Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-06
A DETECTIVES LUCK.

If had the selection of corps of de-
tectives should pick out men who are
known as lucky. Certain men are thus
characterized, and the term properly be-
!ongs to them. Certain men are unlucky,
and the term also properly belongs to them.
have worked alongside officers who were
as sharp and keen as men ever became,
who were persevering and tireless, who
had the. pluck of warrior and the re-
lance of slave, and yet they were
"down on their luck" as the saying
goes; that is, the big things passed them
by and fell into the hands of others. In
detective work one must have courage
and judgment. He must know human
nature pretty well. He must be fairly
shrewd and sharp. If he is working
blind trail the rest must be left to luck.
And the luck and ill-luck of detective
life is something wonderful The luck
we hear of every day The ill-luck is
suppressed as much as possible. In the
month of June, 1857, was spending
few days with relatives of mine on farm
near Obcrlin, Ohio, had been in de-
tective business about five years. We got
no newspapers at the farm, and I had not
received letter for ten days, and had not
heard the least bit of news from the out
side world, when uncle and drove into
the town one day. On the way in I got
out of the wagon and picked up a copy of
Cleveland paper which was lying on the
highway. The first thing saw was an
account of murder at Peru, Indiana,
several days before. An old man had
been murdered and robbed of a large
amount of money. Not the slightest clue
of the murderer had been discovered. No
one could say whether he was old OIL
Young, white or black, or which way he
he had gone. 1t seemed q hopeless case,
and l felt bit sorry for the two Chicago
officers who had been sent for to work
the case out.
The first call I made after reaching
Oberlin was at the Postoffice. then
visited barber shop, but the two chairs
were occupied, and 1 had to wait about
ten minutes. Having nothing to occupy
my mind, 1 looked the two BARRIERS ovel
in detail, and then turned my attention
to the customer in the nearest chair.
began at his feet first. He wore No.
CATERS, and they were new pair; in
deed, they had never been blackened
His trousers were frayed about the bot
tom, and, as | came to look closer, saw
that they were old and threadbare. Or
the left leg, which was nearest me, be
tween the knee and the ankle, were severa
stains. They might have been made b,
either blood or acid. When the man sa
up straight after his shave saw that hi
coat was also old, and looked over to hi
hat on the hook to find it very rusty. Tn
BARRIERS were not speaking to either of tn
, men, so that both must be strangers il
the town. My man had reddish hair
: which he had had clipped close before
{, came in. His neck was supburned AM
dirty, and, after looking him over fror
toe to crown, I said to myself:
"This chap has all the looks of a pre-
fessional tramp. That suit was probabl
given him, but ten to one he stole thos
CATERS. Wonder if he can scrape u
{ enough to pay the barber"
The bill was thirty-fve cents. TIL
v man gave me furtive look as he got o,
J. of the chair, and while being brushed h
felt in his pockets for change. He ha
two ten-cent shinplasters, but as thes
were not enough he half turned from II
: | ,,,5 6ebo5 n r.roopI,o ol- ont nf b;c r,oclyo
The barber had to go out to change i
u and the man was so impatient and ne
y vous that he could not stand still. Whe
u the barber returned he had the change fl
twenty dollar note. He began to coul
= it out, but the stranger muttered his COZ
! fidence that it was all right, and reache
e out for the pile and crammed it into b
is vest pocket. He was about to go, wht
rose up and said:
eMy friend, want to have a fe
ps words with you, if you are not in o b
=, hurry.
y "But I am" he replied, trying to pu
IL past me without looking me in the fac
t. ''But you'll have to wait just the sam
e. want to know who you are"
"There was back door to the sho
He wheeled and sprang for it, but it W
~ locked. As he turned on me again
ey pulled revolver from his bosom a.
ve leveled it on me, and fired shot viii
b. went over my head and through the wi
= dow. Before he could fire again ] h
''' him jammed against the wall, one ka
ad hold of the weapon and the other on
n throat, and / choked him until he Sc
as down in a heap. Who. did he turn
to be2 The Indiana murderer who b