Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-15
A DARING YOUNG DEVIL.

Orcutt. the would-be Train Wreeker.
Whom Meenan Has the credit OF
Capturinx-.-Kesult Of Degrading
Literature.
Evidence is continually being brought
to light which adds to the credit of Officer
Meensn in his capture of the desperate
and daring young demon, VIM. circuit,
last week. The detectives of the Rock
Island road. Detective Ray in particular.
and the officers of Iowa City have been
on the lookout for circuit for some time,
but they didn't know where to catch him
and doubtless would never have known
had it not been for Officer Meenan's sa-
gacity and alertness. The latter part o.
last week a robbery was committed in
Iowa City. and the authorities believed
that circuit had something to do with it.
His arrest in Rock Island proved that he
had, for articles were found in his posses
sion that had been stolen from the house
robbed. Upon CIRCUITS return to the
Iowa City Jail, Detective Ray was given
the privilege of being closeted with
him. He informed circuit that he was the
man be was looking for. He presented
such proofs that circuit could not
claim it was case of mistaken iden>
tity. He weakened and voluntarily cons
fessed all. Pen and ink were Sc.
cured by Detective Ray and the young
mans remarkable story was taken
down. He stated that he planned the
wrecking of the trains for the pur-
pose Of robbing the express car and the
passengers. He gives full account of
where he got his tools and all about it.
circuit admits having committed quite q
number of burglares aud has given De-
tective Ray the names of young men who
were accomplices of his in the train
wrecking plot. The railroad company
has spent several thousand dollars in try
ing to find the perpetrators of the devil
ish deed of year ago; and not until Or
cults valise was found in the woods near
Columbus junction last week, did the de-
tectives believe that he had committed
the crime. Orcutt's was the beginning
of a genuine despersdo's career. The at.
tempt to derail the passenger train which
circuit confesses was made on the 9th day
of August, 1887. The night express
from Council Bluffs would reach Iowa
City in the morning cleaning. Just west
of the bridge, across the Iowa river at tha
place, the splice bars and spikes were re-
moved from rail, with the evident inten.
ton to cause the express locomotive t.
leave the track and plunge down the chasu
into the river. while the baggage, mai
and express cars would follow, and the
passenger coaches be derailed and over
thrown. 1t so happened, however, tina
the passenger train passed over the ra
without moving it until the last cosc
left it-and as the sleeper went off tn
west end of it the rail tumbled to on
side. If. as circuit confesses, he il
tended to rob passengers, he was doubt
less concealed near by watching tn
train, ready to spring forth and do h
villsinous work amidst the consternatio
that would certainly ensue among Il
passengers. But the awful deed faile
in consummatiou. Not until after Il
passenger train passed, freight ira
came along-snd the engineer saw Il
rail on its side The train stopped, ar
in search among weeds and grass Il
tools used in removing the nuts al
bolts from the rails were found
On the Sth of August the rsilros
company offered reward of $500 If
such information and evidence as sh'
cause the arrest and conviction of t
person or persons who tempered wi
the track of the company near Iowa CT
on the 9th inst"
d He has been led into his life of 70
s berry and villiany, he says, by readi
= dime novels and the romantic and sens
IF tional sketches of desperate and heroic
deeds of bandits upon the wild weste
plains.