St. Paul daily globe., 1889-08-15
His Unsuccessful Trip Back to
New York With Forger
Bushnell.
The Hospitality Of a Chilian
Province Extended to a
Thief.
Against Organized Conspir-
acy the Detective Could
Do Nothing.
Baffled by the Government
and Bushnell'S Great Army
Of Friends.

New YORK, Aug. 14.-Acting Super
intendent Byrnes submitted to the po-
lice board this afternoon Detective
Sergt. Phil Reilly's report of his unsuc-
cessful trip back from Chill to this city
with William II. Bushnell, the thief and
forger, to get possession of whom
he fought the Chilian authorities
nine months. The detectives story fol-
lows the case step by step after the sur
render of the prisoner, until his escape
five days later. The surrender, he says,
was unwillingly and grudgingly made,
SO much so that apprehensive of trouble
he called upon the American legation to
demand of the Chilian minister some
sort of document, stating that Bush
nell was prisoner surrendered to
him by process of law; but the
minister refused to give up such a
paper as he requested. Bushnell
was given into his hands by the chief of
police July 13, without line or scrap
of writing to show any authority for
holding him. This was the entering
wedge of the treachery. A receipt for
the surrender was demanded of Reilly,
but nothing given him. They were on
board the steamer Imperial, three
decker, and one of the largest South
American coasters. A great number of
Bushnell's friends were Oh board. They
seemed to be everywhere, and made no
concealment of openly
& ADVISING BUSHNELL TO ESCAPE.
Their argument was that the detect
i've had no authority for holding him,
and that he could go when and wher-
ever he pleased. Bushnell thoroughly
understood the situation, but firmly de-
clined to take the proffered advice.
Bushnell insisted on going to New
York. On the steamer he was to all ap-
pearances the only champion the de-
tective had. Reilly did not like the
look OF things, and went to the captain
of the steamer with request for pro-
lection and assistance in holding his
prisoner. The captain said fatty that
he would not have Bushnell considered
z prisoner, or treated as one,. for oIle'
moment. The captain also informed
the prisoner, and told him that while
on board his ship he could go where and
do whatever he pleased. Every one of
the officers of the ship was friend of
GHG pIlSOHcI ., tOO, dtU dlSO dG IcdSG OIt
of the passengers, one Rickelman, who
purpose of aiding Bushnell to escape. At
every point where the steamer stopped
this man received telegraphic dispatches
and conferred aside with the prisoner.
At every port, too, Bushnell's friends
came aboard in drOves. They seemed
to fairly overrun the country, and were
loud in their demands that he should 90
with them, and let the American de-
tectiye 60 home alone. At Taltal, the
last stopping place before Iquique, the
governor of the province came on board
with others and
- ADDED HIS ISfPORTUNITIES
to Bushnell to leave, and extended the
hospitality of the, province to the thief.
Bushnell, however, refused to accept
the offer. The steamer arrived in
Iquique bay on the evening of July II.
Friends of Bushnell came on board at
once. BY the next morning there were
more than hundred of them On board
the vessel. Reilly obtained from Mr..
Trumbull, the American consul there,
man to help him look after the prisoner
Both of them kept sharp eye Oh the
movements of Bushnell all the time.
The prisoner remained apparently in
flexible in his determination to come to
this city, and his friends were getting
ready to leave the steamer. The vessel
had weighed anchor, and was about to
proceed when Bushnell went to the
closet at the stern of the vessel on the
middle deck. Two minutes later when
sought he was missing. A search
was made of the steamer, but he could
not be found. There was nothing left
for the detective but to proceed to the
next port, besides the prisoner might
still be hidden on board, but he was
not. From one of the deck
hands the detective learned dur
ing the voyage that Bushnell
had been seen sliding down the
stern OF the steamer on rope. con-
veniently tied to the flagstaff by one of
the ships officers. Under the over
hanging stern was four-oared boat
waiting for him. into which he sprang,
and was rowed ashore, while the
steamer proceeded on her way. The
detective acknowledges himself de-
feated. At the next port Reilly had to
wait four days for the next steamer
back. 1t was in the middle of winter,
and the roads were impossible. lHe
tried to telegraph but could not. When
a chance offered, he went on to Lima
and saw the authorities, but all hope OF
recapturing the prisoner under the cir
cumstanceS was in vain, and he
TURNED BACK HOME EMPTY-HANDED.
Reilly sums up with the statement that
beyond a doubt there was from the first
a regular cOnspilac to rescue the pris
oner, and that the captain and officers
of the steamer were in the conspiracy.
Reilly submitted letters and reports of
interviews to substantiate these state
ments. After the prisoners escape the
passenger Rickelman demanded the
prisoners baggage. Reilly refused to
surrender it, but on the following day
it was surrendered by order of the cap
tain. The report was laid over for con-
sfderation at the next meeting of the
board, two weeks hence. Bushnell is
now supposed to be in Bolivia, with
which country the United States has