Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-20

served two or three customers, gone by
train from Winnetka 10 Chicago, and
called on several acquaintance there
without once mentioning the terrible
scene Of blood his eyes had beheld few
hours before. Naturally concluding that
McKeague must he the murderer, Chaplin
decided 10 confront his man with nm
accusation. Though well knowing that
man who could commit a crime like
this and go about his business ms II moth
ing had happened must be one Of the
most cruel and desperate Of criminals,
the reporter faced McKeaguc alone.
"He was the coolest villain / ever
saw" says Mr.. Chaplin, who is now a
Washington correspondent. "He sat on
the meat block in his shop. whetting q
big carver on his boot leg. i had on my
overcoat, with my right hand in the out
side pocket grasping a revolver.
'McKeague,' said, you killed Mr..
and Mrs. Wilson,
II expected to see him jump for me,
with that knife aimed at my heart In
stead he raised the carver, ran his
thumb along the edge deliberately and
without the quiver of nerve, and an.
swered:
"'Do you think SOP Let's see you
prove it,"
McKeague was arrested, tried and ac-
quilted, though there never was much
doubt Of his guilt. He led very wicked
life after this, and was finally killed In
brawl out west.
When necessary the Chicago reporter
tal. a 10 81. Il. -
afraid 10 enter nest Of toughs nor to
make midnight explorations Of dark al
leys in the slums. He often pretends TO
be an officer, and "fashing his star" is
reportorial amusement. Newspaper men
who do police work wear stars under the
lapels of their coats, the pieces Of silver
bearing the names Of their papers. These
stars are open sesame with the police at
fires and on similar occasions. Little
Charley Seymour. of The Herald. one Of
the most brilliant reporters in Chicago,
has arrested and marched to the station
house two or three men simply by mo-
mentarily exposing his star and saying,
Come along with me-"
Seymour, Ehlert and McIIugh, three
reporters, were lucky enough to come
upon man whom they suspected Of
having killed Eva Mitchell They
FLASHED their stars" on him. arrested
him, took him to the station, locked him
up in the sweat box" and interviewed
him TO their hearts content before tho
man suspected they were anything but
officers of the law, and before the police
knew what was going on In their own
donicile.
While at work on this same case Re-
porter McIIugh had remarkable expe-
rience. A Spanard who had his bed in
the loft of the Chicago university, found
ed by Stephen A. Douglas, but now
abandoned and vacant. was suspected Of
completely in the murder. MclIugh
procured the murdered girls dress and
hat and carried them late one night to
the university building.
Eifecting an entrance by means of a
window, he disrobed and put on the girls
clothing. Thus attired ho groped his
way up four or five flights Of stairs to the
attic, burst open the door of the Span.
iards room and stood before tho man in
the habiimcnts of the dead. The effect
was startling Throwing up his hands
In despair. the Spaniard called to Eva
for mercy No other proof Of his guilt
was obtained, however, and he was novel
arrested. Nor was the mystery ever
cleared up.
Newspapers and newspaper men do
not always succeed. The managing ed.
itor Of Chicago paper gara reporter a
thousand dollars ard carte blanche to go
TO Kansas ~ get, buy or steal an inter.
view with Sarah Dodge, tho spinster who
had killed q prominent man named Bah
cock, her false lover. Tho reporter as
sumed the disguise of q travelling preach
or, and failed. Then ho tried bribery
and failed again. Love nor religion nol
money could open the mouth of Sarah
Dodge. Before the escape Of McGarigle
city editor had had tho Jail and Me-
Garigle's house watched for three weeks.
In anticipation of such an event. Through
misunderstanding the guard was not
ut his post the night of the escape.
Speaking Of Il reporter assuming the
disguise of minister Of the gospel re-
minds me of a feat performed by Re
porter Seymour, already mentioned. An
iilIisohtu ouHItSt iidu icoiHttN uil tllOIts
of the police and the newspaper men to
induce him to confess. Seymour hap
pcned to know of a renegade clergyman
who lived far out on tho West Side.
Though discarded by his church he
continued to wear the garb of priest,
aud spent his time in drinking saloons
and other bad company. Seymour
found this renegade and induced him to
go to the station house and take the con.
fession of the suspect. The confession,
as it turned OUT. was not Of great i'm.
portance, bat that did not detract from
the brilliancy OF the feat, from the de-
tective-repor.eT point Of view.
WALTEE WELI.MAN.