Evening journal., 1889-05-14
DASHING AND DARING.
JAMES cHAsTAlNe'S BOLD CAREER
AND TRAGIC DEATH.

March, 1881, the city was stirred from the
center TO the circumference by daily reports
of burglaries committed of the most daring
nature. Forty houses were entered on as
many nights, and from each articles Of more
or less value taken. Such a state of alarm
had not existed in this usually peaceful com
munity since the advent Of Wilson's ever
memorable raid in 1865 The streets were
patiolled at night by armed squads Of citizens,
and the police force was increased by putting
on extra men These burSlarics woro all OF
the same nature, the entrance or breaking
being generally effected through the front
windows, which in hiscity almost invarably
open on a veranda and often open down to
the floor
HANDsosiE Joseph SUTTON"
About this time a careful observer might
have noticed at one of our best hotels a man
rtrikingly handsome and faaltlessly dressed,
whose classic features and polished manners
would have adorned any circle Of society.
He was about 30 years Of age, remarkably
well proportional, dark hair, large, full, dark
eyes full Of Intelligence, that seemed TO look
you froq head to foot as soon as their owner
cast them upon You.
A complexion that would excite the envy
of girl, long, dark mustache, slightly
turned up at the ends, covering lips of coral
redneS, which, when parted by a smile,
often illuminated the owners countenance,
disclosed teeth of great evenncss and peslrly
whiteness. This most enchanting smile, once
seen. can never be forgotten. The voice well
modulated, each word and accent as clear as
the chino Of a silver bell
had met this man, and he was intro
duced to me as Mr. Joseph Sutton, of Texas
Ho freely discussed the frequent burglaries
then nightly occurring, and even suggested
some plans by which the midnight narauder
might be apprehended. Sutton was passion
ately fond Of card playing pober) and fre-
quently made considerable losings. At times
he would excuse himself from the game in
which no was playing, saying he would take
a walk for exercise, leaving what none and
checks he had before him on the table. After
an absence of an hour or two he would re-
turn, resume his seat and play, apparently
very much exhilarated by his walk and the
fresh air
Should any one Of the players be IN bad
luck, and, consequently, in bad humor, he
woold smilingly recommend the same course
| by a short walk and fresh dir, stating that
he always was greatly benefited by so doing.
AT other times. when his finances were ap-
parently low, be would absent himself from
the city for three or four days, always re
turning flush with money These periodical
absences at first did not attract my attention
until one day a stranger standing on the side.
walk heard mo introduce Sutton to friend
Of mine. After Sutton and my friend had
conversed while and then walked OH to
gether tho stranger called me to ono side anc
asked me what SIS name WIGS. l unhesitat
ingly told him sutton"
"You are mistaken he said; shat i
James Chostaine, one of tho most note,
thieves that ever lived / know whereof
speak"
POLITE TO THE LAST.
was so horriAed and dumfounded thai
did not notice that the stranger had Wake
, away, and from that day until this / hav
mover seen that stranger, nor do know hi
name. Recovering my wits began TO thinl
Can it DO possible that the gentlemanly Sui
Aoh tAt AAAhoA hillAt
in this cityi My suspicion being thorough
aroused. from this time on kept close watc
I over Sutton and his movements l notics
4 another important fact, that when Sutto
was absent from tho city there were no burg
larieS committed. He left one day to visi
Eufaula, Ala. and remained there on
night. That night the residence Of MI
Guice, a wealthy citizen Of that place, wa
! burglarizod and a large quantity Of valuabl
jewolry stolen. Sutton returned tho mex
morning to Montgomery loaded with plum
der Having in the meantime been busil,
engaged in tracing up Suttons antecedents
l found out that his real name was jaime
Chastaine, that he formerly lived In Memphi
and was the trusted bookkeeper Of a larg
mercantile firm Of that city, and had default
ed to them in a sum Of several thousan
l dollars; also, that he was an escaped convic
from the Missouri State prison, where he wa
undergoing a sentence Of twenty years 70
burglary and was also wanted in Te-as
/ was now thoroughly convinced thl
g Sutton was the man that was causing sue
CONSERVATION among the citizens. co-2ml
nicated the facts 10 Capt. John W. Martin
and located Sutton in a room Capt. Ma
= tin proceeded there and had no difficult
i placing Sutton, now Chastaine, under arses
a As he was on his way TO police healquartai
q Chastaine made desperate break for libert
II and was fired upon by Capt. Martin, STR.
d ing him twice, both bullets passing cntirel
7, through his body, and either would hay
+ proved mortal Chastaine fingered o e
hours ana died, never revealing bis idcntit
or his confederatcs, if he had asy. Il
politencss never forsook him even when q
Q icy hand Of death was upon lin and 4
IS misty film glazed his eyes. Asking a b
10 stander for drink Of water, which v
,e given him, he family murmCrcd, NThai
70 . YOU" Those were the last words Of Chs
=. taine Tho famoUs burglar was dad
~ "He wss as mild hammered man
r. ever scuttled ship or cut q throats
?. Upon his person was found quantity
Of valuables belonging to Mr. Guice. Amul
his effects we're articles Of different vel
from almost every house that had been c
tered. 1t was when he excused himself fro
IA the card table TO take walk and set fre
=. cir that he committed his burclarios. +
Is trips OF were for the purpose Of disposin-
IN his plumber, converting it iato cash, geae
IT. ally in New Orleans, from which Place e co
b. siderable quantity wes recovered.
ay This man was an anomaly Of his clas
tho very embodiment Of gcntihty, LIBERAL.
and personal beauty. Ho neither smoke
drank, sworc, nor INDUCED IA olscenitv. N