dy Roger all TO lne IrlSn
Standard, the story is told as follows:
THE ''HELLOFAFIX."
The most exciting and daring feat of
Capt. Hoy as a detective was his pursuit
of ''Lord Gordon fifteen years ago
into the queens province of Manitoba.
This event stirred Minnesota to its
depths and nearly produced an inter-
esting quarrel. Lord Gordon" was an
accomplished confidence man who
passed for British nobleman, and
successfully yictimized Jay Gould and
other New York magnates. He was
arrested, found bail in the sum of S37,-
600, and Immediately abSconded to her
gracious majesty's dominion. He
stopped on his way in Minneapolis and
was the recipient of bounteous hospi-
tality at the hands of V. G. Hush, the
banker. and other prominent citizens,
who lioniZed him on the supposition
that ne was real, live British lord, an
animal rarely to be seen here in those
days. His bondSman learned of his
whereabouts, followed him up, but the
bird had flown to the haven of rest be-
fore he arrived in Minneapolis. Mayor
Bracket was informed of the facts in
the case, and after consultation with the
legal firm of Lochren, McNair d Gil
fillan, he deputized Mr.. Hoy to pursue
the swindler into British territory and
bring him back if possible. Being fur
nished with copy of the bail bond and
the necessary funds for the EXPEDITION,
hoy started out, taking with him Owen
Kegan, who was familiar with the In
dian language, and arrived in Winni-
peg in the latter days Of June, 1878.
Loren Fletcher, Mr.. Bentley and Mr..
Merriam, of Minneapolis, were in Mani
toba at the time attending to some bust
infa How nd
planned to them the object of their visit
and they promised to
AID IN THE ENTERPRISE.
Gordon was located at the house of
John BOttineau, four miles from Winni-
peg, and Hoy, with Kegan and Fletcher,
drove out in wagon and found their
prey seated on the piazza. They passed
by and Hoy came from behind the house,
grabbed Gordon by the neck, and tying
his hands with strap instead of hand
cuffs placed him on the wagon. They
crossed the Assiniboine on pontoon
ferry and drove all night to Pembina.
Fletcher was not with the party,
having returned home. A telegram
from Winnipeg ordered Hoy stopped
and on reaching the customs
Office near Pembina he was demanded
to surrender and release his prisoner.
He gracefully did so, and with his COM
panion was taken on steamboat to
Fort Garry, where they were incarcer-
ated in the baStiOn for the space of three
companies of red coats guarded the
prisoners. leaving them no chance to
escape. Fletcher, Bently and Merriam
were arrested for completely in the plot,
and sent to keep company with the de-
tective. 1t was then that Loren Fletcher
transmitted to Mayor Bracket the
memorable and laconic message, "We're
in a HI of fix" Bracket and At
torney Lochren now Judge Lochren, OF
the district court,) rushed to their res
cue, but it was of no avail. Bracket
was near being arrested himself, and had
it not been for a Mrs. McCauley, who
and got him across the line, he would
have experienced the same treatment as
the prisoners. Correspondence was
opened with Sir John A. Macdonald,
the Canadian prime minister, by Gov.
Austin and Attorney-General Cornell,
| of Minnesota. President Grant was
| made acquainted with the case. Two
thousand volunteers were getting ready
| through Minnesota and Wisconsin to in
wade the province, and a cry of 1.-The
Fenians are coming" was heralded and
troops. They were finally released,
after suffering durance vile for three
months, during which time they were
subjected to
GROSS INDIGNITIES
at the hands of the Canadian authori-
ties, especially Attorney General Clark,
who prosecuted Hoy and Kegan with
severity and refused them the privilege
of changing their linen or receiving any
letters from their friends. Clark suf-
fered for it three years afterward when
Hoy met him in st. Paul and gave him
an unmerciful beating, for which he
was eXonerated by the Ramsey county
grand jury and never brought to trial.
There was great rejoicing in Mime
apolis on the return of Hoy, Fletcher
and Kegan. a grand banquet was ten
dered them, and they were the heroes
Of the day,