The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-06
A DEADLY FOB.

tive force l made the arrest OF high
way robbCr at Madison, Wis. lie was
arrested for robbery committed in Hi
nois five months before, and had been
on the case two months when finally
ran him down. He was n machinst by
trade, and was then working shop.
proved him TO be an old crook and a
dangerous one, and was satisfied that he
wentinto the shop TO battle pursuit; but
it seemed to strike others differently.
The reporters wrote him as anxious to
reform, and they wrote me down us u
bloodhound hanging to his trail, and so
considerable public sympathy was
aroused for him, My man got SEN
tencc for FIVE years, and he had scarcely
departed for prison when | received
through the mail note reading:
"You have by money and perjury
sent an honest man to prison. You
knew he was honest and Woodworking.
You wanted to g!orify yourself. The
poor fellow is friend Of mine, and |
have sworn TO revenge him. Take no.
tee that | will have your life on the first
opportunity"
There was 10 signature to the letter,
but knew at glance that the writer
meant business. 1t was Il plain, bold
hand, and after half IN hours study l
made these deductions:
!. 1t was written by crook.
9. 1t was written in prison.
3. The writer was in dead earnest.
4. He was large, muscular man, with
light hair, blue eyes and fair complexion.
5. lie would wear silk hat and dark
ish clothes.
9. He would aim to either throttle me
or strike nc down with club.
How did reach these conclusions?
Well, the average detective catches on
to u crooks chirography by instinct. 1t
was written OH hall sheet, and the pen
and ink were poor. The paper was
creased and soiIed, and ! iclt certain
that the writer had passed it 10 Pris.
oner about TO be discharged. The latter
had mailed it to me in an envelope adj
dressed by himself. The chirography
of the letterwas bold and earnest. Large
men are more sympathetic than small
ones. Large men who betray this senti'
mcnt are OF sOnguinc temperament
They are also vain and dress well and
in taste. Large men seldom ambush &
victim. They depend on their strength
That is about the way figured it out
and was so firmly satisfied that was
right that founded my programme nc
cordingly, and permitted 10 change to
creep il. ] further believed that the
writer would not be out OF prison undeI
a month, and | had ample time to gel
ready for him. Had he been ont he
would not have witt II. ! was a ! ache
luI then, having room on State street
and taking my meals at Il restaurant
Nv room was reached by private stairs
and alone had the key to the street
door, From d side window in my room
10 side window in real estate Office
was only a distance OF I've feet. Az
there were bars on the other window
Ind left mine unguNrded. now had
them put on, and there was no way tC
reach me in my room except TO open
the street door and come up stairs. ]
Ind the inside OF the door covered with
sheet iron and arranged spring gun Iol
the stairs.
gave the writer OF the anonymous
letter thirty days to come out OF tho
prison, aud ten more to get himself in
shape to begin the campaign. was not
iar wrong. On the thirty.eighth day
after receiving TIE warning, rs | board
cd u State street car 10 come down town
my man was passenger. He was .
man who exactly corrcspondcd to tht
picture had drawn, and it never oc
| -, So, thnf I unull hn NrrOnu
While ! was slsing himup from the cor
ner OF my eye saw that he was taking
my measure. l purposeIy turned my
head TO let him see scar on my neck,
and when | glanced at him agNin'I Wa
sure that he was satisfied Of my identi
Inv. Now, the chase had begun. lie hal
sworn to have my life, and knew by
the set Of his jaw and the compreSsiAr
OF his lips that no had still further re
solved,
When left the car he followed me tc
the office. l stopped at the door Il
speak to u messenger, and he asked the
messenger who was. Then he had me
EI'dead," US the saying is, and there VA:
room for no further doubt. | was yer!
regular in my routine. had my meal
, at the same hour each day and at thu
: same place. AT certain in hour in TIN
evening went TO certain hotel, PLAYED
three games OF pool, drank one glass 0
beer, sat and smoked cigar, and thci
took the oar to my door and went Il
bed. The dullest kind OF plowbo,
could have picked up my trail.
On the evening OF the second day IN,
would.be murderer appeared at the bill
lizard room OF the hotel rs was playin
my first game OF pool. was expectin
him, and so arranged It rs to GsS hir
to play the next two games. He wa
a puzzled and nervous. Ii he was nervou
= over the idea OF handling cue Nlonssid
Of man wheae life he was plotting
take, | was excusahle for feeling b
4 queer to find my would.bo assassin Ollie
4 ing me cigar and praisipg my skill,
2. entertained him better than he did IN,
n because l knew his game and he SUI
: posed me ignorant OF 1t. When va
4 ready to leave for home invited him I
meet me at the hotel the next evening
= He smiiingiy pssented, hut next instar
compressed his lips. This meant: "Ih
) detective Is not the fellow supposed h
was, He ia pleasant and chatty, nm
. wants to be friendly, and rather lik
: him. But he sent my friend to prison
and have sworn to take his life. u
- shall not esCape mt"
That night some one broke askeleto
key in the lock Of my street door. Ho
foolish to suppose / would trust to lock-
", II was no doubt my friend, making h
first attempt on my life. 1t is curiol